Texan here - sometimes posted under chickadee_42us. This may appear as highjacking this post to another topic - As interesting as the topics can be and as mundane as the topics can be there will always be someone who believes their viewpoint is the best and will strongly address someone elses viewpoint. While typing a reply, the sound that is relayed upon another persons reading it may not have been the intention it was meant to give; while the reader of the response can become defensive to they reply. Now having said that, some people are plain rude, argumentative and as my dad always said, You can't argue with ignorant people. As for the forum, yes, it was a nice place to read the journals and the people who kept the forum going were fastidious in KEEPING THE JOURNAL GOING. It seems like more people are currently lurking than posting, maybe because they fear starting a topic that might not be everyones cup of tea for conversation or they have been burnt by someones sarcastic reply. If I remember correctly the topics were more various but the same topics were covered, spring time did bring more Chicken topics - so what? That appears to be when the hatcheries are selling there chicks! My advice, IF YOU HAVEN'T ANYTHING POSITIVE TO SAY, keep your fingers from typing a reply because know one wants to read derogatory comments or the repetitive defense. If you have contructive information then please reply. my two cents, Roxann

My thought too about Backwoods...its like you should be building a backwoods compound! I'm a lefty I suppose :) Mother Earth News is great for someone like me who is years from homesteading (I'm 24, a new teacher, with dreams that get stronger every day my students beat me up mentally, UGH!). It seems more introductory, but also with useful tips. I found contrysides website a few weeks ago and read much of the back issues on the site and quite enjoyed it. I suspect that I'd get a subscription to both before I head out into my dream and then after a year or 2 get down to whatever one i found most useful.... I do have some MENs that i found at a used book store from the 70's, I enjoy them!

I was born and raised in way far south Florida at the very edge of the 'glades, momma and daddys house near what is now Kendall stood through Andrew and lost only 4 tiles on the roof. Grandma had pictures (sis's now) of gangsters and other sorts at the old Morningside Pool, back when it was a prohibition booze palace and casino, long before the day it became a "park". By 1973 it was getting way to crowded and I left and never looked back......But having been a Dixielander all my life living in Fl, Ga, Tn, and NC, I am at last grown weary of summertime in the south and am looking at moving to a riverside place somewhere in way out in the woods Mn, Wi, or heaven forbid...even northern NY..... Land in west NC continues to climb in price.....Absurd pricing in the Asheville/Brevard/Hendersonville area....high and getting higher elsewhere in west NC......... An absolutely gorgeous 26 acres, 405' well w/water at 245'& 160'of reservior.....small year round creek never been dry....smaller branch fed by 3 springs never been dry....12 acres open/semi-open, 12 acres hardwoods, couple acres large white pines.....+2 miles off public road via damn near level deeded ROW, very private and secluded....former home to three stills.... places like this anywhere in west NC are getting extremely hard to come by any more..... 13 miles from I-77, 19 miles from I-40, power & land-line phone are on property....45 miles (short way via backroads) to "Hanes Mall" in Winston-Salem, 90 to I-77/I-85 interchange in Charlotte It's kinda sorta in a way for sale, well it's definetely for sale at $187,500 CASH, no offers no negotiating no financing no mobiles no commercial chicken/hog operations..... Like I said, it's getting expensive in west NC.... Good luck in your quest....... Put an "land wanted" ad in all the local papers, "traders" too, and check into whatever state you decide on Dept of Agriculture news/review/trader too...And ride around every back road you see, and stop at every little old store you see and check out the swap&sell--community notice boards..... and heres a good tip too.....if you see a septic tank pump truck, ask the driver about old places for sale, they see 'em all and are likely to be be more knowledgeable and honest about land and related issues/problems/watch-outs and the local neighborhood "atmospheres" than any realtor ever will be....just my opinion of course, Here is a link that might be useful: NC Agricultural Review/Trader

I count myself among the "traitors" who have been over at the farmlife forum- I responded to a post about "private trails" and how to keep off unwanted visitors. We have a pretty huge spread here, so I thought the question might fit better over in farmlife. The oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit have started to flower and I'm out every night listening to the coyotes and breathing deep. As for homesteading tasks, well, I'm in a "job" time of the year- teaching, but after this month I plan to get busy starting seeds! I love California! The only thing growing here now are the lettuces, some baby dill and one beet. The critters have eaten most everything else I planted for the winter. I tried leeks, but I think they've stopped growing- they've been about the size of a knitting needle for about two months now...lol. Hope everyone else is doing well.