Things to expect living in the country.

[peepblessed]

Quote:
All excellent advice! A few other tips...

Power outages are common in the country due to fallen trees on the lines during ice, snow or rain storms. Prepare for this with flashlights, candles, kerosene lamps, Coleman lanterns, etc. Learn how to use these things and have a plan before it happens.

Your older neighbors can educate you on well usage and probably know more about your well than you were told by the realtor or previous owner. People in the country are both extremely nosey and, at the same time, extremely private. It's hard to understand or explain, but they value their privacy...just not yours. They don't mean to be rude but it is more cultural than behavioural. This can work to your advantage when you need help or information but can work to your detriment if you have any weirdness or unlawful practices planned.

Your pets cannot run free just because they are in the country. If anything, the older country people are more strict on this than anything else. They have livestock and they don't mess around with someone's pet just because you and your kids may luuuurrrrrve it. If it's spotted in their fields, it is an automatic target. They may give you a chance to come and claim your pet...and again, they may not. Good fences make good neighbors more so in the country than anywhere else....no one appreciates drifting stock, pets, etc. on their land.

Your chickens are more in danger from predators, so adapt to this by providing livestock guardian animals, hides, vigilance, etc. Out in the country, there are no such things as a Ft. Knox coop...there is always something that can get in, so provide for this by having your own predatory animal on guard night and day.

Be prepared for some of the friendliest folks you will ever meet...and some of the most stand-offish. They don't change much in the country, so any change is hard for them to deal with....it takes them time to get used to you. It's best if you try to fit into neighborhood instead of trying to change it to meet your standards...so if your neighbor gets up at 5am and moves his cattle, they are bawling like they're murdered, and he is yelling at them to boot, I'd just refrain from asking him to stop this practice so your husband can sleep. Likely he has been doing this for all his life, his father before him, and so on and so forth.

Once you are there for awhile, you'll wonder why in the world you didn't do this sooner and will dread the thought of ever "going back". The quiet, star-filled nights, the sound of the wildlife, the friendly waves and the wonderful solitude of the country will feed your soul like nothing else.

Such excellent advice! Couldn't have said it better myself!

 

[Beekissed]

Yep! A guardian dog doesn't have to be an actual LGD breed as you won't need them to be guarding livestock out on a pasture situation, like sheep. All you really need is an outside dog that takes patrolling the yard area seriously, will ward off or kill any predators that enter their sanctum~and that means other dogs~and are good around your livestock and family. Keep them outside at all times...and they can't do this well if tied or kenneled, so prepare to arrange a system in which they can roam the area around your coops/flocks. I use a perimeter fence on the property around the house and also wireless electric setup. Works perfectly and pays for itself over and over.

I have always used Labs and Lab mix "throw away" dogs...those that no one else wanted, but I did. They are usually free, they need a good home and they often have very hardy health, sweet dispositions and are easily trained. Labs, in particular, are eager to please their owners and train to livestock well, not to mention being great family dogs.

 

[Tracydr]

A large breed dog will usually deter the strange people stopping by as well. I currently don't live in the country but have for most of my life. My current big dog is a Doberman. There are tons of landscapers trying to get palm trimming jobs in our neighborhood. If we have our door open with only the screen door closed, most people will stand about 20 feet back, where the garage starts and the porch ends, and hope that we notice them standing there. Most times, we ignore them, the Doberman barks and does her job and we get to enjoy our morning coffee. It's sort of funny that people are that intimidated, given that a door is between them and the dog.
As far as the country, sounds like most people have covered everything. I would mention that you will probably want an ATV or some sort of utility vehicle or garden tractor, even if you don't need a large tractor. You would not believe all the things you will use it for, especially if you get some implements for it.

