The Start of the Farm
When we think of the point where we were last year at the end of November to where are at right now, it makes us think…
Last November the fields were pretty well stripped clean besides a little winter rye and oats growing as a cover crop, planted there by our farmer friend that grows annual crops of corn and soybeans on another portion of the farm. There were no barns that were ours. No animals. No tractors. Nothing. The only project that we had going was the construction of a hoop house. The hoop house would serve as the base for launching into our new farming enterprise.
Last February we got our first set of egg-laying chickens. The originals. We started these ladies in the garage in our suburbia home (just like we did for all our chickens and turkeys this first year).
We started construction of the brooder sometime during the winter, likely around January or so. But wasn’t coming together as quickly as we liked. We called the hatchery. They were set to deliver the chickens in the middle of February. But we needed to delay our shipment of the chicks because we weren’t able to complete the brooder in time. For some reason, the order change was never received by the hatchery.
We got a phone call from the hatchery on the day of hatching and they wanted to let us know that 50 laying chickens were on their way. From that point, the train had started rolling and it wasn’t going to stop.
Candi asked me, “Adam, what are we going to do?”
I remembered answering her the way I have done countless times this first season…. “I don’t know. But we’ll figure it out.” From this statement the theme of our farm in our inaugural season was created.
“I don’t know. But we’ll figure it out.”
The Growing Season Has Kicked Off
We are rookies. We weren’t raised on farms where we could learn from previous generations experiences to help pull us to help pull us through. Instead, all we had were books. The books that we’ve read prior to the start of this season have been extremely helpful (as well as YouTube) however, it was not nearly enough to cover everything that we would encounter. Throughout the season we still felt like we were drinking from a fire hose. The maxim that experience is the greatest teacher has never felt truer.
During the course of the rest of the growing season we have somehow managed to figure out how to keep chickens, raise pigs and grow turkeys. We figured out how to plant gobs of trees, sew tons of seed and plant thousands of berry plants (albeit extremely inefficiently).
We even grew a pumpkin patch that was intended as “You-Pick” for friends and family. However, the pigs would see it differently. On a day in late September the pigs got out. We realized that pigs love field grown pumpkins just as much as we love a Pumpkin Spice Latte. But that is another story.
Some other hard lessons we have learned through experience this year:
Chickens – Any mammal or bird larger than a chicken, will somehow find a way to kill and eat a chicken.
Pigs – If your fence is not electrified, pigs will find a way to your neighbor’s yard and root up their beautifully, professionally installed lawn. Even if your fence is electrified, pigs will find a way out. Just accept this fact.
Turkeys – Trying to catch a turkey, is similar to what I would assume would be like fighting a small ostrich. It ends with flying feathers, an exhausted farmer and turkeys gobbling at you.
Wrapping Up
Here we are at the end of the season. We’re exhausted but yet curiously ready to start again.
We are already planning for next year. If, by some miracle the strawberries come up, they’ll be ready next year. We might have some blackberries next year. And late summer, early fall we should have some raspberries that will be ready for picking. We also planted honeyberries this year but we won’t see much production from them until Spring/Summer 2018.
We’re going to give pumpkins another go. Hopefully, we’ll keep the pigs out. As far as veggies, we are going to try and find someone to partner with sometime this winter to grow something for a small number of people (let us know if you have anyone in mind). Maybe something similar to a CSA style. We can’t take on the vegetable growing on our own, at least at this point.
We’ll be growing chickens, pigs and turkeys next year as well. We would like to get a flock of sheep going as well but that is going to take a little bit more salesmanship to convince my family.
To close, thank you to those that have in some way contributed to the start of the farm. Whether it be through purchasing something, helping us out with labor, encouraging us, showing interest or just offering us a kind word or two. It really, truly means the world to us. Sometimes it’s difficult to sustain enthusiasm 24/7 when you have to fight Mother Nature, economics or busted equipment. Your words, actions and yes, even your money goes a long way in keeping us moving forward.
Finally, if you purchased anything from us this year (or if you are thinking about purchasing), PLEASE let us know your HONEST opinion. We can’t get any better unless someone critiques our products.
Again, thank you, from the bottom of hearts!
