tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post5275286410915273635..comments2023-08-16T07:47:18.474-04:00Comments on Homesteading in a Condo: Second Career Blahs, also known as Navel-Gazingilexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06772649648781578752noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post-29225492534911302692009-04-03T15:45:00.000-04:002009-04-03T15:45:00.000-04:00I'm a little behind, here, as I only just discover...I'm a little behind, here, as I only just discovered your blog via a friend who like me, in short hair, glasses, and an INFJ suit, loves to grow stuff, so maybe I'm too late to weigh in...<BR/><BR/>but I had a thought about this path/career question. I read recently about gardening coaching. Coaching's often perfect for INFJs, and *gardening* coaching is apparently on the rise, along with gardening in general. And a gardening coach with your varied expertise (including the urban angle)... the possibilities are lots.Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04167385903995178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post-31053275694467989002009-03-25T01:04:00.000-04:002009-03-25T01:04:00.000-04:00Where I work there are people who are experts on s...Where I work there are people who are experts on specific species, even sub-species of plants. They have gainful employment being experts on those species.<BR/><BR/>I would encourage you to follow your bliss about plants. Are there plant species that people might want to learn to weave with?<BR/>(I am thinking of the agave down here. That plant is an industry unto itself!)<BR/><BR/>Check out your Botanical Gardens, Arbors or Conservatories in Michigan. Chat up the permanent staff, see how they got where they are, and what they see as the next important thing. Check out the horticultural society website for some inspiration. www.ahs.org.<BR/><BR/>Fear is the gate holding back adventure.TDPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01020719463252531409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post-5843061870137511182009-03-24T14:51:00.000-04:002009-03-24T14:51:00.000-04:00Here you go, your future B&B awaits... :)http:...Here you go, your future B&B awaits... :)<BR/><BR/>http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Saugatuck/:4f1dd42e7bbe58373de8d83729bc62f;_ylt=Au9vcmZx9PY30s4asP6kFI5n47QsMariahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17396869349146531483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post-33178490498354917932009-03-23T17:20:00.000-04:002009-03-23T17:20:00.000-04:00Mariah, would you go into the B&B business wit...Mariah, would you go into the B&B business with me? Wanna move to Saugatuck, MI? ;)ilexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06772649648781578752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post-61064410210511252282009-03-23T13:06:00.000-04:002009-03-23T13:06:00.000-04:00I am sorry you're so bummed, but I have to lau...I am sorry you're so bummed, but I have to laugh at the freaky parallels between your life and mine. I went down the art school path as well and have a BA in painting. At one point I was so fed up with my job and had a pipe dream to start making my own pickles to sell. Needless to say, when I started looking into it, I realized that by the time you factor in a health department approved kitchen and canning facility, I was looking at $10-$12 a jar just to break even. I think you might be on to something with the B&B idea though. It had also been another pipe dream of mine to have a B&B that would be a working farm... people could stay for a few days, help with gardening, collect eggs from chickens, milk cows, whatever. You could tie it in with cooking lessons, like pickling or making butter or jam. You could bring in visiting chefs, do seasonal specialties, etc. You could also do crafts and mini workshops on rain barrels or worm farming, etc. I think there's a lot of potential there! MariahMariahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17396869349146531483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post-53565732517125581512009-03-21T21:35:00.000-04:002009-03-21T21:35:00.000-04:00Oh boy could we have fun with that! but we won't...Oh boy could we have fun with that! but we won't. Shirley MacLaine, Chauccer, Jimmy Carter, Tom Selleck, Mother Theresa ... there's you dinner party.<BR/><BR/>Teacher or childcare are your best avenues ... psychologist is too, but it would probably take too long. Maybe set up a class in your best field there and see if you can do it through a Junior College. Or the MSU Extension ctr near there.<BR/><BR/>You would be an excellent Governor of Michigan, but I don't think you want to try that!<BR/><BR/>A tough road .. that's why there's so few of you. Good luck ...RGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02017190779860810318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post-49932455368188017062009-03-21T13:54:00.000-04:002009-03-21T13:54:00.000-04:00Oh darlin' you sound so down in the dumps. I'm so...Oh darlin' you sound so down in the dumps. I'm so sorry you lost your job! Crap! <BR/><BR/>I suppose the next step depends on how much income you need to bring into the family. If you can do with very little for quite a while, you might try your hand at your passions. <BR/><BR/>What if you taught urban homesteading to other people in combination with other artisan pursuits such as selling the pickles, the knitting, the worm tea, getting on etsy...<BR/><BR/>I too have considered intentional community. There's a part of me that dreams of gathering up all these e-friends and buying a large farm, going off grid and making a sustainable community there. If some folks want to commute out and work, that's find but those of us who want to quietly pursure old crafts will quietly work together. You're invited to my fantasy, by the way!<BR/><BR/>I must admit, things feel so insecure here that I'm buying red worms while we have disposable income incase I need to send a kid out to the corner to sell fishing worms.<BR/><BR/>Continue blogging, please!Conniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06717388726735528462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post-59533271132470812902009-03-21T13:30:00.000-04:002009-03-21T13:30:00.000-04:00It's interesting to me that you're using this situ...It's interesting to me that you're using this situation as an opportunity to find your true passion in life and I think that's great.<BR/><BR/>I saw something on wikihow about keeping a "looking for work journal" and some other tools. Maybe something practical to get you out of your introspection?<BR/><BR/>I still think the Small Business Administration is a great resource for finding out if you're suited to start your own business. Try to find all the people you can who are qualified to help you make the determination and then maybe you'll know what kind of certificate to get. You're very lucky to have that educational opportunity.PJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12059415005282675289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post-40078058566115058172009-03-20T21:48:00.000-04:002009-03-20T21:48:00.000-04:00I'm taking a class on how to run a farm business.....I'm taking a class on how to run a farm business... maybe something like that would help. I'm working on this program:<BR/>http://nesfp.nutrition.tufts.edu/Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08851500813463391836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post-10283572481351676602009-03-20T21:42:00.000-04:002009-03-20T21:42:00.000-04:00I took the online MB and found I, too, am that rar...I took the online MB and found I, too, am that rare creature INFJ....Hmmm, it can take a awhile (hopefully not too long !) but in time something will present itself. As an INFJ maybe you qualify as an endangered species.......d. moll, l.ac.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16007607538375968631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post-49264475117082831842009-03-20T20:51:00.000-04:002009-03-20T20:51:00.000-04:00Is there something you can do "in" worms?? I mean,...Is there something you can do "in" worms?? I mean, I bought all my worm stuff from someone, after all. Can worm tea be bottled?? (Ilex's Elixir??) Can you sell it at your farmer's market?Irmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07187488217492892133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7797140174605400944.post-21603664925608576042009-03-20T19:10:00.000-04:002009-03-20T19:10:00.000-04:00You obviously have lots and lots of valuable skill...You obviously have lots and lots of valuable skills - although maybe not valued enough by capitalism. Could you organise a community gardening initiative ...? I don't know, it sounds like a dream, but maybe if you did the sustainable agriculture course and then worked towards something that might be voluntary to start with but could become a career. It's difficult for me to say because I don't know the situation in the US, I know it's very different from Europe, but there must be some way you could use your skills and knowledge. I think anyway that capitalism has had its day (and ended in ruins) and that communities are central to the future.chaiselonguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com