What am I even doing right now??

I've been asking myself that a lot because I don't see much talk about "getting-started" in the established farm accounts I follow. I'm cool with winging every step of this, but I still hope my excited chatter about my discoveries doesn't seem disrespectful of people who have been farming all their lives.

I'm not doing this because I want to have a large farm or because I think I can jump into quickly becoming self-sufficient. I'm already 40-something and if you keep reading, you'll see I have a specific set of skills. And they're not the cool ones either.

I'm committed to reducing what I consume and becoming a producer of something useful to my community. I also want to dramatically shrink what I need from stores. If I can make things from simple ingredients, plus trade things I learn how to make (or the dollars I earn from making them), with individuals who make something I need, I'll consider this venture a success. Along the way, I'll do the excited chatter about who I'm meeting and what I'm finding because these farms and people don't get talked about enough.

Here's how my "getting started" list is going...

Those last few are big ones.

But darn it, I've got a quarter acre in the suburbs! There's stuff I can do right now, right where I am. I'm really thankful for my home and I'm not going to hurry this time forward wishing I were somewhere else. It's already going too fast. And if God thinks I can manage more, He's never hesitated to hold back before.

Downsides: I've also got an HOA that says no farm animals. And no fences. And no sheds or structures. And one time my neighbors told me to take my dog inside because she barked at them.

The Dangerous Beast

The other sides: I'm really bad with plants, but I'm darn crafty - more MacGyver than Martha Stewart. I'm pretty good at fishing. Not afraid to learn the mechanics of things. Barn cats seem to like me. Do they know about the fishing somehow?? I don't know what to do with these skills.

I'm thinking maybe it's time for me to figure it out by messing around. For science, obviously.

I ordered a couple blocks of beeswax from a local apiary. I've got an unpeeled luffa/loofah in my room and I can't wait to mess with it! I've got jars for stuff? And some tools. And a kitchen! I've got a bunch of recipes. I can laugh while failing terribly at something. Maybe I'll start recording some of that.

I'm also doing a bunch of observing and exploring and reading. I've started using these new social media accounts and websites to hold myself accountable for getting involved, so that the unchecked boxes on my list don't frustrate me into a depressive spiral. I'm meeting people and getting opportunities to learn about stuff I didn't even know existed. It's so fun. And it's available to me right here, where I already am.

I hope you have something that makes you feel challenged and curious. If you do, I'd love to hear about it!