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Planning 2017: Introduction

Rick

This is the first post in a series that will deal with the possible plans for the year of 2017.

I always seem to fight a problem of being too ambitious with my plans.  There is a saying the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the next best time is today.  It turns out that the best time to plant an orchard, plant a garden, build a chicken coop,  put up a fence, build a rabbit hutch and mow the lawn isn’t always today.  There is always that pull to move things forward and start new things.  Yet is needs to be balanced with giving the right amount of attention to existing things.

I am trying to keep that in mind as I make my plans 2017.  I am going to write a series of post that will lay out a few options I have thought of for this year.  I can then take those items and narrow them down to the few I will do.  I am going to divide this items into a couple lists.  The first will be a list of the things I all but have to do.  The second list will be things that I would like to do.

Must Do:

Might Do:

  • Plant more trees
  • Add different livestock
  • Add more rabbits
  • Build bigger greenhouse
  • Sell wood working projects
  • Aquaponics
  • Grey water system
  • Meat Chickens

So off the next few weeks I hope to touch on most of the items in that list and come up with a solid plan what will be taking place on the farm for the next 12 months.  I hope that if anyone has any feedback on the posts they will leave comments.

 

 

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2016: A Year in Review

Rick

The year 2016 flew past and is quickly coming to an end.  Over the course of the year the farm has seen a few changes and additions.  I am going to take a moment to look back on that year that was.

The spring started with our first attempts in adding animals to the farm from animals already on the farm.  We took advantage of our chickens going broody.  They were able to rear three broods of ducklings.  The flock was up to 15 ducks strong at its peak.  Due to losses, mostly from an undetermined predator, we are ending the year with 10 ducks.

We lost two chickens during the year one during the hottest and one during the coldest days.  We have 6 chickens all will be 2 years old this spring.  We will need to keep a close eye on production and make plans for adding some young blood to the hen house.

Kennedy received 2 mini rex rabbits for her birthday.  Unfortunately we lost one.  We have one friendly black rabbit.  He is a big hit with the cousins when they come to visit.

The garden was almost a complete lost this last summer.  We started with a very wet spring that was followed by an very dry and hot summer.  I would love to blame the failure of the garden on the weather, but I can’t.  I have been pretty ambitious  with the size and scope of the garden.  I will probably need to scale back to put more focus on establishing it.

This fall we added a new human to the farm.  We welcomed McKinley Joy to the world on Nov. 22nd.  She is doing great and already growing like a weed.  She spends most days eating and sleeping, while be doted on by her two proud big sisters.

We hope you are all enjoying the holiday season as the year winds down.  We are looking forward to what 2017 has in hold.

 

Episode 2 – Spring Time

Furry Feathers Farm
Furry Feathers Farm
Episode 2 - Spring Time
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I forgot to mention this during the show.  I need to thank my daughter Kennedy for doing all the introductions to our segments.

Episode 1 – Introductions

Furry Feathers Farm
Furry Feathers Farm
Episode 1 - Introductions
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Welcome to the first edition of the Furry Feathers Farmcast.  We had a little audio problems so please ignore them.  We will get better.  Also ignore me saying the name of the farm wrong every time.  Geez me.

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Introducing the Farmcast

Rick

In the coming days we will be posting the first episode of our Farmcast.  The Farmcast will feature myself and my daughter Reagen.  We think that it will give an interesting perspective of the happenings around the homestead.  The least we are excepting is to have something fun that a father and daughter can do together.  If it goes well we will both learn a little something.  If we are really lucky it will be something that you will enjoy and find enlightening.

Farm

State of the Farm

Rick

I have been wondering about away to start this blog off.  A way to give everyone an idea about where we are at.  So I thought I would give a sort of State of the Farm address.

The last year has involved several projects on our way to a sustainable homestead.  The year started with preparations to add our first livestock. A mobile coop was build for a flock of layers.  In the spring a straight run of 10 Black Australorps and 5 Buff Orpingtons were placed in the brooder.  Right as the chickens were removed from the brooder, they were replaced with 9 Khaki Campbell ducks.

After culling the cockerels the flock ended up with 5 Black Australorps and 3 Buff Orpingtons.  Those 8 layers kept us and our family supplied with eggs for most of the late summer and fall.  Now in the heart of winters the production has slowed.  After losing two hen ducks to predators we have 3 hen ducks and 4 drakes, 3 of which are over due to be culled.

In the spring we also attempted to add to our orchard with a several fruit trees.  Unfortunately we had little luck with the trees, but we will try again and will have a better plan on the plantings.

The annual garden produced well.  We had good crops of onions, potatoes, and dry beans especially.  We tried using soil blocks and a small low tunnel greenhouse for starting seeds.  We learned a lot about using this method and will be using it again.  Also in the garden perennials for asparagus, rhubarb and strawberries we also added.  We are looking forward to crops from those plants for years to come.

As spring approaches we are making plans for the next growing season and adding more to fledgling homestead.