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**Welcome Wagon:  Yet another Texas newbie  |
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chickabella
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
D. A.
Austin... ish,
Texas
177 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 27 2008 : 08:25:14 AM
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I've posted a few times in the forum, but figured I oughta make a formal introduction! My name's D.A., and I live west between Austin and San Marcos in the Texas Hill Country.
We currently raise chickens, Tufted Roman geese ("Godzilla" is the one in my .sig picture), and are training two Great Pyrenees pups to keep guard of the livestock. We have eight acres of rocky, hilly land. I plan to put in a couple of organic orchards (olive and almond, along with a few citrus and other fruit/nut trees), and am in the process of making forms for raised vegetable beds.
My dream is to sell organic produce at the farmer's market and to nearby restaurants. In the meantime, I "geek for food" - I do work as a computer systems administrator, taking care of servers and desktop PCs and Macs.
Other plans are to install a rainwater harvesting system, and to slowly migrate to solar and geothermal for our electric and heating/cooling needs, respectively.
I've been inspired to take up embroidery again from looking at all the crafty posts. In a recent visit to my grandmother's, she pulled out a piece I had done when I was ten years old. I was amazed at how good it was for being done at such a young age! I've a box of vintage patterns sitting in the closet waiting to be used. Will have to wait until winter, however, as there's too much to do around the property during daylight hours. 
Happy to be here, and thanks for having me!
 Farm blog: http://farmnatters.blogspot.com
Tips blog: http://allingoodhealth.blogspot.com
Heart of Texas Farmgirls Chapter: www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/default.asp?CAT_ID=46
Anxiously awaiting my sisterhood membership activation! |
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Sandra K. Licher
True Blue Farmgirl
1106 Posts
Sandra
Horseshoe Bend
Arkansas
1106 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2008 : 08:46:54 AM
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D.A. WELCOME!!! I have seen Godzilla out there on the posts...a pic is great...it helps connect the dots to people...I should do that too. Your farm sounds wonderful and I used to be a systems programmer data communications person from the old "mainframe" days! I got ill and had to retire early but have scaled down and my health is better now. How are you making your raised beds? What kind of wood? I need to do that down here because the soil is too hard and "clayie" (is that a word?) for me to dig up plus I compost and will fill the beds with that as it comes along. I want to have an orchard too. I live in town now (used to have a 20 acre farm in Iowa) but have a big yard and want to live off the land as much as possible. And I have the same thoughts as you for a rainwater collection system and solar collection also. I'm SO glad you're here! You will meet tons of gals that share your interests which amazed ME because most women I meet look at me funny for my interests and lifestyle but here I actually feel semi-normal! LOL! Again...welcome!
Sam in AR..... "It's a great life if you don't weaken!"
Farmgirl Sister #226 |
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farmgirlkate
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
kate
bryan
TX
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2008 : 08:47:46 AM
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Hey DA-I love the roman tufted geese-I have a pair myself named bob n judy...they're a hoot. They are my guard geese and believe me nothing gets in my yard without them letting me know!
My bother and sister are over your way as well as my son-it's a great area over there.
I'm glad you made it to the forum-I think you'll feel right at home :)
~kate
"You only have what you give...""
www.xanga.com/k8tthelate |
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Sandra K. Licher
True Blue Farmgirl
1106 Posts
Sandra
Horseshoe Bend
Arkansas
1106 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2008 : 08:48:55 AM
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P.S. Have you checked out MJ's stitchery book and/or the "sisterhood"? Pretty COOL! Plus, I just got the Outpost book and I love it all! Makes you "stretch" yourself! And I needed that!
Sam in AR..... "It's a great life if you don't weaken!"
Farmgirl Sister #226 |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2008 : 09:04:08 AM
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I am so excited to be surrounded by all these TEXAS gals...so close!!! YEAH!!!
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
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Txfarmgal
True Blue Farmgirl
585 Posts
AK
USA
585 Posts |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2008 : 10:03:14 AM
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Hi D.A.:
I've chatted with you on a couple of your post. Welcome to the Farm Site. You are going to fit in great here.
Sounds like you are a very busy person.
Happy day to you.
Marly |
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chickabella
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
D. A.
Austin... ish,
Texas
177 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2008 : 10:03:34 AM
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Hi Sam! I'm making the forms out of cedar planks - two eight-inch-wide planks on top of each other (attached to a 2x2 post in each corner), to make for a 16" deep bed. Final dimensions will be 4'x 8'x 16". The cedar will withstand rot and water for a good long time, with the added benefit that it's not too expensive around these parts. I haven't checked the Outpost book yet, will do! I'm also awaiting my farmgirl sisterhood membership, as patiently as possible *grin*.
*lol*, Kate: that's EXACTLY why we have the Tufted Romans... guard geese! They do their job well, with the added benefit of being fun to watch and hang out with. They follow me around on the morning chores and chatter.
Farm blog: http://farmnatters.blogspot.com
Tips blog: http://allingoodhealth.blogspot.com
Heart of Texas Farmgirls Chapter: www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/default.asp?CAT_ID=46
Anxiously awaiting my sisterhood membership activation! |
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Auntie Brenda
True Blue Farmgirl
168 Posts
Brenda
Boerne
Texas
USA
168 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2008 : 10:06:13 AM
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Hi DA,
Welcome and thanks for your welcome to me earlier. I checked out your blog, love it! I can't wait to start raising chickens. My goal is to be able to provide eggs to the children's home where I work.
We too, want to put in a rain harvest system. My husband would also like to try hydropontic (sp?) gardening. We plan on putting in the raised bed forms this fall. Too much to do around here during summer. We are finishing up our "western town" that we built with our four hands. It's basically going to be a guest house, extra kitchen, saloon and parlor. It turned out so nice that we are moving into it to live while we start the "real house" :O).
Anyways, good to meet you and I hope I can get some tips from you when I start the chicken thing.
Brenda
Farmgirl Sister #292 |
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chickabella
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
D. A.
Austin... ish,
Texas
177 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2008 : 10:08:37 AM
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Hey Marly: yep, definitely busy! Currently between jobs, which has actually worked out well for the meantime, as I've been able to keep up the farmwork and pup training without too much hassle. I may have a line on a remote admin position that's 10 hours a week, working from home. Should know for sure next week. If that works out, I'll supplement with a part-time evening job stocking shelves somewhere. Between those two jobs, and Spouse's, we'll be able to save money for what we need to do around the property, and I'll still have time to take care of everything.
Farm blog: http://farmnatters.blogspot.com
Tips blog: http://allingoodhealth.blogspot.com
Heart of Texas Farmgirls Chapter: www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/default.asp?CAT_ID=46
Anxiously awaiting my sisterhood membership activation! |
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chickabella
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
D. A.
Austin... ish,
Texas
177 Posts |
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ca.gal
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
Evelyn
Sacramento
California
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Jul 27 2008 : 1:11:13 PM
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Hi, D.A.. Welcome from California. I too, lived on a ranch in northern California and now we live in the city. Ranch life will always be in my heart.
Evelyn |
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lilwing
True Blue Farmgirl
1403 Posts
Brooke
Fulshear
Texas
USA
1403 Posts |
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chickabella
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
D. A.
Austin... ish,
Texas
177 Posts |
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KnitSteph
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
Stephanie
Longview
TX
USA
39 Posts |
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frannie
True Blue Farmgirl
2246 Posts
fran
bonham
texas
USA
2246 Posts |
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Lainey
True Blue Farmgirl
2401 Posts
Elaine
Waco
Kentucky
USA
2401 Posts |
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**Welcome Wagon: Yet another Texas newbie |
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Yet another Texas newbie
