| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| garliclady |
Posted - Jan 19 2006 : 1:13:56 PM
I know that all of us are farm girls at heart but... I am curious home many of you currently farm.
What is the name of your farm? where is it? What do you raise/grow? How do you market your goods? Do you have a website or pictures to share? what else do you want to share?
Well I am new around here so I would love to get to know about your farms. In my signature is the link to my farm , Cornerstone Garlic Farm and it tells some about my farm as well as my intro in "Welcome Wagon" this week.
I am looking forward to meeting some of you farmers
Cornerstone Garlic Farm http://www.localharvest.org/listing.jsp?id=6792
My Recipes http://recipecircus.com/recipes/garliclady/ |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| MullersLaneFarm |
Posted - Feb 08 2006 : 09:11:20 AM
We have 11 acres, rent 2 from a neighbor for pasture rotation and another 15 of organic alfalfa. Our 11 acres contain various pastures (one that we just rotated out of alfalfa), small fruit orchard, grape vines. We have been talking about taking part of the new pasture (old alfalfa field) and putting in raspberries and/or strawberries and/or blueberries. We have a Jersey milk cow & keep a beef steer. We raise 6-12 hogs a year for our freezer and for customers. We are looking at raising Berkshires but have come to the realization that the old style Berks just don't exist. Paul has his heart set on that breed although I would love to have him look into GOS. Likewise we raise about 100 meat chickens twice a year for our freezer and customers. We have a mixed flock of layers. Early each fall, we purchase 25 day-olds so they are laying come spring. We select a different color each year so we can tell at a glance how old our birds are. We also raise/breed heritage turkeys. I have reduced the number of breeds and am kept by Eastern Wild (un-improved bronze), Royal Palms & Bourbon Reds (although would like to have Narragansets again - they ended up being coyote meal this past spring). Other feathered friends include Birmingham roller pigeons, fan-tail pigeons, ring-neck doves, geese, guineas, muscovy ducks, pea fowl and bantam Old English. I would like to have a heritage fiber animal, but I'm having no problem finding folks that will throw nice raw fleeces my way for little to nothing. The Tunis breed has caught my eye for being a heritage breed for both meat & fiber. We will see how it plays out after we are able to secure the Berkshire (I am NOT coveting Robin's GOS, I am NOT coveting Robin's GOS) We also have honey bees to help work the two 35' x 70' vegetable gardens and assortment of herb & flower gardens.
We moved here 4 years ago after 'doing our homesteading thing' separately in cities (Paul) and small acreage (me).
Paul is the "Chore-man of the board" & works the farm (as much as time/weather allows) with our Belgian draft team otherwise it's with the old Farmall M. He is also a blacksmith, furniture maker and professional handyman. I work off the farm but still find time to make milk soap, lotions, cheese, hand-spin, weave, crochet & garden.
We helped start the local, indoor farmer's market where we sell are produce and farm craft items. We have customers that come to the farm to purchase meat (on the hoof), milk, eggs, honey & produce.
We feel our real 'calling' is the farm tours where folks can see, smell, touch and taste what family farms use to be like from the 1850's through the mid 1900s AND giving homesteading 'classes'.
Plans are in the works to add a summer kitchen that will have a hand-pump 'faucet', lit by oil lamps house my wood burning cookstove, spinning wheels, looms & other fiber items and my milk soaps. It will also double as a store front.
Cyndi
Joshua 24:15
Ol 'MacDonald has nothing on us!
http://www.mullerslanefarm.com |
| starwalker |
Posted - Feb 04 2006 : 11:01:34 AM
quote:
Is the little cross beaked pullet able to eat??? Never have seen that before!!
