Small-Town America...in Nebraska? (O'Neill, Henderson: vs., gardens, farmers)

[stotan88]

Originally Posted by Go Ne

Thats sounds good, should work well, I think you'll like farm life, I really do.

yeah it does! it would be really interesting, but i wish i knew how to even apply! what about safety? how long? where? things like that...

as well, from experience, if someone moves in to your small town, is it a "big deal"? and how big of a deal is it? What usually happens?

[tpabes]

Here is a website, but you do have to pay. I'm sure there a plenty of farmers and ranchers would take your free help! Especially during harvest.

Farmer / Rancher for a Day

[Go Ne]

And you would probably need to experience it for more than a day, maybe from a week to month, or if you were really up to it, a whole year, see what they do during winter, planting, growing and harvest then a little bit of post harvest.

[stotan88]

Originally Posted by Go Ne

And you would probably need to experience it for more than a day, maybe from a week to month, or if you were really up to it, a whole year, see what they do during winter, planting, growing and harvest then a little bit of post harvest.

yeah you're probably right. if i was to travel there, i would definitely stay there at least a couple weeks, but more likely a month or so. I'll definitely look into it, perhaps for next summer, as i am back in school in nearly a month, and my new job starts soon.

i was just curious; what are the winter's like in Nebraska, particularly Rock County? Can they be harsh? I sit uncommon for a really bad snow storm, or is the area prone to fairly harsh winters?

[tpabes]

It will be cold, but being from the Ontario that shouldn't be a problem. There is a chance you could see a snow storm, but nothing guaranteed. Winter would be a interesting time to spend time with a rancher. Especially calving season, that would be an experience for you.

[Dave1215]

I have a friend from the Niagra area who now lives in Nebraska - they don't see it as bad here at all...

[stotan88]

Originally Posted by Dave1215

I have a friend from the Niagra area who now lives in Nebraska - they don't see it as bad here at all...

okay cool. So, is it a "big deal" if Rock County gets hit by a big storm, since it is uncommon? Or is the weather similar to Southwestern Ontario (like Niagara or the GTA) in the winter?

And I hope I'm not naive or too stereotypical, but when it comes to television signals and getting channels, especially from different parts of the country, is that something that is more a luxury rather than everyday life? How common is cable or satellite television around that area? I hope I'm not being too naive,but I truthfully am not sure how it all works in the more rural areas of the continent. Thanks

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by stotan88

yeah it does! it would be really interesting, but i wish i knew how to even apply! what about safety? how long? where? things like that...

as well, from experience, if someone moves in to your small town, is it a "big deal"? and how big of a deal is it? What usually happens?

please re-read our previous info / suggestions on how to network with folks at your desired location, I do it very frequently and have not had a problem linking up. (Hint, you will not find these opportunities posted in the paper, you need to create your own, on your own !) Do you have any experience or skills that would be helpful to a farmer / local merchant? (mechanic, welding, carpentry, animal care, driving, gardening, housing painting, bookkeeping, organization, computer IT...). I'm sure you will be welcomed if you are a nice guy, don't complain, and are inquisitive. You will not be a 'spectacle' (oddity) those days are long past. You can even do some writing or provide help for the local newspaper. You should plan to stay as long and attend as many diverse community functions as possible. (fund raising meals at church and school, local music, livestock events, town meetings, conservation meetings, school, and sports events...)

If you can't go till next year, I would leverage the winter 'downtime' of the locals to get acquainted via e mail and phone. Possibly you could link up with the library staff or become a school communication 'project'. Folks on the prairie can be interested in life in Ontario too!

The winter storms are quite a bit different than you experience in ONT.
Think "horizontal powdery snow" (dry, small flakes, and wind, lots of wind) Sometimes the flat open land will be bare, but drifts at fences, buildings, and trees) I have seen the backside of buildings completely covered in snow, but the field in front of it bare soil. There can also be some beautiful clear sunny days in the winter. Much more sun and clear than ONT, and snow doesn't hang around all winter, maybe a few days / month. Mainly cold, clear, and brisk; not humid. People do 'hunker' down for the storms, as you don't want to be stuck 30 miles from civilization or have to go find your calves (or kids...human kind) in a storm.

Satellite television is available, but e-entertainment is not predominant in the lives of most rural dwellers. If there is something worthwhile to watch AFTER DARK or on a stormy day, then possibly as a last resort the TV gets turned on. Generally there are more pressing issues to attend to, and these folks do not need to be 'entertained', they are used to 'finding their own way' (pioneer heritage). It can be more rewarding to sew, quilt, woodwork, carve, read, tie flies, draw... than to passively sit and be fed someone from LA / NYC's idea of entertainment.

[Sandhills Guru]

I think you got your winters mixed up with someplace else. Our snow will hang all winter in normal years. Dry powder? Yes and no, sure seen a lot of the wet stuff last year, thank goodness it was wet or we would of had some drifting to contend with.

Was this all just copy and paste from google info or what?

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Sandhills Guru

I think you got your winters mixed up with someplace else. ....

Was this all just copy and paste from google info or what?

from my 7 yrs running 3x / wk truck route Rapid City through Valentine, Chadron and back towards Ft Collins, CO (on my way home from Buffalo, WY)+ the previous 10 yrs roaming around the panhandle. I feel it is quite different than the incessant gray days and piles of (gray) soggy snow around the great lakes. Maybe you are now getting some 'Lake Affect' snow in Western, NE Climate change is everywhere ! I will take NE cold any day to high humidity cold, usually the wind helps blow the 'riff-raff' away !