Welcome, fellow farmer!
Welcome, fellow farmer!To our friends, we might, our lifestyle might, be a little weird, but we love it. If you’re anything like me, you march to the beat of a different drum. Goat drum, that is. Or should it be chicken drum? Hey, I said we were weirdos, didn’t I? Embrace it, my friend 😉 We’re the cool people.
Maybe you’ve been farming for years now, or maybe you’re still new to the game. Either way, I’m stoked you’re here! There’s nothing I love more than connecting with fellow homesteaders & backyard farmers. Things definitely don’t always work out perfectly for people like us — sometimes plants die and animals stop producing, but we persevere. We’re willing to take a risk and jump all in — and that’s a rare thing in people these days, let me tell you.
Does this describe what you’re dealing with?
One big struggle I’ve found in growing my own food & raising my own animals is a lack of GOOD information out there about natural practices and methods. It’s an art, learning how to do all we do without chemicals. We’re constantly looking for good advice, healthier feed options, sustainable practices, natural gardening methods, and more.
Well we have started our flock and have 14 chickens that range from 3-4 months right now. We are living them and enjoy just watching them do their chicken thing. We are preparing a 25×35 area for a vegetable garden. I’m very new to gardening so have been doing a lot of research to try to make sure we start out right. I am in the process of talking my partner in to getting some Nigerian Dwarfs and almost there lol. I have also been debating the homeschooling direction with my kids. One will be staring kindergarten this year and other is only 2.
Hi DaNelle,
We are just finishing the building our dream home on 5 3/4 acres. My husband and I are both energetic and in our early 70’s. We plan on having chickens for eggs and yard bug control. We live in the Idaho mountains around 5000 ft elevation with lots of mature ponderosa pine trees as well as pasture land on our property. Our property backs up to a thickly forested mountainous area. We have short summers and long winters. We are thinking about having a couple of pet Nigerian Dwarf goats. My husband knows a little about chickens but neither of us know nothing about goats. We also are going to have a neighbors cattle periodically grazing in our pastures. We are building a green house and planning a nice sized garden to grow our own organic vegetables and herbs with a high fence to keep the deer and elk out. We do have wolves, coyotes, fox, mountain lion, bear as well as other predators in our area.
Any advice on any of these matter would be appreciated!
Thanks,
My story is similar- though I’m in my 40’s, have 8 acres for now at 8830ft in the mountains in Colorado. My garden is limited right now to hydroponic herbs on the kitchen table.
I want to get goats, have had chickens in the past, have two teens and a husband changing careers to be a pilot for the airlines.
My biggest struggles are the classic ones, time , energy , money. I’m hoping to learn now and slowly put into practice as resources allow.
The next level struggle is my husband says he’s allergic to farm life.
The startup cost for goat fencing in the land of predators – something I’m saving up for after I get hyperbaric oxygen paid off .
Thank you for your hope!
Laura
Hi! Thank you so much for all the goat info. and sharing your life in the desert. We also live in the desert so its nice to see a natural, healthy life can be done here! I appreciate you growing and raising things naturally and healthy. I saw one of your videos a long time ago, I think it was one of the first “homesteading” videos I ever watched. I think a lot of people are looking for alternatives in food and health for numerous reasons these days so I appreciate all the info! Also my husband hates the chlorine in swimming pools so we really want to try and make a natural pond someday (20 year goal?) So glad you guys made a video about this! 🙂
I think one of my biggest challenges is trying to “do it all” and raising three little children well at the same time. I have been trying to learn a lot lately but my time is sparse these days (I think it will improve as the get older hopefully!) It is nice they can have the opportunity to learn a lot of things I didnt as a kid so I am excited for them. They will know how to milk a goat, see a garden grow, and churn their own butter! I didnt grow up with any of this so I feel like I am a mother, homeschooler, and full-time student of “homesteading” and natural living, playing catch up, with what could take a lifetime to learn! Your website and youtube videos have been a tremendous source of information for me- thank you so much!
