| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| La Patite Ferme |
Posted - Sep 02 2006 : 11:26:42 PM
It's sooo good to be here again. I starting scanning MJF in the spring, but then jumped to another site for some hard core living off the land advice - what a mistake. Waaayy too much whinning, negativity and victim mentality and too few people actually living on the land. You gals are like a cool summer breeze - upbeat, positive, helpful, encouraging - just awesome. I've enjoyed reading your post and after some minor techie problems I'm now able to post as well. Thanks to Carol.
So who am I? I'm a single mom of one. We live on 1/3 of an acre outside of town. When I bought the place, during my divorce 4-years ago, it was a mess. Over grown shrubs, weeds, no yard front or back and way too many overgrown fruit & shade trees. I spent the first year giving the inside some much needed TLC and hacking down the backyard. During the winter I would sit at my kitchen table with a big pad of graph paper and dozens of books, laying out my little farm. I never saw the current state of things, just the finished product - beautiful, productive, with all the things a farm should have - just smaller.
Last year I built 8 raised veggie beds, 3 flower beds, put up 4 arbors for my antiques roses and grapes and planted a few fruit trees. In January I planted more fruit trees and added the berries. This past spring my sis and daughter and I finally finished "the barn". We have laying hens and meat chickens, rabbits, a small orchard, veggie garden, berry patch, grapes, & cutting garden. My daughter is in 4-H and raises market lambs for our county fair. The lamb she doesn't sell at the fair goes into our freezer. Next year I'd like to get a feeder pig for the freezer. If I had more room I'd get a miniture cow too. But, were not zoned for that.
Each year I plan one big project for the spring and one for the fall. That way I don't get too overwhelmed. This fall - a rose garden for the front yard. Next spring a greenhouse/potting shed for the back - God willing and supplies aren't too expensive.
I have always felt connected to the land and farming. My grandmother use to say it was 400 years of Quaker blood running through my veins that she could never overcome. (wanted me to be a city girl) I'm glad to have found you all. It's hard being a farmgirl at the edge of an overconsumptive world.
I look forward to learning from all of you and sharing what I can.
BTW - the frugal thread - sooo me.
Happy Labor Day Weekend,
Jen
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| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Libbie |
Posted - Sep 08 2006 : 8:13:29 PM
Jen - WOW! It sounds like you have a wonderful little farm - what a great thing to do for both yourself and your daughter...way to go!!! Welcome to the group - I just know you'll love it here.
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| katie-ell |
Posted - Sep 05 2006 : 04:23:17 AM
Golly, you must have quite the 1/3 acre! We have 1/2 acre, but suburban, so lots of trees / little sun, and so only a little veggie patch. And our ordinances are anti-chicken. . . Anyway, welcome in here -- fun to hear about your place and your pep! |
| La Patite Ferme |
Posted - Sep 04 2006 : 7:35:40 PM
Thank you all for the warm welcome. I look forward to chatting and learning new things through the forum.
Nance, I'm not French, but I visited Paris this past Easter. I fell in love with the French style of veggie gardening and had a great time at Monet's garden. It's so fun to sit on the train and pass by houses on the outskirts of a city and see a little garden and a few chickens in every backyard. Got a lot of good ideas. I'm not sure my carpentry skills are enviable. They came more out of neccessity than anything else. The bids I got for my barn were all between $6,000 and $7,000. Too much for my budget. It's not quite level and not quite square, but it keeps the critters in, the dogs out and doesn't leak. What more could one ask for.
Thanks all and Daffodil, I'll try to post some pictures later. I'm not really techie that way. Maybe sis can help. |
| sleepless reader |
Posted - Sep 03 2006 : 8:21:19 PM
Welcome Jennifer! Your place sounds wonderful :)
Sharon
Life is messy. Wear your apron! |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Sep 03 2006 : 7:46:14 PM
welcome aboard Jennifer!
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Sep 03 2006 : 6:46:24 PM
Jen,
That is wonderful!! I am so thrilled with all you have done ...incredible!! If you ever can, please post some photos I would love to see! I think it is wonderful what you are doing and am so glad you found us and have joined in! Welcome and I look forward to getting to know you better as I see you around here on the "farm" 
Hugz,
Talitha
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| daffodil dreamer |
Posted - Sep 03 2006 : 6:24:54 PM
Hi and welcome Jennifer! Your little farm sounds great! I, too, live on 1/3 acre on the edge of town - I have vegie patches and 10 chickens. Am still dreaming of bigger things though.
Best wishes and looking foward to chatting,
Jayne |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Sep 03 2006 : 09:25:35 AM
Welcome Jen!! (there are lots of us Jen, Jenny and Jennifers here!!) I am so glad you found us..you sound like one of us for sure!!! It will be so fun to get to know you!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| sunshine |
Posted - Sep 03 2006 : 05:35:31 AM
You go girl that is alot of work what you have already done. I hope everything goes to schedule and you can do all the things you want. It sounds like you will.
have a lovely day and may God bless you and keep you safe
my web store www.sunshines.etsy.com my blog http://sunshinescreations.blogspot.com/ my google page http://sunshine.harbaugh.googlepages.com/home |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Sep 03 2006 : 04:25:06 AM
Wow Jennifer!! You are a a busy bee! Your little farm sounds like a wonderful place. Look forward to hearing more about you.
Karin |
| Nance in France |
Posted - Sep 03 2006 : 02:15:29 AM
Bonjour, Jennifer!! So good to meet a new chick in the coop! Are you French or just like the language (love your chat name)? I am part French and have recently remarried, and to a French guy, which is why I am enjoying most of the year in southern France now. We still live part of the year in my home in Virginia. Your mini farm sounds like Eden!! And how awesome that you have enough carpentry skills to build all the things you want. You and your daughter will have fun making your dream life a reality! Have a great day; you will love these gals, Nance |
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