May 30, 2007

I never knew that one could get into trouble for homesteading and living the lifestyle. Ironically, in not being a hypocrite and working on a farm from 6 am until dark, which is about 9 pm this time of the year, then working on a homesteading magazine from 5 am to 6am and then from after dinner which is about 9 pm, then working on the homesteading magazine and doing the other household chores which need to be done, I get about 4-5 hours a day of sleep. I work 7 days a week for months.

We also started a homesteading community with 2 other homesteads 'next door' to make the work load lighter on everyone and being able to accomplish projects on each place more easily... so currently we are dealing with 212 acres, hundreds of animals and two 3,500 sf gardens and a 900 sf one.

Weirdly enough I was punished for living the dream from a HOMESTEADING newsgroup which I have been part of and an owner and 'family' of for over 5 years. Granted I have not been there alot recently, but with our climate we literally have to cram 12 months of work into April, May, June before my guy goes back to work for the next 9 months and we cannot get any work done on the place. During the winter months from September to early April, I am at this newsgroup constantly.

Without notice, without discussion, just out of the blue, I was dropped as a owner of this group, which has been told.. once a owner.. always an owner. But apparently not.

But I was told I can continue my moderator duties. So I can work and continue to do whatever I did before, but not be the status I was before and which I have held for 5 years. The one sentence comment which seemed to hurt the most was that any ability that I had to delete anything was taken away. The reason that hurt is why would I want to destroy something that I helped build over 5 years? None of it makes any sense and not one of the other TEAM members has even bothered to talk to me. So therefore, I removed myself from the group as I do not need any added stress going on in my life and I refuse to 'suck up' to get back to my former status. Even if offered, I would refuse to take it. I am not mad at anyone from the TEAM, just hurt.

The post I had to tell the 6,000 members goodbye was even deleted. Again.. my only crime? Homesteading.