For all you city slickers, here's the result of a poll carried out on NEWs24 about living in the rural area....
Quote from: Michael Alexander on January 30, 2009, 05:29:32 AM
For all you city slickers, here's the result of a poll carried out on NEWs24 about living in the rural area....
And I thought I was the only one reading and doing those polls. As it happen, I am one of the people who vote rural live means better living. I really do not like city life but have to stick it out or catch a very desperate, very old, wealthy man. Any one able to send me a list of candidates?
I'm also looking for one of those filthy rich old men preferably on a ventalater.(sp)
Diana, if and when I find one I will share him with you.
With a bit of luck we will only be sharing his bank account.
In the mean time I will read up on how to disconnect a ventilator bye_bye.
This is gonna get me into the bad books of many. image14
Please ... I am only joking. Well about the disconnect part. The rest I am serious about.
I'll Google disconnect ventilator and let you know what I come up with.
Drove to Bonnievale yesterday morning, met up with a farmer there who's thinking of moving back to his smallholding (currently renting out the land to a guy who's not looking after the place properly). He's interested in farming medicinal herbs and wants me to join him and his wife. The people in the rural areas are just wonderful. I walked around in the small town - lots of antique shops, and wow, what fresh air! Everything revolves around the church, hotel, school, retirement home, and general dealer.
For instance, I had to meet the people at the hotel early morning. As I entered the town, i asked an elderly local lady walking on the side of the road clearly on her way to work with an apron and "kappie", if she could tell me where the hotel was. She answered with the most friendly (and toothless) smile: "Ja meneer, dis daa bydie bar, meneer!" I cracked up laughing when I drove away - The hotel is at the bar of course, how could I ask, who needs directions if you know where the local bar is....??
Well, my mind is working overtime - I WANT to move there, and I have 3 weeks to give them an answer. So much to think about, I am in quite a whirlwind of thoughts. HELP!
Will there be a market for my produce? Will we succeed in growing the herbs? Will it be profitable if I process the herbs myself? How will I generate an income in the first year or two when the herbs are still growing? Will I get a buyer for my current property and/or practice? Should I keep my dental stuff and set up a small practice in the rural area and sell the house only? OH I HATE UNCERTAINTY AND THE RISK OF WALKING INTO THE UNKNOWN!!!!
Hi Diana and Stepanie
I know a few stinking rich, unmarried guys, but that is why they are rich!!
Good luck keep on looking . it is good to read all your comments kiss
Have a lovely weekend. Regards
Quote from: Bertie Horak on February 01, 2009, 03:57:22 AM
Drove to Bonnievale yesterday morning, met up with a farmer there who's thinking of moving back to his smallholding (currently renting out the land to a guy who's not looking after the place properly). He's interested in farming medicinal herbs and wants me to join him and his wife. The people in the rural areas are just wonderful. I walked around in the small town - lots of antique shops, and wow, what fresh air! Everything revolves around the church, hotel, school, retirement home, and general dealer.
For instance, I had to meet the people at the hotel early morning. As I entered the town, i asked an elderly local lady walking on the side of the road clearly on her way to work with an apron and "kappie", if she could tell me where the hotel was. She answered with the most friendly (and toothless) smile: "Ja meneer, dis daa bydie bar, meneer!" I cracked up laughing when I drove away - The hotel is at the bar of course, how could I ask, who needs directions if you know where the local bar is....??
Well, my mind is working overtime - I WANT to move there, and I have 3 weeks to give them an answer. So much to think about, I am in quite a whirlwind of thoughts. HELP!
Will there be a market for my produce? Will we succeed in growing the herbs? Will it be profitable if I process the herbs myself? How will I generate an income in the first year or two when the herbs are still growing? Will I get a buyer for my current property and/or practice? Should I keep my dental stuff and set up a small practice in the rural area and sell the house only? OH I HATE UNCERTAINTY AND THE RISK OF WALKING INTO THE UNKNOWN!!!!
