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A Farm of My Own:  Two Acres is it enough?  |
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ILoveBaskets14
True Blue Farmgirl
76 Posts
Stefanie
Cross Lanes
WV
USA
76 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 06:22:33 AM
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Hello girls, I'm wanting your input. We have been looking for a farm for a really long time and havent found the right one. But, we did find one place that I love, it's an older home but, it only has 2 acres. Is this enough for a good size garden,barn for a few horses, milking cow, and maybe a few small animals?
Baskets of Blessings. |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 06:52:06 AM
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Stephanie,
I don't have two acres & many of these great girls do but I'd make it enough. Seems to me it would be and when I worked on different smaller herb & sheep farms, 2 acres is still alot of work. I wish you all the best & hope you've found your dream. 
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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happymama58
True Blue Farmgirl
1210 Posts
Patti
Missouri
USA
1210 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 07:49:34 AM
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I have a terrible memory for names of any type -- people, books, movie titles, etc., but I'm almost positive there's a book about farming on 1 or 2 acres and it has the word acre in its title. I read it a few years ago, when it seemed like we were never going to find land, or at least not for awhile, and I was intrigued by the concept of "farming" without a farm. The author had at least a couple of model layouts of how to best utilize that size of property, etc., and it was very interesting. I'll try to find it on amazon.com and if I do, I'll come back and post the title.
Some people search for happiness; others create it.
http://happymama58.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Please visit me at www.marykay.com/pmiinch |
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ponyexpress
True Blue Farmgirl
320 Posts
Sandy
Kirkwood
Missouri
USA
320 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 08:26:05 AM
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There is another post on this topic...I believe it is called "how much land is enough?" Scroll back a few pages and when you find it, there is much information on what you can do with two acres, plus some book titles that will help you decide.
Having owned horses, I will say that two acres might not be enough for a good sized garden, AND a cow, AND a few horses. The cow can likely do without pasture and roaming area (ask Aunt Jenny about this), but the horses need room to move about and "be horses." They would quickly turn an acre into a dusty/muddy dry lot. Are there areas around this piece of property where you could ride?
I'm heading south for the winter. Some parts of my body already have a head start! |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 09:45:28 AM
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I would dearly love to have 2 acres!! I only live on 2/3 of an acre..really!! Our house is at the very front, and we have Mona the cow (she is a small Jersey) and two Icelandic ewes (also small) and an angora goat at the back ..no pasture...and a small pen for isolating anyone (critter I mean) that needs it, or for lambing time. I also have a couple dozen banty hens (small) and room for a pretty good sized garden and a few fruit trees scattered over the property (3 apples, a peach and 3 plums) I agree that it would be harder to have horses here on our place...Mona isn't as active as a horse would be....but some people here do have them on places in town even. I think as long as you think small and don't get too carried away (hard for me..let me tell ya!) you can do it all on 2 acres, I think 5 acres would be perfect. Personally I think we will be right here from now on. So...I will make it work. Good luck!
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 |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 09:46:51 AM
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I think the book Patti may be talking about is "Five acres and Independance". It is a wonderful book loaded w/ lots of great info. its been revised. I do have it if your interested, I really wont be using it anymore.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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ArmyWifey
True Blue Farmgirl
712 Posts
Holly
Abilene
KS
712 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 10:43:54 AM
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It depends on your soil and grass. Horses require more acerage than cattle..........eg in AZ where my sister lives (not in Northern) you can run approx 1cow per acre and 1 horse per 5 acres.
My friend has two and she has a nice big garden, small orchard, small barn, milk goats,chickens, ducks, geese, guineas and rabbits. It's a nice homestead type place.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4738 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4738 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 10:54:08 AM
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You should check to see if their are any zoning restrictions in that area for having horses on 2 acres. Where I live, a minimum of 5 acres is required for horses. Good luck!
Dawn in IL |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 12:20:41 PM
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I don't think it's any where near enough. On excellent pasture you might get away with one large head of livestock per acre and keep pasture in excellent shape. Less than that can be rough on the animals and you. You can quickly end up in mud, no grass, parasite problems and more. If you really want livestock larger than goats or sheep I'd skip this one.
Robin
www.robinfollette.com
www.thymeforewe.com
www.mainenature.org
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faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 12:57:10 PM
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Check out "The Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency" by John Seymour.
This book is great!