 

[Duramaxgirl]

I'm about 12 miles from town but there is a gas station about 3 miles from me.
So... I think a gaurd dog isn't a bad idea. I don't own a dog. But I just found out my neighbor had a bear in his front yard a few nights ago! Ahhh bears freak me out! Hope he's in hibernation some where now.
I agree getting a pantry and freezers full of food. I always make sure I have at least 4 or 5 important things to do before I go to town. Its to expensive to run more then once or twice a week for us.
If you have lots of animals plan on packing water in the winter. I pack at least 5 gallons aday out to all the coops. And we're hopefully getting another cow soon. DH always takes care of them.
If your going to be living in a colder climate a 4x4 is a good idea. The back roads aren't maintained as much as the highways. Make sure its a big enough rig to carry a lot of feed bags!

smart cars are a rare sight indeed around here

Guns??? How many and what kind? We've got one (or more) for ever every need.

although a good shotgun for self protection isn't a bad idea.
ETA a tractor is a great idea also! DHs 32 hp kubota is one of the best decisions we've ever made! He plows out the neighbors in the winter (for free) and it keeps us plowed also. Cleaning the coops and barn is so much easier. He's even making me a big rock wall in front of my house with it. I'm sure I'm forgetting other stuff we've used it for around here. And.... it keeps him happy can't get any better then that! If you can afford it get a small or medium tractor its soooo worth it!!

 

[EggyErin]

I totally agree about the ATV and/or tractor. I couldn't function without my ATV and the tractor is a huge help, especially for mowing pastures, moving large things, etc. We've been in our tiny mountain community for 10 years and feel pretty accepted. I think what people in the country really watch is how hard you're willing to work and how much common sense you have. My husband and I do everything ourselves and people around here respect that. We get help from our neighbors and others in the community, often unsolicited. We, in turn, do the same.

We are 30 minutes from the nearest grocery store so I never go into town without having a list of things to do. We have a small general store where the menfolk can often be found. My husband still works in the city and comes home on Thursday nights. He's nearly always at the store Friday and/or Saturday mornings; he's far more of a mountain guy than a city person. I really don't worry about being by myself. We have two neighbors across the street and they look out for me. We have a dog who is very territorial. I guess that's one reason I don't feel so vulnerable. She does stay in at night but if she starts barking we always go out and check on things.

Keep flashlights EVERYWHERE - in the kitchen junk drawer, by every door, upstairs and down. Candles, too. We have propane, which I cook with and used to heat with that, but now we have a wood stove and that's one of the smartest things we've ever done. Everything else is electric so when the power goes out we can still eat and stay warm. I don't know anything about wells in Canada but with ours, at extremely cold temps, the pipes that come out of the ground (but are in the well house) can freeze so we have a light bulb we keep turned on during really bitter cold. One thing I really wish we had was a separate circuit for our well pump. I know new houses can be set up that way but I don't know how hard a retrofit would be. That way, you could hook a generator to only the pump and still have water. Definitely get a generator, doesn't have to be huge. Definitely get a big extra freezer.

We have a bb gun that we use to pot-shot the squirrels that get into the bird feeder and chicken feeder. Otherwise, there's nothing we've ever felt the need to shoot. We have an old shotgun that used to be my FIL's but we've never used it. Critters are a way of life, but in a way, there's something gratifying about them. You realize that to some extent, you're in their territory. You learn their ways and respect them but if you need to curb a problem, you do it. Just don't ever be too quick with your trigger finger, both mentally and literally. Of course, our garden is one of the few that isn't plagued by deer, bear, rabbits, etc. so maybe I speak too soon. I don't think I'll ever be so jaded that I won't still get pleasure from seeing wildlife doing their own thing.

I think you'll be happy and fulfilled learning to be more self-sufficient. You seem to already have the desire and mindset. You'll all learn a lot about yourselves. There's a rhythm to country life that I could never give up. Kids who come to visit us usually love this place. Yours will too, even if there's an adjustment period. We get no tv reception (we have no desire for cable) but love our Friday-night movies. Don't know if you and yours would be up for being so primitive, but priorities do tend to change. Good luck!

 

[chickenzoo]

I'm 20 min from the nearest gas station & grocery store, but hubby works in the city so he gets to do the shopping on his way home....

