We are John and Tisha. Along with our three awesome kids; Tyler, Jacob, and Rylee, and grandparents; Nana and Papa, we are living 100% off-grid on our 50 acre homestead in the high desert of Northern Arizona.
Like most of you, the years from 2019 to 2021 really opened our eyes to changes that were taking place in society. Lockdowns and empty store shelves; mask mandates and experimental vaccines; wars, riots and entire neighborhoods being turned upside down… it was like the world was going crazy. Then, a few days after a school shooting in another part of the country, our oldest son’s last day as a high school freshman was met with sounds of gun shots! Thank God those sounds turned out to be large firecrackers being set off in the trash cans outside. It may have been a stunt, but it was enough to convince us that we needed a change. We decided to stop dreaming about it and take that leap of faith! We sold the majority of everything we owned, including our home, and moved to the country. We bought a camp trailer and 40 acres of raw land just outside of Seligman, Arizona and there, 65 miles from the nearest Walmart or Home Depot, Buffalo Acres was born…
Time sure flies by…
It’s been almost three years since we left the city and have been completely off-grid. From cutting roads and plumbing our well to installing a 500 gallon in ground propane tank and designing and building a huge solar system we’ve done it all ourselves! Don’t let the YouTube videos fool you. It’s not all butterflies and rainbows (although there are a lot of those too). I’ve had to wade through ankle deep mud multiple times to get a generator running in the middle of the night. Tisha has had to get up before the sun with huge snowflakes falling from the night sky to use the outside shower and bathroom before going to work. We’ve had to comfort our children as beloved pets and farm animals have died for one reason or the other. Building fences in the blistering hot summer, digging water, propane, and septic lines in the frozen ground of winter, and the tragedy of a cabin we just finished building out burning to the ground… It’s definitely not the typical urban lifestyle we were used to and it’s not for the faint of heart. But every day is an adventure full of lessons, hard work, and a whole lot of love. And every day that we’re working, we’re getting closer to that goal of being as self sufficient as possible.
Now, as you explore our family farmstead, you’ll encounter an “old” red barn that we built out of scrap material that serves as home to our beloved cows and sheep. You’ll see an A frame “Goat House” that we bult using the tongues of our manufactured home, and an old school bus we converted into our amazing chicken coop! You’ll even find the camp trailer pictured above – after having been lived in for two years and damaged by leaks and other misfortunes – turned into the best “Bunny Bungalow” you’ll ever find. Our egg-laying chickens might just run between your legs as they run home to provide us with fresh and nutritious eggs every day. The goats add their playful energy to the mix, with their endearing personalities and gentle nature. A donkey or two will come up and expect pets and hugs and Callie the cow will let out a loud, bellowing “hunnnn-greeee” to remind us that it’s feeding time. You’ll be witnessing the harmonious coexistence between humans and animals that is nothing less than a captivating experience that offers a deeper appreciation for the interdependence of farm life and the rewards of freedom.
Where are all the Buffalo?
This is a question that we are asked all the time. We’ve even had folks contact us to ask if we’d like to purchase bison calves or ask if we sell Buffalo Burgers. I always tell them no burgers but we can do some pretty gnarly buffalo wings!
Actually, you’ll find some pretty amazing animals on our farmstead but where are the buffalos?
Beyond the enchanting sights and sounds of the farm, our land is a place where nature’s rhythms harmonize with your inner soul. A beautiful sunrise with the sound of a rooster crowing, lounging in the shade of a 1500 year old Juniper tree, roasting marshmallows in front of a fire while listening to the chirps of crickets, and looking up at the clear star filled skies above you.
We would love to have you come visit and immerse yourself in the serene beauty of our family farmstead. From interacting with our cherished livestock to exploring through the old junipers, you’ll be captivated by the essence of rural life and the sense of connection to nature. Discover the stories woven into the fabric of our farm, and leave with a profound appreciation for nature and the timeless traditions that have shaped our nation.