“The real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.”
–Laura Ingalls Wilder
When my wife and I bought this tiny worn-out house on a busy main thoroughfare here in Oregon, we had no idea that our adventure would bring us to this point. We had figured we’d be here for a couple of years and move into something larger – hopefully some place with some land so we could garden extensively and get livestock as both of us had dreamed.
… then the bubble burst.
Our house value plummeted along with everyone else in the nation, and reality set in that we aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Our dream of a home in the country has morphed somewhat… and it was decided — if we can’t get to the country, we’re going to bring the country to us. We decided that instead of dwelling on what could have been, we’d be content with what we have.
So our family of 5 embarked on the next stage of our journey. Living the ‘country’ lifestyle — with its values and ethics — right here in the middle of the city.
With 50 feet of 17th Street Frontage, the sirens are constant, and the traffic can be maddening — but on our modest 50′ x 135′ lot, we have installed a large garden, composting systems, are in the process of adding a backyard flock, water collection, and have tilled up the front yard to begin farming all that space previously wasted on grass… down the rabbit hole we go.
Join us as we embark on this adventure. Share with us the highs and lows, celebrate in our victories and learn from our mistakes, it’s going to be quite the ride.
–Ben and Shannon
Little House on 17th Street 