It happened. It finally happened…
Something else besides Mountain Man has made my skirt fly up. To new dimensions.
We found our forever home(stead). Say whaaaaat?!?!
We have currently been renting our homestead for three years. Yep. Three years. We have been going back-and-forth between wanting to buy the place we rent to not wanting to buy the place we rent. This back-and-forth thing has gone on for two years.
While our current homestead encompasses so many things like: why we started homesteading and how we got to South Carolina, building our first hoop house, why we cut off cable tv, purchasing and preparing for goats to bringing home our first goats, trying to figure out if our ducks were laying, and what homesteading means to us – we cannot wait to see what our new home(stead) will encompass.
We moved to our current homestead because it was rural, in a small town (of 300), and was just what we wanted. We were lucky enough to have really great neighbors too, but there was one thing that held us back from purchasing our rental property. CRIME WATCH. Yep- last year our teeny tiny country road had to develop a crime watch. Our road dead ends to a beautiful lake and people were going down there partaking in illegal activities- which led to worse things. These kinds of things were exact reason we left the city in Florida. So, we started looking. For something special. We knew when we found it that we would “just know.” We searched for a good year.
We didn’t really care where our new home(stead) was- as long as it didn’t snow 300 days a year there. Well- we found it. In Virginia. In a small rural town (of 150ish people). I had come across this property before and said to myself that “it was too good to be true” and just chucked it to the side. My great friend (and blog bestie) Jenna from The Flip Flop Barnyard started helping us look in her area. Why not? All of her kiddos ages coincide with ours, we have the same beliefs in almost everything, and she is awesome, so it was a win-win. Jenna sent me a link and I checked it out. It was the “to good to be true” property. So, I called the real estate agent…what could it hurt? And, the rest is history! I forever be grateful to Jenna for finding this for us. And no, we are not in her area of Virginia, but we are only about 2 hours away, so it’s still a win!
Our current homestead is 15 acres. New one- 45.
Currently in a 3/2 home. New home- pre-Civil War tobacco plantation 5/2.
Current home only has animal houses we have built. New farm comes with old barn, other outbuildings, a root cellar (EEK!- I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED ONE- and yes, that requires screaming due to my excitement), and a two acre pond.
Whew- and y’all thought Mountain Man made my skirt fly up… imagine what this homestead does! 😉
Yes- our new home sounds like a dream, and it is, but there is also A LOT of work to be done. A lot. And by a lot- I mean a super-duper-tremendous amount of work.
But, for those of you that know us we are NOT afraid of hard work (I mean- just last night we were up until 1am butchering chickens!). And not to mention Mountain Man and I are experts at fixing things (ahem). Okay, okay- maybe just Mountain Man, but I am great about making the decisions and planning. ;).
And planning and decisions MUST be made since our moving date is January 31- of this year. Only 26 days away!
Moving a Homestead
Moving a regular home- with kids- is exhausting and takes lots of planning, but moving a homestead/farm can pretty much give you the biggest anxiety attack or mini-heart attack one has ever experienced. And I am saying that from current experience.
We have ducks, chickens, goats, children, coops, frozen food that we grew/raised ourselves- all needing to be moved- across state lines, but luckily under 6 hours away.
While we know the normal list of things to get turned on/off like internet, cell phones, electric, water, oil, etc- moving a homestead is much more than just that. So, in my new endeavor of planning this huge move I have turned to the experts! Yep- homestead bloggers who have experience moving a homestead. Why? Because they have done it- and survived. And survival is what we are aiming for here, folks!
The Best Posts on Moving a Homestead
– Embracing the Unknown by Homestead Honey
– 7 Things to Do Before You Move by Northern Homestead
– Three Things I Learned from Moving Our Homestead by A Return to Simplicity
– Tips for Packing Up a House by A Return to Simplicity
– Moving an Outhouse {and a visit to an Old Homestead} by Lady Lee’s Home
– Why Would You Quit Your Job and Move to MO? by Homestead in the Holler (these are GREAT reasons to move in order to farm/homestead)
Pictures of Our New Home(stead) and Our New Puppy!
While I would love to show you all of the amazing pictures and plans of our new home(stead) we all know that this is the internet and that’s probably not a good idea- at all. So, I will show y’all my top three photos!
Moving to this farm will allow us to not only start the family farm that we have always wanted, but it will also provide us with so many awesome blog posts FOR YOU! And yes, we plan on selling: eggs, pastured chicken, homemade beauty products- including goat milk soap, cheeses, produce, and eventually grass-fed beef and honey. It’s our dream, baby! And we finally get to start/live it.
