Jake's Journal ~ Navigating Life

Hey everyone! I just joined recently and decided, why not get started on that journal! To start off, I'll answer the standard questions.

1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
Minnesota! Climate- hot summer and frozen winters, extremes on both ends.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
6 people, countless animals, and single. I'm only 18 and my brother (21) is just getting married next year, so marriage for me is a no-go.
3. How would you define your farm?
Exotic while staying normal. If that makes sense.
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
Create a new rabbit building, build my own barn for llamas and goats, and all have heating and automatic waterers.
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
I've tried to build a rabbit hutch, but that was a bust. I'm not very handy.
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
No.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
My mother, she had sheep and dairy. Also, she let me get into rabbits back when I was 10 and then it took off from there.
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
Hobby. I'm not to the point of occupation, nor do I want to be.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
I know rabbits, llamas, and sort of goats. Actually, I feel I am well off enough in most species to take care of them properly.
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do? Fields. Cattle (beef nor dairy). Horses.
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply? Yes.
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world? My room, with llamas, or with rabbits. I want to know more about the fibers though (for spinning).
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
Tractor yes, semi only if someone's telling me what to do.
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
I can draw. And cook. And I suppose I could.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
All of my livestock is legal. I don't know about anything that's illegal though. I want to get sugar gliders though, which are LEGAL.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
No.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
To a point. I'd do it more at the end of the day so it's not hot and there's no dew. And I LOVE carrots, onions, strawberries, and corn.
18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Yes and bait. Explosives isn't fair, let them be stupid and hook themselves.
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
8 acres, country!
20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
Working on AA, then I'll go for a Ph.D. in Biology with an HUGE emphasis in Zoology. Also minor in theater.
21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
Rabbits, llamas. I'd like to get into sheep a little.
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
I don't think I would create a degree, but if I had to it would be centered around animal care, interacting, and genetics.
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
I made a shelf in 8th grade.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
Yes.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
Either eastern Minnesota or San Diego.
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
No.
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
I like Nightwing.
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Yes, but everyone has something different.
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
Yes. The rest, I don't mind learning more.
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
The birth of my first llama. Being bitten by a rabbit at fair, it tore half my pinky-tip apart.
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
No.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
I can hunt and garden. I also know how to butcher animals, though I've never actually done it.
33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
No.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
No, but I'd love to be able to.
35 What is on your to do list?
Chores everyday, training the llamas, I'm always looking for better breeding stock for goats, llamas, and especially rabbits.
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
No, and I'm not sure.
37. In what do you trust?
Science, my gut feeling.
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
No, not very handy.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
I'm wary with horses cause one stepped on me, and dairy cattle are always evil to me.

from San Diego, Southern California! Glad you could join us!

Why are cows so evil to you?
Just curious - I wouldn't have one either! Love my goaties

I don't know why they are. I've handled and know how to handle both beef and dairy (different breeds as well; Shorthorn and Highland for beef, holstein and jersey for dairy) and the beef were always chill and the dairy high strung. These were also in different years and at different times. Both dairy bucked and tried to go back to their stall. I hung on though.

And thanks WMR!

Okay, first official 'entry' besides my intro.

This week has honestly sucked. The day after I joined, my grandfather passed away. I didn't want to come on here and immediately get sympathy, so I waited. I skipped college for the week after I found out and spent just about every waking moment at my grandmother's. I am doing better, but I sadly have to go back to school tomorrow.

On a happier note, I am getting a dappled boer buck! He is coming straight from my neighbors house (their only a half mile away), so if he escapes, we know where he's going. They also got new does recently who should be kidding in a couple weeks, so we'll grab some does from the batch too so we have stock that is unrelated.

Let's see, my cria (baby llama) is doing well. She is about 60 pounds and 1.25 months old. She was born at 29 pounds so she's gained at least 30 pounds! Which is spectacular.

And I am looking to sell like, half my bunnies so I can get Dwarf Hotots and a new Havana (probably a buck). I'm selling Holland Lops, a Mini Lop, a couple Mini Rex, and like 6 Havana. So if anyone knows where I can get Dwarf Hotots or sell my bunnies (NO AUCTIONS) around MN or a neighboring state, just let me know. I say no auction cause I took bunnies to one once and I'm pretty sure the lady who bought them ate them. These are show bunnies.

So sorry for your loss

Thank you.

I would contact your local 4-H office and FFA programs and inform them you have show rabbits for sale. Sorry about you grandpa. I lost my grandma my second semester of college so I know how hard it is to balance grief and schooling.

Hey again. So two quick things:

1) I found baby kittens and there's 4 of them. Not sure if they'll make it as they're a month old and it's already 45 degrees at the warmest point of day with snow apparently coming. We shall see how this turns out. This is the moms second litter this year. The first litter is just fine.

2) I am currently in Menomonie, Wisconsin, October 3, 4, and 5. Sorry if I butchered the name. I am at the lama show there, so if anyone's in the area and wants to stop by, I'll be here at the fairgrounds. See ya around.

Happy Easter to everyone (even though I'm late)!

So excited for baby Havana rabbits next Sunday and then some more 2 weeks after. Then I will be get some Champagne d'Argents soon! I'm so excited, especially since I already have two people who will butcher/show me how to butcher them.

It's nice to finally have the llama pasture growing back. I'm hoping by Wednesday I can let them out to start grazing. They have access to a smaller pasture, but with no time for it to grow, half of it has become wet dirt (not really full on mud) with some grass. And poop.

Plus, a couple weeks ago I bought a new female. I was nervous to bring her home because my father had no clue about her (my mom did though ). I successfully hid her from him for a week before I finally noticed something was off as he drove home one day. My mom and I just laughed, and my dad was pretty chill about it. He didn't like it, but it's not like it can go back (it literally couldn't, the previous owners sold their place and moved into town). So now I have 5 llamas.

Finally, my mom and I are trying to persuade him to allow us to get chickens. He keeps saying no, but I feel that we'll get some this year (especially since he was gonna get us pheasants a couple years ago).