redtailgal
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ELeVan ~ Honaker Farm Journal
- Thread starter elevan
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elevan
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That's what happens when a kid names a chicken that has a big fluffy "bottom"redtailgal said:I get a giggle everytime I read that name.......Flufferbottom.
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- #213
elevan
Critter Addict ♥
kstaven had some great questions-conversation starters for those starting a journal. I just decided to start one on my own and have just been posting away since. But I thought the questions were great and want to answer them...instead of editing my first post I'm going to answer them here so those who have already been following this journal won't miss my answers. 
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
I'm in Ohio - central part of the state...pretty close to smack dab center. I'm in zone 5 for growing. We get 4 seasons here with Spring usually being pretty muddy.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Married for 14 years. I am also raising my 2 nephews as my own.
3. How would you define your farm?
I would have to say that we are a hobby farm. We're raising animals for pleasure and food with a little extra to sell.
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
I would teach others about where their food comes from. It saddens me to know that so many people I meet do not understand what they are eating.
I would also expand on my farm...dream of having 200 acres in the middle of nowhere and living off the grid.
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
I've built sheds, barns, coops and done remodeling of houses. This gal knows how to use tools
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
Never been interested in welding personally.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
For me it's a what inspired me...learning how / where my grocery store food is made / grown. I decided that I wanted to KNOW what goes into my food and be a better steward for the earth.
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
It's kind of both for me. I'm a stay at home mom and since I'm home I "live" the farm...making sure that there is always a little extra to sell.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
Slaughter and butchering is an area that I need to work on...I have a hard time doing those 2 things and need to find a way to make myself move past the "fear" of it.
Well...not so much fear as an aversion to it.
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
Large scale operations or show animals.
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
That is a very big part of why I got into farming as an adult.
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
Food. I have to admit that I love food...cooking it and eating it. I'm also in the "making" of a cookbook at the request of many friends and relatives. Food relaxes me and allows me to transform ingredients into whatever I want them to be. I also love to cook for "armies" as my family says
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
No semi...although I have an uncle who is a truck driver and I've been in the cab plenty of times...I'm sure he'd let me give it a try (off the road of course) but it scares the bejeebies out of me. Haven't had a tractor in a few years...probably will again someday though...I learned to drive on a tractor when I was 11.
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
I make jewelry regularly. I generally make necklaces, bracelets and earrings as gifts. I've had offers from people to buy them but I've never sold any.
I do other crafty items as they are needed so I guess you'd call those useful items
Teaching others is something that I love to do - no matter what the subject.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
I can legally have any type of livestock. See the list on the first post of this thread for what I have currently.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
Never used one.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
I garden but don't have a fabulous green thumb like some people do. If it's a self grower without too much fuss then that's what I'll grow I enjoy watching plants grow and mature.
18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Explosives? Oh my! I occasionally fish using bait. My DH and the boys are more the fishermen in the family.
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
We have 5 acres...4 of which are devoted to field use. We are in the country...a 30-45 minute drive to a city...but 10 minutes from a couple of small towns.
20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
Business Management...doesn't entirely help with the back end of an animal though...
21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
Pygmy goats as pets. There is so much more I'd like to add and to learn
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
I wouldn't need to create one...I'd go back to college for animal sciences and take all of the available courses
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
Only if it's on the To Do list. It's not a regular thing.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
I am to the point that I know that there needs to be other steps to keep a healthy balance than just chemicals. I like a blend of herbal and chemical rather than one way or the other.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
I actually like central Ohio...but would prefer to have 200 acres of land than just the 5.
If I were to say anywhere other than this it would be Germany...back to my family's roots.
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
No, but I do have a fireplace that gets used often in winter.
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
I'm kind of partial to Superman
Villain?...if there were an ideal one then we wouldn't need the superheros now would we?
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Most of my family and friends (save DH & the boys) think I'm nuts
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
LOVE to cook as referenced before...whole foods, natural foods, raw foods, farm fresh eggs...you name it
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
Life and Death...
The best would have to be first births on the farm...our first goat kidding...our first chick hatching.
The worst would be losing one of the first calves that we bought this spring.
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
I don't hunt. But I do wild eat or forage. A favorite of my youngest boy is yellow wood sorrel - he calls it the lemonade plant
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
I think the best "skill" that I have is my brain. I love to learn new things and so I'm always expanding on what I know and looking for more.
33. In which fictional universe would you most like to live?
Utopia...
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
I would love to utilize solar energy.
35 What is the mass/weight ratio of a European swallow carrying a coconut from the tropics to England?
36. Have you ever lived completely off grid? Would you like to?
If I ever had that 200 acres of my dreams...then yes I would want to live off the grid.
37. In what do you trust?
God, my spouse and myself.
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
Yes...and my oldest boy is wearing a pair of play shoes held together with duct tape to prove it! Seriously he is though...I told him I would not buy him another pair of shoes due to destruction...only for outgrowing them. He didn't believe me and so the toes are duct tape.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
I think it's brought me more peace of mind...except for when the chickens try to eat me
You do have to change your habits though...have to be home before dark to lock the poultry up...home at feeding / milking times and so on.
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
I'm in Ohio - central part of the state...pretty close to smack dab center. I'm in zone 5 for growing. We get 4 seasons here with Spring usually being pretty muddy.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Married for 14 years. I am also raising my 2 nephews as my own.
3. How would you define your farm?
I would have to say that we are a hobby farm. We're raising animals for pleasure and food with a little extra to sell.
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
I would teach others about where their food comes from. It saddens me to know that so many people I meet do not understand what they are eating.
I would also expand on my farm...dream of having 200 acres in the middle of nowhere and living off the grid.
