Farm Dreams
Homesteading, Organic Gardening, How to Farm, Preparedness, Self-Reliance
Looking for advice!
Hi everyone! We are new to country life....I think I start every post off like this :) My goal is to learn as much as possible this winter so I can start our homestead life in the spring. I need to start our garden....I think I have decided on raised beds. Does anyone have any advice on what is best to plant together in the bed? I am thinking about having 6 beds to start. Also I would like to get chickens for eggs and meat. We need to build a coop and have no idea where to start!! I have seen a few options on here which is great! Should you be able to see your coop from the house (for example from the kitchen window...the most used window)One day we will add goats and bigs. And in the farther future some houses :) Thank you for any advice. I need all I can get.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dusty Bottoms on -
Welcome to country life HiT! Since you're seeking gardening advice you should definitely join the garden group. Also, let people know what zone you're in or where you are so they can help with planting advice.
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Permalink Reply by Homesteaders in Training on -
Thank you! Just looked up Borage (that is how green I am
) I will be adding that for sure!
Happy said:Borage with your tomatoes is a must!
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Permalink Reply by Daisy on -
Raised beds are definitely the way to go. If you look at the blog post I did - Homesteading Teaches Family Values - there is a good link to figure out your planting zone as well as get a schedule of what to plant when for your area. I recommend the book "Carrots Love Tomatoes" to learn what to plant together.
As far as the chicken coop, it takes some more thought, but I think a moveable coop is best. Chickens really run down an area fast and so if you can pull the coop around (either by hand or vehicle) then you can save your pastures from getting beaten up, spread their fertilizer where you need it, and move them to fresh ground regularly so they don't get parasite overload. Try searching online for moveable chicken coop, hoop coop, or chicken tractor.
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Permalink Reply by Homesteaders in Training on
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Great advice thank you! I loved your blog post. I can't wait for the next one!
Daisy said:Raised beds are definitely the way to go. If you look at the blog post I did - Homesteading Teaches Family Values - there is a good link to figure out your planting zone as well as get a schedule of what to plant when for your area. I recommend the book "Carrots Love Tomatoes" to learn what to plant together.
As far as the chicken coop, it takes some more thought, but I think a moveable coop is best. Chickens really run down an area fast and so if you can pull the coop around (either by hand or vehicle) then you can save your pastures from getting beaten up, spread their fertilizer where you need it, and move them to fresh ground regularly so they don't get parasite overload. Try searching online for moveable chicken coop, hoop coop, or chicken tractor.
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Permalink Reply by Mrs. Knucker Hatch on -
Speaking from personal experience, our coop was converted from a horse stall in the barn. The crew all free range during the day, and being able to see from my kitchen window or sun room the action on the farm has been very helpful on many occasions. It's a lot easier to break up a rooster fight, spot a predator issue, see if a door has blown shut, or notice the girls are sitting on the roost ready to close up for the night. Location with a visual from indoors is a blessing. That said, if you have a rooster or two, you are going to want to keep some distance between your house and the coop come 4am. Things to think about are running water being close by, and how you will handle issues like water freezing in the winter.
As far as raised beds go, you might like a book called "Companion Planting" - it has been my bible when it goes to intermixing crops in beds. If you are anywhere near deer, thinking fencing may be the first thing you want to plan on researching. There is nothing worse than losing the tops off of everything in one night!
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Permalink Reply by Homesteaders in Training on
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Thank you so much for the advice! My hubby and I were debating about being able to see the chickens or not. It seems I have lost
but that all makes sense. Do you have any other animals?
Mrs. Knucker Hatch said:Speaking from personal experience, our coop was converted from a horse stall in the barn. The crew all free range during the day, and being able to see from my kitchen window or sun room the action on the farm has been very helpful on many occasions. It's a lot easier to break up a rooster fight, spot a predator issue, see if a door has blown shut, or notice the girls are sitting on the roost ready to close up for the night. Location with a visual from indoors is a blessing. That said, if you have a rooster or two, you are going to want to keep some distance between your house and the coop come 4am. Things to think about are running water being close by, and how you will handle issues like water freezing in the winter.
As far as raised beds go, you might like a book called "Companion Planting" - it has been my bible when it goes to intermixing crops in beds. If you are anywhere near deer, thinking fencing may be the first thing you want to plan on researching. There is nothing worse than losing the tops off of everything in one night!
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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Moore on
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Our chickens are free range during the day we found that they loved the garden as soon as we started to plant, so up went the chicken wire. They were looking for bugs in the soil but they dug up all the seeds...grr. We opened the garden to them during the winter and I feed scraps to them there to work compost into the garden. We have a lot of trees so the predator birds are not too much of an issue. If you do not have the trees you may not want them free.
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Permalink Reply by Ellen Peavey on -
Hi Homesteaders in Training, we have a chicken tractor and it is okay but I would recommend a chicken coop or free range. We use it for the chicken that have been injured or the ones we want to separate, the roof is going to be put on but for now we are using a tarp
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Permalink Reply by Ellen Peavey on
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It is always nice to be able to see the coop from the kitchen because of predators, and let's not forget snakes who eat the eggs. I suggest you get moth balls for your coop it keeps the snakes out, just make sure you have good ventilation in the coop. I keep all windows open and the front door open, the only other thing that deters a snake is my rifle, got one that had two eggs in it's belly last summer
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