norseofcourse
Herd Master
OK, I'm taking the plunge! I love reading everyone's journals, so I thought I'd join in with my own. Here goes:
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
Northeast Ohio - four fairly distinct seasons, zone 5 I think.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Just me.
3. How would you define your farm?
6 acres of poison ivy and wild multiflora rose
It's basically old hayfield that was untended so long that it's woods and brush, with a few very old apple trees, too. I'm trying to turn it back into pastures, and save the apple and some of the other trees.
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
If I had any resources I needed, I wouldn't have spare time!
I would spend more time with my horses, working on field/fence, and rescuing and training some more miniature horses.
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
I had a barn built a couple years ago. I learned a lot, unfortunately I also learned how badly a contractor can mess up a building, and how to go to small claims court.
I have built a hay feeder, and I want to eventually build some run-in shelters, and someday a chicken coop.
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
No. I would like to at least learn how to solder, someday.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
I guess I'm doing this because of my love of animals and the land. I don't really feel like a farmer. I moved here so I could keep my ponies on my own property, and have other animals if I wanted. I did grow up reading a lot, and loved stuff like the Little House on the Prairie books.
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
Hobby. There would be too much paperwork if it was an occupation!
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
I know a fair bit about horses and riding and driving, but there's still much more to learn, and always will be. Since I've been here, I've learned (and want to learn more about) country living, sheep, plant identification, fencing, pasture maintenance, parasites, and the list goes on...
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
Probably never pigs.
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
Yes. I am trying to make the leap from 'pet' to 'livestock' with my sheep.
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
On the couch curled up with a book.
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
No
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
I am learning to spin and to knit. I make hand-dipped beeswax candles and have taught a class on them several times. I also do some beadwork and jewelry but I haven't had time for that lately. When I get a catnip patch going again, I'll be able to make more of my potent catnip mice
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
Just about anything - pigs have to be a certain distance from dwellings, and a license is required for exotics (zebras, etc..). I have 2 ponies, 1 mini horse, and five sheep right now. Oh, and a couple beehives should be back in the spring.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
Yes, although I've had some bad years lately for some things like tomatoes. I have a good rhubarb patch going. The asparagus is not as good, and I get bugs I can't control yet (I don't use chemicals). I am looking forward to clearing out an area to get my berries going again - black raspberries, golden raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
Yes, although not to the extent of replacing traditional medicine.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
Next to a farm supply store and a hardware/lumberyard
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
No, but if I had a house set up for it I'd love to.
27. What would your ideal super hero be?
Someone who would swoop down and save farm animals from idiots who do bad things to them, and also save them from things like barn fires and frozen ponds.
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Not quite this much.
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
I love to cook, I am looking forward to milking my sheep this coming spring, and making things like cheese and fudge.
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
Best - seeing babies born - puppies many years ago, and my first lambs last spring.
Worst - a tie... running over a nest of baby bunnies with the lawnmower; and having to put down two old dogs within a week of each other, especially the second who had dementia
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
Hunt, no. Forage - yes, but so far limited to finding wild blackberries.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
I try and learn all I can, I'm fairly good with most tools, and I'm pretty frugal and don't have a very fancy lifestyle.
33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
I don't see myself able to process my own meat. I've made raspberry jam twice. One batch was edible.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
No. I would like to, but setup costs are high for the possible return here (and there are some zoning restrictions).
35 What is on your to do list?
This page isn't long enough... the short list is finish the fence around the perimeter, subdivide it into some more areas, put in some more gates, get the outdoor frost-free water faucet fixed, get some more work done on the house, find more time to drive and ride, rescue a mini from Sugarcreek (auction), clear most/all of the brush, take down some trees, cut and split a bunch of downed wood for the fireplace, declutter the house...
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
No and no.
37. In what do you trust?
Myself. And that there is a Higher Power.
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
Gosh yes! And because it's fun and interesting to learn how.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
Living here has changed my attitude about groundhogs - they are no longer cute. I have not gotten to the point where I think I could shoot one yet, but I think I could let someone else shoot them.
I now look at overgrown yards and fields and think, 'all that free food!'.
'Chores' are now a comfortable habit and routine, although it's not bad because my animals are for the most part easy keepers. I do wish I could get into the habit of rising early, but I've never been a morning person.
I don't know if attempting to raise my own meat will change my attitude about farm animals or meat-eating. I am not a vegetarian and don't see myself becoming one, but I am struggling with the concept of eating something/someone I knew. Making that decision and driving it to the butcher. I have a little under a year to face that moment...
