Kevin Carpenter Introduction

[kevinc_63366]

Hi,

I'm Kevin N. Carpenter and I live around St. Louis, Missouri, USA. As of this post, in August of 2007, I'm 47 years old, have (2) daughters from a previous marriage, and an infant daughter and pre-teen step-daughter from my current marriage. For the past 16 months, I've been blessed with having Evgenia (she's from Omsk, Russia) as my wife and partner.

Part of my blessing has been being exposed to life in other cultures. Beyond any doubt, I have seen happiness as MUCH lower levels of consumption than the typical American family.

When I was young, like at age 18, I had purchased 20 acres of land with the intention of growing walnut trees for my retirement fund. Spent a fair amount of time watching the solar and wind power world be born and develop. Unfortunately, those acres were sacrificed to my divorce. Fortunately, both my new wife and I like the concept of having a "country place", and maybe a retirement home there, so the watching and planning has started anew.

Currently we are looking at ~40 acres parcels in north-east Missouri. Often we find such places have Amish neighbors. Much to my surprise, given my mostly "loner" existence, I find the concept of living in an area where people are about as self sufficient as possible in todays world rather attractive.

So... once again I'm looking at solar and wind opportunities as a way to provide primary power for some future homestead. Such a place will be complicated, since I require a day job for now (thank you court system for awarding my ex lifetime alimony) - but it will be a start: a place to plant fruit and nut trees, grow watermelons and berries, etc. I just won't be able to do anything that requires daily attention, since we will likely only be there for weekends and holidays.

Cheers,

Kevin

[FabianPattberg]

Welcome to the forum.

Nice introduction.

[Corey]

Ah reading this helps me to understand the other thread better, and welcome.

I am a loner as well. So I know the feeling.

Maybe look into some honey bees as well to pollinate all those blossoms based plants you want.

I have noticed a decline in pollination in a single year ouch. Many of the plants around here did not seed out as usual meaning no pollination.

It may or may not be related to what ever caused the Honey bee die off called "CCD"

Although I suspect it is in our management of the bees that caused the worst of it such as the Corn syrup to replace the bee's honey as a food while in transport. You have to also ask yourself what happens to us when we eat the exact same food with little or no nutritional value. Bees and other animals and insects are no exception.

[kevinc_63366]

Bees are absolutely in the plan. Presuming land is purchased by this fall, I'll have a couple of hives up in the spring.

Believe the bee die-off has been associated with several viruses. Of course, cause and effect are questionable - are the viruses killing the bees, or are the bees weakened and the viruses just finishing them off?