I posted the household/kitchen items that we'll need, so here's the list of tools/farm equipment we want to get:
Tools:
12 inch hammer
Large ax
Hatchet
2x8" clamps
4x16" clamps
Chisel
5 pound wood splitting wedge
Low angle hand plane
Sledgehammer
24" level
Brass plumb bob
Chalk line
Bottle of blue chalk
Pick
100' tape measure
Nails
Crosscut saw
Carpenter saw
Keyhole saw
Saw sharpening kit
Sandpapers/sanding block
Linseed oil
Emery paper
Phillips/Robertson's screwdrivers
Ratchet set
Sawhorse
Square
Pipe wrench
.22 rifle
Gun license
Ammunition
Fishing reels and rods
Lures and hooks
Large hunting knife
Fishing knife
Spade shovels
Dung shovels
Snow shovel
Leather/cotton gloves
Pitchforks
Posthole digger
Garden hose
Disc plow
Cultivator
Plow
Spring tooth harrow
Mower
Tether
Lots of seeds (heirloom organic)
Rope
Several sizes of pulleys
Chains and padlocks
Scythe and sharpener
Machete
Garden hoe
Dutch flat hoe
Wheelbarrow
Garden rake
Tote basket
Hay rake
Dung fork
The place that we are going in Montana is the same land that I consider that I grew up on, although in relation to the rest of my life it really wasn't that long that I was there. It is five acres, has a house and a mobile home available, a small barn that could handle a cow and some chickens, a pasture, a large garden area, and a forested area in the back. The trailer is the one that I lived in when I was a kid and needs repair, but we will be able to live in the house until we get those done. The trailer has a wood stove, and is hooked up to a well and power so when we've fixed it up it will be quite cozy and nice. Much warmer than a tipi. Montana isn't as cold as the northeast, but it still gets to be 40 below sometimes. It's also about 10 minutes from Glacier Park and all kinds of lakes to go fishing including Flathead Lake. One of my favorite spots on earth is Avalanche Lake (this picture was taken by Dennis Jacobsen):
The water in the picture is very choppy because it was a rainy day, but on a clear day it's like glass even though there are dozens of waterfalls around the edge which make a loud roaring sound. You can sit at the edge and all the little chipmunks will come up to you and beg for food. It's going to be strange being back in the States since I've been Canadian for seven years.
Coming Next Year!
Hi Nicole; It looks like you have finally found what you are looking for! I hope everything works out for John and the girls with immigration in the US. It is strange how life is sometimes. You will end up back where you came from! I wish all the best to you and your family. Have a nice day. Linda
Hi Nicole; I might mention that Robinson screw drivers are Canadian. I don't think they use them in the US? You will need some flat screw drivers as well as the Phillips in small, medium and large size and right size screws for each.
You might want to add good quality duct tape and WD40 to your list.
A good push hand lawn mower for mowing a small lawn is all that is necessary.
Bicycles are a cheap way to get around and gas free.
I wouldn't buy seeds in Canada if moving to the US as they may not be allowed across the border.
A hand seed sower is great for the garden. It pushes along with a big wheel in front and has interchangeable discs on the rear to sow different size seeds.
A hand cultivator works great for keeping weeds down between rows in the garden also. Bill uses both and wouldn't part with them. Lehman's has many of these things.
The horse equipment you only need if you work with a horse on a large acreage ! We do not recommend using a horse unless someone who knows how to work with a horse is there to help. Even a nice horse like ours is 1600 pounds of dynamite if he gets spooked for any reason. Horses can never be taken for granted. They can be dangerous without meaning too. Our horse is calm most of the time being a Clydsdale in part.Most things don't spook him . But once in awhile something does and he is a handfull to control. The best way to learn how to handle work horses is to find someone with one and work for and with them.
For little acreages there are alternative ways to break up ground for planting that are easier than using a horse. One way is laying down old bales of hay or haylage thickly and letting it rot up the sod over the winter. Pull it back in the Spring and the ground can be worked with a fork or tiller before planting. Or hire someone with a tractor to do the first plowing and discing. Then work the ground by hand after that.If the ground is full of bushes and alders you can keep goats to clear it. We were over run with a bamboo weed here and after two summers the goats had killed it out.
Using a scythe is an art and it is good to have someone show you how to do it right without injuring your back!
It also takes two strong men to cut down a tree with a cross cut saw! Bill and his Dad used one years ago and were very thankful when chain saws were invented!
It sounds like you and John need to find a farmer to work for that still makes hay and cuts trees in the woods. That would give you some experience in these things before trying them on your own.
In the 1960's there was a movement of people who wanted to move back to the land. They went at it with all the enthusiasum of a spring colt let out of the barn . Somee lasted twenty years even. But in the end they were wore out and discouraged because they worked hard instead of smart.
This is what we have learned too. Bill worked so hard physically when he was young he wore himself down. Then he got smarter and started finding easier ways to do things like breaking up land as mentioned before.We live green as possible for us and naturally.Only we are learning easier ways to do things.
Remember many of the pioneers both men and women died young and looked older than their years. Disease was one factor and hard drudgery work was the other.
So good luck to you and John and I hope you find easier ways to do the simple things so you don't burn out by forty!
The best simple life is both simple and smart and environmentally friendly. It leaves time to enjoy nature and family and friends. Have a nice day. Linda
I owe you an email Linda! Thanks for the well wishing and the kind advice. We've been reading The Good Life by Helen and Scott Nearing and they make a really good point in there that they only worked four hours a day. They worked smart and if they couldn't get it done, they did it the next day. We want to try to be that relaxed. :)