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
Northeast Ohio - four fairly distinct seasons, zone 5 I think.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Just me.
3. How would you define your farm?
6 acres of poison ivy and wild multiflora rose
It's basically old hayfield that was untended so long that it's woods and brush, with a few very old apple trees, too. I'm trying to turn it back into pastures, and save the apple and some of the other trees.4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
If I had any resources I needed, I wouldn't have spare time!
I would spend more time with my horses, working on field/fence, and rescuing and training some more miniature horses.
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
I had a barn built a couple years ago. I learned a lot, unfortunately I also learned how badly a contractor can mess up a building, and how to go to small claims court.
I have built a hay feeder, and I want to eventually build some run-in shelters, and someday a chicken coop.
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
No. I would like to at least learn how to solder, someday.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
I guess I'm doing this because of my love of animals and the land. I don't really feel like a farmer. I moved here so I could keep my ponies on my own property, and have other animals if I wanted. I did grow up reading a lot, and loved stuff like the Little House on the Prairie books.
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
Hobby. There would be too much paperwork if it was an occupation!
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
I know a fair bit about horses and riding and driving, but there's still much more to learn, and always will be. Since I've been here, I've learned (and want to learn more about) country living, sheep, plant identification, fencing, pasture maintenance, parasites, and the list goes on...
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
Probably never pigs.
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
Yes. I am trying to make the leap from 'pet' to 'livestock' with my sheep.
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
On the couch curled up with a book.
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
No
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
I am learning to spin and to knit. I make hand-dipped beeswax candles and have taught a class on them several times. I also do some beadwork and jewelry but I haven't had time for that lately. When I get a catnip patch going again, I'll be able to make more of my potent catnip mice
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
Just about anything - pigs have to be a certain distance from dwellings, and a license is required for exotics (zebras, etc..). I have 2 ponies, 1 mini horse, and five sheep right now. Oh, and a couple beehives should be back in the spring.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
Yes, although I've had some bad years lately for some things like tomatoes. I have a good rhubarb patch going. The asparagus is not as good, and I get bugs I can't control yet (I don't use chemicals). I am looking forward to clearing out an area to get my berries going again - black raspberries, golden raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
Yes, although not to the extent of replacing traditional medicine.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
Next to a farm supply store and a hardware/lumberyard
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
No, but if I had a house set up for it I'd love to.
27. What would your ideal super hero be?
Someone who would swoop down and save farm animals from idiots who do bad things to them, and also save them from things like barn fires and frozen ponds.
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Not quite this much.
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
I love to cook, I am looking forward to milking my sheep this coming spring, and making things like cheese and fudge.
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
Best - seeing babies born - puppies many years ago, and my first lambs last spring.
Worst - a tie... running over a nest of baby bunnies with the lawnmower; and having to put down two old dogs within a week of each other, especially the second who had dementia
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
Hunt, no. Forage - yes, but so far limited to finding wild blackberries.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
I try and learn all I can, I'm fairly good with most tools, and I'm pretty frugal and don't have a very fancy lifestyle.
33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
I don't see myself able to process my own meat. I've made raspberry jam twice. One batch was edible.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
No. I would like to, but setup costs are high for the possible return here (and there are some zoning restrictions).
35 What is on your to do list?
This page isn't long enough... the short list is finish the fence around the perimeter, subdivide it into some more areas, put in some more gates, get the outdoor frost-free water faucet fixed, get some more work done on the house, find more time to drive and ride, rescue a mini from Sugarcreek (auction), clear most/all of the brush, take down some trees, cut and split a bunch of downed wood for the fireplace, declutter the house...
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
No and no.
37. In what do you trust?
Myself. And that there is a Higher Power.
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
Gosh yes! And because it's fun and interesting to learn how.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
Living here has changed my attitude about groundhogs - they are no longer cute. I have not gotten to the point where I think I could shoot one yet, but I think I could let someone else shoot them.
I now look at overgrown yards and fields and think, 'all that free food!'.
'Chores' are now a comfortable habit and routine, although it's not bad because my animals are for the most part easy keepers. I do wish I could get into the habit of rising early, but I've never been a morning person.
I don't know if attempting to raise my own meat will change my attitude about farm animals or meat-eating. I am not a vegetarian and don't see myself becoming one, but I am struggling with the concept of eating something/someone I knew. Making that decision and driving it to the butcher. I have a little under a year to face that moment...
