City Life to Country Life: A Couple Moves from SF to NM

skiptamali · Tar Sands Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 59

Check out this article about a couple who recently left behind the lure of the posh city life. They moved (for several reasons) to a rural area in NM where they could farm.

We have discussed in these threads the importance of water for life, and the increasing scarcity of a fresh, clean supply. Reading the article, I'm seeing firsthand how a small, family-run operation is dealing with this issue. It doesn't seem easy at all.

I found it really interesting that this couple had a desire for a self-sustaining lifestyle, and acted upon it. From time to time, I reflect that I'd like to have a veggie garden, maybe some chickens, knowing that if I can maintain such supplies, I'd have some extra security. I've always wanted to invest more in local farmers markets too.

But usually, I confront myself on the basis that I live in the city for my job. I argue that I'll change my lifestyle when I "settle down", and then all these things can happen.

Well, they've gone ahead and made the changes. I'm enjoying their chronicle of events so far. It's easy to relate to author Jonathan Ashe- he lays out their thought process behind the move, which sounds startlingly similar to the chatter going on in my head these days.

Check out this feature. Hope you enjoy it. Is anyone else out there having similar thoughts? Where are you in your process? What's your situation? Does exposure to articles like this get your wheels turning?

gnm

Urg, we're inundated with these neo-hippie rejects from CA and NY cashing out their McMansions for cheaper turf. They soiled their nest and are now trying to convert NM into CA/NY.

Farm my ass. most of this state has a climate similar to Afghanistan. You want to farm you better head east of here. They move here to join the other idiot artsy refugees trying to "find" themselves and be "sustainable". Because its so "spiritual" out here... XXpuke

Go away losers....

-G
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skiptamali · Tar Sands Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 59

Well thanks for your opinion. Did you read the article? It's convincing.

SILENTTODD · Last edited by SILENTTODD on Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:21 pm; edited 1 time in total

I did read the article and I wish them well. I am very familiar with the high plains area of Las Vegas, New Mexico north of Santa Fe (Much older than the better known Nevada one!).

I've only driven through their part of New Mexico, south of Albuquerque, once, about 25 years ago. Reminded me of some of the irrigated areas of western Arizona or even the eastern parts of the central valley of California. Yes there is water for now. But from everything I've been reading from climatologists, for how much longer nobody knows. All predictions I've seen point to the southwest getting much drier.

The stretch between Las Cruces, New Mexico and the Arizona boarder to the south of the state is the most desolate part of this country I've seen. Makes the Mojave Desert of California seem lush!

I too love New Mexico and I can see why this couple fell in love with it. But it's not on the escape from Southern California list I've drawn up. My short list includes 2 places east of the Mississippi, and only one in the west and far north. Everyone will debate these issues for themselves I believe in the next 2 to 3 years.
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heroineworshipper

They'll be back. Know 3 people who left Silicon Valley only to come begging for their old jobs back & that was during the good times in 2003. Jobs don't follow workers. Jobs follow capitalists.
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mos6507

Personally, I would rather deal with cold than have to covet every drop of rainwater, especially when you consider the ramifications of global warming.

Blacksmith

Cold is not a nice thing. Growing seasons are short. Winters are long. Quarter section farms are simply too small.
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skiptamali · Tar Sands Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 59

What's with all the negativity? I appreciate the positive comments, and insight into your own considerations for escape from the city (SilentTodd).

I do welcome your opinions and feedback... Just wonder what some of you have against people giving a dramatically different lifestyle a try, especially if they're trying to green the planet we all share by self-sustaining and reducing carbon output?

I prefer dry to cold too, Blacksmith. Plants need sun and there are well-developed methods for growing on conservative amounts of water.

Ludi

I'll be interested in what they can do without the state-sponsored irrigation canal.

I also can't tell from the article what they do for a living....Or even what they plan to raise on their "farm" - vegetables? Fruit?

