So as you have gathered we are in a building phase here. Since the move we have had to rethink our plans for the future. At the other place, the plan was to help Matthew, our oldest son, establish the market garden. Matt and the other boys would be there to help Gary with the pigs, Reiley and I would have the goats. We had been raising all of the vegetables, milk eggs, pork, chicken and turkey to feed ourselves. The sale of the young pigs and goats was enough to help care for the stock, and if Matt or one of the other boys wanted to get more intensive with lifestock that potential was there also. A large part of that plan was teaching. Teaching others the skills we had learned over a lifetime of farming and keeping animals. Matthew and I would do the administrative and organizing and most of the teaching. Gary to be there when he could. (The most frustrating part of Gary's injury is never knowing how he will be from one day to the next.)
Now that we are here, things have obviously changed. We have spent this winter adjusting and planning what we can do and what we want to do.
The first priority is still to produce as much of our food as possible. It is healthier, better for us and ultimately cheaper. Not to mention mostly fun!
We also want to continue to teach and help others achieve a self sufficient lifestyle.
So to those ends we have a working plan; or we did until we found out that Matt and his longtime girl friend are considering moving to Digby also. They are looking at options and properties. (See, never make concrete plans)
So the revised plan is to turn this year into an infrastructure building year. We need to impliment the drainage plan for this property. With the warmer weather and sun this week the swales and ditches we have put in place have already dried out a considerable amount of territory. We will be watching for the rain this wekend to see how quickly things dry up afterward.
We need to clear land for pasture, rebuild the stone walls that border the land, and build a permanent goat barn. We are going ahead with the planned goat herd expansion, slowly but still expanding. I really want to have milk production year-round. I am mildly lactose intolerant and I found it really hard to make the switch back to cows milk this year.
Gary and Reiley have worked pretty much all the bugs out of the fodder system they have been working on all winter. All of the animals heve been getting yummy fresh fodder everyday for several months now. It makes a huge difference in their ability to maintain body condition and it makes a big difference in the feed bill also.
Now that we are here, things have obviously changed. We have spent this winter adjusting and planning what we can do and what we want to do.
The first priority is still to produce as much of our food as possible. It is healthier, better for us and ultimately cheaper. Not to mention mostly fun!
We also want to continue to teach and help others achieve a self sufficient lifestyle.
So to those ends we have a working plan; or we did until we found out that Matt and his longtime girl friend are considering moving to Digby also. They are looking at options and properties. (See, never make concrete plans)
So the revised plan is to turn this year into an infrastructure building year. We need to impliment the drainage plan for this property. With the warmer weather and sun this week the swales and ditches we have put in place have already dried out a considerable amount of territory. We will be watching for the rain this wekend to see how quickly things dry up afterward.
We need to clear land for pasture, rebuild the stone walls that border the land, and build a permanent goat barn. We are going ahead with the planned goat herd expansion, slowly but still expanding. I really want to have milk production year-round. I am mildly lactose intolerant and I found it really hard to make the switch back to cows milk this year.
Gary and Reiley have worked pretty much all the bugs out of the fodder system they have been working on all winter. All of the animals heve been getting yummy fresh fodder everyday for several months now. It makes a huge difference in their ability to maintain body condition and it makes a big difference in the feed bill also.
So we will be expanding this over the summer.
Top priorities for the next 5 months or so will be putting in pasture, building better pig pasture huts, adding bees to our brood, and getting my herb gardens built.
I am launching Hand- Forged Herbals this summer. I have been making yummy artisan goats milk soap, and making some great all natural skin care products. The herb gardens will allow me to add tinctures and herbal tea blends to my products.. so stay tuned for more information on this.
Long term plans still include a large vegetable garden, a greenhouse, a multipurpose building for workshops, it will also double as an outdoor kitchen. We want to ditch NS Power. There is great micro-hydro potential here as well as solar.
So this promises to be an eventful few years. My goal is to share it with you .As I have said before it is almost impossible to be self sufficient on your own. You need community. Lets build a community here, one where we can share ideas and skills. Let me know what you want to hear about, have you done any of these things yourself and want to share? We can build a virtual homestead here. I hope you will join me on this journey.
Just a quick note: Reiley and I will be picking up a couple of new additions to the farm tomorrow, so no post tomorrow. But check in on Saturday and I'll introduce you to the new additions.
Top priorities for the next 5 months or so will be putting in pasture, building better pig pasture huts, adding bees to our brood, and getting my herb gardens built.
I am launching Hand- Forged Herbals this summer. I have been making yummy artisan goats milk soap, and making some great all natural skin care products. The herb gardens will allow me to add tinctures and herbal tea blends to my products.. so stay tuned for more information on this.
Long term plans still include a large vegetable garden, a greenhouse, a multipurpose building for workshops, it will also double as an outdoor kitchen. We want to ditch NS Power. There is great micro-hydro potential here as well as solar.
So this promises to be an eventful few years. My goal is to share it with you .As I have said before it is almost impossible to be self sufficient on your own. You need community. Lets build a community here, one where we can share ideas and skills. Let me know what you want to hear about, have you done any of these things yourself and want to share? We can build a virtual homestead here. I hope you will join me on this journey.
Just a quick note: Reiley and I will be picking up a couple of new additions to the farm tomorrow, so no post tomorrow. But check in on Saturday and I'll introduce you to the new additions.
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