Thursday, February 27, 2014

More People Are Leaving

         




        My rural county is in a fairly wealthy region of Virginia.  Some of the large farms here are held by families who have owned large acre tracts since the 1700s.  A few can be traced back to original land grants from the British king of the day. Some of the local lands were part of the vast lands owned by Peter and Jane Randolph Jefferson who were Thomas Jefferson's parents.   Most of the other large tract or estate owners of contemporary times, made money in banking, insurance or electronics.  Most bought their homes at the top of the market when their homes were pricey indeed.   We came here fifteen years ago seeking expansive land and a chance for our children to raise livestock as my husband and I had in childhood.  We built two farms here, and two family homes.  We used to joke that we were the token "Middle Class" family in a county where many were much wealthier.   This really didn't bother us, and we busied ourselves acquiring land adjacent to ours, building our farms, one at a time, homeschooling and raising our children.   More middle class families joined us in the area after we came, and it's been a good place to raise a family and to weather life and its losses.
            In this location, we have been fairly isolated from the initial crashes of the economy in 2008.  Most families who had money here, had it well diversified, and so their losses in one sector didn't harm their overall finances.  However, since then, there has been a palpable and ever constant financial slippage.   The foreclosures here began in 2009 and have been a steady stream.  There is no mail actually delivered here, and we must pick up our mail at a small rural post office.  Earlier this year there were discussions about closing both our post office, and the one nearest it.  This would have left no post office for us for many, many miles.  Fortunately, a strong local lobby, including our own family, kept both post offices open if just for a few hours a day.   The two local food banks here have grown to five, and I am told they are often completely empty.   I don't know for sure because I can no longer afford to drop boxes of canned goods there,on my way back from Sam's Club, as we used to when our youngest son Daniel was still alive. He enjoyed this regular routine of ours, and it makes me sad that we can't do this any longer, or at least not as often.

              Lately, there is a new phenomenon here.   There had been foreclosures.  Usually we hear about these when the family is fighting it and hopes to renegotiate their mortgage or buy more time.  Many of them believed the present regime would help them in this, but one by one, they all disappeared from their homes.  Most people don't tell you when they are leaving, and I don't think they know.  Some of them leave their bewildered pets there, when they leave, perhaps not being able to take them to an apartment or friend's home.  We did bring home one of these pets.   Now, there are people who simply move from their homes overnight.  No one knows where they are, and their house sits empty, sometimes for a year or more, but without the notices on the front windows that tell you which bank has foreclosed, or who to call if the house is on fire or there is another emergency there.  This has happened to several homes locally very recently.

              The latest interesting trend here are the farmers who have placed their homes for sale and who are leaving for another nation.  One of these farmers is headed for Belize where they plan to "raise fruit" if they are sharing the truth with me.  Another one of these families is headed for Ecuador where they plan to do the same.  I don't speak Spanish, and despite the fact that I am fairly adventurous, I don't think I would want to sell up everything I have gathered here, move to a place where I don't understand the language, the customs, the laws, the insects, the wildlife or even the parasites, and try to earn and living, and try to acquire all the farming implements I had here, which could be a good deal more difficult to get there.  I also don't think I would want to dash my children's chances of jobs, if in fact there are any left here.  I am personally a little unhappy with their decisions because it leaves me fewer people with whom to trade goods in a true financial collapse, if one comes.  I am also left with wondering, what do they know ?   So much change locally is unsettling.

             We are also noticing a financial squeeze.  Our homeowner's insurance has risen forty percent in the last year. I have tried to find other carriers but most won't cover farms or homes on farms.   Our food prices have risen substantially.  We are combatting this by growing some of our food and by reducing meat to more of a garnish that a serving.  We also use chicken and turkey often, and beef rarely.  We are considering making our own cheese for personal use.  We still have plenty of eggs from the chickens, and rarely from the ducks.  We still pray for Obamacare to be rescinded as we watch our friends who are physicians or other health care workers look at alternatives to getting out of health care entirely.

             Utility prices have risen here.   Electricity and gas have risen substantially.  We use solar for small items here, but we don't see enough sun here in the forests to do much more with it than we presently already do. We wonder what other changes in our own environment are coming.




22 comments:

JMD said...

Definitely tough times all across America. We have the same problem with foreclosed homes, closing businesses, food bank always desperate for more donations. There is no bright spot on the horizon signaling that this is going to end soon or well.

We are faced with the same issues as you. Higher utilities, property taxes, spiraling food costs and the list goes on.

Stephen said...

Darn shame how this country has been systematically destroyed.

JaneofVirginia said...

Yes, Stephen, and how little opposition they have received in doing so.

JaneofVirginia said...

I bought seed potatoes recently and I am growing them in a tall trash can with soil and vermiculite in it. If I am lucky, we will at least have potatoes through the year. Cheesy potatoes with broccoli can be a nice lunch.

Sunnybrook Farm said...

We moved from Richmond out to Franklin Co. 14 years ago and it took most of that time to learn how to live off of the land. It is unrealistic to hope to totally be self sufficient so we have managed to get low paying jobs to pay for necessities including tax. It is hard work but you get used to it, I don't even need work gloves anymore. When the collapse comes it will be hard on us but we have a head start on figuring things out and I can't begin to tell you the work that is involved but I have found that work is a good thing. I will say that life here in the mountains of VA revolves around winter, most of the work is to be able to make it through winter, it is the enemy. 100 foot rows of vegetables and patches of corn, hay/grass and grain are needed for meat production, salt and jars for preserving, it is a very serious matter.

