Farm Dreams
Homesteading, Organic Gardening, How to Farm, Preparedness, Self-Reliance
Small farm and just me (mostly)-can it work?
Hello! I'm a 43 year old gal and my husband and I live on five acres. Probably 2 is tillable, more of it is possible pasture. We have three daughters, who have variable interest in farming topics. Here is my dilemma.
I'm interested in making about 30-40,000 a year from things we do/grow on this land. I'd like to replace my nursing job one day in the future, and that is the amount of money I'd need to make to do so. My particular love is fiber and sheep. Now, currently, we have no barn and we have no fence for keeping sheep, so those would be initial expenditures. I'm doing my research about those things. I'm also considering getting a type of sheep is that not a lot of people have in this area of the country, so that would make me one of the few breeders of this kind of sheep, and also one of the few suppliers of fiber from them (I have heard others are interested, so I doubt I'll be the ONLY one where I am, but I'll be in on it when there aren't too many).
I also love herbs, I'm a handspinner and have considered adding a small building to teach that and other kinds of pioneer crafts. I'm thinking of all the ways I could do the things I love and be able to make it work on our small farm. We may be adding more acreage in the future, another 12 acres that lies behind us, but that is not certain for the moment, and depends a lot on what our future plans are.
Here's another issue: my husband is a network engineer, drives to the city each day, and really doesn't have much of an interest in helping me with all of this at all. He probably would, in a pinch, but wouldn't want any regular chores where he had to fool with farming stuff. He has a nice tractor, and would help me till things, or move things, but it's not his thing. And that's okay, you know? I mean, not everyone wants these things. But I do. I've tried to fit into the city nursing scene, and all it got me was miserable. I like being back home in a small town, and I'd LOVE for me to be able to make a comparable living from this little farm, doing things I love.
I'm interested in creating spinnable fiber from my flock and taking it to shows for sale, selling the sheep, raising herbs of various types and creating things with them, teaching crafts, and other ideas. Sometimes I wonder if wanting all of this and knowing it's going to be me and sometimes help from my kids is asking too much. Maybe it's too much work for just me? My husband might like to help once in awhile with things, but he's not going to be going out there and setting a schedule for himself to get things done, planning, setting goals, etc, like I would.
Right now I am doing private duty nursing, but that won't last forever, so I'm making plans for how to transition into these dreams. I've talked to my husband, and he's willing to help me put in a good woven wire fence. As for the building, that will take some time. I'm thinking it will take every bit of 2 years before I can have the fencing and the building to be ready for the animals. Hubby feels that's a realistic goal. My kids say they are willing to help out. I have a 20 year old daughter who might be around sometimes and says she's okay with helping, a 14 year old who will probably help SOME, and a 10 year old who says she's excited about it, but she has never done farm work! HAHA! I grew up on a farm with my grandpa, and I loved the work, but it was hard!
So what do you think? Is it possible to make that sort of money doing what I'm talking about? To be honest, that number is just an ultimate goal. If I made as little as 24,000 a year it would be doable for my family because of my husband's income (and I am figuring that half of it would go to taxes and supplies). Can someone give me some more ideas, let me know if I'm asking too much of myself, smack some sense into me (LOL)?
Thanks!
Cara
Tags: farm, fiber, handspinning, sheep, small
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by James Paul on -
I just did a quick Cincinnati Craig's List search for "shed" And came up with this.
14 x 24 Out building on runners - $1750 (Leesburg)
14' x 24' out building on runners. Has wood (oak) floor the entire length. Garage door and sliding walk out door. Building is in great shape and would make a great chicken coop, rabbit hutch, storage shed, or even a "man cave." Call 937-402-0156 for details.
You might try an ad in the wanted section even.
Jim
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Permalink Reply by Cara Randall on -
Hmmmmm...a little on the small side, though...but I hadn't thought of checking Craig's List.
Thanks!
Cara
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Permalink Reply by James Paul on
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Hove you looked into finding a CO-OP in your area or possibly joining with others to form one. That can give you some serious savngs in what you buy and help cut the cost of living which you desire.
The idea of trying to replace current income is far less attainable then it is to Curb your cash outlays which also reduces taxes as less income means less taxation.
