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A Farm of My Own:  Farm yard light  |
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Calico Hen
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Meg
Middle Tennessee
USA
146 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 22 2011 : 06:47:37 AM
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| What are the pros and cons of having a farm yard light? The prior owners of the farm we bought had the yard light disconnected as they wanted to see the stars, etc. She also told me that the light drew in predators. Well, we can't see if we get home after sunset or go out in the yard at night. It is pitch black, although the stars are beautiful. So, we are thinking about getting the light hooked up again. Every farm in my memory had a yard light. What do you do? |
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Room To Grow
True Blue Farmgirl
974 Posts
Deborah
Kingston
Georgia
USA
974 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2011 : 07:38:22 AM
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We have a light and it is good for us. We havent had a problem with predators. And we have the same problem, it is pitch black after dark and it is great to have the light when we get home. We dont seem to have a problem seeing the stars either.
Deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
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StrawHouseRanch
True Blue Farmgirl
1044 Posts
Paula
Holt
Missouri
USA
1044 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2011 : 08:00:00 AM
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We have a light, and it makes a huge, beneficial difference. The one we have now is supplied by the power company on a tall power pole. At our previous home, it was on the front of the barn. The one on the front of the barn collected bugs like crazy during the summer. I had to dodge bugs going in and out of the barn in the evening and mornings...although the bats loved it!! The light on the power pole is not close to the house, and if it attracts bugs, I'm not aware of it. My Appaloosa is blind in one eye and darkness is his enemy. With the yard light that shines partially into the pasture, he can get around safely at night and not panic because he can't see.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2011 : 09:24:43 AM
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I have several "yard lights" on all night long, front/back of barns, out at the corrals and rotation pasture, front and back porches, and in several other areas. I have never heard of lights drawing in predators, but actually the oposite...and our place too would be so dark, you would not be able to see your hand in front of your face...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2011 : 08:25:56 AM
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Interesting debate. When we lived in the 'burbs we had the front and back porch lites on all night to keep the theives away even though we live with a street light in the yard. Now that we are in the county we turn all of our lights off at night. I like the blackness. But if I need to take the dog out I turn the lights on and bring a flashlight. Of course I don't have any chickens or cows yet. That may change once we get some.
Audrey
Toto, we're not in Kansas any more! |
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Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2011 : 08:26:35 AM
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I guess I'll be the contrary one on this subject. Having lived with and without, I'd prefer one that's on a motion sensor. That way, you get the light when you're out there, and it goes off when it times out. I've had the experience of neighbors installing lights that shone right into my bedroom window and it's a killer. I like pitch black for sleeping.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Sep 23 2011 : 10:44:53 AM
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Erm.... We've always kept a light on at night to DISCOURAGE predators and it seems to have worked for my family for... oh... thirty years.... never had a problem in Oregon, northern Nevada or Arizona with that strategy.
We usually leave on the back porch light only, but I'm planning on getting some ground level solar yard lights (brightish ones). Not only will it save me a little power and light up the ground if my ducks can get to them they'll have a bug buffet every night.
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.” ~Will Rogers |
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2011 : 2:22:51 PM
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I keep a bright light in the barn for that EXACT reason-predators. My in-laws have a farm light, and many people on our road do-provided by the power company. As long as you can control where its put, it's usually helpful. :)
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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Lieberkim
True Blue Farmgirl
839 Posts
Kimberly
Sunnyside
WASHINGTON
USA
839 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2011 : 2:50:29 PM
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I've never had it but I like the idea of a motion sensor light. This way you get the best of both worlds. :)
Excuse the mess & the noise, my children are making happy memories |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2011 : 7:21:17 PM
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We have lights that we leave on if we are coming in late so we can see but when we are home it's all lights out due to human predators (thieves). Our house is set back just far enough that even I can't see it in the dark when driving by and I live here. So a thief is less likely to notice our house or get ideas about our belongings. How sensitive are motion sensor lights? I think it would be going on and off all night here because of little animals and deer. Not sure I would like that.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Sep 25 2011 : 8:01:11 PM
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We live out in the country too. No lights (at least not big ones). We do use the small solar lights on the pathway into the house. Helps a TON. I want to get more of them though. And brighter ones possibly. However, at the light level that the ones we have are, they do not attract bugs so I do like that! We do have outdoor lights on the house/barn though just rarely use them, they attract bugs like crazy! Only use them if we absolutely have to. Say we have company coming, or during my brothers wedding reception that we had in the barn, then we used the outside barn light etc. Mostly though those solar lights work well for us on a daily basis coming home at night. However we also don't have farm animals, only dogs/cats.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2011 : 09:49:57 AM
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We have a couple of motion lights. They will turn on when the dogs come to the house from the shop. We don't have deer around because of the dogs. It's nice coming home at night or you just have to run out to the shop for some little thing.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Sep 29 2011 : 9:49:49 PM
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| It's pitch black at night here, too, although the moon can be bright enough to keep us from falling into the pond! :) Our solution to avoiding light pollution but still lighting paths was to install down lights in a couple of the taller trees near the house, aimed down at paths. They're on timers to come on at sundown and off at sunrise. They're very low-wattage, just enough. And we have little filters on the lamps to soften and diffuse the light. THe units are only about 3 inches long, 2 inches wide. They use halogen bulbs. Very economical. When the trees leaf out, you can't see the light source. The leaves filter the light even more. It's pretty, and doesn't interfere with stargazing at all. |
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Calico Hen
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Meg
Middle Tennessee
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Oct 14 2011 : 06:01:04 AM
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| Thank you for all the input! We have decided to put in a yard light near the workshop/garage, which is behind a row of trees from the house. We will see how this works and if we have enough light! |
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1143 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1143 Posts |
Posted - Oct 14 2011 : 07:03:39 AM
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It's so dark out here, it's scary. EXCEPT for my neighbor's yard light, which we hate. It shines right into our bedroom window. Sigh. But, of course, you have to be able to make your way around. We have porch lights and a light off of our workshop. When we had coyote problems, we did leave a light on off of the shop all night. Now, we're just back to flashlights and porch lights. :0)
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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magnoliakathy
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Kathryn
Magnolia
Texas
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 1:08:42 PM
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We have motion detector lights on our house, garage, and animal barn. When I asked for the motion lights down on the animal barn, I got "that look" but before the week was out, the light came on around 9pm, DH went to check and got that ooon that has been hanging around all summer. I vote for the motion detector lights.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
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A Farm of My Own: Farm yard light |
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Farm yard light
