Well, if y'all think that permitting process is bad, you should see the hoops that I have to jump through down here in NC!
I thought that when we moved to our 12 acre hobby farm, I would have it made in the shade. I would be able to get all of the animals that I wanted, and not have to worry about permits, permission, surprise inspections etc.
Boy, was I ever wrong!
I have quickly realized, that no matter where you live, you may be subjected to this type of process. And if you go outside of the rules and guidelines, the penalties can sometimes be harsher than going to prison for murder or tax evasion.
I thought that because we had 12 acres, that instead of the 25 chickens that I had been given permission and permits for, nobody would notice 200. I would really like to get a couple of goats because there are several areas on the property that have grown up over the last 5-10 years around a couple of the barns with brush and stuff, and I am worried about the poisinous snakes being around the buildings, but I am not sure that it will be worth the permitting process and surely the penalty if I get caught without the permit.
I thought quietly to myself while we were buying the land, that I would be able to get 2 calfs (named ribeye & T-bone) to feed out and provide beef, and then there was the thought that nobody would ever notice a couple of pigs (named Ham & Bacon) on the 12 acres if I kept them on the back part of the property, surely nobody would know that I have them, it is not visible from the road.
You would think that living in the country of North Carolina, that you wouldn't have to jump through all of the rules and regulations that one would have say in Boston, or any other metropolitan areas, but alas, we do.
Although, you folks in the Boston area seem to have it a little easier in some regards. As I am reading these posts, I see that you have annual inspections. I would be thrilled if we could only have monthly inspections down here.
Hopefully as time goes on, I can convince the inspector to ease up on me some. Once the freezers are stocked with pork, beef, and chicken, and the eggs are so plentifull and delicious, and that we can have a nice thick fillet or ribeye anyday of the week without taking a second mortgage out on the farm to have a nice dinner.
You see, my permitting and inspection department is run by the town of Wife. She is doing better, but I still have a ways to go. She likes to pull daily inspections when she comes home from work to see how many new critters I have adopted that day. The penalties have included the cold shoulder and such thought often come with a spouse that does not agree with the other spouses choices at times, but seems to disapate with a nice warm meal that fills her tummy. (I am also a good cook)
So, even though the stakes are high, I think it is often rewarding to go against said rules at times to provide food for your family. I think there is too much Amish in my blood not to continue.
I wish you all the best of luck in your endevors!
Brenda, chicken tender is talking about his wife. Reread his post, its pretty funny but ya gotta pay attention.
