Starting Life!!

[Lyons]

Hey

So here's the deal I've spent the last 5 years in the Air Force. I am security forces and have been all over the world. The one thing I realized I hate is the city! I can't stand it! I grew up on 156 acres in paris KY and when I was a child I hated it! Now that I've seen the world I just want my own property to be left alone!! I have 13 months left in the AF and feel overwhelmed. I don't know where to start on buying and making a homestead. I will have some money saved from deployments and taxes but not a lot. I want property first and then build from scratch over time. I grew up in construction and went to a vocational high school so I'm well versed in all the hands on skills. My only issue is I'm bad with understanding land ownership and legal issues I would love to here some story's to get inspired for my big move. Please help me out with any info you have! How to buy land, prep land, legal issues and what it takes to move a wife and 2 children onto a homestead! I also would love to hear about homeschooling and how to do that. Being in the government makes me not want my children to be taught by the government. I want to grow them and give them not only knowledge but LIFE SKILLS. Any info you can give me on this would be greatly appreciated. Obviously I know the signs and see what's about to happen in this country. The collapse in my eyes is imminent so my land has to be protectable in a tight nit community. God will always guide my family and carried us through everything. I trust in him there was a tugging on my heart to reach out to not only a family that I've grown to trust but the people that are like minded. Anyway all the info you all can thrown my way would be greatly appreciated!!

(I didn't proof read this)

Fire away!
-Lyons-

[homeward]

Since you mentioned a wife a two kids, the number one starting point in homesteading is making sure you ALL are on board with the lifestyle of homesteading and all the responsibilities that entails. Homesteading has a lot of romantic notions of a more independent life, a more fulfilling life, and a life that connects one to the "real" things God has provided for us. While all that is true, the other side of the coin is that this kind of lifestyle is very hard work and endless hard work. It can be frustrating at times and the ultimate goal of being self-sustaining will be, in every practical sense, something of a pipe dream. You and your family will ALWAYS need someone else or goods produced by somewhere else. None of us can do it all. That being said, one does learn very quickly their dependence on a Higher Being, their growing good character, their sense of responsibility not only to work but to each other as a family, and their ultimate satisfaction of work done well and pleasing in the eyes of God. I believe this "trade-off" is a no brainer.

The things I looked for when buying land was first determining what I wanted to do it and what I wished to achieve. At first, I didn't really figure in for what I have now!, but the land I bought is relatively flat or gently rolling, was easy to convert to pasture or open land for growing, and WATER somewhere. Of the three, water was most important for me. It's a little hard to get to, but doable. I worked through a realtor to buy it, however, working through an owner is just as easy. The fix is that the dollars have to be in place. What I mean by that is that you will either need to have cash in hand for the purchase OR the very quick ability to acquire the dollars for purchase. Don't be frustrated with what you're finding at first. Finding the right land took us a long time and was NOT convenient for the kind of lifestyle we had at the time, so you need to think long term about your family needs, purpose, and ultimate goals.

Lastly, I would recommend against prepping for a doomsday scenario or a lifestyle replete with distrust in governments or authority. Instead, I would encourage you and your family to live your life in ways pleasing to God, knowing that ends will come at His discretion, not at the whims and whistles of mankind. This does not mean to not feed yourselves with the immense bounty God provides, but rather to store up those spiritual things that cannot mold or be stolen.

[Lyons]

Thank you. I will let you know how it works out.