Ferguson K
Herd Master
I'm doing this off of my phone so bare with me. I am currently without a computer. Yay! Hopefully I'll get one next week or so.
We have horses, goats, pigs, dogs, cats, cows, and many... Many kinds of poultry.
I'll post pictures of the animals at a later date. My phone hates me!
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
We're in East Texas. It's very humid and miserably hot most of the year. Sweating buckets is one way to put our everyday lives. A good rinse off with the house before going inside is typically needed. This time of year 40 degree temperature swings are pretty common.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
My husband and I are the only people in our house. We're hoping one day for two legged kids, instead of the four legged hairy kind.
3. How would you define your farm?
Chaos. Constant.
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
I think we've honestly forgotten what free time feels like. My husband and I are constantly running 110 everywhere we go from the time we get up until we all over dead. Between work, shows, and sales... We're never still.
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
My husband and I bought a fixer upper. It was cute. Tiny. Small. Awesome! Perfect!
Wrong.
This house had been a nightmare to rebuild. The wiring is 40-50 years old. Some of which us aluminum wiring. Most of it faulty. Flickering switches, power surges, faulty plugs.... Yeah. I wouldn't do it twice... Probably.
Watching our home transform has been amazing. Its gone from embarrassment to achievement in less than a year. One penny at a time we've built our home.
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
I could probably start a fire with a welder.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
I was born into a family of farmers. My husband was born into the city. He fell into place, and we bought a property of our own last year.
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
Both. Its a need.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
Definitely have more knowledge on chickens and ducks than I think any human being should ever have to learn in a lifetime. I raised goats, pigs, steer, heifers, goats, and lambs in 4H/FFA. The breeding side is a whole new world to us.
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
I'm confused by this question.
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
My husband and I grow about 50% of our food, and hunt another 20% or so.
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
The pens. In amongst the goats with a book.
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
Both.
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
I am the opposite of crafty, however, I'm amazing with a camera or paper art.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
Legally we can own many animals.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
Negative ghost rider.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
I have everything from flower gardens to vegetable gardens. We even have a few fruit trees.
18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Nope.
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
We own about five acres, lease another 18. We have plans to purchase another 20-30 acres in the next few years.
20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
Poultry breeding and genetics master.
Goat breeding and genetics novice.
Did not go to school, was busy chasing my service man.
21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
I'd say our farm specialty is poultry. Leaning more towards goats now.
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
If I went back to college I'd get my masters in animal science.
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
I'm pretty handy with tools of all kinds. My father is aaster craftsman.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
Not really sure.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
Central Texas.
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
I wish!!
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
Uh.
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Most of my friends are also farmers of some sort. Most of my family ranches.
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
Short answer, I love food. I love everything about food. I love cooking and baking. I wish I had more time to dedicate to these things.
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
Worst animal experiences all involve horses. One was stolen. One hit by a car due to bad fencing ( and one fired barn manager ). One coliced and died in my arms. The list goes on.
Best? Hard to say. There's been so many amazing moments.
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
We hunt regularly.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
Canning, preserving, baking, cheesing.
33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
We process and freeze all our own meat. I don't can or pot much meat.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
We plan on going solar.... Eventually...
35 What is on your to do list?
Climb Mount Everest.
Skydive.
Visit the 7 wonders of the world.
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
I like meat to much. I could of I have to.
37. In what do you trust?
Trust how? My funds? My life?
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
We try to.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
Well having animals makes vacationing a thing of the past. To take a two day weekend we have to plan months in advance and find a sitter. Then make sure we can afford to pay the sitter. Etc. Etc.
We have horses, goats, pigs, dogs, cats, cows, and many... Many kinds of poultry.
I'll post pictures of the animals at a later date. My phone hates me!
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
We're in East Texas. It's very humid and miserably hot most of the year. Sweating buckets is one way to put our everyday lives. A good rinse off with the house before going inside is typically needed. This time of year 40 degree temperature swings are pretty common.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
My husband and I are the only people in our house. We're hoping one day for two legged kids, instead of the four legged hairy kind.
3. How would you define your farm?
Chaos. Constant.
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
I think we've honestly forgotten what free time feels like. My husband and I are constantly running 110 everywhere we go from the time we get up until we all over dead. Between work, shows, and sales... We're never still.
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
My husband and I bought a fixer upper. It was cute. Tiny. Small. Awesome! Perfect!
Wrong.
This house had been a nightmare to rebuild. The wiring is 40-50 years old. Some of which us aluminum wiring. Most of it faulty. Flickering switches, power surges, faulty plugs.... Yeah. I wouldn't do it twice... Probably.
Watching our home transform has been amazing. Its gone from embarrassment to achievement in less than a year. One penny at a time we've built our home.
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
I could probably start a fire with a welder.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
I was born into a family of farmers. My husband was born into the city. He fell into place, and we bought a property of our own last year.
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
Both. Its a need.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
Definitely have more knowledge on chickens and ducks than I think any human being should ever have to learn in a lifetime. I raised goats, pigs, steer, heifers, goats, and lambs in 4H/FFA. The breeding side is a whole new world to us.
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
I'm confused by this question.
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
My husband and I grow about 50% of our food, and hunt another 20% or so.
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
The pens. In amongst the goats with a book.
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
Both.
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
I am the opposite of crafty, however, I'm amazing with a camera or paper art.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
Legally we can own many animals.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
Negative ghost rider.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
I have everything from flower gardens to vegetable gardens. We even have a few fruit trees.
18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Nope.
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
We own about five acres, lease another 18. We have plans to purchase another 20-30 acres in the next few years.
20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
Poultry breeding and genetics master.
Goat breeding and genetics novice.
Did not go to school, was busy chasing my service man.
21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
I'd say our farm specialty is poultry. Leaning more towards goats now.
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
If I went back to college I'd get my masters in animal science.
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
I'm pretty handy with tools of all kinds. My father is aaster craftsman.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
Not really sure.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
Central Texas.
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
I wish!!
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
Uh.
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Most of my friends are also farmers of some sort. Most of my family ranches.
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
Short answer, I love food. I love everything about food. I love cooking and baking. I wish I had more time to dedicate to these things.
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
Worst animal experiences all involve horses. One was stolen. One hit by a car due to bad fencing ( and one fired barn manager ). One coliced and died in my arms. The list goes on.
Best? Hard to say. There's been so many amazing moments.
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
We hunt regularly.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
Canning, preserving, baking, cheesing.
33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
We process and freeze all our own meat. I don't can or pot much meat.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
We plan on going solar.... Eventually...
35 What is on your to do list?
Climb Mount Everest.
Skydive.
Visit the 7 wonders of the world.
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
I like meat to much. I could of I have to.
37. In what do you trust?
Trust how? My funds? My life?
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
We try to.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
Well having animals makes vacationing a thing of the past. To take a two day weekend we have to plan months in advance and find a sitter. Then make sure we can afford to pay the sitter. Etc. Etc.