When my husband and I were looking into homesteading, we researched rural Texas. The zone
is 8b and we would raise chickens for eggs, and goats for cheese. In season fruits and
vegetables and winter crops of many different leafy greens, etc...In other words,
continuous produce all year. If we planned to have ten chickens, 8 goats, it was
suggested we have at least 5 acres. Preferably with brush and a glen...with water running
through the property. We were going to use wind power and solar power with energy stores
in banks of batteries designed to use for this process.

This is a huge area and there are no certain amounts of land. You may want to see if
anyone in your region is homesteading and see if there are any cooperatives among them.
That has been a steady component in all the reading I'd done.

Victoria

On Sun, 7 Dec 2003 06:56:32 -0800, Down Under On The Bucket Farm
opined:

Hi Everybody,

I am working on long-term plans for self-sufficiency, oriented to
buying some bare land and building an off-grid house, rainwater
catchment, composting toilet, etc, etc.

One issue is the question of how much physical space would be
needed to grow enough food to completely support myself?

I am willing to eat anything that is healthy, preferably
remaining vegetarian (although I am quite willing to have
chickens for eggs, and perhaps a goat for milk.)

This would involve one person living alone, in decent physical
condition, willing to do hard work and learn whatever is needed.

I realise that the yearly food yield will have to be spread out
via preserving, canning, etc.

My "day job" can be done remotely, via wireless Internet
connection, with flexible hours, thus leaving time and
opportunity for extensive gardening/farming, etc.

I do understand the risk of, for example, having a bad year, bad
weather, etc, and so would have money set aside to buy food in
that case. But the plan is to avoid that if at all possible.

I live in New Zealand, with plenty of rain in winter, but also
reasonable sunshine in summer.

So... How many acres of flat, farm-able land will I need?


Thanks in advance!

-V.