Homesteader Conversations: Feeding Your Family And Building A Bitcoin Community In Southern Portugal

In the discussion for this short article, Julia joined me from her home in Southern Portugal to talk about her homestead, local neighborhood and Bitcoin. I discovered numerous parallels in between how Julia speak about Bitcoin and homesteading with what I have heard from lots of homesteaders and farmers in the U.S. during my trip across the country this summertime. The work to understand and work on Bitcoin or a farm demand high upfront investment and extremely low time choice. In my conversation with Julia, we touched on her backstory as a German who moved her life to Portugal, the growth of the Bitcoin meetup in her regional neighborhood and what it requires to operate a homestead that feeds her family. Julias BackstorySidd: Lets start with a little your backstory. Inform me about how you ended up in Portugal. Why did you move there and why did you stay?Julia: Im initially from Germany, and coming to Portugal was truly simply a part of something that takes place to you when youre in your late teens or early 20s. I first set foot on Portuguese surface when I was 19– I wished to travel, so I looked around for some jobs. I discovered a chance to operate in Portugal for 3 months, and I thought I would take a trip on to some other country after. However then, as life happens, I got provided a full-time task and I thought, “Yes, Im going to transplant here in Portugal.”A view from the land in Portugal which Julia eventually chose. All images consisted of in this short article are thanks to Julia.Since then, my moms and dads moved over together with my bros shortly after me. Ive been back to Germany a few times to visit some household, however my close family is here. The last time I went to Germany was perhaps 15 years ago! I do not go back frequently. Local Community And MeetupsSidd: Tell me about the neighborhood that youve built there. She discussed a regional market that began in 2020 when I talked with your friend previously. Julia: Our community has always been on the alternative side of things, however it was really COVID-19 that kicked this neighborhood and networking thing into gear. Thats when everyone thought, “Its now or never to develop a strong regional neighborhood and economy.” When the alternative markets started occurring, and thats. Individuals were trying to find their people, due to the fact that it became so obvious that there is a people: youre either on this side, or youre on the opposite. In such a way, COVID-19 has actually been a genuine blessing for neighborhood structure here since it helped us grow into an extremely strong, little, tight-knit community.Sidd: Tell me about the alternative market. Whats sold there? Who is selling and who is buying? Julia: The market group currently counts over 1,000 members, and is based upon personal land with expected participation of several hundred people from the Algarve. The Algarve region in South Portugal covers only 200 kilometers by 50 (kilometers) approximately, and makes up the larger neighborhood who goes to the market. The regional community who are producing and offering many of the products at the market are within about a half hour drive of the market. Setting up at the market!Most of what is cost the market are handicrafts, jewelry, homemade items, soaps, cosmetics, natural recovery tinctures and so on, with some foods. All homemade products. Its on personal land so less regulations use to whats offered. Sidd: How many Bitcoiners are there in the community? Is there a Bitcoin meetup? Julia: I began to understand Bitcoin only at the beginning of in 2015. Ever since, weve had this one person in the community– Ill call him Rick– who started informing individuals on Bitcoin. His sweetheart is likewise quite into creating networks and running events, so she hosts regular meetups. Prior to these occasions started, I didnt know anybody who enjoyed Bitcoin. Now, I see Bitcoiners all over since Im in the group. The exact same thing occurred to me with homeschooling. Prior to I started homeschooling, I never ever knew there was a homeschooling neighborhood. The minute I started doing it myself, unexpectedly, its everywhere. Since the government brings a very relaxed technique to it, Portugal in basic is a fantastic magnet for Bitcoiners as well. At the moment, you dont need to pay capital gains tax. The federal government is discussing a possible capital gains tax, however for now it would just apply if you sell less than 12 months after purchasing.Julias Interest In BitcoinSidd: So, tell me about your interest in Bitcoin. Where did it come from?Julia: I had been becoming aware of Bitcoin for years, however it wasnt until a video (which I cant remember now!) activated a specific interest that I truly started investigating. It was truly Rick who assisted address all my concerns and cultivate