Our property is fenced and if someone pulls in the drive they have to beep and hope I notice them...... it's a good distance from the house and we have electric fence and GP dogs. I don't have guns but have the regular Red Neck Alarm System - Donkey sees you and starts braying, geese get set off by donkey and start honking, dogs hear geese and start barking and charging towards the noise, horses start neighing, cows a mooing, Guineas - well whatever you call that... then the chickens and peafowl. I think people a mile down know when we get home or if someone visits... hehe.
People are nice and wave... some are noisy but nice.... some don't wave.....you get a mix of people but most are very helpful. It's peaceful and quiet and I love it. Things I don't like it our very very very very rutty road.

 

[clairabean]

Oh, I thought of another. Snow. How do you plan to clear your roads? ATV with plow? Tractor with plow? Hire someone? Is it government plowed? Paths to various out buildings?

Will your vehicle get you out in a snowstorm if need be? Will it get you home in one?

 

[MeatKing]

From one person in Ontario to another..

I think you really want to see, the amount of hydro for living in the country... you know that part on your bill that says, delevery charge.. Appartently it's higher, depending on how many people share your line.. / repair cost.. Not too sure if this is true, but I can't see my friend lieing to me. (Maybe make in the condintions to see there last hydro bill) Just so you know what to expect.. Not all places have smart meters yet.. I know they were supposed too, but hasn't happened everywhere yet.. (It's here)

As you know cost of oil is way up.. We converted to wood, as oil in an old farm house, just goes out the cracks..

We love the country and most of our neighbors.. Heck even the ones we don't love, we help out/ they help us..

i think the hardest thing is no garbage pick-up, here

And the driving sometimes 30 min, one way to a b-day party for the kids to attend. Cause our school zone is soo big.. I'll make this our shopping day, and just stay out, well their attending.. Gas is too much to come home/ go out again, never mind the waste of time..
My kids are still to young for afterschool sports.. Not looking forward to this, but so many people are rural where we live, that I'm hoping to find a carpool freind when the time comes.. I have been able to car pool a few times for b-day parties.

As for having guns, still waiting for them to dump the "long gun registery" You have to get a liscence/ take classes to be aloud to have one.. I would need a class for sure, but hubby was a sharp shooter in the miltary, and hates the idea that he has to waste a few hundred bucks and a weekend, for someone to teach him.. He shot for Canada and traveled all over to shoot for Canada..

I never regret living in the country, my only regret is not getting more land.. I didn't know I would raise chickens and like to raise pigs etc.. But our property is too small.. I want 10 acres at least..

Or and the township dictates whether you can have pigs or cows depending on the size of your lot.. I think you need 7 acres here to legally have cows or pigs.. Check into that..

 

[zzGypsy]

rule 1: be prepared. go through all the things you use in a week or a month or a day and consider: what if it broke? what if I ran out? and then plan for that with spares and stocked-up supplies. this is food, water, electricity, heat, fuel, animal feed, medications (prescription or OTC), vehicle supplies (spare tires, belts, batteries, fluids, oil, gas), animal medications, etc... everything you use. there are some things we don't stock up on because something else we stock up on will do in a pinch, but we keep as much of a supply as we reasonably can.

rule 2: power, heat, water, transportation - have alternatives. we have a generator and know how to switch the house from the power line to the generator. we keep extra fuel on hand in case we have to use it (be sure to treat stored fuel so it doesn't denature). If we've got power, we've got water (we're on a well) but we keep some 55 gal barrels anyway because what if the well pump breaks? we have a spare vehicle (it's a 20 year old farm truck that cost less than $1000) that can get us where we have to go if one of the primary vehicles is down. big flashlights with a solar-recharging station for the batteries... what if the power was out for days (as happened on the east coast recently)?

