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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2015 18:06:32 GMT
I am wondering how to connect to the local people. I lunch with seniors. Most every one of them live like city people. It does include some younger or able bodied people. There are a few who refuse to do anything but gossip. No one seems to want to talk about issues of country living. IOW I'm having the same conversations as when I lived in the city.
One of the fellow lunch people still raises cattle. When I ask about grass basically all I get back is it is green. Hey the ladies can identify flowers. Anything that isn't sold for gardens is weeds.
How do you connect or even find others to share and visit with about homesteading subjects?
If I were a party boy I'd have lots more active contacts (friends/associates).
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Post by Callie on Apr 26, 2015 20:04:45 GMT
Go to your local feed store. Check their carts to see if they have flats of veggies. Take classes offered by the extension service - or ask if they WILL teach a class such as canning, etc. Continuing education classes Online forums like this one - put your location on and it will help.
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Post by whisperwindkat on Apr 26, 2015 20:31:12 GMT
It can be hard. I live in a rural area. Most of my neighbors and people I know have loads and loads of land, yet don't grow a single tomato plant. I hear them talk about their high grocery bills and it is so puzzling to me that they don't see the solution to that. My granddaddy was a cattleman and I guess he was ahead of his time or something. He rotated his cattle among pastures. He burned pastures, fertilized with compost, and would always have one pasture that was allowed to sit fallow for a year. Yet, my neighbors that are cattlemen around me never rotate pastures. I have seen them grazed down to almost bare dirt. Rarely do I see a field sit fallow and it is mostly weeds that do grow in those fields. In the middle of the field is a very long, large feed bunker that is filled both morning and night with expensive cattle feed. Doesn't matter if it is cows or feeder steers in the pastures. They still get fed twice a day. These are not feed lots either, these are large pastures. I don't know, I just don't get it either. Every now and then I run into someone who thinks like I do, but mostly it is here that I feel like I am among people who "get" the way I think. I look at it this way, those folks puzzle me and I would bet that I am a puzzle to them too. Blessings, Kat
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2015 21:08:23 GMT
There is a 'feed and seed' store in our area that has a wood stove and a checkerboard, you can sit there and here all the "homesteading" talk you want. Some of it may even be true.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2015 21:44:26 GMT
One of our best friendships happened when I stopped at a roadside produce stand many years ago.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2015 2:50:30 GMT
Go to your local feed store. Check their carts to see if they have flats of veggies. Take classes offered by the extension service - or ask if they WILL teach a class such as canning, etc. Continuing education classes Online forums like this one - put your location on and it will help. I'll have to learn the art of hanging out at TSC or similar places. They don't have tables and chairs or conversation places. There really isn't much hangout places around here. Most are private table conversations at a local restaurant I refuse to eat at in the next county. One can only drink so much coffee. I do senior lunch at 2 places and have some worthless babble about the weather or going to the doc.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2015 2:54:08 GMT
There is a 'feed and seed' store in our area that has a wood stove and a checkerboard, you can sit there and here all the "homesteading" talk you want. Some of it may even be true. Haven't even seen the outdoor checker board at Cracker Barrel in a couple years.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2015 2:57:04 GMT
One of our best friendships happened when I stopped at a roadside produce stand many years ago. None here. I live on a dirt road or I might consider doing one myself.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2015 21:56:14 GMT
There is a 'feed and seed' store in our area that has a wood stove and a checkerboard, you can sit there and here all the "homesteading" talk you want. Some of it may even be true. Haven't even seen the outdoor checker board at Cracker Barrel in a couple years. You know it's a shame, but the big chain stores are taking over and they are all about the bottom line. The old "Mom & Pop" stores with a checkerboard and chairs are going away. The chain stores don't want you hanging around unless you're spending money. They don't understand that the relationships built around those sitting areas are what lead to long term customers. I drive past several of those just to get to the "Mom & Pop" store.
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Post by wolfmom on Apr 29, 2015 21:28:34 GMT
I feel your pain. I moved four months ago. I'm glad I enjoy my own company and find more than enough to do on a daily basis. But yes, it would be nice to go hiking with someone or at least share a movie.