Difficult choice to make Bertie, but just remember that everything happens for a reason and that you must cease the opportunities that life gives you. Not sure what the distance is between your current practice and Bonnievale, but could you not do say 2 days a week in Bonnievale and 3 days at your practice until you're in a better position to decide?
No Patricia, it's a bit too far - about 180km including a toll road. Just a bit too far for me to commute. My wish is to pack up completely and start afresh on the platteland. Any body want to buy a dental practice?
Quote from: Gerrit Venter on February 01, 2009, 05:28:18 AM
Hi Diana and Stepanie
I know a few stinking rich, unmarried guys, but that is why they are rich!!
Good luck keep on looking . it is good to read all your comments kiss
Have a lovely weekend. Regards
Any of them on a ventilator????? sorriso2
Bonnievale .. beautful place and the name says it all ... I used to stay ver there weekends for cycle tours when they had the bonnievale festival .. .. the owner of the hotel and his wife sort of " adopted " me each time i stayed ... good memories ..
Bertie - I don't envy you your position at the moment - and unfortunately you're the only one that will be able to make the decision. Follow your heart and see where it leads you, once your mind has been made up you can only look forward and make the most of the decision you have made. Hope you will keep us updated!
3d smiles(281) bighug
As Michelle says don't envy your position...I do believe in ones gut feeling. One also need to take chances to grow. You could always be the local dentist if things don't work out. Yes, the uncertainty and risk, you won't know untill you've tried. What will be will be. Well thants my expert advice.... 3d smiles(281)
Is there no dentist in Bonnievale yet? I think that the market will be too small out there to support you.... however if you maybe produced out in the country and found a way to market in town..... Just my 2cents...
A dentist from Swellendam comes through only twice a week. Looking for his number at the moment, I would like to "locum" if he needs one, or do his emergencies or even see patients alternative days. That would really be great, then I can concentrate on growing herbs more, and practice herbal medicine without the hassle of running a dental practice with everything that goes with it. I'm not looking for a dental market.
I hear you Bertie, but you have to be assured of an income, and for some strange reason I do not think you will turnover enough money by just doing herbs in Bonnievale..... i ain't knocking it, it's just the way I see things.....
cheers
I've done some homework, but not nearly enough yet. I'm not expecting to make it on herbs in Bonnievale. Producing, drying, supplying registered practitioners with organic herbs and also making and supplying herbal products (tinctures, creams, etc) is more lucrative. At the moment we as practitioners have to buy our herbs from one or two companies, and the quality is not the best. As is the tinctures available... and very expensive. I calculated exactly how much the different tinctures cost me to make in December, and I have also tested exactly what percentage of raw herb delivers how much tincture when extracted. I can do it MUCH better and will be able to sell a superior product to practitioners at a much lower cost.
Like I said, not finished my research, and still a lot to do, but hear you, Mike. Not easy.
In the beginning I'll have to make it with growing vegetables, however until the herbs are ready for production. The tunnel on the plot (300 square meters) had a turnover of R160000 in one season with tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers. The locum as dentist would only be to pay my 3G so I can still connect to OMD online and have some bread to eat. allgood
ok.... I'm with you, but would it not just be cheaper to find a farmer with a spare plot and greenhouse out at Joostenberg.....?
Mike, I want to get out of the city -PLEASE!!!! support me, brother! Stook my in my kwaad!
And Joostenbergvlakte = pollution, heavy metals (absorbed by plants), and the sandy soil there is terrible, will cost much less if the soil is perfect without having to spend much on that aspect.
Sorry..... Good point, you need fresh clean air for the herbs to grow.... I suppose you will always have the dentistary to fall back on... you have no kids to worry about...and you are young only once..... there is no need to wonder when you turn 60 if you should have done it or not...JUST DO THE MATHS and always take the figures to the worst.....
Thanks Mike, that's more like it.
- SINCE I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE PROPERTY GUIDE EVERY DAY AND THE PIECE OF LAND BETWEEN THE LOG CABIN AND THE STABLES IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE!!!! SO OMD DOESN'T WANT ME, I'LL HAVE TO LOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE! :nono1: Up-out