He has plans and directions on how to use both 1-acre and 5-acre parcels. From the plans he shows, I think that would be enough space for what I want to do. (I'd love a food garden, a dairy cow, chickens, and maybe a pig or two)
His 1-acre plan includes a cow and chickens and a large garden space...I can't remember what else...
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
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horse
True Blue Farmgirl
371 Posts
laura
pontotoc
mississippi
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 2:22:39 PM
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got a book I will send you if you want it. Living on an acre by U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Any one is welcome to it.
Laura
www.2lmzfarms.blogspot.com |
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ILoveBaskets14
True Blue Farmgirl
76 Posts
Stefanie
Cross Lanes
WV
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 4:19:25 PM
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If you still have the book I would love it ... I have had horses but never and cows so I didnt know about them.. I really dont think that it is enough either but I love the house and I am so tired of looking ... We really want at least 20 acres.. the only thing is my husband is a Deputy and we have to live in the county he works and we cant find anything and also we live in WV and we love our mountains but its hard to find stuff that isnt all hillside.. thanks girls, I love this site everyone is wonderful .. :)
Baskets of Blessings. |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 4:28:16 PM
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About cows...I really really recomend the book "keeping a family cow" by Joann Grohman. It is WONDERFUL for learning about family cows. I have learned so much about them from it. I had milk goats for years but never had a dairy cow until I got Mona a little over a year ago. ...very very different (in a great way in my opinion)
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 |
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ILoveBaskets14
True Blue Farmgirl
76 Posts
Stefanie
Cross Lanes
WV
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 05:53:52 AM
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I am going to get that book cause it sounds like just what I need.. First I need to find a place.. We live in a Subdivision and its really starting to get to us. We live on a farm first then moved here and quickly realized it wasnt for us :)
Baskets of Blessings. |
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Tracey
True Blue Farmgirl
766 Posts
Tracey
State of Confusion
USA
766 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 08:14:45 AM
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You can keep a few horses on an acre...if you plan on feeding them year round. Many people do; set up a barn with stalls and runs for them to exersize a bit in. It's not ideal, and as I said, you'll need to feed all year. Soil type plays a rold in more than the garden, it also plays a huge roll in livestock.
If it were me, on two acres I'd go for chickens and a few sheep (okay, no doubt there are some goat people who like those mean, clothing eating creaturs, but I'll take sheep.) Hens don't take up much room, and a pair of sheep can easily be kept on an acre of land. Plus, sheep doo is ready to toss straight onto your garden with no composting time (cow, horse and chicken all need to be composted.)
You'd still have a bit of space left over for that horse you want; and if you can find a neighbor with pasture you may be able to get away with no feeding during a couple months in the summer
Visit Quiet Storm, our adopted Mustang! http://wildaboutquietstorm.com
http://carpentercreek.blogspot.com
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herbquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
891 Posts
Kristine
Bonney Lake
Wa
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 12:28:36 PM
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I'm so glad to find this topic. We live on 1.1 acre. Have a large garden area, fruit trees, berries, perennial veggies, grow lots of herbs in cottage garden beds around the house, chickens. Our barn has been transformed into a rental to help pay cost, but we have a large shed 2/3 of it is chicken coop. We want to get 2 or 3 pigs this spring....and now the big debate....a couple milk goats or a jersey???? I'm a little concerned about a cow on this little land, investment into her, & feed. We've had goats...as sweet & playful...they are full of the dickens & get into to everything, but they don't eat as much etc.
---Maybe Aunt Jenny can share with us how she keeps Mona?
We would love the milk & cream!
Blessings,
Kristine
Bonney Lake, WA |
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Tracey
True Blue Farmgirl
766 Posts
Tracey
State of Confusion
USA
766 Posts |
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yellojewl
True Blue Farmgirl
72 Posts
Amber
Hurley
MO
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 2:08:06 PM
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| I am amazed at what some of you ladies get accomplished on 2 acres or less. My husband and I have been looking for land, and we have always had in our mind 10+ acres. I'm not so sure we need that much now; however, I think it's just as hard around here to find 2 acres as it is 20 |
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owwlady
True Blue Farmgirl
899 Posts
Jan
Tomahawk
WI
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 4:17:32 PM
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| My new house is on 2.25 acres. After reading these posts I'm excited for Spring so I can start using my space. My front yard doesn't have trees, but the back is wooded and a large space is taken up with the mound system. It's also a very long, very narrow lot cut out of the woods. Do most of you with the big gardens and animals have mostly open space? Has anyone done something creative with their wooded land? |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2007 : 08:56:42 AM
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I am just loving reading about what you all are doing on smaller plots or sections of land. I have around 17 acres, but I'd like to keep most of it in pasture until I have some sort of brilliant plan for it, and in the meantime, work "outward" from the house. Taking an acre or two and planning and working that seems so much more manageable to me. I have been making myself nutty trying to make a plan for the whole shebang, and this thread is helping me see things in a much more realistic, step-by-step way. Farmgirls to the rescue!!! Do you all draw up plans for your areas or just fly by the...well...strings of your aprons?
