I wouldn’t necessarily call it Buyers Remorse, because I am happy with the move we’ve made from the city to a more rural area…
And we didn’t buy a new property in our move, we’re renters.
So, instead I’ll call it an Incredibly Steep Learning Curve.
Over the course of several years, we’d built all the infrastructure, established all the beds and planted several perennials on our Urban Farm. We had fruit trees, strawberries, rhubarb, and gorgeous echinacea that we didn’t have to think twice about. Planning for each year was easy because all we had to do was figure out which varieties to grow and in which beds, and I created a nifty map for all of the planning and planting.
We thought that, in moving to a much larger piece of property, we would have more work to do, certainly, but less worry about how much space we would have to plant on. The idea of planning a sprawling garden with row upon row of tomatoes and beans and squash seemed like a dream that might finally be coming true.
Even thinking about cultivating a portion of the six acres feels like a lot of land, especially when coming from an itty bitty 1/8 acre surrounded by asphalt and concrete.
It’s almost mind numbing to think about the level of work that needs to go into this property, let alone all of the divine potential!
Unfortunately, after only living here for a short few months, we are faced with uncertainty instead of excitement. And yes, some of this is completely self-imposed.
See, since there are multiple renters on the property and everyone (including us) has been promised different things at different times by the Landlord…privacy, quiet, open space, closed roads, space for growing food…there have been some mis-communications and side-stepping.
Don’t get me wrong, in some instances, all of it works together wonderfully.
However, our promised potential growing plots have been changed up on us a couple of times and, honestly, as a direct result, so has our perspective.
So, the way we see it, we currently have two options:
- Prep a Patch of Soil in the spring and plan a garden to go directly in the ground, knowing full well that the plans of others could interfere and that we might move before the harvests are really ready
- Plan a Container Garden, provide our own controls, and take it all with us when we move
There are benefits and drawbacks to both and I haven’t yet weighed all of the pros and cons because it all feels like too much to think about just yet.
Right now, I see Option #1 as a practice in trust and surrender with the potential for complete loss.
I am trying very hard to not see Option #2 as a step backwards on our homesteading journey.
With the days getting longer and seeds longing to be started under grow lights, we have some serious decisions to make…
Stay tuned.
And truly, I welcome any insights you might have on renting a homestead, land negotiations, and/or trusting the process on your way from What Was to What You’ve Always Dreamed Of.
xoxo,
M
Uh OH. I’m so sad to hear that you’re having difficulties in communicating with everyone involved. I want you to have that sprawling acreage and tackle it with unbridled passion! (Short of that, though, maybe containers are in order? We really liked Smart Pots…) Big hugs.
Kris @ Attainable Sustainable recently posted…Grow a Nectarine from Seed
Thanks Kris 🙂 I’m tyring to remind myself that this is all part of the learning curve and our ideal property *is out there somewhere. Thanks for the tip on Smart Pots, I’ll check them out.
We also rent (Vancouver is one of the most expensive housing areas in N. America), and only do containers because the landlord doesn’t want us digging up the yard. I am considering buying more veggies from local farms, and saving the container space for herbs and things we can’t easily buy locally. Just wondering, do you have restrictions on moving soil from one area to another? We do, I would hate to lug those containers around and then need to take them back because someone was concerned about contamination.
I agree with you about growing what makes the most sense and purchasing other fruits and veggies from local farmers. If space is truly at such a premium, we should be *very careful about what we plant 🙂 Luckily, we do not have the soil restrictions you do. I get why those rules are in place but man, what a bummer 🙁
I started doing container gardening back when I lived in the city. For the most part it is easy. We now live in a mobile home park, but we have a decent size lot that the landlord has pretty much let us do whatever to as long as it is neat. We do have a rather large garden plot but I still do container gardening as well. Somethings just grow better in containers, like lettuce. Plus they are easy to weed and move so we can mow around them.
Excellent reminders, Heather! Thank you 🙂 We did some container gardening at our old place, I guess I just thought those days were behind us unless we really wanted a few containers. I’m actually starting to get a bit excited about it! Spring Fever is definitely kicking in!
I am so sorry things have turned out this way. How frustrating. My decision in this situation would be to garden in containers. That way you have more control of what is yours. Have you seen my DIY Self Watering Planters (http://growagoodlife.com/constructing-18-gal-self-watering-containers-swc/)? You can grow two tomato plants each in these and four pepper plants. When it is time to move, just drain the water and pack them up soil and all.
Rachel, Thank you for your thoughts! I do believe a container garden is the best way forward. I *love your self watering planters and am planning to make at least a couple this spring! There’s a whole other water situation here that having a self-watering set-up will help with. But that’s a whole other story! 🙂