I am brand spankin’ new at this and I’m excitedly terrified. I want to learn all the things, but my most vulnerable spot is how to ID the best animals to buy for starting my herd. Not the breed, I mean, I’ll need help choosing my dairy goat breed but once I do that, how the heck do I know I’m buying a healthy animal?!? How do I know I’m not paying too much? Also, how the heck do I find an animal? I’m a city girl on 4 acres and I want to start off on my best hoof. Lol!
I’m so grateful I found your blog. Thank you!!
I have been wanting a Nigerian dwarf goat since I was about 4 or 5. I found your channel the day y’all posted the very first video. I’ve been a subscriber since.
Hi I’m getting into gardening and I’d I fond your channel 4 years ago and I’m a little bit too young to get land but I rely want Nigerian Dwarfs. And it’s kind a hard to Garden in Texas thank you for inspiring us all
Hi we have just started watching you guys on YouTube, we have just started our own Australian miniature goat stud, I’m the one that took the big step, I have been wanting to for a number of years and finally got my husband on board. we are also looking at growing our own food. We are a family of 5 and with the cost of living going up it’s probably the best thing to do. I can’t wait for your emails
I am really mostly overwhelmed with knowing where to start with all those topics. We got us 12 chickens and I feel like I am doing ok with them but I feel like I definitely could be doing better. We are also looking into getting some Nigerian Dwarf Goats and I have no idea where to start with that. I look forward to learning from you!
I like having our tiny homestead up here in Canada, however my struggle is we do not have much space.
Honestly we just bought some land and eventually I want to get set up with an orchard, veggi garden, goats, chickens, turkeys and some horses, (my hubby wants bee’s) we have enough land to produce the animals food aswell as house them comfortably. Im not to worried about the animal side of the house, but will definitely need to improve my green thumb, its currently more black lol, our current struggle is getting the house renovated so we can get started on the farm side of things. On the plus side after re-framing a house, not so worried about building a chicken coup anymore.
I just bought 26 acres and I want it all but I know I have to be patient. Where to start?
Greetings from Canada!
I have lots of farm and garden experience but not with organic and Natural practices.
We had goats when I was young but I was not taught how to care for them specifically.
My greatest challenge is finding balance in juggling all of the aspects of farmstead, orchard and garden keeping,
and homemaking. To find a flow that is comfortable before we add milk goats to our lifestyle. Right now we have laying hens and rabbits plus 2500 sq ft garden and 1/4 acre permaculture orchard.
Thank you for all you are doing to educate and encourage all who are wanting to live this lifestyle.
Hi my names Millie,
My question is have you put anything on your website or on your Youtube channel about buying or renting land ?
I realy love farming and goats are one of my favourite animals but i don’t have any land at the moment and i’m struggling to figure out the amount of space goats need because there are many different websites that say completely opposite to each other.
Also any chick raising guides would be very helpful as i have chickens (that are broody) and i would quite like to look into chicks as a source of money for the land (i’m lucky enough to have a big enough garden to have 2 chickens and maybe some chicks)
Hi Millie-
These articles should help you:
https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-much-space-need-raise-goats/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/animals/chickens/
Best of luck with everything!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Thanks
Thanks very helpful
I really love all the farm animals, and this is my TOP FAV YT channel! I really love learning about caring for goats since I have recently gotten a small herd.
I love your channel and I just subscribed to see the news letters. I would like to learn on how to grow carrots. For a few years we have struggled to grow carrots and that would help a lot.
Thanks
Hi Hunter-
Thanks so much!
Here is a link to a friend of DaNelle’s that has a website all about gardening. https://growinginthegarden.com/five-tips-for-growing-carrots/
Good luck with your carrots!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Doing it all since a couple of years, started small with a few animals and slowly build it out to the farmstead I am having now (added every year 1 new animal breed).
