- Put in long-term field fencing. Use the temporary fencing to section off the field into 8 paddocks. Use permanent posts for a a dry lot, and training lot. I'd like to put in 6 foot half rounds along the road and for the aforementioned lots. I'd be happy to use metal t-posts for along the creek and river. I'm not sure if I want to stick with electric fencing or use wooden rails with woven wire.
- Trench the field for optimal drainage, put a water tank below where the spring drains into the field to catch said water, and achieve maximum benefit.
- Improve gardening skills to the point where everything I put in the ground has an edible product.
- Relocate ground hog or fence in all gardens so we benefit from them, and not the ground hog.
- Add pear and plum trees to the orchard.
- Add raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry plants to the hillside.
- Put away enough fruits and vegetables during the growing season to last through the winter and into the next growing season.
- Frame in a green house over the upper garden.
- Set up feed sprouting trays for livestock.
- Add an additional 24 laying hens to the chicken count.
- Raise enough meat chickens to feed the family for one year. (100?)
- Build chicken tractors to graze meat chickens in the field.
- Add turkeys, geese, and ducks to the farm. One male and one female to potentially bring up new young. The rest would be butchered each Fall.
- Raise 3 pigs yearly. Two to feed the family, and one to sell to cover butcher costs.
- Sheep. An heritage breed that we can use for milk, wool, and potentially meat. If there is a breed I can find that isn't represented in our area perhaps a male as well so we can sell babies in the spring.
- Replace the old barn roof with metal.
- Get solar panels to go on the barn roof, sell extra to utility company.
- Sell extra eggs and any other extras.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Long term homesteading goals
Homesteading, self-sufficiency, self-reliance, or just plain old money saving. Whatever you call it, I feel like most people I know have some sort of goals for this topic. I have a long list that covers many aspects. Here it is, written out more for my benefit than yours.
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