The Plan

So, in very broad strokes, here is the plan for our farm. We hope that within five years, we are almost completely self-sufficient (meaning producing over 75% of our own food). We plan to do this by utilizing a biodynamic method of farming, which essentially means having as many different types of living organisms as you can all sharing the same space. Here is a terrific example of bio-dynamic farming. This is the complete opposite of a mono-culture, where one crop or animal is grown in a given area for a long period of time.

As of today, we have two male Yorkshire Tamworth cross pigs we are raising to butcher in late spring, a breeding trio of Silver Fox rabbits that we bred for the first time last week, a breeding trio of Bourbon Red turkeys that will hopefully start laying eggs soon (or they will become dinner), three roosters (White Rock, Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington), and fifteen laying hens (two White Brahmas, two Buff Orpingtons, one Rhode Island Red, one New Hampshire Red, one Brown Leghorn, three Speckled Sussex, three Ameracaunas, and two White Rocks). We actually also have six other chickens in a crate this evening, tomorrow they will be butchered and put in the freezer. This Friday we are getting in approximately 100 chicks, all sorts of chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys for eggs and meat. We will be joined by two Leicester Longwool sheep and two pregnant Dexter cows later this month. The first week of May our two hives worth of bees will be delivered. We may add a few more animals here and there, but this should last us through the year. We are going to try to raise exclusively heritage breeds of livestock, tried and true animals perfectly suited for small family farms.

In April we will be putting in a vegetable garden, about 50′x 100′. Our pigs will soon be tilling up the land where the garden will go, removing all the unwanted grass and turning it into lovely bacon and chops. We have also ordered about forty fruit and nut trees, twenty maple trees, and a host of fruit bushes and vines.

This first year, we think we should be able to raise all of our own meat, and maybe a third of the vegetables we need. We also hope to milk our cows and get wool from our sheep. Fruit we will have to get from local orchards, as it will be several years before our trees start to bare their bounty. Honey will also come in the second year of keeping bees. Ultimately, we hope to not only raise our own meat animals, but also raise the food that they need, ending our need to buy feed and hay. It is possible, but it will take a lot of work.

Once we are up and running, we hope to offer a CSA. Ideally we will have different plans for those looking for meat, veg, fruit, fiber, or a little of everything. We also hope to host monthly workshops focusing on different seasonal topics about farming, gardening, crafting, and animal husbandry. We will try to post weekly events, and if we have a special event, let people know well in advance. So, check back often and if you are interested, please leave a comment or stop by the Farm to say hello and join in the fun.