A life less ordinary

From the suburbs to the country in Independence Township, this is our journey. We are two suburban yuppies who always had a dream to leave it all behind and become country dweller's. Now we are on part two of this adventure. We just bought our Historical farm. We have six acres, a barn, some outbuildings, three excited kids, three dogs, one cat, a tortoise and us, the wonderstruck parents who are beyond thrilled and a little bit clueless about what the next chapter has in store for us!

Sunday, January 31, 2010

We did it!

My husband Roger found the listing on Realtor.com, it was an 1800's farmhouse on 6 acres in Metamora, and it was perfect! The price was right, (thank goodness for the poor real estate market actually working in our favor) and it was a beautiful piece of property! We decided that we should make an appointmet to go see it. I called the listing agent and we drove out the next day.
It was perfect. A fixxer by anyone's standards, but luckily we don't mind a lot of sweat equity! But the bones of the house were fantastic! It had all the original wide plank wood floors, the rustic beams on the ceiling, the rustic posts, the stenciled stairs, and the working fireplace. And the barn was a real beauty! Faded white-grey paint, 4 stalls, a dirt floor and plenty of room for a barn dance. It had some damage to the roof from an old tree falling on it, but nothing that can't be fixed. The pasture was 90% fenced, some of the fencing just needing to be repaired, and it was hilly and breathtaking! There was even an old outhouse that would make a great chicken coop eventually. The whole setting was just what we had always dreamed of owning. Sitting on a corner parcel off of a main road (easy access in Michigan winters) and cornering a dirt road. All of the surrounding houses and horse properties much nicer and meticulously maintained made it all the more desireable. We knew it that first day we saw it. This was our farm. Our little slice of heaven.
So, we went home and did a lot more research, prices in the area, what we could afford, etc...We talked til wee hours of the morning about all that this little farm meant to us. And it filled each of our dreams separately but together. Mine for the mini horses I want to raise, and the chickens that I love so much, and the gardens that I have dreamt of growing. His for the dirt bike track that he can make for the kids and himself, and the second barn he can build to hold all of his vintage toys (snowmobiles, motorcycles, and anything else with a motor) and for the busy solitude that this place will provide for our family. It fulfills each of our dreams of being reconnected to the earth, growing organic food for our table, raising farm animals as a hobby, and getting back to a simpler, more meaningful way of life.
We wrote up an offer, and our realtor submitted it this afternoon, now all we have to do is wait. If the seller accepts it and signs it, our closing will be in 2 weeks. I doubt that I will be getting much sleep tonight. This is all too good to be true!
To be continued....

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Inspiration that helped me get here.

Food for thought

The increase in U.S. food prices from 1982 to 2009 rose 128%.In the same period, prices paid to farmers rose only 34%.

1 in 3 Americans born in 2000 is expected to develop diabetes in his or her lifetime.

Jargon-food sovereignty: the right of peoples to eat healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.

(from the declaration of Nyeleni, 2007)

32 hours, 50 minutes- The amount of on-screen media, including television, videos and video games that American children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old consume each week, according to the Nielsen Company.

Chicken-ism

I loved this so much that I had to post it. I cannot take credit, I found it on the web.

All I need to know I learned from my chickens.

Wake up early, stay busy, but always stay alert.

Visit your favorite places every day.

Scratch out a living.

Routine is good.

Plump is good.

Don't ponder your pupose in life, your brain is too small.

Accept the pecking order and you know your enemies.

Weed your garden.

Protect your children fiercely, sit on them if you need to.

Take them for walks, show them the little things, and talk constantly.

Brag on your accomplishments.

Don't count your chicks before they hatch.

Protect your nest egg.

Test your wings once in a while.

Squawk when necessary.

As you age, demand respect.

Leave a little something for those who care about you.

Chase butterflies.