my interest. Prior to I had someone to take a seat with and ask my concerns to, it was all extremely dodgy. Meeting Rick was my entrance to the Bitcoin bunny hole. I had questions about the energy usage, and how bitcoins withstand being copied with a click. I also took a seat with Rick to speak about what decentralization really suggests, and why it matters. When the philosophical things kicked in– like what does all of this mean for humanity– I truly got hooked. I might see something so various for the future of humanity in this.Sidd: Lets go back to homesteading. What parallels, if any, do you see in between homesteading and Bitcoin? Julia: The ups and down. You have to simply stream with the downs and ups, you will have excellent days and successful times and after that it will go downhill again. You have to swallow that as well. Its like when you lose your whole flock of chickens in one night to a predator, thats that. You could then choose to quit and sell, or you just keep going. And I think likewise, talking to the aspect of community, Bitcoin-only people are generally an extremely great bunch. The very same chooses farmers. Theyre really down-to-earth individuals, which I like.A view from Julias land.Theres likewise a long-lasting technique to success shared between those two neighborhoods. You cant simply develop a successful farm in half a year. Its nearly generational. It takes years till the soil improves and responds. Years of persistent everyday work, I would state. No quick-fix solutions. Summary Of The HomesteadSidd: Tell me about your homestead. What are you producing?Julia: Its a small homestead, probably a couple of acres. Its actually a family house. I purchased it as a ruin in 2000, so weve been here over 20 years. In the beginning I started by planting a few trees, and had my first successes and failures. Planting trees sounds simple, however with the dry and hot Portuguese summer seasons, its not. I was right away faced with the realities of nature. I stood firm as Ive always been interested in the relationship between health and food. That inevitably brings you to growing your own food, because nothing else you can purchase out there is high quality enough to keep you healthy. Gorgeous sundried tomatoes from the garden. When I had children, it really kicked into equipment. My daughter is almost 10 years old now, so about 10 years ago I got serious: I want my own eggs and my own milk. Whichs when I really began a growing number of homesteading and animal keeping. Im very focused on animal production, without a lot of veggie growing. The goal is to supply the household. And finally, after many years, were there. We really have a constant supply of raw milk and eggs. We also have some fruit trees, but Im concentrating on my chickens and my goats. We just recently began with pigs who are great prolific companies. Having a freezer complete of your own meat is likewise a great feeling.Sidd: Are you at a point now where youre offering and overproducing or needing to store all this food?Julia: I can sell some excess now. In spring throughout the high season for eggs, Im really delighted to offer eggs along with a few liters of milk. We are turning the concept of the homestead into an instructional one: were running workshops on homesteading when or two times a month, depending on the season as well. Julia puts an academic spin on homesteading by running regular workshops to help the local neighborhood sharpen their abilities. For example, we did one in September on vegetable fermentation to maintain vegetables from the fall harvest over the winter season. We are now integrating Bitcoin education into those workshops. We have a little a farm shop too, which is just a big rack in the kitchen area where people can purchase seeds, the beef jerky I make and other products.Labor, Scaling And CostsSidd: What labor is involved now in operating your homestead, and how does that modification throughout the seasons?Julia: I do it alone, and its well arranged. If youve got your infrastructure well set into place, then its quite simple. However, youre still there twice a day every day for feeding and for moving goats around in the pen. We practice a regenerative, holistic approach so we never keep the animals in one place. In some cases, I require some help moving big structures, so I will ask somebody in the community to help. Im typically out for a minimum of an hour in the morning, and then another hour at night, just for the everyday basics.Seasonal works do exist. In the winter season its wet, and theres more to do in terms of repairing fences and shelters. The summertime is our inactive season here; its too hot to do any extra work. Summer seasons are about getting feed, water and shelter for the animals. Sidd: How did you scale up your homestead? What did you begin with and what did you include as you went on?Julia: I began with chickens, then pretty