Em and I have 25 acres just inside the city limits...
Yupper
25 acres in the city... gotta like that.
We have about 3-5 acres that is arable right now, and about 1.5 to 2 acres that are actually used. I am happy just to be able to feed Em and I, Duane and Kristina who are still at home, Sammy at school but in an apartment, Sabrina in St. John and of course, Amanada, Clay and Abbigail. Our extended family is all part of our growing strategy including Em's parents. So if we can feed all of us with the green veggies, sweet corn, salad fixin's, taters for the year, squash, pumpkin, zuchinni, eggplant and all the other yummy stuff that costs a fortune in the store, then I am way ahead. Another benefit is we know what is on our produce, and we can avoid much of the preservatives and other chemicals that is present in store bought stuff. I never could understand why mushrooms in cans are imported from China, when we have mushroom farms right here... or have to bring in tomatoes from Mexico, or better yet, ship our local tomatoes to Vancouver so we can ship theirs here....
it totally amazes and irritates
me at the same time.
When we had our birds and such, we never made any money but we certainly ate well, knew what was in the food we ate and saved a lot of money to put other places that were important but lower on the list. We just like to be independant and self reliant. If we can do that, along with harvest our heating materials, enjoy our fish and get to harvest a few of them yearly we are way ahead of the game all around. I really think that we are saving literally thousands a year and that is almost equivalent to a third income.. so that is good.
It is all in how one looks at things. My Cubs are therapy for me.. and that is their primary purpose.. to keep me healthy. However, they also provide so much for the family in terms of the work that they do (when they are running that is)..., the produce that they help to provide, the home heat that they help to harvest, haul and size... they really are indispensable.
But after the physio and intellectual therapy, all the other stuff is well just gravy.
Oh, I guess we are doing well enough that my brother-in-law is now growing a garden. We are moving into work sharing mode now... so that is a huge plus.... well for me.. more seat time.