Part 1 Pluses and Minuses

Living in the Country—a Diversity of People Consider the Trade-Offs Before Leaving the City Face the Realities
Changing to a New Lifestyle: Little Things Add Up

Part 2 Acquiring That Spot

Selecting a Community Alternative Rural Communities Making Your Final Choice

Part 3 Improvements for Your Place

Remodeling a House—Will It Be Worthwhile?
A Personal Experience
Building That Dream House: Don’t Be Caught Napping
Work and Storage Areas Outside
Landscaping: Get Help, Plan Carefully
Land Improvements—What You Need to Know
Your Farmstead Buildings
Water and Waste Disposal
Power Sources and Equipment

Part 4 The Big Picture

Five Years on Five Acres Welcome to SweetAire Farm Pigs and Pumpkins The View from Golden Hill Farm Attracting Wildlife to Your Land The Benefit of a Woodlot

Part 5 Growing and Raising: How to Do It

Fruit Trees Grapes
Four Kinds of Berries Vegetables
How to Market Produce Ornamental Plants A Plant Nursery Dried Flower Arrangements Herbs
Greenhouse Gardening
Beekeeping
Christmas Trees
Growing Nut Trees
Keeping Chickens and Other Fowl
Raising Pigs
Raising Rabbits
Raising Beef Cattle
Raising Sheep Part-Time
Raising Dairy Cows
Raising Dairy Goats
Raising Horses
Vacation Farms

Part 6 Property

Disposing of Property
Transferring Land with Preservation in Mind Providing for Your Heirs—Nonsale Property

How to Get Help
Notes
Index