Hello all!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful spring and getting the rain they need for crops and that everyone is happy and healthy!

We are not moved in yet....still lots to do but yet making progress all the same.  The 3 bedrooms upstairs are almost all done.  One lacks closet trim and then all 3 need closet shelving and new lights and doors.  More painting needs to be done.  Downstairs still not started.  Upstairs bath not complete.  Was hoping to say we would make it by June…

Hello, 

     My name is Tamara. I am 27 years old and would like to start a sheep and goat farm.  I am an artist by trade and aspiring farmer.  I received my bachelor’s degree in photography and sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD.  I have always been passionate about caring for animals and people.  It was during my time at MICA that the two became intertwined when a photography project led me…

Well, the sump pump is in and working - now we have had 11.10 inches of rain since March 1 and more predicted for Thursday/Friday/Saturday.  Although at this point we are not ready to see more rain, we are anxious to see if the sump pump will handle the load and prevent any water from showing up in the basement.

Saw 3 snakes yesterday - 1 in the lake and 2 in the backyard.  The warm temperatures are definitely bringing them out.  Discovered that I have 3 dogwoods in the backyard - so…

It has been a while since I updated my blog but Oak Grove Valley Farm is alive and well - almost 6 months since we closed and we are still not out there! 

With 9.17 inches of rain since March 1 (and as of today 1 more inch is being forecast), we have ran into more problems that delay our move and cost money.  We have water coming in at the perimeter of our basement and there was no sump pump at the house originally so the blessing in disguise is we had not finished the basement area -…

We've added a teenage niece and 5 chicks to the mix this year and it's busy!

But, I'm trying to get the garden going...

The sun was out today and the chicks got to play in the big girl house. A few more weeks and some warmer nights and they'll get to move out there!…

My new chicks spent their first few minutes outside today while I cleaned their brooder/cardboard box.…

I was fortunate enough as a child to grow up on a ranch, riding horses, running with goats, exploring the woods and whatever young kids can find to do in the great outdoors. At the age of 14 we moved to the city, it was an exciting change at first but as time went on I longed for the quietness in the fields, the fresh air all around and the memories I experienced as a child.

Twenty years later I still desire to have a homestead, a simple home on three to four acres. Enough…

By no means do I profess to be an expert when it comes to agriculture - I've still got a lot to learn.  When it comes to energy, however, I'd say I know a thing or two.

As a member of the energy industry for years, it's been my job to know every little nook and cranny of the field. Now, as a farming hobbyist, I've made it a point to transition what I know from my profession into the agrarian world. And my biggest point of concern thus far has been my needless…

It has been one of those weeks, the best kind, where you start to receive your seed catalog orders and are anxiously awaiting others.  I have our first 42 seedlings going.  We're trying 4 different tomato varieties this year (Brandywine, Amish paste, Beefsteak and Dark Cherry). 

We got our first tree order sent off and have 19 trees coming for our orchard (3 pecan, 4 peach, 4 cherry, 8 apple).  We plan to add to it each year.  Strawberry plants, blueberries, boysenberries,…

We haven't blogged for a while due to all the holiday celebrations, family in town and of course work on the farm. We started making our own goat milk soap and gave away some as Christmas presents this year. The response has been overwhelming and many many people want to buy our soap.

We get the milk from our Mini Nubian Doe "Rapunzel" who gave birth two her first two bucks last July and from Broom Hilda. BH is an older Nubian Momma who gave birth to Lulu and…

We have had a whirlwind of weather this past week as I'm sure you have in your neck of the woods too!  From spring temps of 60 degrees to this morning's low of 10 degrees.  The wind has been cutting to say the least and I feel for my husband that works out in this weather all day doing construction.

We had 2.5 inches of rain on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.  That filled our lake to overflowing.  I went to check on things Wednesday.  For one thing, I wanted to check the rain…

For a  little over 2 months now, we have owned a farm.  But it doesn't really seem like it because we've been inside the house most evenings and weekends doing rehab work.

Today, however, it was a warm day for January is Missouri and we decided it would be an "outside" day.  Hubby and son chopped wood, cleaned up some around the equipment shed, while I was cutting down cedar trees with my lopping shears. 

My friend from work came out with her dog so it could run - it stays in a…

First of all we got a total of 2 inches of rain last week and this was after 3 inches of snow the previous week so the ground was saturated.  It allowed our lake to rise about 2 feet due to the run off, etc.  We were very thankful!

I got my first pair of farm boots - black and purple Muck boots.  They came in handy after that rain due to all the mud.  I used them when I cut down cedar trees all day last Friday and part of Saturday.  We have so many and I'm trying to get some ground…

We were so excited when we ended the day Sunday and knew the water was back on and all systems were a go at the farm.  All the old copper pipe (for propane lines and water lines) are now replaced with new.  All the old framing in the basement is out (due to water damage from leaky systems). 

Now we are ready to start framing and doing the electrical work in the basement.  We will have to finish out our daughters area which consists of a bedroom, living area and bathroom.  The water…

As 2012 prepares to come to an end, I can't help but hope all of you at Farm-Dreams.com are having a good year and are making plans for 2013.  As gloomy as the economic news is, I'm still amazed at what our family has seen in 2012.  The property purchase was a dream come true but also a result of diligent planning and saving and a direct answer to prayer for us.

We're too busy to get discouraged about our progress, even if it seems like things are happening too slowly.  This week was…

Just over 1 month ago we closed on the property.  At that time we thought we would be moved in by 12/31.  We do this everytime - overestimate our rate of progress we will make. 

I remember one time when we lived in Oklahoma on 10 acres that we decided we were going to build a pole barn.  The one weekend project turned into a 1 month project.  That should have been my lesson.

Week 4 brought more plumbing, more carrying out of trash to the dump pile and more wallpaper removal.  I…

Week 3 of rehab on the farm house is going and the trash pile is getting bigger.  We got our new water heater delivered this week and my husband is working on getting that installed.  It is our first exposure to propane water heaters.  Most of his week has been plumbing  the new lines to Gma's bathroom upstairs and getting ready to re-route the main line to the new water heater and changing the propane lines.  I think this weekend he will make the "move" of the propane existing line (shut…

The Happy Homesteader

It has been awhile since we have posted at The Happy Homesteader blog and I can personally say I have really missed being an active part of the Farm Dreams community. Our extended family has recently experienced an unexpected loss of a young member of the family and it has been a very difficult thing to deal with for many of us. Death of a loved one is never…