Barter and trade is an excellent method to reduce cash needs.
Your love of wool can be quite profitable if you explore what you find on Etsy.com
Many crafts people there do quite well there and I bought 2 pairs of wool hand knitted slippers there, from a woman in Scotland. I had spent hours trying to find something on the web in the USA. Stores have not carried such an item for years. She kept in contact by e-mail and apologized for taking so long to finish them since she had other orders to fill.
Etsy is a place for ideas and contacts but Amazon.com or Ebay.com may be an easier place to sell items. Etsy charges a small listing fee up front and the sheer mass of listings will soon have you buried by others, unless you list a different item daily.
E-bay or Amazon can become a way of life for buying or selling. When I am about to buy an Item, I usually check the ratings from others on Amazon who have bought the item to see how they rate it. That by itself has saved me a lot of money for books ( not worth buying) or items that have quickly broken for other persons who fell for the advertising which nearly snagged me. Every time you can save $20, that may be up to $30 or more that you did not need to earn.
Once this election is over, DO NOT count on your income to remain as it is now.
Watch what is happening to Greece right now, with other nations soon to follow.
.
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Permalink Reply by Cara Randall on
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I just learned of a company called Diamond Shelters. I really like the look of their hoop shelters, and I found they have a dealer just an hour north of here. I may just call and find out how much a building like I'd want would cost. Then, I guess, the trick would be figuring out how we'd get it put up and how much labor that would take.
James-I've thought about Etsy but never done the serious work I'd need to complete to get started on there. Maybe I should take another look. There is FIERCE competition on there, I do know that. It takes a lot of marketing to even get your products noticed. But people do manage it. Thanks...
Cara
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Permalink Reply by Susan C on -
Cara, I just did a quick read through of all the suggestions you have gotten. I am encouraged that so many others think this lifestyle is "do-able". A few ideas I am working on...The main and eventual goal is to have our farm set up so that we could give field trips for schools. My husbands current job involves educational presentations both at school and on site at his job. He has told people what I a doing here, and there has been a shocking amount of interest from teachers. I have had teachers from over a year ago contact us to see if we are ready. I was sad to say I wasn't. We have to focus on finishing our cabin first so that we can move out of this camper! Then, hopefully by the end of summer, we can really hit it hard getting things ready. We have the chicken coop and chickens. It occured to me recently while incubating eggs that trips could be set up to coincide with hatchings. Kids and teachers would love it! I have come to realize through my husband's job, that teachers are often looking for specific themed trips to accompany current school subjects. Chickens would fit in with farm life in general, study of birds, creation science, etc. Our bees died off, so I am planning on getting that going again, including a screened viewing area for the students (can be inexpensively done). Also goats, including milking and perhaps a lesson on where we get meat...(most kids don't know!) A garden would also be a big draw, especially if there was a way for some hands on things. Anyway, you get the idea with that.
I really agree with those who advised that you diversify and not put all your eggs in one basket. I am currently looking at crafts that are practical, inexpensive enough, and marketable. I am fortunate in having scrap lumber literally coming out my ears, so I have started making some stools, boxes, etc. I am looking at the best way to market them. We have a local farmers market, etsy.com, ebay, etc. Also local stores that might do consignments, ads in local news flyers (have you heard of Coffehouse News?). A lady recently started a local facebook yardsale page that seems to be taking off. The advantage to this is easy to deliver/pick-up, not as huge as etsy, etc., and word of mouth works great through this.
Selling eggs and chickens is another goal, along with plants each spring that I grow from seed. Again the farmers market seems ideal for this.
The worms is something we are hoping to start soon. The worms themselves can be sold, as well as castings. The big new thing with this though is worm "tea". This involves running water through the beds, over the castings, and collecting in a trough underneath. It is incredible organic fertilizer and organic is a huge draw for many. My great grandfather was a worm farmer by trade...that is all he ever did for a living (my Dad says he kept them in the house in boxes before making deliveries, and you could hear them moving while you tried to go to sleep!) We are friends with the local feed and seed owner (really old time small town operation) and his worm supplier used to be a financial advisor. He quit his job to be a worm farmer and makes more than he did before.
