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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Hope your weekend was good

I tend to tick people off accidentally.

We went to the future farmstead this weekend, and I have got the go a-head on the corrals.

The future farmstead use to be a hobbyist farm. And will continue to be so for all but five acres of it, for the near future.

I am a homesteader surrounded by people that seem to only want very large lawns to mow. More power to them.

I use to make good money, could have afford to buy a smaller acreage with a nice house, but choose something else. We are now broke and struggling, but our good neighbor, who is also a homesteader, doesn't have to work, and makes a little money by selling produce on the side.

I would love to have enough money to get the farmstead going right now. And I have no problems with those that have the money to do so. If they want to buy a 200 acre yard, that is up to them. If they want to use that 200 acres to play with, experiment with livestock, or food stuff. I am happy for them. If they want to use it to hunt only, like my new farmstead neighbors, more power to them. If they want to use it to be completely green, I say go for it. If they can afford to completely change their lives and be farmers or homesteaders, then I am thrilled for them.

If your happy, then you are doing things correctly.

I am not better than anyone just because my owies are bigger. Or I struggle more. I would love not to struggle, and I am working hard so I no longer have to be a broke homesteader. I am not dirt poor, but I am not comfortably rich were I don't have to earn a living from the land.

I apologize for making it seem like I was anti hobbyist, anti-rich or that I was holy than thou. that was never my intentions, ever. I don't like to see good land go to waste, but it isn't my property and I have no say in what they do with it.

What I don't like and I can say something about is how SOME people make other's feel horrible because of their misfortunes, their mistakes, or the fact that they can't afford the things they can. I don't like it when people claim to never make mistakes and then attack those that have.

I made a mistake by not clarifying better in a previous post. By not naming names or whom the post was written for or who it was about. I thought it better not to do so. I felt that a broader generalization would be more appropriate, and did attempt to include the fact that I had no personal problem with those certain people. By no means was it about any one's blog that I read. Though to whom it was written for (don't allow them to make you feel bad) was directed towards a few blogs that I read.

I friend of mine had an animal die. It was an obvious mistake for those that had been doing it for awhile. I was upset that this person didn't seem to know better, but was really ticked when a slew of people began to attack her for the mistake. She should have heeded other's advice, but she chose not to and had to suffer the consequences of the actions. She felt that the books were better than that of the advice she was getting, mainly because the books made it sound like this was the only way to do it and no one else knew what the author knew.

I made a big mistake by following the books as well. I was called out for it, I removed that post because it was thought that other's would do the same, even though I said not to make this same mistake even if the books had said to do it this way.

I want to read books that say how and why something was done, and that this was the mistake, and this is how we fixed it. I know not one book can cover every single mistake and how to fix it. But it would make many of us feel more comfortable about moving forward with these plans. Not everything is perfect, and I am tired of feeling less because my life (and some other's feel the same) doens't go as smoothly as the books claim they should. I am tired of feeling like a failure because these books tell you that this is the only way it will work, yet doesn't seem to for me/you.

If you have the money to allow other's to do something for you, then by all means, take advantage of that. If you have the money to buy an established farm, then go for it, please. I would never feel less of you because of that. That would be silly. I had thought I had said as much. But please, if you never do those things yourself, like butchering or harvesting or whatever else might be involved with a farm or homestead, don't write about it like you did. If you only do the business side of it, then write about that. I would love to read about that aspect. Write about how your farmhands do things. But don't criticize other's for making the mistake if you have never put yourself into that situation.

Have I clarified things enough? I sure hope that I have. If not, then I will try again. But at this point I have no idea how to be clearer. I am surly going to hurt more people's feelings, and if that was my goal, I would have been very harsh and called out some people. Like an entire forum. But I haven't and I hold no animosity toward anyone, or anything.

10 comments:

HermitJim said...

Sometimes, no matter how you phrase things, some people will take it the wrong way. I know this to be true and have experienced it.

I, for one, find the advice you offer to be of enourmous value and so easy, even a Hermit could learn it. (following instructions, that is)

I say, keep doing what you are doing in the same way...and I'll keep apying attention. My feelings won't get hurt, I promise!

Anonymous said...

I agree with da Hermit. One cannot make all the people happy all the time. I would rather refer to you than to a book.

David said...

What's an Owie?

Kelle at The Never Done Farm said...

I guess it is a blessing that I am not a people person, I lean more toward being a hermit. I'm NOT antisocial I just am NOT comfortable around people, always feeling like I'm going to stumble over my tongue.

I tell people up front that I am NOT politically correct, so if easily offended you better not speak to me. Over the years my hide has also thickened to the point that it's like an elephant's hide *wink* Not that anyone has to go around with a chip on their shoulder but I feel that being outspoken has it's place in our society, especially today when given in a thoughtful manner( which I feel you did, BTW)!

Move forward and as the ole saying goes; " The truth hurts" and maybe those who grumbled need to really look at what they are all worked up about.
Keep'em coming!*thumbs up*

Jessica said...

Of course you offend people sometimes. That's life. One person thinks one thing, another thinks strongly otherwise, and the first one to make a statement about their point of view gives offence to the other. Big woop. You're still an excellent source of info and inspiration, even if I don't agree with you.

SkippyMom said...

The last time I checked this is YOUR blog, right? Although you are a wealth of information and help to others - I feel that you do write for you and your experiences.

I find it unnecessary to explain everytime someone takes offense to something you have written. Sometimes, it seems, that you spend a lot of your time saying sorry, when you really shouldn't have to.

It is YOUR blog - no apologies necessary.

Keep up the good work! :D

Jo said...

Well, I felt a few barbs, but not because you put them there. ;)

What I mean is, your posts here make me think about things...like how lucky I am to have a choice about how "poor" I want to live. Or that I can get Farm Boy to work our land for a couple years so we can plant hay later.

And ask myself whether I edit too much about the failures and losses. How much blood and guts, starved-out bees, frozen baby lambs, steers running for the highway, and lost emus do people need to know?

But you're right. We all do need to hear it. Because mistakes are what we learn from. If you share yours, I can learn from them. The least I can do is share mine.

The Thinker said...

Did you ever go to church. I used to a long time ago and I remember sometimes it would feel like the preacher was talking right at ME. He wasn't, of course. He was just teaching a lesson that I obviously needed to learn.

People look to you as a teacher, Phelan. And if there are times when you make one or another of us squirm a little bit, that just means that you are on the right track.

Cassandra

Anonymous said...

I stop and read your posts often and enjoy them. This is life through your eyes and if anyone can't or won't see what you do, there is nothing you can do about it.

I don't agree with all that you have to say but I KNOW if you talked with me long you would find the same in me. We are people. Take what you want and leave the rest....There is also A LOT I DO AGREE WITH.

Keep on doing what you do and make yourself happy. The great part is if you don't like something you have the power to change it. Hit the delete button, move the garden, raise another kind of animal what ever it takes. This is your journey, DO IT YOUR WAY.

Thanks for all the good information you share with us. I will be watching this canning season for some more great recipes.

Have a great day. :)

Karyn

ChristyACB said...

Personally, I like it when you get all riled up and read us the riot act. :)

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