My husband and I moved from the city (Los Angeles) to the country (Central Texas), about ten years ago, maintaining our home business working for the entertainment industry, and gardening a bit and raising some livestock.
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vandj · Coal Joined: Jun 18, 2008 Posts: 1

This is a great discussion thread--as the author's wife and co-owner of the farm, I'll say that we couldn't hope for better, more honest feedback to Jonathan's first article in this series. You all bring up intriguing questions and challenges that we plan to address in future installments of this series on MatterNetwork.com.

In the meantime, I'll open the kimono a bit and inform PeakOilers that I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for 20 years before leaving for a job in San Francisco 10 years ago (sans McMansion--we rented a 900 sq ft pad in downtown SF, shared a horribly dented 12-year-old car when we had to drive, and never owned a home before). Jon was born and raised in SF (a rare native), and we researched several options before settling on NM, partly as a personal decision to be closer to my family, and partly because I know what we can grow here.

My father is a would-be farmer originally from Iowa, and successfully grew all manner of fruit and nut trees plus lots of vegetables on our 1/4 acre property in a lower-middle class residential neighborhood of Albuquerque, now referred to as "the war zone" (where my parents still live). Our fruit/nut trees and vegetables sustained our family of six (plus friends, teachers, neighbors) throughout the summer and fall, and my mother canned, baked, pickled, and froze plenty of sustenance to last through the winter and spring.

Suffice it to say, the purpose of our urban-to-farm series is merely to share what we're learning and experiencing in this adventure together--we don't presume that we will be successful, or that we completely know what we're doing. We hope readers will be able to learn from our mistakes and be inspired to listen to the "chatter in their heads" to take action in any way within their means. Future articles will reveal how we sustain ourselves on the farm and more. We hope you stick with us, and continue to provide candid feedback!

--Valerie Ashe

gnm

Your father probably farmed in the valley near the river then. Fruit and nut trees do _ok_ there although frequent late/early frosts and wind/sandstorms take a real toll on peaches and apples. I wonder what kind of nuts your father grew -no nuts are grown commercially at any scale in Abq. Along the river down by Las Cruces (much hotter) there are a lot of pistachio and almond farms.

OK, so they are in Bosque farms. They better hope that water keeps coming down the Rio Sand. Bosque Farms is a godforsaken desert anywhere its not irrigated or immediately next to the river. 9 inches annual rainfall and straight sand with chamisa scrub and cactus. Single digit humidity most of the time. Potential for sub zero temps in the winter and over 100 in the summer.

So the "arable" land area in Abq is basically a 2 mile wide strip all down the river. The rest is a godforsaken desert. Don't believe me? Google-earth it.

As far as their location they are essentially just suburbia. There are plenty of subdivisions further out from downtown Abq. They are also located adjacent to the scenic south valley (poor and dangerous) and just south of the refining depots and industrial chicken farm as well as a lot of junkyards and various other noxious industries.

Nothing like being downriver of a big city for nice clean water either.....

-G
_________________
I Have and will continue to vote against ANY politician who supports the various bailouts. Curse you for selling out our future for status quo now!

Plantagenet

I found the article interesting and the two "hipsters" moving to NM seem to be nice enough folks.

They slaved in the city and earned enough bucks to buy a ranch. Good for them.

I hope they make a go of it (Although its not clear to me that a small ranch in the desert miles from the nearest city is the best place to hide out from the effects of peak oil). But they'll figure that out the next time they drive all the way Albq to buy something they need.

gnm

Miles from nowhere eh? Well they're only about 10 minutes from the nearest refinery depot (at 35MPH) and about 20 minutes from DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE.

-G
_________________
I Have and will continue to vote against ANY politician who supports the various bailouts. Curse you for selling out our future for status quo now!

Pops

One needs to consider the skills/personality they have and how they mesh with their new location before bugging out.

Here is a recent thread:
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic41882.html

An here some others:
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic41313.html
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cube · Fusion Joined: Mar 12, 2005 Posts: 3776