It's hard to meet people with your interests unless you go to places where they are. I like to hike and garden so, hopefully, will eventually find clubs to meet people with similar interests. I'm not really a joiner, but if that's what I have to do to meet people, that's what will happen. And yes, as Callie said - classes. Find a Master gardener's class. I took all the classes, but living here, gardening is a different experience. So they talk about flowers - it's a beginning.
The other thing I plan on doing is volunteering. You may consider working with dogs as that's an entry into meeting animal lovers and hopefully, eventually someone who shares your homesteading/farm experience.
You may end up meeting someone who knows someone....
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Post by Wendy on Apr 30, 2015 0:20:37 GMT
If I ever open my store I am going to put a checkerboard!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2015 3:49:45 GMT
If you can get involved with 4-H, you are likely to meet more like minded people, if you have a good 4-H program in your area. Here, 4-H is strong.
You might also get involved in farmer's markets.
Any of the rural organizations might be good places too. FFA, cattlemen's associations, garden clubs, etc. You might also try soil and water conservation offices, co-ops, and the extension office.
Our extension office generally has a long list of meetings, programs, and information about local and state stuff.
I find that it does take time to network and find a group or groups that fit you best.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2015 4:02:27 GMT
I do liken your situation to a similar thing in my life:
I have LOVED bluegrass music for years, but couldn't find a soul that was interested in the music. I literally thought I might have been the only person on the planet who liked bluegrass music. I searched and searched for others, and possibly casual jam sessions. Heck, I would have loved to find someone to trade music with, back when it was on records and cassettes, since none of the stores carried it.
I finally stumbled on a flyer for a bluegrass jamboree, and went. There, I found lots of other flyers about other festivals and jamborees. I started going to those, not knowing anyone. It wasn't too long that I started meeting people...and those people were from my own county! Who would have thunk that attending BG festivals in another state would lead me to meeting people from my own hometown???
I got to know lots of people in my area that not only loved BG music, but were forming bands and having jams every week. I got to know almost everyone in our area that loves BG, and in many cases, got to know them very, very well.
I don't go to festivals anymore (even though I wish that I could), but I still know almost everyone in the area who is into BG music.
I thought I was the weird person who liked traditional bluegrass, and it turns out that it is STRONG in our area. You've just got to network.
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Post by mollymckee on May 1, 2015 0:47:59 GMT
We have always made friends at our church. If you don't go to church, any group that meets often and is friendly should help, or volunteer at a local food pantry or other charity on a weekly basis, you will get to know others. Then you can find out who is interested in the same things that you are.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2015 22:47:39 GMT
@dirtyfingers What a lot of good advice! I am new to my area & have done some of these things. I joined a local religious group, took bread/cookies to neighbors, stopped on at AgExt & intend to go to some events, as well as Master Gardener class. Oh, also I'm chatty so I talk to everyone - can't hurt. Five months & steady progress although no new close connections. Let us know how you do!
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2015 2:50:21 GMT
If you can get involved with 4-H, you are likely to meet more like minded people, if you have a good 4-H program in your area. Here, 4-H is strong. You might also get involved in farmer's markets. Any of the rural organizations might be good places too. FFA, cattlemen's associations, garden clubs, etc. You might also try soil and water conservation offices, co-ops, and the extension office. Our extension office generally has a long list of meetings, programs, and information about local and state stuff. I find that it does take time to network and find a group or groups that fit you best. I'll give the extension office another look see. I don't remember them having a bulletin board. They do have a rack full of agri info though.
No children so have never been involved in 4-H.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2015 2:56:37 GMT
@dirtyfingers What a lot of good advice! I am new to my area & have done some of these things. I joined a local religious group, took bread/cookies to neighbors, stopped on at AgExt & intend to go to some events, as well as Master Gardener class. Oh, also I'm chatty so I talk to everyone - can't hurt. Five months & steady progress although no new close connections. Let us know how you do! Doesn't fit my personality well at all. Just not a social butterfly.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2015 1:10:51 GMT
Before I moved to this area my Best Friend wasn't a Good Person, we did a lot of Drinking and Fighting. Move here neighbors I got to know were into far worse stuff You was told to join in, keep your mouth shut or stay away, keep your mouth shut, if you don't something Bad will happen to you.
Now where we live I just don't socialize very much, I've heard too much. Church is ok but still don't get close. Just started going to the Gym, might be interesting.
When I was with my Ex things were about Money and Partying. Changed us over time.
Rockpile
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