So I mentioned on that evil nemesis, Facebook, that I want to get honeybees.
Apparently I've crossed the line from having a hobby to having a mental illness. Yes, I have chickens - layers and meaties. They are well cared for, clean, no stink, no madness. If you drive by and I don't have them free ranging, you would never know. Even going in the coop, the sight and sound of them will tell you, no mess or stink. Bedding is stacked carefully, feed is contained in drums and lidded, it's a good setup. DH likes organization and cleanliness, so he's made sure everything is organized.
I garden. Again, it's far back from the road, clean, fenced, and well managed. I love my garden. I'm expanding it this weekend. I share produce, can a LOT, and just enjoy my bounty. Again, no mess, no stink, lots of organization and cleanliness.
I'm getting pigs. I've spent the past few months reading books, websites, talking to people, emailing, and just learning as absolute much as I can about pig raising. I've planned out where they will be located - away from the neighbors, and planned fencing (hog panel and electric), housing, feed and feed storage, waterering, shade, mudholes, foraging in my garden during off season, etc. I hope to get a pair of pigs next month for fall slaughter.
We live on one acre in the middle of BFE, dirt road, one "close" neighbor who enjoys our critters (they used to have every farm animal you could name, back when their kids were young). They enjoy feeding scraps to the chickens (they asked permission first), and enjoy coming over to visit. They also share produce with us, as we share with them. Other than them, we are surrounded by about 100 acres of old farmland that has gone wild.
So I want a hive or two of bees - to help pollination since I'm getting more into heirloom gardening, to help my neighbor with his orchard, and to help with my future orchard. I also love honey. I like bees and know their importance in life.
But yeah. Simple post of "I want to get honeybees", and someone says that I need to slow down and not cross the line from hobby to mental illness. Seriously? Didn't you know I grew up in a farming community? I've loved the outdoors, have had a garden my entire life, no matter where I lived, and it's taken me 5 years to even get to where I am now - a year of planning for chickens (though I had them as a child and again in FFA), about a year to get pigs (though again, raised in FFA), and probably a year before I get bees (which will probably mean spending time with our "up- north" neighbor who has a HUGE business in beekeeping). I'm mental??
My husband likes helping me out, and our daughter LOVES it. I'm proud of her helping me with the chickens and in the garden. She loves being outside and in the dirt with me. It's a family way of things, and we like having our little "farm" in the country, where everything is well cared for and productive. Both DH and I work, and work hard, and it's actually nice to come home to the critters and spend time with them. I love sitting out with the chickens when they range, and relax with them, or spending time in the soil watching things grow. I love being self sufficient.
Of course, said person has never been out here.
/end rant
Apparently I've crossed the line from having a hobby to having a mental illness. Yes, I have chickens - layers and meaties. They are well cared for, clean, no stink, no madness. If you drive by and I don't have them free ranging, you would never know. Even going in the coop, the sight and sound of them will tell you, no mess or stink. Bedding is stacked carefully, feed is contained in drums and lidded, it's a good setup. DH likes organization and cleanliness, so he's made sure everything is organized.
I garden. Again, it's far back from the road, clean, fenced, and well managed. I love my garden. I'm expanding it this weekend. I share produce, can a LOT, and just enjoy my bounty. Again, no mess, no stink, lots of organization and cleanliness.
I'm getting pigs. I've spent the past few months reading books, websites, talking to people, emailing, and just learning as absolute much as I can about pig raising. I've planned out where they will be located - away from the neighbors, and planned fencing (hog panel and electric), housing, feed and feed storage, waterering, shade, mudholes, foraging in my garden during off season, etc. I hope to get a pair of pigs next month for fall slaughter.
We live on one acre in the middle of BFE, dirt road, one "close" neighbor who enjoys our critters (they used to have every farm animal you could name, back when their kids were young). They enjoy feeding scraps to the chickens (they asked permission first), and enjoy coming over to visit. They also share produce with us, as we share with them. Other than them, we are surrounded by about 100 acres of old farmland that has gone wild.
So I want a hive or two of bees - to help pollination since I'm getting more into heirloom gardening, to help my neighbor with his orchard, and to help with my future orchard. I also love honey. I like bees and know their importance in life.
But yeah. Simple post of "I want to get honeybees", and someone says that I need to slow down and not cross the line from hobby to mental illness. Seriously? Didn't you know I grew up in a farming community? I've loved the outdoors, have had a garden my entire life, no matter where I lived, and it's taken me 5 years to even get to where I am now - a year of planning for chickens (though I had them as a child and again in FFA), about a year to get pigs (though again, raised in FFA), and probably a year before I get bees (which will probably mean spending time with our "up- north" neighbor who has a HUGE business in beekeeping). I'm mental??
My husband likes helping me out, and our daughter LOVES it. I'm proud of her helping me with the chickens and in the garden. She loves being outside and in the dirt with me. It's a family way of things, and we like having our little "farm" in the country, where everything is well cared for and productive. Both DH and I work, and work hard, and it's actually nice to come home to the critters and spend time with them. I love sitting out with the chickens when they range, and relax with them, or spending time in the soil watching things grow. I love being self sufficient.
Of course, said person has never been out here.
/end rant
