Beginnings

First blog posts are always the hardest to write. How do I start this off? I want a place to record what we are doing. And what is that, you ask? We are embarking on a new adventure. We have the opportunity to rent a small homestead, about 25 minutes from our where we are now. The owners are friends of ours, and they've decided to live on a sailboat for a couple years. That could only work if they found someone to rent their farm. When we heard they were looking for new renters - and that the rent is about equal to what we are paying now - we jumped at the chance! We'll be moving in about two weeks! We are all very excited and can't wait to move and settle in!

You see, we have always wanted to try our hand at homesteading: A big garden, chickens, a couple goats. Learning to can. Heating with a wood burning stove. Living out in the country, with plenty of room to play and roam. Over 10 years ago I started reading Mother Earth News and that's when I started dreaming about the day when we would be able to do all those things. So, I guess you can say this is a dream come true!

It's only for a couple of years though - but we'll get two growing seasons there. One winter. A year of eggs from chickens (assuming we buy chicks this spring). We figure it will be a good gauge of whether or not we are cut out for a homesteading life - or if we really prefer to live a suburban one.

So, here on this little ol' blog, I'll be recording our homesteading adventure! Our successes and mishaps. Our joy and tears. I'll also write about living simply, homeschooling, my Christian faith, and whatever else I can think of.

One last thing: maybe you're wondering where I got the name Upper Meadow? I've never been very creative (original) when it comes to thinking up names for things, and I glanced out our kitchen window and saw one of the trail signs we got for free from a local working farm we visited. They were going to burn all their old signs and when we asked if we could have some they said yes. We thought they were charming and would be something interesting to hang up on the trees in the backyard. One of them says "Upper Meadow." I like how it sounds, very peaceful. I like that it alludes to Psalm 23:2: "He makes me to lie down in green pastures." It's a reminder to rest in Him because He is the provider of all things. He cares for us and loves us more than we could possibly ever know.