No.500: Creating an Agricultural Legacy // Plans for Year One

Today seems like a big accomplishment: this is my 500th post written since we moved to the farmhouse!  It seems fitting, then, that this post is about us embarking on another new adventure.  After years of talking and planning, dipping our toes in here and there, we’re finally pressing the gas on our little homestead!  Creating something from nothing is exciting, but also completely overwhelming.  Where do you even begin?!  There are so many things we’d like to do, but here are seven goals we’re prioritizing in 2021:

1 // RAISE CHICKENS, BOTH FOR EGGS AND MEAT

Chickens are the gateway animal of farming, right?  We currently have 16 hens and 49 broilers (we sadly lost two during the first few days) in our garage and are feverishly working to prepare the moveable tractors and coop outside!

2 // EXPAND THE GARDEN TO INCLUDE IN-GROUND BEDS

Last year, we built our fenced-in garden with thirteen 4’x4′ raised beds inside.  Lots of room for a variety of fruits and vegetables, but I quickly realized that I needed even more space.  So we’re in the process of creating two in-ground beds that are approximately 8’x18′.  We have deer all over our property, so this will be an experiment – will they eat everything that grows outside the fence?

3 // PLANT ENOUGH FOOD TO BE ABLE TO CAN/PUT AWAY FOR WINTER

This goal fits in with #2 above.  I grew so much last summer, but it ended up only being enough to feed us daily without anything extra.  This year, I’m hoping to be more creative with my planning in order to get maximum yields.  One example: I invested in a squash tunnel to try to grow them vertically!  Where one plant would take up almost an entire 4’x4′ bed, the tunnel will allow me to plant four on each side.  That’s huge.

4 // START THE COTTAGE GARDEN

One of the more frivolous farm goals is to begin to fill up the beds surrounding the garden with flowers.  I’m going for a cottage look, lots of color, a little wild and collected over time.  I won’t have a lot of time to dedicate to this project, but am hoping to get at least a few perennials in.

5 // START THE ORCHARD GUILD

Another little side project is to plant some things around our apple trees to encourage growth, add helpful nutrients to the soil and attract insects to help with pollination.  This permaculture concept is so cool – I can’t wait to learn more and pick some beautiful plants.

6 // SHEEP?

We considered starting with pigs, but after some research and hearing personal stories, we think we’ll need something more structurally permanent before we add them to the farm.  Sheep, on the other hand, seem much easier and considerably cheaper!  We’re still very much in the research phase, but this may be where we’re headed next.

7 // START SAVING FOR BIGGER PURCHASES

We would love to eventually build some sort of barn structure and some permanent fencing, but both of those are $$$.  In the mean time, we plan to start a separate “Farm” savings account and add little bits as we can.