2011

Welcome to my Website

by Dorothy Ainsworth

 

I have created this website in hopes of inspiring people at subsistance-level incomes, like myself, to pursue their own dreams of building a house in the country and becoming as self-sufficient as possible. I've documented my journey of property development by writing articles and taking photos as I progressed. They have been published in Backwoods Home magazine over the years, and I continue to contribute articles when I can. It's an excellent magazine that emphasizes a philosophy of self-reliance and individualism. (www.backwoodshome.com)

Some of the accounts are how-to articles, but for the most part I just tell how I did it, not necessarily how you should do it. Some stories overlap, some are recaps, and some are variations with a new wrinkle, but my objective is to show and tell by example what can be done---with very little money and very little previous experience. You pay as you go, and you learn as you go. The most valuable lesson I can pass along is that everything happens in tiny increments but eventually they add up into huge results.

About me

I've been called a workaholic, but I consider it a compliment. My philosophy is that there is only so much time and energy in life, and I choose to spend it wisely on my many and varied projects. My main focus for 30 years has been to develop a bare piece of property (10 affordable acres) into a comfortable, self-sufficient, and attractive homestead on my $12,000/year waitress income.

With no previous experience and very little help, I've built a pump house, water storage tank, root cellar, two workshops, guest cabin, piano studio, barn, garden tool shed, two storage sheds, tree house, and two log homes (the first one burned down, but with help, I rebuilt it).

I'm now in my 60's but still in good shape and going strong. I have so many interests I'd need several lifetimes to pursue them all. If anything, I need to speed up in the next decade, rather than slow down! I love to laugh, so I tend to find the humor in almost everything (even mistakes), so my work is also my play. I balance out construction labor with hobbies I enjoy, such as cooking, sewing, and writing. Photography has been a lifelong passion.

My plans for 2011 are to help my son finish building his house, and to do more computer/photoshop work with my daughter, who is a Hollywood photographer (www.smalleyphoto.com). Son Eric is a piano tuner/technician, recording engineer, classical pianist, and composer, and we are collaborating on the soundtrack for my video project: "How I Built a Vertical-Log House for $15/sq.ft." But spending quality time with my ten year old grandson, Zane, is one of my top priorities. I've been teaching him how to use real tools since he was 3 and we have great fun building forts and other things together.

Closing thoughts

From age 30 I was a single mom and waitress who reared my kids by myself, and from age 40-on created the security and lifestyle I so passionately wanted, on a shoestring budget. I've written my various articles to share what I've learned and to help others who are in the same boat: having little cash but lots of drive. I believe that lofty goals can be achieved with hard work and tunnel vision because I was able to do it. If I could do it, anybody could!

I wouldn't trade the satisfying feelings of accomplishment for all the money that could have hired it done. It has been a long struggle evolving into a Jill-of-all-trades while working as a waitress, but it has been so fulfilling that the journey was absolutely priceless!

"Goals are dreams with a deadline", so I encourage you to get started...now!