Saw
this advertised today:
10.6 Acre Farm with Spacious 3 Story Farmhouse Spring Water, Views ~and it sure got my mind reeling with all sorts of excitements.
"
Plenty of space for gardening and self sustained farming.
3 Post clothesline" Yes, even a 3 post clothesline is exciting to me. It goes on to say how the property is fenced, with a
108 stall barn and milk room!!
Possibility for 8 bedrooms in the house! It just got my heart a-pounding. Pounding because
unbelievably it is ~almost~ in our price range. But almost is not enough today.
IF it were mine and
IF I had a bit more time, money and know-how, it would be turned into a goat dairy with a few angora goats and sheep thrown in for fiber. Oh, and let's not forget some pleasure ponies for riding on the trails of the
state forest it borders. Oh my. While I DO have faith that
someday this may all be quite possible, and I realize it is OK to dream,
today the only thing I need to concentrate on are the responsibilities I am currently endowed with. And they are many. A wise person once told me that if I want to go
big someday, I must first perfect
small. Working on this... And so, my plans for this humble acreage in the year 2011- however long it takes us to find our "real" farm, include:
1.
growing a garden large enough to actually have a considerable amount leftover to can, freeze, or dehydrate. And to be able to can, freeze, dehydrate enough to last throughout winter. This may be somewhat ambitious as I've only been able to can and freeze mere
scant amounts in the past. But nonetheless, a goal.
2. To acquire more dairy goats and have them pay for themselves in what they produce for us. A profit would be nice in future years, but realize that is not realistic at first.
3. A weanling pig or two to grow for meat? (Shhhh, don't tell my husband, or my neighbors for that matter ;)) Plan to help grow them with excess goat's milk (excellent for growing pigs, I've heard).
3. Raise 2-3 turkeys and approx. 10-20 meat chickens. Which would mean-
4. Learning to butcher turkeys and chickens . 5. At least get the darn hens to start laying for us again. (a very short term goal, I might add). I think that is plenty 'nough to keep me busy this year. We'll also be constructing either cold-frames or a grow light system to start our garden plants with. Any advice on which
you prefer?
I'll leave you today with a few pics of the country kids (sorry for the weird format, still figuring out how to do this) and one of my favorite verses (which was a good one for today): "I have learned to be content." Phil. 4:11
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| That would be the "farm toad" Cricket on Charlotte's head |
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| Brenna with our first buckling "Theodore" |
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| I love this one. Brenna is such a good helper :) |
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Our First Egg '05
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