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Living on Acreage: Lessons from a City Slicker Turned Country Guy

Ever wondered what it’s really like to trade traffic lights for tractor rides? In Living on Acreage, author Adam Grandberg shares his journey from urban apartment life to the wide, wild stretches of Florida acreage.

✅ Quick Answer: What is Living on Acreage about?
Living on Acreage is a lighthearted yet practical book about life on Florida acreage—offering stories, critter encounters, and rural wisdom from a former city dweller adjusting to the wide-open country life.

With humor, hindsight, and a dose of practical wisdom, this book reveals the ups and downs of rural living—from battling bugs to mastering ride-on mowers.

Living on Acreage eBook
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Do you live on acreage? Have you daydreamed about living out here in the sticks? Have you looked at acreage to invest in, or to live on?

Country living is intriguing to many city folks, having wondered about it for decades. When I met my wife, I happily left city living behind. I didn't miss the traffic noise or the police sirens. I certainly didn't miss the noisy ambulances either as the hospital was only a block away from my apartment...

Living on Acreage describes the author’s happy (and sometimes frustrating) experiences of living on Florida acreage from the year 2001 to 2015.

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What You'll Learn in Living on Acreage

The book is divided into five chapters.

Chapter 1 – Adjusting to Country Life

Enjoy these observations of a former “city slicker.” This introduction to the acreage experience provides observations that urbanites don’t have to contend with.

Chapter 2 – Neighbors, Nuisances, and Nature

City residents have their share of pests and vermin. The author describes (with pictures) some of the common and not-so-common plants, animals, insects, and reptiles often found on acreage.

Chapter 3 – Resources (and How Far Away They Are)

You’re not living in the city anymore, and “what you need” can be a long car- or truck drive away. Included are “words of wisdom” on how to live more independently than you did before.

Chapter 4 – Floods, Hurricanes, and the Fight with Water

From lakes and drainage ditches to floods and hurricanes, the author relates how water resources are managed. Sometimes Mother Nature interferes with that work.

Chapter 5 – Machines, Storage, and the Joy of Mowing

From tools and machines that are “hiding in plain sight,” acreage provides opportunities. You can keep objects out of the public eye, but also the opportunity to store stuff keeps you plenty busy!

Living on Acreage paperback on a cellphoneclick the image to go buy me!

The Joy (and Lessons) of Mowing and Gardening

As a side note, having acreage comes with the possibility (and responsibility!) of planting a garden full of delicious vegetables. See how to make a big compost pile (on Easy Food Dehydrating) that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, or require fancy machinery to operate.

Another positive reason to move to acreage is this: you can get a ride-on mower. The zero-turn models are fabulous once you get a hang of the two steering/propelling arms!

I fondly recall my first attempt at cutting grass.

What should have been a beautiful straight line of perfectly cut grass turned out to be a very large, unsightly z shape. I kept overcompensating with the steering arms. It was funny to watch (according to my wife).

Hey, if your purchase of land comes with an old tractor, read A Fortune In Scrap – Secrets of the Scrap Metal Industry, so you’ll know what to do with any scrap you find lying around!

A Note from the Author’s Wife: Read This Before You Mow

Hey, Susan here. I loved cutting the grass! I did a bang-up job too, I don't mind saying. The thing is, I never wore ear plugs or wore a face mask. Those are two big NO NOs. You need to protect your hearing (I now suffer from tinnitus), and the mask is used to keep the grass particulates out of your lungs. Garden grass, not the other type of grass.

If you want to avoid getting "farmer's lung," wear a mask. You see, when cutting grass, tiny particles and debris fly up and contain microbes and fungi. Breathing this in triggers an allergic reaction - or inflammation - that gets worse with ongoing exposure. Farmer's lung can mimic pneumonia, and other symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, chills, chest tightness, and fever.

Use/wear an N95 or P100 respirator mask. They are certified for blocking organic vapors while mowing and they will significantly lower your chances of getting farmer's lung, or other respiratory diseases.

Frequently Asked Questions about Living on Acreage

Is living on acreage better than city living?

That depends on your lifestyle preferences. Acreage offers quiet, space, and self-sufficiency, but you give up convenience and instant access to services. Adam shares how he adjusted (and never looked back).

What do you need to live on acreage?

You'll need basic tools, a way to manage your land (mower or tractor), and a willingness to plan ahead—especially since supply runs take longer. The book explains what helped Adam most.

Are there dangers or annoyances to living in the country?

Yes—critters, floods, and sometimes neighbors with... unique quirks. Adam’s book is full of true stories (with humor) about adapting to the challenges of rural life.

Thanks for stopping by Living on Acreage. If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping the noise, slowing down, and reconnecting with the land, this book is for you. Adam’s stories are real, relatable, and a little bit rustic.

Whether you're researching your next big move—or just want a peek into country life from a comfy chair—you’ll laugh, learn, and maybe even start browsing land listings. Go grab your copy on Amazon today!

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