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
I've built sheds, barns, coops and done remodeling of houses. This gal knows how to use tools
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
Never been interested in welding personally.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
For me it's a what inspired me...learning how / where my grocery store food is made / grown. I decided that I wanted to KNOW what goes into my food and be a better steward for the earth.
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
It's kind of both for me. I'm a stay at home mom and since I'm home I "live" the farm...making sure that there is always a little extra to sell.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
Slaughter and butchering is an area that I need to work on...I have a hard time doing those 2 things and need to find a way to make myself move past the "fear" of it.
Well...not so much fear as an aversion to it.
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
Large scale operations or show animals.
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
That is a very big part of why I got into farming as an adult.
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
Food. I have to admit that I love food...cooking it and eating it. I'm also in the "making" of a cookbook at the request of many friends and relatives. Food relaxes me and allows me to transform ingredients into whatever I want them to be. I also love to cook for "armies" as my family says
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
No semi...although I have an uncle who is a truck driver and I've been in the cab plenty of times...I'm sure he'd let me give it a try (off the road of course) but it scares the bejeebies out of me. Haven't had a tractor in a few years...probably will again someday though...I learned to drive on a tractor when I was 11.
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
I make jewelry regularly. I generally make necklaces, bracelets and earrings as gifts. I've had offers from people to buy them but I've never sold any.
I do other crafty items as they are needed so I guess you'd call those useful items
Teaching others is something that I love to do - no matter what the subject.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
I can legally have any type of livestock. See the list on the first post of this thread for what I have currently.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
Never used one.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
I garden but don't have a fabulous green thumb like some people do. If it's a self grower without too much fuss then that's what I'll grow
I enjoy watching plants grow and mature.18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Explosives? Oh my! I occasionally fish using bait. My DH and the boys are more the fishermen in the family.
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
We have 5 acres...4 of which are devoted to field use. We are in the country...a 30-45 minute drive to a city...but 10 minutes from a couple of small towns.
20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
Business Management...doesn't entirely help with the back end of an animal though...
21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
Pygmy goats as pets. There is so much more I'd like to add and to learn
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
I wouldn't need to create one...I'd go back to college for animal sciences and take all of the available courses
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
Only if it's on the To Do list. It's not a regular thing.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
I am to the point that I know that there needs to be other steps to keep a healthy balance than just chemicals. I like a blend of herbal and chemical rather than one way or the other.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
I actually like central Ohio...but would prefer to have 200 acres of land than just the 5.
If I were to say anywhere other than this it would be Germany...back to my family's roots.
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
No, but I do have a fireplace that gets used often in winter.
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
I'm kind of partial to Superman
Villain?...if there were an ideal one then we wouldn't need the superheros now would we?
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Most of my family and friends (save DH & the boys) think I'm nuts
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
LOVE to cook as referenced before...whole foods, natural foods, raw foods, farm fresh eggs...you name it
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
Life and Death...
The best would have to be first births on the farm...our first goat kidding...our first chick hatching.
The worst would be losing one of the first calves that we bought this spring.
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
I don't hunt. But I do wild eat or forage. A favorite of my youngest boy is yellow wood sorrel - he calls it the lemonade plant
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
I think the best "skill" that I have is my brain. I love to learn new things and so I'm always expanding on what I know and looking for more.
33. In which fictional universe would you most like to live?
Utopia...
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
I would love to utilize solar energy.
35 What is the mass/weight ratio of a European swallow carrying a coconut from the tropics to England?
36. Have you ever lived completely off grid? Would you like to?
If I ever had that 200 acres of my dreams...then yes I would want to live off the grid.
37. In what do you trust?
God, my spouse and myself.
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
Yes...and my oldest boy is wearing a pair of play shoes held together with duct tape to prove it!
Seriously he is though...I told him I would not buy him another pair of shoes due to destruction...only for outgrowing them. He didn't believe me and so the toes are duct tape.39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
I think it's brought me more peace of mind...except for when the chickens try to eat me
You do have to change your habits though...have to be home before dark to lock the poultry up...home at feeding / milking times and so on.
I edited the list of questions.
- Thread starter
- #215
elevan
Critter Addict ♥
okkstaven said:I edited the list of questions.
40. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
Raise it...someone else slaughters and butchers for us...goes to the freezer.
We can and preserve produce.
41 What is on your to do list?
Better question would be what's not on my list!
42. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
I'd like to get there someday.
redtailgal
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elevan
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Duct tape was THE BEST invention ever!redtailgal said:
Broken toes and fingers? Ouch...sounds like you've had many! The only 2 things I've ever broken were the tip of the bone in my thumb when I hit a roofing nail wrong and it cut off the tip of my thumb (not all the way) and fractured the tip of the bone. The other break was my hip was fractured when I was 16 and decided to "break" our horse...she threw me...I landed on my head...bounced and my hip struck a rock. Of course the EMTs were more worried about my neck and head but I was screaming about my hip. No concussion or injury to the neck but my hip WAS fractured...they should have listened to me!
redtailgal
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elevan
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OUCH on the clydesdale!
The morgan stepped on DH's foot in the spring...ER Dr said he was lucky it was muddy when it happened or it would have broke the arch...made an awful bruise though and his foot was actually sprained from it. Until that moment I didn't know you could have a sprain without a twist...Dr told me I was wrong. I'll accept being told I'm wrong from a dr...especially a hot one (and he was)
The morgan stepped on DH's foot in the spring...ER Dr said he was lucky it was muddy when it happened or it would have broke the arch...made an awful bruise though and his foot was actually sprained from it. Until that moment I didn't know you could have a sprain without a twist...Dr told me I was wrong. I'll accept being told I'm wrong from a dr...especially a hot one (and he was)
redtailgal
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