Ongoing List of Farm Ideas to Try

A list of things I would eventually love to add to our little farm...this list is a work in progress, as I am always thinking up new things I want to try. This lifestyle really feels like a lifetime pursuit, not something that will ever feel "finished". Most days I am content for our little homestead to unfold slowly, giving us time to focus on one or two new things at a time. Still, I can't help dreaming!

1. Fruit Trees-apples, pears, apricot, maybe cherry. I often wish we had put these in years ago so we could be harvesting now, but hindsight is 20-20, right?

2. Sheep-not sure if my dear husband will agree, but I would just love a pair-or two- of sheep. They just seem oh-so-farmy. And I would love to learn to spin their wool!

3.  Bees-Not sure why, but every year I seriously consider getting a hive or two-then I panic and back out. The whole beekeeping thing just seems so very complicated. I think I am getting closer to just diving in though:).

4.  Blackberries. We tried and failed at these before. I would love to try again.

5.  Asparagus. Love the idea of growing some perennial vegetables. We are putting in horseradish this year. Maybe asparagus the next?

6.  Meat chickens. Again, something I often consider, but haven't actually got the nerve to do. Mainly because whenever I bring it up my 12 year-old daughter practically has hysterics at the idea. Sigh. As if the chickens we buy at the store didn't used to be alive!

7.  Turkeys. But see #6, except hysterics would probably be worse since I suspect turkeys have more personality than meat chickens.

8.  Compost pile. I know, I can't believe we don't have one-what kind of wanna-be farmers are we? But now, with all these goats and chickens, we're going to have to start.

9.  Container Potatoes. Actually, I might try this one this very year. I do love a homegrown potato-but man do I hate trying to dig them up without gouging them all to heck.

10.  Mushroom Growing. I spend inordinate amounts of time staring at those mushroom kits they sell in seed catalogs. Must try this at some point!

11. Pressure Canning. I have a water-bath canner and use it often, but I would like to be able to can those low-acid vegetables since my efforts at freezing them always turn out nasty, icy, blocks of mush.

12. Chest Freezer. It just feels like something you ought to have on a farm to help preserve all that stuff you spend all your time growing!

13. Greenhouse. Oh, every winter I wish for a little greenhouse to putter around and start my lettuce in. Now probably, if I actually had one marooned in the snowdrifts out there, I would still not want to get off my butt and go out in the cold- but it would sure look pretty sitting in the yard.

14. More Raised Beds. I love my raised beds. I think my entire garden needs to be compromised of them.

15. Cold-Frame. Kind of like a little mini-greenhouse, but I figure cheaper and more do-able.

16. A Pond. Not sure we have the proper space to dig one. But I'd love to see my ducks out there, instead of in their little plastic wading pool-which is a major PITA to empty by the way.

17.  More Blueberry Bushes. I don't think I am cut out to be a blueberry farmer. Our plants have been soooo slow to get going. I need more blueberries.

And....this will be continued, I am sure!

2013: Year of the Garden

I really tried to make my garden plans realistic this year. I fear I have failed. I blame the fact that we had a two day blizzard going on while I made my seed order. But also, I have decided this should be "The Year of the Garden". I really, really love adding to the homesteading type things we do, but it's hard not to go too far too fast, so in general we have tried to just do one major thing each year.  Looks like this year, the focus is going to be on growing more plants, instead of animals, like the last few years.

2010 was The Year of the Chickens. We built a coop and got a dozen layers. I really consider this year the start of our little farm, though we had always kept a small vegetable garden before that.

2011 was The Year of The Ducks and Guineas (and More Chickens). We got four Cayuga ducklings. We have lost one since then. They are awesome layers and the eggs are great for baking with. We also got 9 more chickens- one of which turned out to be a surprise rooster. Unfortunately, the younger batch do not lay nearly as well as the older batch! We also got four guinea hens, to help control ticks, and because I thought they were neat. Those birds were pretty much a dismal failure at doing anything useful except  making a ton of racket. I no longer find them "neat".  The male was aggressive and had to be gotten rid of. And now we are down to just one guinea! Plus three ducks, 16 chickens, and a rooster.

2012 was The Year of the Goats. We have three. They are not for milking, or eating. The hope is that they will provide some brush control, helping to keep our field clear of wild blackberries. And of course they are just super cute. We love our goats!

2013, then, is going to be The Year of the Garden. We will be planting rhubarb and raspberries, in addition to the blueberries we already have. And then:

Tomatoes & cherry tomatoes
Herbs-parsley, basil, dill, cilantro, chamomile
Horseradish
Garlic
Potatoes
Green Beans
Carrots
Cucumber-slicing & picklers
Lettuce and Microgreens
Kale
Sugar Pod Peas
Radish
Pumpkins-mini & jack o'lantern-sized
Swiss Chard
Zucchini & Summer Squash
Butternut Squash
Pak Choi
Nasturtiums (edible flowers!)

Most of these thing we have tried in the past. The garlic, horseradish, kale, Swiss chard, butternut squash, Pak Choi, and nasturtiums are new to us. We are planning to put in a few more raised beds and might also try a cold-frame for the first time. We may end up starting some seeds indoors, not sure about that yet.  Last year, we had a farm share for most of our vegetables but this year we decided it was just too inconvenient to get to the farm every week since it is a half-hour drive. So that is one reason we are doing a bigger garden this year.  The other reason is- I just feel like it:). I say that now, ask me again in June when I'm up to my knees in weeds!