We are also looking at classes for young and old. First up is chicken killing/dressing. Later hopefully, canning, various gardening methods, and other skills (I cane chairs for instance). Your sheep and wool would be something that a lot of people would be interested in.
I also echo the idea to do for yourself what you can to save money as well as look for ways to earn it. This is often easier said than done, especially during transition times when you are still commuting to work and having to focus on things other than your farm life. We have planted alot of fruit trees and blueberries and a few blackberries. We grow a garden, eggs and meat from chickens. It could include things like haircuts at home, food from scratch ingredients instead of pre-packaged, barter, having your husband change the oil on your cars, etc. Each isn't much, but saving $20 one hundred times (twice a week) is $2000 less you have to make each year.
Hope these ideas help in some way!
Susan
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Permalink Reply by J Green on -
You can make hoop style sheep shelters from arched cattle panels and just add to the length of it section by section when wanting to expand. I built one for my 3 sheep in under an hour and it was sturdy in the highest winds we'd had recorded for some time that winter. It was cheap and easily constructed.
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Permalink Reply by Nadya on
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J Green, do you then cover cattle panels with tarp? Do you have anything in front and back or is it open like tunnel?
Trying to get ideas for constructing portable donkey+goats shelter.
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Permalink Reply by Debra Mort on
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Perhaps consider investing in hoopbenders. They have instructions for building hoophouse greenhouses, which could be pretty easily adapted for livestock shelters, plus you have the benefit of actually making a greenhouse if you want, lol.
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Permalink Reply by Rich Hamilton on
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I'm about 2 years into my transition raising pastured poultry, eggs, pork & beef - soon to add milk shares. I do the bulk of the work on our farm and have a (pretty flexible) full time job. So transitioning is possible, though it will take time. Cut expenses any where you can and avoid debt like the plauge. If you are committed and really want to make it happen it will - if you allow yourself to get discouraged you will end up scrapping it. I work like crazy, but the Lord is showing me what can be, and its coming into focus more and more each day. Stick with it and keep us posted!
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Permalink Reply by Cara Randall on
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I have allowed myself to get sad in the past, because I felt like I was doing it on my own and didn't have any support. So I'd just quit and give up. I don't want to do that anymore. I may not work fast, but I will work steadily. Maybe my husband will help out in time once he sees I'm serious and won't just give up.
Thanks,
Cara
Rich Hamilton said:I'm about 2 years into my transition raising pastured poultry, eggs, pork & beef - soon to add milk shares. I do the bulk of the work on our farm and have a (pretty flexible) full time job. So transitioning is possible, though it will take time. Cut expenses any where you can and avoid debt like the plauge. If you are committed and really want to make it happen it will - if you allow yourself to get discouraged you will end up scrapping it. I work like crazy, but the Lord is showing me what can be, and its coming into focus more and more each day. Stick with it and keep us posted!
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I would say there's a very good chance of that, given what you have already said about the hoop house.
Pick up a copy of "One Seond After", read it then get him to read it. That may very well kick things into gear for him...
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Permalink Reply by Summer on
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Thank you for starting this discussion as I am finding it very helpful. I am in a very similar situation. While my husband is very supportive, he is unable to farm with me full time right now, so it is just me for the most part. I don’t have very much good advice to add like so many of these replies, honestly as a newcomer I don’t even understand some posts, haha. It sounds as if you do so that is a plus.
I’ve actually been reluctant to respond because, like you, I struggle with feeling discouraged and negative at all I can’t do. One piece of advice I can give… concentrate on what you can do and give yourself credit for every (small and large) accomplishment! There are days that I feel like giving up, for example trying to put up fencing or build shelters all alone, but my love of the land somehow motivates me to go right back to it the next day.
Also if possible, find a mentor. I have latched onto a dairy farmer close by, a FEMALE dairy farmer! While she is quite busy with her own farm and family she is able to answer questions, has introduced me to other farmers in our community, and is always encouraging and inspiring me. Try to connect with farmers close by and if this isn’t possible continue to connect here with virtual mentors. Hang in there and keep us posted!
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