We raise food, produce and animals, for our own consumption. The cost of feed is maddening especially here in WA and I am trying to grow it for animal consumption too .. so have to calculate what I need and how much … having said this I wouldn’t trade my way of living with city living anymore…
I just found you on YouTube. I just love your show!! I really struggle with how to keep up with everything. We tried raising guinea pigs but the cost of feed was just too expensive and the work through the winter snow was just too hard so we sold them all. Now we just have chickens for eggs and the greenhouse for micro greens. Thanks for all you do. God Bless!!??
My biggest struggle is how expensive it is to start up. I have FINALLY been able to purchase a home on 4.5 acres, but fencing, and shelter, and goat stands, and milking equipment, and apparently a truck with a livestock pen or a livestock trailer in order to get all the livestock home! I’m closing on the new place next week, and have 8 goats reserved but no idea how to get them home (Currently driving a 2010 RAV4). The chickens I’m adding to my flock of 4, and the guinea keets I’ll acquire for tick control, cost money as well. And all the feed! And minerals! And first aid and worming stuff. And pest control (flies, mites, lice). It’s exhilarating and overwhelming — Especially as I’ll be handling it all myself, while working full time (from home, fortunately).
I am really struggling with gardening and living healthy.
We all live on a 26 hectare farm with about everything you can imagine, horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, dogs,
cats, chickens, ducks, geese, ect.
The animals are not really a problem I already know a lot about them and doing real food is also not a problem.
My mom, brother, dad, and me have tried living healthy but after a couple of weeks it just goes back to normal.
Also when I tried planting Queensland Blue Pumpkins they just died after a heat wave here in South Africa,
and I want to know how do I keep them from dying?
Hello-
This site has some great information on growing Queensland Blue Pumpkins: https://www.pumpkinlicious.com/how-to-grow-queensland-blue-pumpkins.html
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I’m already a follower, and a member of DoTerra, but I had to sign up with my back up because I’ve been having issues with my regular email and not getting emails delivered. I’m hoping to be able to get chickens in the next few years, but I live in a town that I can’t have goats without more land. I like to grow vegetables in the summer, and I love the videos you upload on YouTube.
We just put down a deposit for 3 Nigerian Dwarf wethers (Two 2 month old and the other is 4 months old). We aren’t able to take them home just yet (breeder is going to do all the things to make sure they go home with a clean bill of health and babies have to be weaned) but we met them yesterday and I fell in love. I can’t wait to bring home this sweet, personable and loving little goofs. Now it’ “go-time” to get everything set up as well as we can to prevent predators and escapes from being a problem, making sure they have all the stuff they need to live happy, healthy lives but also not spending a ton of money. Repurposing materials from other builds around our house is super important for us, especially since the price of wood is so high right now but I want to make sure their area is as safe and secure as possible. I have been following and referencing your website for years now (we’ve wanted goats a very long time) and it’s definitely helped me feel as knowledgeable and prepared as I can be without actually owning goats, so thank you for being a treasure trove of good, quality and honest information for us newbies.
I love the Farm and I do the same thing as them
Personally I’m not struggling right now with any of those topics and I would just like to say I love the relationships, the animals, learning opportunities, and enjoyment I can find watching your videos and I look forward to it ever week so thank you for doing all this and making life happier!
Hi! I found you on YouTube searching about NGD goats. I had just purchased my starter herd and wanted to learn everything I possibly could.
My husband and I and our 3 kids finally were able to purchase the property we always wanted, just about 13 acres. It didn’t take long and I was filling it up with animals. We have been here about 7 months and I now have 3 new horses (making 5 total) , 2 mini donkeys, 2 kune kune girls, 2 boer 4H meat goats, 1heifer, 1 steer, 14 chickens, 2 ducks, bees, and my cute little NGD goats- 2 does, 1 doeling, and 1 buck; and my does just freshened so 5 more doelings! I have always wanted to make cheese and milk goats; because I love goat cheese lol! A lot of it is learning as I go. Your video on disbudding is super helpful and that is on my chore list for tomorrow! I have a beautiful garden planted and soaps curing on a shelf. I and am so looking forward to all the fruits of my labor this summer. Thank you for all your info and support!