Hi, sorry, I forgot to tell you about Twist-It. She was able to eat mush. But since those pics she can't eat at all on her own. I hand feed her each piece of grain, fruit, grit, and little pieces of veggies. 3 to 4 times a day. She is doing very well. You wouldn't believe how much "personality" one chicken can have. My DD and I take turns feeding her throughout the day. |
| Libbie |
Posted - Feb 04 2006 : 10:10:13 AM
There are so many innovative and energetic farmgirls out there - thank you for sharing what you do and how you do it. I live on about 17 flat acres in central Utah that currently grow grass hay. We are beginning to raise sheep/lambs and I have around 25 chickens, a dog, a cat, a husband, a fish and a two-yr-old. In the summer, I have a nice big garden and some grape trellises - we currently sell lamb and eggs, and are working on finding a good way for this ol' farm to breathe a new life. The house I live in was built by my great-great grandfather and has been in our family for its 175-ish years. About 7 years ago my husband and I moved down here, fixed the place up, and we've been more or less happily floundering around. I am so inspired by the women here, and I have such a new and vibrant vision of how the small family farm can be. Thank you, and please, continue sharing!
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| prairiemaid |
Posted - Jan 24 2006 : 07:02:06 AM
I have enjoyed reading about your farms. I looked at the links of those who posted. 
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| Mari-dahlia |
Posted - Jan 23 2006 : 11:05:47 AM
WE have 100 acres and a 200 year old farm house, all which had been neglected for 25 years and the farm had not been farmed for about 75. So, most of the last 3 years has been gutting, throwing and renovating. So far I sell eggs at the end of my driveway and have been experimenting with organic produce and berries, raspberries and blueberries.
My winter project is to form a group of farmers and put a local farm stand out on the state route 7, 1/2 a mile away.
I hope to get into goats this year. |
| starwalker |
Posted - Jan 23 2006 : 12:38:10 AM
I'm a born city girl that got swept off her feet by a Southern boy! I wasn't going to raise any Silkies....UNTIL! I bought some eggs to hatch for my son. Of course that hatch was a miserable failure! Humidity was too high and they all but 1 drowned in the egg. Her name is Sera. I kinda named her after The Land Before Time movie. She looked like a baby Teradactyl to me...lol..He didn't get her! She's mine now. Then I bought a half dozen mixed Silkie eggs. Out of those I got 4 baby Teradactyls. Light gray partridge mottled looking one. A darker one and two grays.
I am addicted to hatching. I have 2 incubators running eggs right now. I had 2 miserable times with incubating. I keep trying to get it right. The one's that do hatch are just that much more special!
I use a Little Giant still air although I am going to install a fan unit with the auto turner. A Hova Bator I use as a hatcher. and I got one of those 3 egg R_COM auto everything bators. I wish it held more eggs. That little thing is awesome!
http://www.brinsea.com/detail.aspx?ID=110
I raise Tomatoes, Okra, corn, green beans, egg plant, Different colors of Bell Peppers, and trying little carrots in the raised bed this year. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jan 22 2006 : 10:22:53 PM
Loved seeing your pictures Lynne!!! I have a grey and a buff silkie that are good layers..I didn't think they would be, and planned to not keep them (I got a bantam assortment and usually don't keep silkies) now I think I will!!
Is the little cross beaked pullet able to eat??? Never have seen that before!!
You can do alot on the 5 acres I bet! Sounds like you do!!
I only tried incubating once and didn't have good luck..you inspire me to try again some time though.
I love the name of your farm...I grew up with Johnny Horton..my dad's favorite!
Jenny in Utah
It's astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen...Frances Burnette
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| starwalker |
Posted - Jan 22 2006 : 10:06:51 PM
Hi, we have 30 acres tucked up in a "Holler" and another 5 acres on the main Hwy leading out of Gainesboro, TN. Due to my health reasons we can't live on our 30 acres. But I cram everything I can on this 5 acres!We are hunting for that dream farm.
We thought about the name "Whispering Pines" for our farm. Thats the first country song I heard when my hubby and I were dating. Thats "our song".By Johnny Horton.
I had a big beautiful garden year before last but he had to take my spot for his big rig to park at home. So I'm going next to the house with a smaller raised bed garden this year. I have 70 rare breed chickens, 6 horses, 2 mini's, 1 15 year old goose, 8 kitties, 8 doggies, 2 rats. This year I hope to get a White Call Duck pair.
Hatching eggs-I sell cheap or give away to home incubators. My breeds are mixed up for the winter. I give vegetables as presents to family and friends. It all comes back again. They usually share with me too.
Here's 3 pages of assorted pics.
http://community.webshots.com/user/starwalker38 |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - Jan 20 2006 : 3:43:36 PM
Waving to garliclady. Nice to see you here!
