Don't Become THAT Neighbor

In every community, there is a house.... you know the one I'm talking about. The one that holds the neighborhood family that everyone goes "oh, my" about. The ones that hold large and loud parties that go long into the night. The ones that are loud even at 5:00AM on a Saturday morning. The ones with the dog that does its business on everyone else's yard...and they don't bother to pick up after it.

Take care that in becoming self-sufficient, you don't become another "oh, my" family - at least not in a bad way.

Self-sufficiency is an admirable goal - otherwise we wouldn't be reaching for it, believe me. But while a loud party might not be an issue for us with our neighbors, we still have to live next door to people for possibly the rest of our natural lives, and we'd like this time to be pleasant.

My point is that in the quest for self-sufficiency, there are still some neighborly guidelines to adhere to, just like in anything else. While Michigan (where we live) does have a Right to Farm act that supersedes a squawking neighbor's complaints, I'd like to avoid the issue entirely, as I'm really a very non-confrontational person that would most likely wilt at my neighbors storming around being angry at me.

Therefore, the following are advisable, especially if attempting to set up a mini-farm in the middle of suburbia, no matter what the acreage is you're living on.

1. Get to know your neighbors. Even if they are rude the first time you introduce yourself, at least you'll know what you're dealing with.
2. Talk to your neighbors. Hand in hand with #1, except on a regular basis. For example, when we were considering getting chickens, I went to both of my next door neighbors as well as the ones across the street. All of them were happy I had asked, though they all had the same stipulations: Chickens were fine, roosters were not, and the mess had better stay in my own yard. However, if I had gotten the chickens first and then asked, I doubt the reactions would have been the same.
3. Know your rights. As I said, Michigan has a "right to farm" act which supersedes most complaints, even a township or city ordinance. Other states may have basically the same thing, but in different wording. However, I doubt the "right to farm" act would help me if something has greviously offended the neighbors other than their disagreements over my lifestyle. Fortunately, I live next door to an avid gardener who does not mind my raised beds.
4. Stay within the boundaries. The property lines should not be a mystery before you move in - or after. Plant within them, not on them, especially with trees that can drop things into the neighbors yard...or on their heads. In our subdivision, as in many others, there are also certain areas considered "community property". They belong to everyone, not just to us, and I highly doubt that anyone will appreciate a cow grazing there...though it might add some ambience to the scenery.
5. Keep it clean. Just because you're getting dirty doesn't mean you get to leave the yard looking like a nuclear bomb was dropped on it. Rotting produce and dirty animals do not only stink for you, but for your neighbors as well. Compost bins should also be kept closed and sealed and checked regularly to avoid nasty surprises for everyone.
6. Be quiet. Don't blast the radio at full volume and cuss at the top of your lungs when you prune off half the oregano plant instead of the weed you were trying for. Get an iPod, and keep it down.
7. Finish what you start. While a project in progress probably won't bother the neighbors in the short-term, leaving the yard looking like a landfill in the name of self-sufficiency may not help too much. Start only what you know you can finish. While leaving something undone or taking 2-3 days to accomplish a project might not matter, you can be assured that leaving the garden untilled and rotting over the winter will matter - to everyone.
8. Share. Neighbors love to get free stuff - whether it is an overflow of produce, fresh-made products, or even a cut of meat, don't forget that these people have been courteously watching what you do, and probably drooling over it. Sharing the bounty will make them even more likely to appreciate your efforts - and less likely to disagree over that fruit tree that grew a little too close to the property line...
9. Consider taking some things elsewhere. Depending on the size of your tract of land, you may not want to keep some animals there. Pigs and sheep, along with cows, need at least 1/4 acre all their own to graze on and wallow in and...well, whatever else it is they do. Your neighbors will not appreicate your pig, no matter how much they may like you. Consider another plot of land to let the animals roam or going in with another family on a large livestock animal that may need to be raised elsewhere - you'll like that you spared yourself the headache.

The bottom line is, you can be as self-sufficient as you want, but your life can still be miserable if your neighbors hate you. Take a word of advice and get things in order before laying out the garden and ordering the chickens - you'll be glad that you did!