Would you like to grow food for your family, but don't know how to start? Here are 6 mistakes the new micro-farmer makes and 6 ways to ensure your success.
Most will have a similar picture in mind when they hear the word "farm". Rolling fields or pastures dotted with sheep/cattle or both. A big red barn with a horse in the paddock. Chickens free - ranging around a hen house and ducks on a pond. Large vegetable gardens bordered by orchards and berry bushes. Okay well maybe not everyone conjures up my dream farm. Since this picture perfect farm is not feasible for us right now - we are MicroFarming. This lifestyle is catching on quickly and many are asking what is it exactly? Well is is pretty much self defining: a tiny farm. It is still debatable in many circles as to what size constitutes a MicroFarm - my definition is a fully functioning farm on less than 5 acres - in our case a whole whopping 1 acre. You will be amazed at what you can produce on 1 acre. As the overwhelming evidence of grossly inhumane treatment of animals in factory farms comes to light and our fruits and vegetables are "pre-poisoned" (genetically/spraying) for our dining pleasure - more and more are resourcing local food options. This includes our own back yard. When considering to take a go at MicroFarming a lot of pre-planning is highly suggested. When working with limited space you do not want to have too many do-overs. It can have a domino effect on everything else already in place. So ask yourself, why do I want to farm? What are your goals? Healthier food options, cut down on grocery spending, create some additional income, shrink your environmental footprint? Usually it is a combination of all of these - at least it was for us. Most farms, of any size, all have similar components: Crops, Livestock/Poultry, Orchards/Berries. So you need to decide which of these components to incorporate - only on a much smaller scale. Crops are usually going to be in the form of vegetable gardens. Although growing a specific flower or herb in more abundance for resale is often done as well. When microfarming, the raised bed method of growing is best for maximum yield in minimum space. I highly recommend learning about Square Foot Gardening and the research behind it. We will be adding square foot beds this year. We are also proponents of using what is available and recycling. So we also use tires with great success. Livestock. So a flock of sheep or herd of cattle are not conducive in a microfarming scenario. Meat, fiber and dairy are usually the reasons to have livestock. Rabbits and goats tend to be the go to microfarming livestock. You can get fiber and meat from rabbits and you can get fiber, meat and dairy from goats. Rabbit manure aka bunny berries/bunny beans, is well known to be the best garden fertilizer. It is almost instant gratification as no composting is needed. Some microfarms even have a dairy cow and raise a couple pigs each year. We have rabbits for meat and eventually will add Angoras for fiber. We will add African Pygmy goats in the future for dairy (goats milk soap). Livestock husbandry needs to be carefully planned as well. Appropriate housing needs to be provided not only for the immediate animals brought in but also future offspring and additions. Research is key to help determine the appropriate numbers to settle on. Are you raising only for self consumption or will you offer offspring for sale as well? Keeping living areas clean and tidy can be time consuming and overcrowding is never a good thing. Healthy and happy livestock must be of priority. There is an absolute plethora of poultry to choose from. Researching each species and breed could make a head spin if you do not have an idea of what you want. Chickens tend to be at the top of the list for fresh and healthy eggs and also as meat option. Best Chicks to Start With is a quick guide that could get you pointed in the right direction based on your poultry desires. If you are planning on raising your own chickens by hatching out eggs to increase your flock or sell chicks or fertile hatching eggs -you will of course need a rooster. So be sure your zoning allows you to have one and that you are not making enemies of your neighbors. When we moved to our new location this is the case for us. So we chose a much quieter alternative. Ducks - depending on the breed will provide an abundant supply of eggs and some breeds are considered dual purpose for meat as well. We have Pekins and are very pleased with them. We will be adding the endangered heritage Ancona in the spring. We will post an entry on raising ducks in a northern climate later on. ***We beg anyone who is obtaining poultry to do your diligent research on commercial hatchery common practices. Once one is educated on the inhumane conditions and treatment - it is unfathomable to me how we can continue to support them with our patronage. There are reputable breeders of every species and breed all across the country that will ship hatching eggs, chicks, ducklings, poults and keets. They care about the quality, health and preservation of what they are shipping to you.*** We are currently researching dwarf and semi dwarf fruit trees. Both are considered great options for microfarms. Will do an update once we make up our minds - so many to choose from. Berries of course are a great add on as well. You can use the bounty from both to make jam. Here is a little known shortcut: Bread Machine Jam Yum! Most fruit and berries freeze well so you can enjoy them year round and everyone pulls over for a roadside berry stand. Of course make sure that whatever you choose will do well in your growing region. Make sure to obtain what is needed for cross pollination as well or you will be waiting, literally, forever for a yield. There is an elderly lady in our community that has some very mature blueberry bushes that the yield pays her property taxes each year. Last year we planted 4 blueberry bushes obtained from our friends over at Bass Hill Gardens and raspberry bushes from our friends over at Wee Acre Farm . Last but not least - Honey Bees - are making their way onto all sized farms. They are a fabulous addition to a microfarm and it just makes sense. Hives take up very little room and the benefit is endless. Pollination equals better crop yield. Having your own honey source is beyond wonderful and it can be an added income from sales. This is how we are laying out our microfarm. (Above) Our property is shaped like this and our house just happens to be situated almost as pictured as well. I have no idea where the picture came from so as to give it credit. Here is another one from Mother Earth News (below) based on a 1 acre property size: I hope this overview on microfarming was helpful. I would love to hear from anyone who is considering or is already microfarming. Please share where you are in your journey and let us know what topics you would like to see for future entries. This post was shared on The Homesteaders Blog Hop http://www.theeasyhomestead.com/homestead-blog-hop-12/
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