I am a senior who enjoy watching YTube and love animals and I don’t have any as I live in an apartment. I do garden flowers and spices for the kitchen. I’m 72 years old and live near Vancouver, BC, Canada in the watershed area so not much snow in my area maybe 2-3 days in winter but it’s usually rain all winter. We call it liquid sunshine here and the mountains around me are snow capped year round. The summer can be very warm here like78+ F. and winter sometimes it’s below 0 F but mostly it’s around not very cold just very damp.
I just enjoy your channel and love watching your way of life but learning about health issues and what is good for them. I’m a retired nursing assistant had to retire early because of Crohn’s Disease and most food don’t agree with my intestines. So I’m very careful with what I eat.
Just wanted to wish you good luck, health and happiness. Love your family.
Andree.
I’m trying to grow vegetables and the problems that I’m have is keeping Gophers and ground squirrels out of my garden. I’ve tried raised boxes to keep the gophers out but the ground squirrels still get in. I’ve tried squirrels repelled and mint and I’m out of ideal. We’ll planning to move to Arizona hopefully soon in a few years. Either near Bullhead or Ash Fork. We don’t know which one yet.
Hi. Well I don’t have goats but I have a buck,2 egg laying chickens , 2 rabbits and a few plants including aloe vera , tomato and chilli . Thats all because I have my little garden in my terrace and I live in India. Love you.
I’m new to the goat world and would love to doctor my goats all natural if possible!!! Therefore all the info on this you can spare would be greatly appreciated!!?
I love reading you blogs and watching your goat videos!! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with ppl like me!!
I am also new to the goats farming project, and any information regarding that will be appreciated.
Thanks
How do you grow food at the winter?
How long can i leave a milking goat without it getting milked?
How to start a mini farm when you have to go to school?
*sorry, when i wrote sometimg bad, but i don’t speak english pretty well.
Hello-
DaNelle has some great articles you can check out that will help you with some of that information:
https://www.weedemandreap.com/love-winter-gardening-arizona/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/urban-farming-getting-started/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/raising-goats-milking-goats/
Thank you -Bobbi(DaNelle’s Assistant)
My biggest struggle is dealing with a difficult for who refuses to let me milk her. She did great her first year and now wants nothing to do with it. We’re headed into year three. Not sure how I’m going to handle it. Treats/not stopping when she fights/ hobbling front and back – nothing seems to work. I wish I had someone local to mentor me.
I do not now how to tell if my goat is in heat
Hi Cadence-
This article can help: https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-breeding-101/
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi
My biggest problem is with dispatching and processing my animals. There are a number of resources on chickens and rabbits but I can find virtually nothing on Kunekune pigs and Nigerian Dwarf goats.
Most information regarding both involves the sale of the kids and piglets whereas I’m looking to turn the pigs and goats into meat.
I live in zone 10a and can’t find anyone that can give me advice on goats and gardening in this area .
Hi Maribel-
This article can help with gardening: https://veggieharvest.com/calendars/zone-10-vegetable-planting-calendar-schedule/
Goats are pretty versatile and can live just about anywhere as long as they have fresh water, quality pasture/forage, and shelter.
For more localized information on both gardening and goats contact your local county extension office.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Maribel,
Try and contact your local Extension Office. They should have a wealth of information for you. I don’t know about your particular area but mine will make copies of the information for me. They used to give out little brochures or pamphlets for you to take home. They said they don’t do that anymore due to the fact they didn’t always go through them as fast as changes were made.
You can ask them about anything to do with farming gardening canning preserving you name it they got it.
