Hello there.
I'm 17 and graduate from school in 1,5 years. And I have to tell my family that I'm not going to college nor university.
I think it won't make difference to my mum because she doesn't really care about my education. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about my dad.
He has been encouraging me to study since I've been a little child (like 8 or 9). He even kept on teaching me foreign languages for a few years. When I got older we both wanted me to go to a university/college and after that to get a well-paid job. About a year ago I told him what I want to do after studies and he got even more excited about that.
He's been for a few months now in UK (money and job reason) and a moment ago he sent me an email on studies in UK - he's been looking for informations on this subject for a while and I think he won't stop until I tell him. I replied. Sadly, I didn't mention about the change in my future plans.
I am a little bit upset. Should I tell him about my plans as fast as it's possible or give it some time and wait e.g. til he'll be back home?
Hopefully, someone helps me. I feel guilty because of hiding the truth. Anyways, thanks for reading this. :)
UPDATE: I forgot to mention that I have the plan! :) I'm gonna go to a job, collect enough money and then go to a tropical country (or at least warm enough to plant fruit trees other than apple trees), and start a permacultural farm. I know that it'll take time but I am patient. It seems a little bit unrealistic, that's right. I am a dreamer. And this kind of dream will come true, I'm tellin' you!
Replies
I understand that.
I was mostly pointing it out as an example of an easy-to-get agricultural certification that can allow you to gain easy residence visas into a given country. there are other examples, too, so you'd have to search the skills shortage list.
+1 Commitment for going to the tropics as a frutarian is best you can do. I was in frutarian community in africa just 3 month but would go always again. Nothing better than work hard in the garden, enjoying the hot sun and sleeping 10-12hours the nigth.
I can agree with this approach.
Ideally, if you can grow things in your own country, then you overcome the issue of immigration. A degree helps with immigration because you are more likely to be accepted -- particularly if your degree is on their "skills shortage" lists. It depends upon the country, of course. Generally, there are four ways to get in: 1. you're rich; 2. you are on their skills shortage list; 3. you are a refugee; and 4. you are partnered to a person from there. It's still expensive, though.
So, if you're going to be staying in your own country, then the money would be better spent on establishing yourself for financial independence and food security. Even if you bought a home in a normal neighborhood with a small garden space, there are many ways to plant a highly producing fruit garden.
From there, you could go to college anytime you want to -- if you want or need to -- or you could just work yourself to freedom!
My own working plan at this point is to: A. establish my business in our new town; B. buy a live-income property with a garden space (this means it's two apartments, one yard -- live in one apartment, rent out the other apartment, and then cultivate the garden); and C. develop financial independence.
I live in a four-season area, but I can also put an orangerie in the back garden (green house for trees!).
So that's my plan/idea. :)
I'm also a member of the local community garden and I like WWOOFing (but won't be able to do it again for a while). It snows here, but that should get at least some of my fruit local, year-round. :D
Hello Zuza, it's so good reading about your dream. Dreams want to come true!
I'm an old man already, so you can take some advice from me: First of all, don't hesitate to talk to your dad and tell him the truth. Maybe it hurts him a little, but maybe he's proud of you, you never know before. But follow your heart, it will always lead you into the right direction. Your dream isn't unrealistic at all, it's totally realistic and makes big sense. Many should follow you and do the same. You don't need any expert, believe me. There are so many scientists in all fields and they speak many difficult words, but it's all crap. Only a few who just watch nature and think silently, they get all the wisdom and create all the fortune for those around them. Don't follow the money, just use it for your needs and do not waste it. If you follow your heart, your dream will come true and the money will run after you... ;)
Great to know I'm not alone doing crazy things. :) Thanks for kind words and good luck with your own journey. :)
Do you have any experience with farming? How do you know that you'll actually enjoy doing it for a living?
Which tropical country will you go to?
How will you get the land if you're not a citizen of that country? Many countries don't let foregins buy land.
How will you get permaculture farming skills?
How will you get selling skills, accounting skills, and other skills necessary to run a successful business?
What kind of a job will you get to collect the necessary funds? How much funds do you actually need?
these are a few issues I think you should have thoroughly researched before making a decision to ditch college education. It's great that you're a dreamer, but you gotta be smart about it too. Thinks things through to maximize your chances of success before making life-altering decisions.
To be honest, I modified a little bit my plan. :) I want to focus on travelling the world, and then find out whether I want to start my own permacultural farm.
Anyway, thanks for reply. Good questions to think of.
Best of luck and wesołych podrórzy!
Here is my recommendation, for what it is worth.
Work and pay your way through community college. Get a basic degree, and stay out of debt. Whatever degree you have will help. A business degree never goes wrong, and you will need it running your own subsistence farm (particularly if you sell some of your produce to buy other things that you may need).
After you get your degree -- which, if you go as hard as you can, you can probably do in 3 years -- then work to save up so that you can start to work-travel abroad WWOOFing (world wide work on organic farms).
This provides a couple of opportunities: 1. travel! and 2. free training. I don't know how much experience you have with organic or permaculture farming now, but WWOOFing is a *great* way to get it. It will help you establish your farm.
It might also help you establish where you want to live so that you can then establish your farm. You'll be able to visit a variety of countries, as many of them have work-holiday schemes for people under the age of 31.
WWOOFing is work in exchange for food and accommodation -- you usually work a half day for a half day off, or three full days for three full days off, with accommodation provided for all of those days. WWOOFing varies from taking care of small subsistence farms, building buildings for various people on their farms, providing child care, working urban farms, working very rural farms (with plants and animals, though you can choose). There are *lots* of ways to WWOOF.
In between WWOOFing gigs, or while WWOOFing, you'll need to do odd-jobs to cover other expenses such as travel expenses as you go. Most people work in restaurants, coffeehouses, and bars -- it's an easy way to make cash quickly to move on. And there's a huge culture for it in a lot of countries anyway.
Once you find a place where you want to settle, the easiest way to settle is actually using your degree -- get a job on the skill's shortage list and apply for residency. Your degree plus your WWOOFing experience could serve you well, and if you -- in particular -- learn bee keeping skills, most countries need apiarists. You can get certification while WWOOFing, and this will usually get you residence wherever you want.
Though, the easiest way to gain residence to any country is to become partnered (i.e., romantically) with a person from that country.
Anyway, once there, go ahead and do your work-thing to earn money for your farm, and get rolling. You'll succeed more quickly if you choose a developing nation with cheap land and such, too.
I wish you all the best. I think you have a bright future ahead of you.
Also, an online, free permaculture design course: Here.
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