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with Michael David
Homesteading land...
The idea of getting a piece of land and building it up, producing what you can for yourself and being free.
It's a dream a lot of people share, myself included.
I've had a few properties over the years but none that I really had to homestead on so I never did.
August of 2019 I got a piece of vacant land in California. 2.5 acres of high desert.
I had been researching what it really took to start on a bare piece of land for about 2 years. Thought I knew enough to go make it happen. Despite not having much money going into it.
I was wrong lol.
I had spent years living in forests all over America so after extensive research, I finally dove right in. Head first, without a life jacket.
We found a mega cheap property with almost 0 trees lol. The grass dies in late may and the valley goes brown. Hilltops of juniper and oak, wild horses and open range.
No water lol. It's the desert.
$6000, paid cash.
Stayed on an air mattress in the back of the truck first couple weeks.
We were low on funds so we figured why not get a cheap camper trailer. So we got 2, one for 500 bucks and the other for 100. Parked them staggered one another but parallel on the prop and dug in.
We originally got harassed by the county for living off grid out there, then eventually just got the good ole boy nod.
Nearest gas station is 25 minute drive.
Nearest groceries is an hour.
My kinda place.
There is something I think anyone should know about homesteading this far out...
Look, most the folks you see on youtube or wherever have backups because they have money to have backups. Some of it is only for show as well.
We didn't.
We also did not have enough money to stretch out to all of the various things you now have to do yourself.
Plus we vastly underestimated what it really meant when you combined not having money to how expensive it would be in gas to get to town. A one point it was $50 just in gas to go get groceries. (f350 with service box and 460 engine)
Homesteading without money, or a way to steadily get money, is terrible.
I will say this though, regardless how bad it got...
and it got bad...
When I compare it to working at the chicken factory I was working a quality position at and renting an apartment...
Making more than a lot of folks around me...
I would do this all over again any day.
I would just have a better plan for money.
Look guys, shit was really tough for us on this journey and it really does not matter still. The tranquility we get out here allows for focus, decompression and so much more.
Having a piece of property, even primitive, is killer!
Ok, imagine this...
Every night, no matter where I went or what I did, I know I know I have a bed waiting for me. Free of charge, comfortable and mine.
To me that is worth pushing harder for.
To be continued...
Homesteading with Michael David
by Michael David
Co-founder of #thealliance and loyal since before the egg.
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