Farming isn't a livelihood except for well-capitalized farms these days.
What you can hope for from some small acreage is to have some fresh food and a slight degree of independence from the grocery store - but I wouldn't count on any real savings - just fresher, healthier food and better security at a time when economic disruptions will be getting worse.
Though that is true for some, I'd actually say that's a pessimistic exaggeration. I know people with less than 3 acres making a substantial supplemental income on their produce and livestock, if not making a living almost completely off it. That's not to say that they aren't at odds with the law, because if you were to actually register with the state as a commercial farm you are basically enslaving yourself and throwing money out the window simply because the state tell you to. And if you don't comply with the system and operate anyway, you're likely to have a SWAT team come raid you if anyone decided to rat you out, or if you showed up at your customers establishment while an inspector was there.
But even if you are not selling any of your produce you would be saving a lot of money on groceries. You'd be surprised by how much a properly organized garden can yield. There are people who have managed to feed over 200 people on 2 acres of land (something the USDA say's is impossible).
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying gardening etc. is some magic money maker/pantry filler. All I'm saying is that if everything is properly organized, and every bit of space and every ounce of waste is utilized, and try and keep your inputs to a minimum, and stay away from monoculture agriculture (which applies to the plant bed), you are guaranteed to produce surplus you can sell or give away, and in the future, barter.
Topic: The Simple life (Read 1313 times)