Six tips before heading back to the land:

Features

Published: 26 Oct. 2012, 18:53

Six tips before heading back to the land:

The backyard of a hanok, or traditional Korean house, resided by Eom Yun-jin, an author of “What about Living in Countryside?” The hanok is located in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang.

1. Seek approval from family.

Communicate and cooperate with your husband or wife if you want to become successful in your new rural life.

2. Do your homework.

Courses on agriculture are mandatory. There are many places where you can get tips and education without quitting your day job in the city.

For further information, visit the Web site www.returnfarm.com.

3. Try it out first.

Many companies offer weekend farm programs where you can rent about 16 square meters (172 square feet) for a small kitchen garden. People who have some experience operating weekend farms would know hard it is to become a farmer.

4. Forget about that dream farmhouse.

There is no dream farmhouse which meets all your requirements such as a house in the proximity of metropolitan areas or expressway.

Sometimes it will be hard to find a house that is located right next to the land suitable for farming.

5. How will I pay the bills?

If you make up your mind to move to the countryside, think about what you will do to make a living there. And don’t limit yourself to growing things. Consider operating a guest house or offering hands-on farm experience for students.

6. Make a conscious effort to fit in.

Many people who settle down in rural areas often have a difficult time mingling with locals there. If you are not prepared to participate in community events, you will eventually fail.

Source: “Smart Rural Life”