My name is Harmony and I live in Saltville Va... The salt capitol of the confederacy! My husband and I shared a dream 10 years ago when we first started out... We wanted a small home on a decent chunk of land. We wanted to raise our own meat and grow our own veggies. And we wanted to gather our own eggs! This is the usual way of life for him, as he was born and raised right here where "green" living has always been the natural way of life, but I'm a city girl... born and raised in Jacksonville Florida, and I am having to learn!!!
We bought our home about seven years back, and it was a mess (dilapidated shack built in 1880).. each year we put about 10K into it and we finally moved in 2 years ago. In 2012 we added a LARGE chicken coop and started out with 10 hens and a rooster, and someone gave me my "Ducky" a Pekin hen whom I ADORE! I love her so much I am going to pick up 20 chicks next month at the farmers market. I will figure out who is a boy and who is a girl and keep one drake and 4 more hens... That way I'm sure to have plenty of eggs and ducklings to sell each year. We built her a large run with a shelter, and we dammed up the creek that runs through our yard so she can swim.... all of our birds free-range in the day light hours.
We are also breeding meat rabbits and have a half acre garden planned for the spring... and I'm hoping for some solar panels this year too... would be nice to get a check from the power company each month!
We also have 2 kids who LOVE to gather eggs for me, and a wonderful dog, half mastiff and half husky named Charlie. He is a great self assigned protector of my birds! I can not forget our cute little yard cat named Millie... she is a mighty hunter! Moles and rats beware!
I'm looking forward to meeting folks across the country with like minds that I can learn from as my little hole in the world grows with each season.. I know one thing, I have discovered I love birds! Where have they been my whole life????
We bought our home about seven years back, and it was a mess (dilapidated shack built in 1880).. each year we put about 10K into it and we finally moved in 2 years ago. In 2012 we added a LARGE chicken coop and started out with 10 hens and a rooster, and someone gave me my "Ducky" a Pekin hen whom I ADORE! I love her so much I am going to pick up 20 chicks next month at the farmers market. I will figure out who is a boy and who is a girl and keep one drake and 4 more hens... That way I'm sure to have plenty of eggs and ducklings to sell each year. We built her a large run with a shelter, and we dammed up the creek that runs through our yard so she can swim.... all of our birds free-range in the day light hours.
We are also breeding meat rabbits and have a half acre garden planned for the spring... and I'm hoping for some solar panels this year too... would be nice to get a check from the power company each month!
We also have 2 kids who LOVE to gather eggs for me, and a wonderful dog, half mastiff and half husky named Charlie. He is a great self assigned protector of my birds! I can not forget our cute little yard cat named Millie... she is a mighty hunter! Moles and rats beware!
I'm looking forward to meeting folks across the country with like minds that I can learn from as my little hole in the world grows with each season.. I know one thing, I have discovered I love birds! Where have they been my whole life????
