when we came to Southland, a province of New Zealand, I had no idea that we might stay for longer than it took to have a look. Seventeen years later we have a home, garden and too many animals buried here to count as a passing phase.
Sometimes I think of where the time has gone, but mostly I just want to enjoy the time I have left here on my own piece of “God’s Own”.
With our sheep, cows, chooks, cats, horses, dogs and us it is a busy ship.
The 8 acres we have here are mostly grass, although we have planted shelter and fruit/nut trees to try to gain a modest self-reliance. Our gardens are providing us with food and forage for the animals. Our idea is to live and thrive on as little as possible whether it be energy, food, water or money!
We have no misconceptions that we are farming, that is another ideal entirely, what we want to do is survive.
We can grow enough lambs to pay for the hay prodution[all made on the farm] and for our own meat. We grow out a calf every 18 months. Our chickens are a good breed for both eggs and meat. The horses are my pleasure and they provide endless amounts of dung for the worms! Cats keep the rodents and mustilids away. And the dogs help keep them all in line.
It is not a life for everyone, but for me it is paradise!