Future Farm

[hcammack]

I would love to be a sustainable farmer Farmer when I get older I am 15 right now but this is what I want to have:

Pastured Broilers - chicken
Pastured Layers- eggs/ stewing hens
Pastured Turkeys- turkey only during holiday season
East Fresian Dairy Sheep - Lamb/ Wool/ Cheese/ Milk
Dairy Goats - Cheese / milk/ goat meat
Dairy Cattle- Cheese/ Milk
Beff Cattle - Hamburger/ Beef
Tamworth pigs - pork
Market Garden- Vegtables

Possibly:
Bee's- Bee's wax/ Honey
Orachard
Ducks- Eggs/ Meat
Geese- Weeding/ Meat


They would be run in a sustainable biodinamic system that complements the land that I will own or rent. since I would start this when I am young I will be able to live off very little because I will have no family to support. I would dirrectly market all of this off the farm. I would start each enterprise slowly probably begining with a few dairy cows and Broilers and Layers.

How does this sound to you guys? Where would you set up a enterprise like this because I think it should be close to a major city what city do you think would be a good place to set up?
How does this sound to you guys?

Thanks In Advance Henry

 

[FarmerDenise]

I always wanted to do that too. I'm going on 53 now and I am still working on it.

I don't think you need to live that close to a major city, smaller communities need food also. Tourists like to buy fresh country produce. Farm stands and farmers markets have been around a long time.
We sell our produce to a few farm stands and to friends and aquaintances. We are looking to expand. This year I also started bartering. We haven't been too agressive in looking for places to sell our stuff. We enjoy growing it all so much, we are usually too tired to peddle our wares. But we'll keep trying.

 

[hcammack]

good I am working on my market garden and I have 6 pullets now I am getting 1 more this weekend with a roo and then I am getting 5 more in the spring 2 RIR's 2 Buff Orphs and a Barred Rocks.

We Grow Zuchinni, Tomatoes, Letucce, Kale, Carrots,Peppers, Peas, Beans, Pumpkins, Blue Berries, Rasberries, and cucumbers. This summer I am planing on growing 80% of my own food and buying the rest localy.

This All happens on 1.5 acres in the suburbs

Henry

 

[AhBee01]

Henery sounds great, don't forget to include Muscovy ducks in your flock they are great bug and musquito control, and great weeders!
Brenda

 

[mdbucks]

Quote:
What happened to the Buckeyes???

 

[hcammack]

oh yay so I will get like ten more in the spring

2 buckeyes 2 RIR's 2 BR's and 2 BO's 2 Welsumers

I need to start expanding any way
LOL oh and Some Muscovy Ducklings

 

[BarbK]

Have you thought about a Dexter for your cow? It is a dual purpose animal giving both meat and milk. That way you wouldn't have to have two different breeds. When you freshen you cow you can use the young as meat.
Anyway you can find some info here... http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/wtchlist.html

 

[hcammack]

Thats a cool idea I was also Thinking about Jersey Cows for milk and Highland cows for Meat.

Henry

 

[BarbK]

I am in the process of compiling a list of animals to get for my farm starting this year. The farm I am going to on the 17th has Oberhasli goats and Katahdins. I just got done doing research on Katahdin sheep. One of the websites I looked at says they can be used for milk. Not that sure but I like them because you dont have to sheer them. Sheering is a pain. And I am also alergic to the wool. Anyway here is a site for the Katahdins http://paccoastkat.org/about.html

The animals I am looking into for myself are:
Oberhasli goats -milk, cheese, meat and hauling stuff from garden
american guinea hog
(have) spanish mustang - for pleasure and garden work
salmon faverolles or blue not sure yet
Jersey buff turkeys
Possibly: (still havent decided)
Katahdin hair sheep- fiber, pelt, meat, milk
not sure of the cows yet but one of the smaller dual purpose breeds off of the first link I sent. Maybe one of the belteds.

 

[Omeletta]

Hcammack, I just finished researching the highland. It is on our list, as well. My problem is finding a herd close to my Alberta home...but I haven't given up, yet

Starting young is the way to go...we are in our early thirties, have a small amount of debt and 4 children to care for and feed, which makes sustainability harder, but not impossible.

Kudos to you for having a goal, when most youth can't even decide what to wear each morning or which side to slick the cowlick...you obviously are not afraid of hard work, which is one of the most important assests when entering adulthood.

One thing we can't decide on is a milk cow...We are leaning towards Jersey...What do you think? Why or why not?

Tanya