I grew up on a small farm that made us self sustainable. We raised, grew, or hunted most everything we ate. Then I moved a way for a while, but fate called me back. My husband and I currently have 3 female goats, 2 pigs, and 42 chickens (6 are bantams, 5 japanese bantams). Oh, and don’t for get miss Emmie our German Shepard and protector of all. My friends all think I am weird, but love the eggs. We are purchasing more achers for more pigs and chickens, maybe a couple beef cattle. Will be putting up a tunnel to start growing earlier and longer as well as an outdoor garden. I feel happy when I am with my animals even if they are a lot of work.
Late to the game, but I think my biggest struggle right now is accepting my current situation when all I want is to be at my dream level! I’ve lived with my husband on his family farm for almost 10 years and I JUST NOW kind of found my niche! Last year I grew a pumpkin patch and had an AMAZING experience with that, and towards the end of the year I picked up my little starter herd kit. 🙂 I have 3 nigerian dwarf does, a nigerian dwarf wether, and my friend and I both split the cost on two separate nigerian dwarf bucks. (She got into goats with me, so we’re unofficial goat partners in crime.) I have enjoyed watching your videos so much!! I think I’m actually going to model my goat stalls after yours.
All that being said, I have to constantly keep checking myself because I want to be doing all the things that the bigger goat farmers are doing and buying the amazing bucks with killer lines even though I have yet to have a single kidding on my farm yet. I get so excited, it’s hard to remember that I need to slow it down! That’s my biggest struggle right now, I’d say. lol
Thank you for all the videos! They help me get through my work day until I can get back home to my goaties!!
Kelly
I have been watching your YouTube Videos for a while now. They are so fun and informative. I currently have 4 ducks, 11 chickens, 1 pig, 3 dogs, and 5 goats! I love learning about new natural ways to help them stay healthy. This year we ended our goat breeding due to so many complications. Only one out of three births were done without help. However, just because that part of your farm is over doesn’t mean we are done yet! We hope to brood some ducklings this year and plant our garden in our grow boxes. Thank you for this blog and I hope you and your family are well!
I am inheriting 10 Nigerian Dwarf/African Pygmy goats. I have never had goats before. But milking and kidding is a dream of mine. We have the land, but we are currently putting up fence and shelter to bring this herd to our home. The herd is very social and friendly. Some of the younger females are around 3 or 4 years old and I want to know if I can breed them if they haven’t ever bred before? Do they pass a point in their younger life that it isn’t good for them to breed at all? Also, if they are a cross breed and I make a point to breed to a full Nigerian dwarf, will I get good milk if there is a trace of Pygmy in their blood line. What is my success rate with getting a couple good kids next year and a good milker if I breed one female this winter?
All of your information thus far has been so very helpful!! I appreciate all the guides and information you post!
Hello Tiffany-
If the does are in good condition and have proper nutrition you can breed them.
If you successfully breed several generations you can reduce the Pygmy in your goats (although they will be ver be purebred) and your milk supply should be fine.
Your success rate on milking, breeding, and kidding depends on how good of a line of producers your stock comes from.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
What a great inheritance! Yesterday I had my first taste of goat’s milk after finding a sustainable farm just a few back-road miles away. I ‘bought’ into the herd by signing an agreement. It is wonnnnderful. Of course the way milk is handled does make a huge difference whichever ‘milker’ you’re speaking of. My mom was almost obsessive about cleanliness, sterilizing her equipment after each use and Dad was very careful about washing/cleaning the udders (cows). No ‘cow’ odor to our raw milk! Clean barn, clean and healthy goat, clean equipment = best possible milk. I hope you have an excellent experience becoming a successful, dedicated, and responsible goat farmer.
Hello!
I currently have 11 chickens(Orpingtons, brahmas, East Eggers, and Australorps) and I am trying to learn everything I can about Nigerian Dwarf goats because I would love nothing more than to add a few to my small farm. The one thing I am most hung up on is how to sell the kids after they have been weaned. What websites do you list them on, do you register them, do you disbud them, do you castrate them first etc. I am so worried that I am going to end up with a bunch of baby goats and no homes for them to go to.
