A simpler life in 2011 and beyond!

**Kate_29** · 04-28-2011, 06:58 PM

Hello everyone! I am so happy I found this website! I have been lurking on and off for a while.

DH and I have been talking about simplifying our lives for a while now. We don't have super complicated lives now but it could be MUCH better! We are moving in a couple months, and we are planning on starting a simpler life. We will still live in town, but it is a very small unincorperated town so there is little to no restrictions on our property. The home we are moving to is on 3 big lots so we are planning on getting some laying chickens and a small veggetable and herb garden to start with. I eventualy want a HUGE garden but am not going to jump right into that, we are also planning on haveing meat chickens in the future. I have never had an edible garden, but LOVE flower gardening. I also plan on decluttering ALOT durring the move. I am embarassed to say that I am an unorganized packrat

, but I am getting a fresh start and I am going to keep it a little more in check!

So anyway, I just wanted to say hi

and share my plans. I know that these are very simple first steps but you have start somewhere. I think decluttering, veggie gardening and chickens are a good place to start.

If anyone has any ideas or thoughts I am VERY open to sugestions. I am new to all of this, and my family and friends look at me like I am insaine when I try to talk about my future plans!

**onencgirl** · 04-28-2011, 08:04 PM

Hi and welcome from NC. Stick around, there are lots of savvy people here and lots to learn.

**rosey7415** · 04-28-2011, 08:47 PM

congratulations on moving forward with your new goals. please keep us updated as to how you are doing. sometimes a thread like this is what helps to motivate others.

**Kate_29** · 04-28-2011, 09:29 PM

Thanks for responding ladies! I am so excited about all this! I just want to get it started already!

I can't wait to find my first egg or pick my first tomato!

**tervsforme** · 04-28-2011, 10:07 PM

Good luck with your new goals! I've started simplifying myself. Decluttering is a big step toward simplifying, that's what I am working on right now. Can't wait to hear about your progress!

**NikoSan999** · 04-28-2011, 10:33 PM

Hi and welcome from Florida! Good luck with your new ventures and am looking forward to reading of your progress in your posts.

**Debbie-cat** · 04-28-2011, 10:41 PM

Hi and welcome!! Can't wait to here of your progress.

**2_at_the_farm** · 04-29-2011, 07:20 AM

Hi and welcome from KS!
What helped me let loose of 'stuff' before our move was to remember that putting it in the donation pile gave someone else the opportunity to enjoy it. Going thru the stuff the first time was not that hard, but the second time...wow. I had to ask myself why I was keeping it and if I ever was going to use it in my new lifestyle. I had 30 years worth of accumulation! I don't miss the 'stuff' now.

IMO, the garden and chickens are great first steps. We picked our garden area and then the next year put the coop and run next to it. Makes it easy to haul chicken litter to the composting area and let the girls in the garden for fall cleanup, fertilizing and light tilling.

If you want any fruit trees, choosing a location and planting them right away would also be good.

**Kate_29** · 04-29-2011, 05:13 PM

Thanks for the warm welcomes everyone!

You are so right 2atthe_farm! I did a lot of purging last summer. I didn't know I was going to be moving, but we had so much stuff I felt like I was drowning! But now, I am going through everything again and its much more difficult. I know I am not going to miss anything once it is gone, but this is all stuff I kept for a reason. The first cleanup was all stuff I didn't care about, have ideas for etc... I have a lot of work to do, but I am in much better shape than I was a year ago!

I was planning on setting up my garden next to my chicken coop. I wasn't even thinking about the benefits of it! Now I am even more excited!

For now, I am decluttering, packing, planning, and am starting to meal plan. DH isn't really on board with the meal planning but agreed to give it a shot. I think when he sees how dinner is easy, ready and no hassle he will be pretty happy with it.

We were just talking about fruit trees! We really should get them in ASAP. Hubby wants cherries, I want plums. My uncle farms peaches and apricots, so they are covered. My grandma has oranges coming out of her ears, so we are good with them too. I want to put in a grape vine, but hear they are a lot of work and I don't want to get overwhelmed.

Anyway, I am going to stop there, I am so excited I could ramble on and on!