AClark
Loving the herd life
I'll preface this with being that my husband and I both grew up in the country, so we're just trying to get back "home".
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
As far west TX as you can get without being in New Mexico. Mild winters, hotter than the pits of Haydes summers, with really windy sandstormy spring.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Married, there will be 7 of us starting next year in the house.
3. How would you define your farm?
An urban disaster. Right now we're limited to rabbits that have to be kept indoors
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
Spare time, what's that? My husband works full time, and with our family, spare time just means there's something that isn't getting done.
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
I can't build for crap, hubby can, so I expect he'll build some structures when we find "home"
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
I can, I do well with steel and can do MiG (I have a MiG welder) and Arc. I never quite got the hang of Oxy-Ace, but I can cut with it.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
My family, I grew up on a ranch. Hubby grew up farming.
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
Starting as a hobby, hoping for occupation.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
I'm knowledgeable about horses, fencing, feeding, gardening, canning - would like to know more about rabbits, goats, and pigs
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
Sheep/Alpacas, I don't want to mess with anything I need to shear
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
Yes, that's goal #1
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
Reading about my future endeavors
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
Both, including a brownie transmission tractor, also a backhoe and a forklift. If it has wheels and uses fuel, I can probably drive it
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
Yes to both. I sew, knit, crochet, I also do canning.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
No, chickens and poultry you need a permit for here and it's expensive, any other livestock is prohibited.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
No, my uncle is a machinist so if I ever had the need I have someone to teach me though
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
I love gardening. I grow lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, and lots of others, I like veggies
18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Car battery, duh, doesn't get everyones attention like explosives do. But no, I love fishing, legally.
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
Right now, basically none, soon we're looking at 3+ acres though
20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
Technician, degree finishes next year.
21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
Mechanic ability, I'm a pretty good diesel mechanic and an excellent gas motor mechanic.
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
I don't know, my degree has nothing to do with farming at all.
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
LOL, noooo, a carpenter I am not
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
Yes, it goes along with my regular job
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
Hard call, I've lived all over, AZ, CO, NY, TX - I definitely prefer to be out west
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
No
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
I prefer the villains, the wicked witch from Wizard of Oz comes to mind. She can borrow my broom any time
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Yes
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
Yes, I love cooking and believe the best foods come from the best ingredients. Not much beats farm fresh anything.
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
Best, helping a newborn foal out of the sac, it was really rewarding. Worst: putting my old horse down...myself.
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
We're both avid hunters but it isn't easy in TX, no BLM land, and I dont' know anyone to lease from.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
We both work hard and have zero problems with getting dirty, and if we don't know something, we will research and learn.
33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
I can everything from meat to jam, I plan on processing my own rabbits. I've processed lots of wild game so this shouldn't be hard.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
I'd like to when we buy, solar power is really nice when you live somewhere sunny
35 What is on your to do list?
Find property before we move.
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
No, and yes I would like to.
37. In what do you trust?
I trust that hard work will get you through
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
We fix everything, from the trucks to electronics. Nothing that can be repaired sufficiently goes in the trash.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
I've had to learn that you can't buy based on "cute" - I got a really obnoxious dog that way. Sure, she's really pretty, but she also has lots of bad manners that we can't seem to break.
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
As far west TX as you can get without being in New Mexico. Mild winters, hotter than the pits of Haydes summers, with really windy sandstormy spring.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Married, there will be 7 of us starting next year in the house.
3. How would you define your farm?
An urban disaster. Right now we're limited to rabbits that have to be kept indoors
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
Spare time, what's that? My husband works full time, and with our family, spare time just means there's something that isn't getting done.
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
I can't build for crap, hubby can, so I expect he'll build some structures when we find "home"
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
I can, I do well with steel and can do MiG (I have a MiG welder) and Arc. I never quite got the hang of Oxy-Ace, but I can cut with it.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
My family, I grew up on a ranch. Hubby grew up farming.
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
Starting as a hobby, hoping for occupation.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
I'm knowledgeable about horses, fencing, feeding, gardening, canning - would like to know more about rabbits, goats, and pigs
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
Sheep/Alpacas, I don't want to mess with anything I need to shear
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
Yes, that's goal #1
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
Reading about my future endeavors
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
Both, including a brownie transmission tractor, also a backhoe and a forklift. If it has wheels and uses fuel, I can probably drive it
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
Yes to both. I sew, knit, crochet, I also do canning.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
No, chickens and poultry you need a permit for here and it's expensive, any other livestock is prohibited.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
No, my uncle is a machinist so if I ever had the need I have someone to teach me though
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
I love gardening. I grow lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, and lots of others, I like veggies
18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Car battery, duh, doesn't get everyones attention like explosives do. But no, I love fishing, legally.
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
Right now, basically none, soon we're looking at 3+ acres though
20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
Technician, degree finishes next year.
21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
Mechanic ability, I'm a pretty good diesel mechanic and an excellent gas motor mechanic.
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
I don't know, my degree has nothing to do with farming at all.
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
LOL, noooo, a carpenter I am not
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
Yes, it goes along with my regular job
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
Hard call, I've lived all over, AZ, CO, NY, TX - I definitely prefer to be out west
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
No
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
I prefer the villains, the wicked witch from Wizard of Oz comes to mind. She can borrow my broom any time
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Yes
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
Yes, I love cooking and believe the best foods come from the best ingredients. Not much beats farm fresh anything.
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
Best, helping a newborn foal out of the sac, it was really rewarding. Worst: putting my old horse down...myself.
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
We're both avid hunters but it isn't easy in TX, no BLM land, and I dont' know anyone to lease from.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
We both work hard and have zero problems with getting dirty, and if we don't know something, we will research and learn.
33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
I can everything from meat to jam, I plan on processing my own rabbits. I've processed lots of wild game so this shouldn't be hard.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
I'd like to when we buy, solar power is really nice when you live somewhere sunny
35 What is on your to do list?
Find property before we move.
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
No, and yes I would like to.
37. In what do you trust?
I trust that hard work will get you through
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
We fix everything, from the trucks to electronics. Nothing that can be repaired sufficiently goes in the trash.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
I've had to learn that you can't buy based on "cute" - I got a really obnoxious dog that way. Sure, she's really pretty, but she also has lots of bad manners that we can't seem to break.