Thank you!
Lauren from Colorado
Hi Lauren-
DaNelle uses her own website to sell her goats. She does disbud them before selling. You need to disbud them 4-10 days after birth. She only castrates them if the buyer wants a wether and not a buck.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Enjoying the vide is and catching up with everyone else. I’m learning as much about goats as I can and you’ve sold me on the Nigerians. Real life and very educational. Thanks for all you do.
Jeff from Tennessee
We are just beginning some more serious farming since we have a little under 2 acres. My biggest problem is that we live in the high dessert and we don’t have water rights so pasture isn’t happening without a large investment and I really am afraid to do that and it doesn’t work. We are talking about maybe moving so we can have pasture out here. So many projects so little time.
We have an acre and a half and right now, we have 12 baby chicks. We are working on fixing up the back so we can also have a huuuge garden
My husband and I bought 50 acres earlier this year to start our little farm that has been a life long dream of mine, I am 58! Having our priorities straight we built our barn first, lol! I am so excited, we plan on starting with 4 ND goats of which I have been learning everything I can from books, websites and of course you all. I really love your natural methods and I am learning all I can from you. We also plan on getting ducks, 2 ponies and possibly a mini donkey. We already have chickens! Our home is being built starting next month and I plan on getting on your waiting list for goats but making sure when our home will be finished first. Thank you for sharing your lives with us and sharing all your knowledge!
Being in my 80th year I’m not raising animals and doing very little gardening but I love watching your videos because you make everything so interesting and are well rounded with the subject material that I’ve been a part of over the years.
For now I’m not only focusing on school but trying to learn about farm animals/gardening/healthy living so that I may be prepared in the future. Super excited!
I am just moving from a small city to rural farm land. My family has 8 acres of land of our own plus access to my in-laws 42 acres of mixed forest and hay field. My biggest challenge is knowing where to start first! Part of me wants to take time to live on the land and learn it’s quirks before I dive in, but I don’t know if I can be that patient ? We had laying hens and a decent vegetable garden in the city, but I’d also like to add milking goats and meat chickens to that at some point soon. Other dreams include starting an orchard and digging a pond and perhaps raising a couple pigs. It’s fun to dream! The other big challenge is working with a spouse and other family members who don’t see the need for organic, chemical free practices. I must be patient and humble to keep working on gaining and keeping their support.
For me, the biggest struggles are healthy living, working to stay ahead of the weeds in the garden, and trying to figure out where and how to put chickens in my back yard living in a state where the weather gets very cold and snowy over the winter.
I found your vlog a little over a year ago while searching for funny goat videos, and I can’t remember which video it was but I remember what actually caught my attention was your natural swimming pond. It was a couple weeks before my curiosity got the best of me and I searched for more of your videos… And I was floored because I always joked about how my perfect life would be to have little goats and chickens but still be close enough to the city that I could do things like go to the opera. Now, while I don’t know if you’ve ever gone to the opera, I know you’ve gone to your kids band concerts (I was a band kid in school), and I thought… These people are like me.
Your vlog has inspired me to get back into gardening, to try again to convince my folks whom I live with to get chickens, goats will have to wait because city ordinances, but I want to do more and be better. Thank you!
it is getting started-I want to do it right and be productive and am a bit overwhelmed with all the choices on how it is to be done. I need a path to follow to build up my space well and delicious!
I grew up on a small farm, got away from it for a long time, but hubs and I have been getting our feet wet with farming again…goats, mostly, a few calves. We grew a garden for the first time in nearly 10 years this year. We’re really trying to make the switch to growing as much of our food as is feasible right now, have been canning, dehydrating and freezing all of the harvest, and sharing with neighbors! We just got the electric fence repaired where deer ran through it and are looking to either winter calves or goats. We currently have about five acres fenced in. I love the thought of chickens, but I have a Great Pyrenees and a St. Bernard/hound mix who both chase birds, as well as several cats. I’m afraid the chickens (I’d love to do free range) wouldn’t have much of a chance of survival between them and the coyotes, foxes and other wild life in the area. We’re trying to remember to start small and reap big rewards when it all comes together (if it ever does, lol). Really enjoying the blog and glad I stumbled on to it!