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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lamamama
True Blue Farmgirl
255 Posts
Melanie
CA
USA
255 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2007 : 09:24:48 AM
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All really good advice & comments here - not much for me to add. I would just like to reinforce what 2 fargirls mentioned: knowing the individual quality/type of land that you are looking at. Makes a big difference. I would also like to mention (don't think anyone has,yet) that water is another issue to consider. And if you have to deal with hot summers & freezing winters, then don't forget to factor that in. (Shelter for all of your creatures.) And lastly, try to talk to some folks living with animals in that area. You'll learn alot. Some important aspects of those 2 acres (pesticide drift, parasites, zoning laws, etc) are going to be very site specific.
GOOD LUCK with your decision!
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2007 : 09:34:18 AM
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As far as water I think our small farmette has an advantage that way. Husband put in a frost free hydrant (finally after three winters hauling buckets) out by the critter's pens and so I have water out there that dosn't freeze all year. We have irrigation water from April until October too. Water is a huge huge consideration!!!
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 |
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herbquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
891 Posts
Kristine
Bonney Lake
Wa
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2007 : 11:31:46 AM
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Aunt Jenny ...can you tell us about how you keep a cow on small acreage?
Blessings,
Kristine
Bonney Lake, WA |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2007 : 1:45:30 PM
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I do have to buy hay all year, and we rent a tractor twice a year and scrape the entire big pen where Mona and the sheep and one small angora goat are...we have two piles at the back of the property..one fresh, one a year old and ready for the garden. We have the entire area fenced with livestock panels and tee posts and have wooden gates, we have corner feeders for the hay (homemade ones) and a homemade 3 sided deep but small barn for Mona to sleep in (the goat is her roomie in there ) and a corrugated metal "port a hut" for the sheep (Mona is too tall for that) She has room to romp and run, a little grass to eat when it is growing, and a big bathtub for water. It works out really well. We have a path to the small 10x15 milk barn (barn shaped wooded shed with wood floor and shingled roof) where there is a stanchion and manger for when she is milked and metal trash cans with all the grains, feeds and supplements and shelves for misc stuff. I have a separate hay barn (grainery) on the back of the garage..a real old building for sure..that holds 4 tons of hay, and then the rest of the hay ( I count on a ton a month) goes stacked on pallets behind the hay barn and covered with a huge tarp..we use that first. I live in a small town where livestock is commonly seen in town. As long as you don't have neighbors who mind it works well. Mona is a small cow as cows go, I only ever wanted a Jersey cow.
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 |
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herbquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
891 Posts
Kristine
Bonney Lake
Wa
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2007 : 2:03:30 PM
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Aunt Jenny....Thanks for the mini farm rundown. We're trying to figure out our next step. We need to build a decent wood shed, but my thought is to make cow barn/milk barn along with it & of course hay storage. I think that it would be cheaper to build one unit than 3. We have another shed that is 2/3's chicken coop & the other 1/3 feed storage & equipment. I'd like to build onto the chicken shed a greenhouse (someday, but not this year). How much space does 4 tons of hay take? We're also trying to figure out whether to fence off one large area 1/3 acre or divide it for our future cow. I read, The Family Cow, last night & he's really pro large pasture, but that's not what we have.
Maybe this topic should move to the critter forum? Or not...
Blessings,
Kristine
Bonney Lake, WA |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2007 : 2:41:58 PM
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I would have to measure my hay barn..it is not much bigger than the milk barn but has a much higher ceiling..in fact I would say 12 ft. ceilings if I were to guess..It is a pain to stack the hay that high but nice to have it secure and dry like that.
I really recomend the book "Keeping a Family Cow" by Joann Grohman. She has a website and wonderful forum for questions too..I have The Family Cow also but found KFC more info that I needed personally. It is written by a woman too, and I think she thinks more like US farmgirls!
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 |
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A Farm of My Own: Two Acres is it enough? |
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Two Acres is it enough?
