A Homestead fairy tale | Page 2 | General Homesteading Discussion | Forums

Jenny was earning better money from her Partner's Grill 3 days than she did from the 5 part time days at the community kitchen. Her days home kept them cozy and finishing off the house to please them too. When they could manage it, their day 'off' was checking out the surrounding areas for potential 'next' property at which they could expand their animal keeping and increase sustainability living too. Their property value was increasing as they put more labor and kept their costs as low as they could manage. Visits by family and friends showed increasing astonishment and appreciation of their efforts, especially when they were served tasty dinners from garden fresh foods. The old used washing machine continued to work well for them and was joined by an older vacuum that Jake had rebuilt as shown by a neighbor who used to do that too. The little garage that stood off from the house was planned to  be joined to the house in a year or two, money and time allowing. A newer garage with shop area was to be built too so that all would create a nice living space but not infringe on the productive area of the rest of the lot. One thing they hadn't counted on, but managed with the help of their two fathers, was a better fence to enclose and protect the lot.

At Christmas they received a card from the widow who they rented from saying how much she missed them. The next couple had been a big disappointment and the widow had nearly not offered the apartment again. But an engaged couple had heard of the place from one of Jenny & Jake's friends. It appealed to them to give a go at gardening and seeing if they had the 'stuff' to find a way to work more for themselves than the tax man and losing their souls to screaming I-want-sees. Looking back, Jenny & Jake could hardly believe how far they had come in the last 2 years. Looking forward they felt much less limited than they did then too.