rule 3: establish your local resources. meet your neighbors, the local sheriff, get contact numbers, email, etc. Find out who you can count on, who you can't. get emergency numbers and locations (where's the nearest emergency room? which neighbor has 4WD in case of emergencies? who has a tractor that can pull you out of a ditch?) we've got excellent neighbors, and they've got skills and tools. make sure your kids know which neighbor to call in an emergency if you're not there. also find out who you shouldn't trust (your neighbors will tell you which mechanic knows his stuff and which doesn't)

rule 4: share and be helpful. my excellent (west side) neighbor gets free eggs every time I see him. a couple of weeks ago he ran off a stray dog that was sniffing around my yard... cooperation at it's best! I keep an eye on my (east side) neighbor's cattle and let him know if I see anything off.

rule 5: learn the local customs - here it's drive with one hand on the top of the steering wheel so you can raise a few fingers in greeting when you see drivers going the other way. if you've out-of-waving-position and someone waves at you, a head nod in return will do.

rule 6: read all the little local papers. you'd be surprised at all the local events there are in some areas, but you have to read the local tiny newspaper to find out about them. if you want to get to know your neighbors better, volunteer to help with the events. builds your network.

rule 7: some folks are slow to warm up, but be nice to them anyway, you'll eventually get through. most folks are friendly, and if you're nice back, they'll help you out and look out for you. chat with the folks at the farmer's market - you'd be surpised what you might learn. same with the folks at the feed store, or wherever you do business.

rule 8: be prepared to protect your own. emergency services are generally far away. have a gun (or lots of them) and learn to use it, learn CPR, learn how to pull a calf or a lamb... think "what if I called 911 and it took 20 minutes for them to get here?" would you be able to do what was needed in the gap time?

rule 9: if you've got fences, maintain them. "good fences make good neighbors" is true. mow your road side ditch too, if your neighbors do.

rule 10: keep your neighbors informed. we were next to a commercial strawberry farm for a while - they always warned us if they were going to spray for insects (because they knew we had bees, so we could close them in for a day) or if they were going to put out manure (so we could spend a couple days away if we chose). and they brought us flats of strawberries from time to time, just to keep relationships warm. we let our neighbor know that we'll be turning animals out in the hay field - that way he doesn't worry they escaped. if you're going to be gone, or doing anything that might cause irritation or worry, chat with your neighbors first. and bring cookies.

rule 11: plan for driving. don't make 2 trips if one will do. plan ahead for shopping, maintenance, errands.

rule 12: love where you're living. there is SO much to recommend living in the country, it's a great life, enjoy it all... it makes all the other things seem like no big deal.

 

[boxermom]

DH and I grew up in the country, but it had been 30yrs + since we lived out in the country. One bit of advice I would give you is to be patient. Don't jump into everything all at once. Give yourself time to adjust to the "new". Our first winter here was unbelieveable! Massive amt's of snow. More than we had ever seen and we had lived in this area for over 20yrs!. DH bought an OLD tractor when we moved out. I tried to talk him out of it. Am I glad I didn't! That thing has been the best tool we own. It has moved alot of snow and pulled alot of posts. It is the same kind DH grew up with, so he knows how to fix it too. Another part of starting slow, is that getting used to the house and the land will be on a learning curve. You will feel overwhelmed when you get your first utility bills, and the first time you fill your LP tank. Big chunks of money initially, but you will figure out how it all works and will be able to plan after you have been there thru a few seasons. Just know there is much to learn and to be flexible. Another thing is don't get all your animals at once. It is tempting to do, but if you are starting from scratch with learning about the animal and housing it, it can be very overwhelming when you are trying to learn about and care for more than one type of animal. Winter can be especially cruel and if you are having trouble with your animals and how to care for them in that extreme climate, it may overwhelm you enough to give it up. Start slowly and add slowly. You will love the country. You will love the solitude. You will get to the point where you hate to go to town. I told DH that the only way he will be able to get me off the farm is to put me in the hearse.

Go slow and enjoy it to the fullest, both good times and bad. Just like life, there will be both, but they make us stronger and better.