rapidly broadened the variety of chickens and started with goats. As just someone, there is not all that much scaling you can do. What you can do is stack: integrate something with another. I couldnt just unexpectedly run 20 goats, but I might incorporate the goats with the pigs since thats not all that far more. That includes just a little bit to my everyday tasks. My other half still goes to work and I am homeschooling the kids, so I require to keep the labor on the homestead under control. Among Julias hardy goats. Im now at a point where I can supply the household with milk and eggs to what we need and have that bit of additional which spends for the animals feed, whichs type of a sweet spot to be in. I do not see myself growing a lot at the minute. I might be able to purchase another piece of land in the future and restructure some stuff. Potentially get a dairy cow rather of the goats, and maybe a beef cow rather of the pigs. Well see.Sidd: Speaking of the feed, what costs are involved with the homestead that youre running?Julia: The expense of feed here over the course of the last 12 months has almost doubled. I do need to purchase grain for the animals, although they are out on pasture and periodically getting cooking area leftovers. Other than that, were extremely lightweight on expenses. Structures like little shelters are often self-made with whatever I can find. The only other substantial expense remains in electric fencing. Because I keep my animals very clean and healthy, I have very low veterinarian expenses. Due to the fact that I believe a healthy animal doesnt have worms, I dont do the entire deworming and all that. In that way, were quite low on expenses. Mistakes And AdviceSidd: What major errors have you made on your homesteading journey?Julia: I believe I wasted a great deal of energy before I got to a real understanding of the land. When I did a substantial permaculture course online from Geoff Lawton, that true understanding of the land came in 2015. His course simply put whatever into location. Unexpectedly I understood how to collect my water and where to put trees so they actually endure. I would recommend anybody starting a homestead to do one of those extensive training courses with a good teacher like Geoff or Allan Savory. Allan gave me a great understanding of how animals work in consistency with the ground and plant life on the land. Sidd: Knowing what you understand now, where would you have begun with homesteading? Would you have done it the very same method that you did it or would you have actually begun differently?Julia: I think I took a fairly uncomplicated method. There will always be a knowing curve with mistakes and losses. I believe for someone simply beginning out, its smart to start with little animals. You cant run a ranches with 100 heads over night; you truly need to become it in order to integrate your land and animals successfully. You have to be linked to your land and to your animals and the environment. You need to begin small and feel your way. Do not try to integrate a lot of types. Its all really romantic– them hopping around in the exact same pen– however in truth, it usually doesnt work. They will either eliminate each other or eat each others food. Weve made all those errors. I thought I might simply put some ducks with the chickens, however the ducks eliminated my chicks. Those are things you dont know until you see and try for yourself. Absolutely read books, however actually see if what you check out in those books makes sense for you. People can get so lost wanting to grow their own food and be self-sustainable, yet having no idea what it takes. Growing your own vegetables is difficult! They are so delicate, they will die on you with any number of tiny mistakes and whatever wishes to consume them. So make sure you keep adequate money in your back pocket to support you, and dont depend on your food production.Sidd: Thanks for joining me today and sharing all your understanding and experiences gained through your homestead. How can people discover you?Julia: They can examine out the Facebook page for our homestead, Terra Robinia, where we share some ideas and occasion details for our workshops. Sidd: Thank you Julia!This is a guest post by Captain Sidd. Viewpoints revealed are entirely their own and do not always reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.

Julia: I started to comprehend Bitcoin just at the start of last year. Because then, weve had this one person in the neighborhood– Ill call him Rick– who began informing individuals on Bitcoin. Before these occasions started, I didnt understand anyone who was into Bitcoin. Prior to I started homeschooling, I never ever understood there was a homeschooling community. What did you begin with and what did you add as you went on?Julia: I started with chickens, then quite rapidly broadened the number of chickens and began with goats.