12 Good Things To Have If You Live in the Country

You might live on two acres, you might live on 200... all of these things are handy no matter what size of acreage you live on. This is an especially good list for people who are new to county life. Do not let the first one scare you off, all of these are great even if you do not have livestock.

1. Calf sled

   We do not have cows and my wife thought I was crazy to buy one for moving rocks around the property. Funny thing is that she now uses it more than I do. They are usually plastic with rope handles and are for dragging calves in emergencies. However, they are very handy for other things, such as moving landscape rocks or small bales of hay. They are especially useful in the winter as they pull easily over snow. They come in a variety of sizes depending on your needs. If you do not have an attached garage you can use this for dragging in the groceries from your car to your house in the winter.

2. Fence Tool

   
   
   These tools serve as hammers, pliers, fence staple pullers, and more. This is a multi-purpose tool. I am sure there are uses people have not even thought of yet. You do not want to carry around a tool chest when you are working far from your home, and nor does your wife.

3. Water Storage

   Rain Barrels are very important. They can collect rain off your roof and you can use the water for your plants, or animals, in a drought. You should also store some water for your own personal use in your home. In the event the power goes off, you will notice your water pump will not work and you will be dry.

4. Potatoes (Garden)

   There is no point in moving to the country if your yard is going to look like a golf course. You should grow some of your own food. Potatoes are easy to grow and can be stored. In an extreme emergency you can live a long time on potatoes. I suggest also growing lettuce, tomatoes, and zucchini. Go ahead and plant peas, carrots, and corn too. Plant a bit extra because deer will find your garden to their liking too.

5. Fruit Trees

   
   
   Apple trees will provide you with years of food, plus they give you the opportunity to share and swap with your neighbours. You can make a hedge out of raspberries. Pear, cherry, or apricot trees are another idea, or even nut baring trees. Even if you never eat the produce of your tree, and choose to let it feed the birds, simply having these trees will be a reward.

6. A cell phone

   Well this is one thing I do not actually own myself, BUT only because my wife has not gotten around to it, and really hates them. I am sure we will get one soon enough. These are valuable if you are stranded and there are no phones for miles or if your home phone line goes down. You can keep it turned off. It is not an object to show how important you are by the number of calls you get, in the country, it is a safety measure. I want to add that cell phones have been linked to the decline in the honey bee population so encourage you to not use these except in emergencies. It has been said that without honey bees, humans may only survive another five years.

7. Portable Battery Charger.

   Nothing worse than being miles away from help when your car battery goes dead.

8. Generator

   Again, important for people who are remote. If you need it, only run the very necessities. You will not need to blow dry your hair, you will need to stay warm. A portable generator can also provide emergency temporary power in an unwired out building.

9. A cat

   Or two. Cats help control mice. Mice are pretty much everywhere. You can poison them, but you might have the mice then dying in between your walls. The most common time of year to have mice problems is fall or winter when they seek warmth. A well fed cat can catch several mice a day. You will want to keep the cat mostly indoors though to control the mice from coming inside. My wife will want me to tell you that spayed or neutered cats are better mousers, and that is correct.

10. Laying Hens

    
    
    
    You do not have to kill and eat them, but you should consider having a few laying hens simply for egg production. If you have children, they will love the idea of helping collect the eggs. Some breeds are better layers than others, and some are friendlier than others. Some chickens are really neat looking, and some lay blue eggs. If you are going to eat them, do yourself a favor, and do not name them. You do not need a rooster to have eggs. We have had pet chickens and really enjoy them. We don't eat them. I guess that is what happens when you grow up in the city and move to the country. I will say... that we do eat our potatoes and veges.

11. "Stuff to do"

    When the weather turns nasty and you are stuck inside for days with the same people, you will want some things to do. Movies to watch, books to read, board games to play, or hobbies to spend time on. I should note here, that in some places you cannot get a good fast Internet connection, so don't rely on the computer for keeping you perky all winter.
    

12. A reliable Truck

    This is not a "show piece". Don't buy new. Expect this truck to get scratched and dented - a badge of pride. You will be using this truck to haul your garbage to the dump, or bringing home bags of chicken feed, and fruit trees for planting.

So I hope you enjoy your life in the country, having at least a few of these things should make your experience better... for sure get the chickens.