Moved to Arizona to be closer to my husband’s family, we bought a house on an acre so my husband can build a giant machine shop on it in a few years. I felt like we should get chickens so I built a giant coop this summer (wrong season to do it, oops) and now I’m trying to figure out what to do next. Grew up as a suburbs girl so this is very new to me!
I live in the Philippines ,my biggest issue is probably land space, Since i was 1 y/o to 3 y/o i lived in a farm with pigs, goats chickens, ducks ,etc
until we moved to the city,i thought we will stay in the city but when i was thirteen my mom and dad decided that we will move to were my cousins live and my dad will start his pig and goat business with my uncles.
We are the latest version of Green Acres. My city guy and I, a country girl once upon a time, are finally buying a corn farm in a couple weeks. I’ve been called back to the land years ago but it took this long to nag…convince…him. we have a few kids and a suburban busy lifestyle. Looking forward to a cleaner (eating), more natural lifestyle. Starting with chickens and goats asap. Boys wants pigs. I hear cattle are a great investment. Will likely not replant nearly as much corn next year in hopes of starting some groves of trees and a large food garden. Also btw the contract farmer has been planting GMO corn. Hoping to work anything else into it. I hate to support that practice.
Lack of space
I grew up on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania and am now living in North Caroline. I have 6 goats and 3 acres. That part is going ok. I’m struggling with gardening in the south. If the hot weather doesn’t kill the plants, the bugs do! I don’t want to use chemicals so it’s been a bit of a struggle to grow a decent garden.
I used to live in Tennessee and know the struggles you’re having I am now in Arizona with brand-new struggles. there are a lot of easy ways to get rid of the bugs on your plants one of the things I have found is Bisquick does great on squash plants in the like
I am totally into goats. I have 2 wildest ones and 2 bottle babes which I am planning on training as pack goats.i also have 3 chickens that run about and lay 3 eggs every day.
we are getting to baby Nigerian dwarf goats this Tuesday and the day after that is going to be the arrival day our baby ducks,
we already have chickens and rabbits.
We don’t have a backyard family farm yet…but we hope to soon! We do have a little garden where we grow organic vegetables. My biggest challenge is battling the pests and diseases naturally. We’re always looking for chemical-free options to fight the bugs and diseases that seem to devour our crops before they can make it to our table. We are looking forward to learning what you have learned to help us out now and in the future when our dreams of a backyard farm come true! My oldest daughter has fallen in love with your YouTube channel, and your family has inspired her to get her own herd of goats someday. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us!
Hello all, we live on a 2 acre lot in a rural area. My biggest problem right now is the harvesting and preserving. Isn’t it a wonderful problem to have?!? The past 2 years we’ve had an over abundance of produce/herbs from our gardens but sadly a great deal of it goes to waste or the bugs/birds get to it before we do. It’s so disheartening to watch all that amazing produce be lost when we put so much hard work into growing it. We’re slowly finding ways to make the canning, freezing and the over-winter storing more efficient but for now that’s the thing we are struggling with. Take CARE everyone!!
Hi, we just started a small garden (I’m trying to learn how that works), a compost pile, 50% of our fruit trees I planted and have died (??), we have 5 young Khaki Campbell Ducks and 9 young chickens in an 1.15 acres “farm”
We would like to have our garden produce a great percentage of our food, in a healthy and organic way, we would like to produce most of our meat, and are interested on having a milking goat.
Our biggest challenge is that we are busy and the lack of information on some of the issues regarding gardening, animal space and needs.
