We’ve been looking at our goals for the year and trying to decide project priorities. This of course all comes after taking care of the kids!
Major priority number 1: We’ve been planning to build a masonry heater since the time we started drawing our house. Now we’ve reached a point that we can take some more definite action. We’re talking with someone who knows how to design them, digging out our supplies, and brushing up on all the information we’ve collected over the last few years. Hopefully we’ll be able to have a drawing in hand over the course of the next several months and start building it this fall/winter. I’ll share some more of the details as plans solidify for us.
Major priority number 2: Chickens. Okay, a much greater priority for me than for John, but he’s willing to let me do this one this summer. The plan is to double our current garden space, divide it in half, and enclose it. This will let us run chickens in one side and garden in the other, switching sides every year. The idea is the chickens get to clean up the goodies left from last year, including bad insects that can over-winter in the garden, as well as scratching things up and making “deposits” for the following year’s garden. It’s an idea I ran across at backwoods home that I think would work well for us. I’ll let you know what kind and why later.
Major priority number 3: The garden. Last year was our most productive year so far, and I’m hoping for even better this year. I’ve ordered most of my seeds. I’m trying heirloom varieties, with the hopes of being able to save some of my own seeds for next year. I doubt I’ll get into saving any of the biennial crops this year, but we’ll see. I’ve also selected some less common varieties to try. More about what I picked and why later.
Major priority number 4: Alright,another major priority for me. John’s not thinking it’s a good idea this year, but I just can’t help but keep an eye out… I’d like to get at least one Dexter cow to milk. Eventually 2-3 on a staggered freshening schedule to meet our milk needs. Right now we go through 5 gallons a week, and the girls are only 2 1/2 and 1! The major obstacles right now are time (of course) and a barn. For some reason, the garage isn’t available to me for this purpose ::)
At some point, I’ll have to do a posting of our goals for the year. Maybe it will help us stay a little more on track if I have to check in here with how things are going!
Very cool to be setting all those goals – we love growing a garden too – its much smaller, but I always have TONS of tomatoes – that seems to be what grows best – I make spaghetti sauce, salsa, tomato sauce, and ketchup and can every year! I love it! I also have a friend who does “crop sharing” she owns roots and wings farms (check her out on facebook!) and I think i will do another share this year – love having the fresh organic veggies, thats what I grew up on and my family was always very self -sufficient! I am thinking of getting the chickens as well, not sure if my husband agrees, and I was thinking of getting a beef cow this year – We’ll see what happens!
I grew up on “raw” milk and did fine, but the veterinarian in me would rather feed my kids the pasteurized milk – Ive seen just way too much mastitis and things that can pass in the milk!
We should talk about swapping Veggies when that time comes!
I’m definitely up for seed swapping! We had a milk cow when I was growing up. I’m under the impression dexters are less susceptible to mastitis since they’re lower production (not that that’s the only thing bad that can be passed in milk). If you end up wanting to order chicks, let me know. I’m looking for someone to split an order with! I have heard of roots and wings, not sure where, but somewhere. I”ll have to look.
We actually grew up on goat milk! forgot to mention that – I save a few seeds each year, but I actually buy Home depots organic seeds in the spring when they go on sale for 1/2 off and tomato plants from Roberts nursery seem to be the hardiest. I should start planting my own though and saving more seeds – I was thinking actually swapping the veggies when they come!
I might be interested in the chicks – where would you order from? I love some of the exotic ones, banties, ericanas, etc.
Sure- depending on how stuff grows for me, maybe veggies can be swapped, too. I don’t buy usually buy organic seeds, but I don’t spray my garden with anything.
I was planning to order from Ideal- they let you order a smaller number. Their minimum is a $25 order, not a certain number of chicks. They just send extra male chicks for warmth if the order is under 25. I think they have a HUGE variety. I’ve also generally seen good reviews of them, as far as hatcheries go. What I understand from all their info is this: a “box” is 100 chicks. under 1 box adds $7 to the order. There’s no minimum of each of the variety/sex that you order, but it’s a $1 charge for each different variety/sex. And the shipping is $.15 for each chick, .20 for each duckling (and I don’t remember goslings or poults, in case you want any of them). Because the Chanteclers that I want sell out ahead of time, I can’t order them last minute, but I’ve got at least a little while before I’d have to order. They don’t list much info about the breeds at their site, but there’s a chart that comes up quickly on google that tells pertinent info about different breeds if you’re trying to decide what to get.
I am not sure if we are ready to do chicks this year, we would have to make an area to start them in where our cats couldn’t get them – let me know what you decide to do for sure though, i’ll talk to my husband about it!
I’m still planning to get some. Since Ideal only requires a minimum dollar amount, I’ll just be getting more “warmer” chicks in the box if I don’t have anyone to split an order with. I guess it just means I’ll have to buckle down and have my grandpa show me how to dispatch and process a chicken properly. That’s the only part I’m NOT looking forward to about keeping chickens!