Hello folks. The Farmer is just saying a quick hello. I'm still here, but getting busy for sure. The Maple Syrup season is over and the tools and supplies are being put away until next year. The goat barn has 6 new kids from the three does. Two more does are due in the coming weeks. We are enjoying the fresh milk once again. The incubator has been running and we are on our second batch. We had 15 out of 23 eggs hatch and survive on the first batch. I'm learning to "sex" the day old chickens. We had 6 hens, 6 roosters and 3 "others".
The snow is nearly gone & I'll be spreading manure when the ground dries some more. I've got quite a bit of this winter's firewood done, but I'll be working more on that soon. The Gardener has started seeds in the kitchen window and is getting to work on the kitchen garden. Off the farm, baseball, softball and spring track is underway so the next 7 weeks we will be quite busy. We've got some big plans for this summer, but I won't list those here, it can be overwhelming.
The real purpose for this blog is to inspire others to become more self-sufficient. You can review my older blogs to see that is a common theme here. If you are waiting to get started, "What are you waiting for?" Get to it. Plant a small garden, get some chickens, visit a local farmer or homesteader. First, start with some things that won't turn your life upside-down. A few cabbage plants are really easy and quiet, while a baby goat can drive you crazy. A small flock of hens turning your food scraps into breakfast eggs is so easy even you can do it. Pigs come next, after you have proven that you can keep things alive. One or two pigs is enough. If you want to become a big hog farmer on the first shot with 5 hogs I can guarantee that they will eat you out of house and home. Your grain bill later in the summer will kill you long before you kill the hogs. START SMALL. This is not a sprint, it's a marathon.
These baby pigs were cute, but thier mom would have eaten me if touched her piglets. Just go buy two piglets from a good hog grower and get started.
It is my hope that you find out how to produce your own food, kill your own meat, fix your own roof and get the same satisifaction that I have had so many times.