JaneofVirginia said...

Even though we have been in these parts for 15 years, living off the land more than we do would be impossible. In many parts of the country, i.e. the Northeast, the soil permits the growth of many things. Here we have clay which grows pines,. oaks, some fruit trees, and some grapes. Many things won't grow well in this soil, even if you do amend the soil. During the Summer, a lot of things die off completely, even in greenhouses. When we MUST feed ourselves, a lot of people in this area will simply die.
Glad you and yours have a 14 year jumpstart !

Gorges Smythe said...

Sometimes I honestly wish the Lord would come. I never used to feel that way; it's either the times or my deepening "geezerhood" that's the cause, I suppose.

JaneofVirginia said...

Gorges, You are not the only one feeling this way. In 2008 when my youngest son passed at 12, I could not understand why God couldn't allow him a longer stay on Earth. Now, with so many changes, challenges and concerns, sometimes I believe that Daniel might be the lucky one to have been called home by God in an instant that day. I am still invested in Earth, but I very much understand your sentiments.

Mamma Bear said...

I have a feeling we are going to see much worse this year and pray all of us survive it. I only know one person who lost several homes but they were investments and not their primary residence. I do see a lot of homes for sale and more Mom and Pop businesses closed the same as ours. The building boom is still going on at the beach. Just don't understand that but am glad as my stepson is a contractor and stays busy.

We paid off our mortgage 4 years ago and working to get the remainder of credit card debt paid. I know, we did it backwards but we felt the need to do it this way. If no unforeseen circumstances happen, I think we will be debt free by the end of the year. We are trying to pay as we go now and not create any more debt. When we first built our little cottage in the woods in 94 our house insurance was right at $600 a year. Now it is a little over $2000.00 for the year. It has steadily went up since the hurricanes which didn't have anything to do with us but we have all of the extra fees now. Our electric bill was under $100.00 a month 20 years ago. It can now hit close to $500.00 a month in the summer. I have had special windows and special heat pump installed that helped a little but not enough to recoup the cost of those items for years.

it is a sad America we are living in. I am not a dooms day person but I think we are too far gone.

lotta joy said...

People who refuse to pay their first mortgage payment down here, get very irate when they are foreclosed and OFTEN leave their beautiful pets behind - IN THE HOUSE TO DIE, just to make the house uninhabitable out of spite. Can you imagine!

Flood insurance down here has raised the yearly premiums an extra $40,000, and is being fought in Congress!

We are going to SAM'S club tomorrow (a 2 hour drive) to buy some Auguson Farm staples.

If I'm ever unlucky enough to be a widow, I'm moving into your horse barn.

JaneofVirginia said...

LJ, Does your Sam's Club actually sell the Augason Farms food ? None of ours do, but the most commonly purchased staples are available to buy online. The only place to get the full line of Augason Farms is at Augason's website www.augasonfarms.com
My barn does look pretty but it was EIGHT DEGREES in there this morning. Even alpacas complained !

JaneofVirginia said...

Mamma Bear,
You did not do it backwards. You secured your home first, which is the right thing to do even if the home rate is lower than the card, and even though we can deduct the interest for our home on our taxes.
We are also working on paying as we go. We are seeing some concerning things here. Banks which place a house with an assessed value of 150K up for 80K and then a week later, to 65K. Sounds like desperation in a rush. Why ?

Lady Locust said...

I have no wise words, but I know not only are homes "for sale" everywhere out and about, but our Main Street is virtually empty. I am learning more and more about gardening, seed saving, and foraging.
As you said in a previous post, I think we are in for a bumpy ride.
Prayers for us all.

lotta joy said...

Rats. I was trying to avoid shipping costs.

BBC said...

I love hard times, I know how to get along in them okay.

Linda said...

My friend is preparing to buy foreclosed homes and make a fortune. He has 222 homes on a list to research, the visit the ones he chooses. He bought a home for $1800. I told him to let me know when another comes up at that price. He seems to think there are more foreclosed homes than usual. Plus, he is buying homes on which taxes are due.

There is a religious push behind going to Central American countries, buying their cheap land and exploiting the natives and taking the profits for themselves. This is a real sore spot for me. They do it under the guise of "helping." Does this sound familiar, sort of like colonial British efforts and exploits?

JaneofVirginia said...

I have not yet located an East Coast Sam's who actually sells Augason foods in store. I am aware that mid-western and western stores do. You might want to phone your store which is two hours away and ask them if it is in store.

JaneofVirginia said...

Agreed, LL. Thanks for posting.

JaneofVirginia said...

I think that when one learns to meet the challenges of life that what would throw one person, is simply a Thursday to another. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

JaneofVirginia said...

Powerful nations have exploited the assets of others since the dawn of time. China and Russia are presently exploiting African nations, South American ones, and Arctic regions, to a degree to which the British never envisaged. At least the British left educational systems, positive governmental systems for the most part, before departing, as they did in Hong Kong, Belize, Canada, and numerous other protectorates.

BBC said...

Spotted on another ladies blog....,

"but that's old, don't you want something new and high tech?" No, I didn't. I had a little plastic gun (glock) with all the personality of a Pez Dispenser.

JaneofVirginia said...

To each his own ! I will settle for what is a little older, tried and true, and a known quantity !