My husband and I are market farmers. We have 45 acres that we use for organic crops, trails through the forest, firewood, Christmas wreath brush and livestock. We have rare breeds of livestock and will add two more Gloucestershire Old Spot gilts late in the spring. We raise Bourbon Red turkeys, a rare breed that originated in Kentucky. We have common breeds of chickens, ducks and goats. My kitchen is certified for home food processing of jarred (non-pressure canned) foods and baked goods. We're expanding our farmstand into a small store this year. I work part time as the editor of an agricultural magazine and with kids as the school garden coordinator.
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com
www.farm-garden.com/robin |
| DaisyFarm |
Posted - Jan 20 2006 : 11:24:19 AM
We fulfilled a life-long dream and escaped the city six years ago. We purchased 13 mostly forested acres about 20 minutes between the city and a small town. And we love it!!
The first year we erected a greenhouse and cleaned up a ton of garbage...so far we've put 10 tons of recycled steel in a bin just to give you an idea! But it's been all worth it. We put in a couple ponds where we raise koi and hope to expand on that.
We raised three pigs the second year and also have raised about 300 meat birds. Who knew that homegrown organic chicken could be so good. We enjoyed the pigs, BUT they were very expensive and I'm the first to admit I can't get passed the "killing" thing. Never, never name something you're going to eventually eat!! Also, don't rely on a city-raised DH to get the pigs into a truck easily. 7am he will go out and help load them...7:10am daughter comes in to say there are pigs running in the field. Rule #1...maintain a sense of humor.
So now we are fairly well established. We have built another 12x50 greenhouse for tomatoes and I have a 100x80 organic garden where I raise an assortment of vegies, flowers and herbs. We used to do the Sunday farmers market, but I find now that people come to us and I no longer have to do it. I enjoyed the market, but it was a ton of work getting ready each week and you could sell out in 5 minutes or come home with lots left over.
We also have about 50 feet of raspberries and 250 strawberry plants. My daughter makes jam and sells it right here at the farm. Last fall she sold out, so we will expand on that this year. I am looking to get more fruit trees and berries, I just can't decide on what kind yet. We have a few blueberries, but they are so expensive to purchase the bushes. Maybe loganberries?
So for now I sell bedding plants in the spring; produce, fruit and flowers during the summer, eggs and jams all year round, chicken and dried flowers and frozen fruit in the fall and winter.
Diane
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| celebrate2727 |
Posted - Jan 20 2006 : 10:18:19 AM
My farm is 6 acres and is called Bliss 'n Blossom Farm which was named by the ladies here. Pictures are under Lqqcky Beth's New Farm Pics and I am going to try a small, all natural garden around 30'x50'. I want to have veggies, herbs and cutting flowers. I also want to create items to sell, crotcheted, sewn etc, plus maybe a little bit of antiques/farm items. this year I will start with the farmers market on Saturdays then maybe open a small shop at my farm. OOh I also want to have farm fresh eggs, so I guess chickens are on the list. Would love to do the flower delivery idea which is in MJ's magazine.
May you achieve your full potential to excel intellectually, to live spiritually, to lead responsibly, to act justly and to serve selflessly. Have a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year!
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| CabinCreek-Kentucky |
Posted - Jan 19 2006 : 7:42:58 PM
you can check out my little piece of heaven under the A FARM OF MY OWN heading ... Cabin Creek Farm. 2 civil war era log cabins .. nirvana!!! xoxo
True Friends, Frannie |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jan 19 2006 : 3:33:10 PM
I have more of a mini farm..only 2/3 of an acre...I try to have a fairly big kitchen garden and smallish herb garden, I have icelandic sheep (two ewes only right now) and a navajo churro ram, one angora goat, rabbits, lots of chickens and Mona the wonder cow. She is due to calve anytime and that is exciting around here. I have had goats for years for milking and she is my first cow. I sometimes sell eggs, wool, yarn I spin and will have a friend buying "shares" who wants to have fresh milk when Mona freshens. I sell little handmade goodies on my Etsy online shop. I have tried to name our place other things but it always gets back to being called Aunt Jenny's farm. I am okay with that now I guess.
Jenny in Utah
It's astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen...Frances Burnette
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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