P.S. We also got a new puppy named Gus. He is a Great Pyrenees and Jenna will be bringing him to us on move-in day! Gus will live with the goats and protect our livestock- he is not an inside dog but we are so thrilled to have him and he will be our big baby!
We were so happy to get him from Miller Brothers Farms (who is also holding on to him until we get to Virginia). They also send us pics of Gus so we can watch him grow before we get him- how awesome is that?!? Thanks again Miller Brothers Farms!
Can’t wait to see what new adventures our new home(stead) brings!
Happy Farming!
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I still think you should have looked at Michigan a little closer 😉 but I am so excited for you guys! This is going to be an awesome adventure
Hey- I tried! ;).
Jen
Oh my oh my oh my! I am so excited for you! It all sounds so great and I am sure it is beautiful up there. And 45 acres!! This is so much space to make, create, and enjoy. And EEK! Is definitely right about this root cellar! I want one too, so bad.
Good luck!
Thanks so much! We can use all the luck we can get ;). I’ll be sure to share the root cellar through photos!
Jen
Oh my, it’s beautiful! I’m so jealous about that house! I have always wanted to buy an old, old house to fix up. What a blessing for you and yours! Congrats, I’m so happy for you, and cannot wait to see what you do with the place! Prayers for a smooth move!
That is an absolutely beautiful homestead. Good luck with the move.
I agree! It’s gorgeous! ;). Thanks for stopping by.
Jen
Oooh, how exciting! I’m very happy for you. We are also moving this spring and the logistics of moving 800 miles with 2 horses, 14 chickens, 10 ducks, 2 dogs and a cat are mind-boggling, so I will for sure check out these articles you have linked here. Thank you for those. And best of luck in your new home – it sounds amazing!
Lisa
Fresh Eggs Daily
Whew! 800 miles? And I thought our 300 was overwhelming. We also have 14 chickens and 10 ducks! Thank you and good luck to you in your move too!
Jen
Oh, I am so excited to have more homesteaders in my state!! Only a couple hours from me too! Thanks so much for sharing my links! Best of luck to you with your big move.
Thanks Angi! We cannot wait to become lifelong residents of Virginia!
Jen
How exciting! Love the house and all the acres! And that puppy! So cute!! Good luck with your move!
Thank you! I have a feeling we need all the luck we can get ;).
Jen
Hi Jen,
Recently discovered your blog and really enjoying everything you post! Congrats on your new home!! I can totally relate to the anxiety attacks, as my hubby and I just bought our 40 acre place this past summer. I gave a little rundown here:
http://lifewithdaisy.ca/journal/2014/6/15/a-new-chapter-is-about-to-begin
But yes, it’s all worth it and I still have to pinch myself everyday to make sure I’m not dreaming! Very excited for you and your family. Look forward to reading about your new adventures in your new place 🙂
Wow! So you know exactly what we are experiencing! I will be sure to stop by and check out your post!
Oh my goodness how exciting!!! And that puppy!!! I just want to hug him! I can’t wait to hear all your new adventures Jen! What a gem of a homestead you’ll have!
Thanks so much Meredith!
Jen
Dude…my skirts getting blown up! That is an awesome homestead! ! 2 acre pond!?! Outbuildings, root cellar, 5 bedrooms, preCivil war!!, PLANTATION!! OH.MY. That’s so stinkin sexy.
We’re selling ours and moving too. We haven’t found it but we’re wanting land to build our own passive solar home. I’d reconsider if it was a plantation home and a 2 acre pond.
Btw…cute Pyr. We’ve 2 and our female is having her first litter. Get a 2nd pyr asap as they guard so well they need a team so they can sleep well instead of sleeping with 1 eye open. You’ll love having Gus. They’re awesome dogs.
Honey
A solar home sounds awesome! Congratulations on your first litter of puppies!
Jen
How exciting! I can’t wait to hear how the move goes! Thanks for sharing your post on the HomeAcre Hop, hope to see you again tomorrow!
– Nancy
On The Home Front
“Virginia is for lovers” so the saying goes, and in my opinion it’s because it is so lush and beautiful!! My husband and I have lived in a state of home renovation for decades, I think it’s for younger people 🙂 but we do have one small portable classroom (it will be our 864 sq foot home) to do on our little homestead here in North Florida. We’ve done a very large part of an almost 4,000 sq ft house which is now on the market. Wish we could have found something with a lot of acreage when we were much younger, but we sure are enjoying setting up our 10 acre homestead now! Bless you and good wishes sent your way!
Thank you so much! I think a 10 acre homestead is amazing!
Jen
It is pretty heroic to be able to move a homestead! 🙂 Thanks for the post! The puppy is so cute I couldn’t resist to write something! 🙂 Greets!