I live on an 11.3 acre farm, we got our first 2 goats in april (nubian buck and a bred doe) then we sold the buck (he had HORNS) and we traded the buckling our doe had with a little girl, then we got 3 more nubians! one buck a wether and his mama. we now have an almost hornless herd, we just have 2 does with horns but they aren’t bad about them. we also have 2 geese, 16 chickens, 1 bunny, bee’s, and we’re in the puppy buisness.
I love all our animals the only hard part is keeping up with a job and animals, but I think we’re doing jut fine.
We live on a Two acre farm and we have a garden, 2 goats (1 Nigerian Dwarf, 1 Nubian). We are currently getting them ready to be bred in November and have April baby’s! This is our first year raising goats! We also raise laying hens and meat birds! We love our farm!!
My current project is building a barn for my future goats, which I am hoping to get in about a month. I have been working on this project with my dad and sister for a long time, and we are getting excitingly close to being finished. Everyday is a day closer to when the animals arrive!
I’m eager to get started. I have always lived in the city and am ready to retire from my office job. We bought 80 acres in Alberta Canada and will be moving there as soon as our house is built. Currently it is all in hay. Next spring, as soon as the snow melts, we will be building Fences, a coop and goat shelters and then starting our new adventure. We also want horses and maybe a couple of pigs.
I look forward to all the animals.
I’m not so sure about the gardening part, as we will have a short growing season and I have never had much of a green thumb. Maybe in a couple of years.
I’m Desiree and live in Belize, Central America. Living on 49.7 acres of property that is family owned but only me and my immediate family living here. This August will be six years since we are living here and just in the frame of mind and financial position to start growing! So we are beginners and so far all has been going well. Just tried out self watering constrain we plants with my kids on Sunday and today have my sunflower and basil sprouting. Hubby and I had day one today of building our greenhouse and we eventually plan to raise goats so I’m so happy I found your page and YouTube channel!! I also want to transition to natural homemade products for my family and I appreciate the emails you are sending me!! I’m learning a lot from u so far!! Looking forward to learning sooo much more!! ❤️❤️
We currently have .50 acreage with our first home we bought 7 years ago. This year I revamped the garden into semi raised beds and filled them up with different veggies and herbs I knew we would eat and enjoy. I haven’t added chickens yet as I’m still trying to figure out if our little town will allow chickens in our backyard. I love your YouTube channel and watch it Everytime a new one comes out. We are looking to buy at least 10 acres of land in the next couple of years and get goats, a piggy and chickens! I have thyroid issues and want to live a life off the land with my family just like you all, plus the added bonus of living healthier and many memories for my kids to remember when they get older makes it all the better
Oh boy I’m in the middle of trying to move to the UP of Michigan. I’m going to be late at getting anything into the ground except radishes lol. I’ve got to check everything out chicken pen stables garden area with covid19 it’s hard to see or go to places. It’s a small house but I’m excited I’ve been farming forever till the last several years. Now at 71 I’m doing it all over again . Thank goodness. It’s out in the middle of nowhere.
Right now it’s a matter of actually having the yard/land. Right now I’m in an apartment, but I know I can start with eating healthier and with fresher ingredients. I’m trying to grow herbs right now, which is a start. 🙂
Hey there! New to the goat world and anticipating a serious garden for next year.
I was raised on an acre garden and I’m looking forward to next year when I will be able to feed my family from our own yard. We’ve recently made real efforts in striving for better for our bodies at my home & I know everyone just feels better.
Biggest issue I’m having at the moment is learning all the goat things. I have Been a goat mom for 3.5 days to 2 Toggs a buck and a doe, who are 15 weeks old.
I really desire to be educated on natural care for them and I’m finding resources are very limited. Super excited for what’s ahead & appreciating weedemandreap very much!
Just getting started on such a path and trying to figure out what is allowed in my current area. Also thinking of finding a bigger piece of land and so whatever we start at the current place will have to be movable to the next place. I have a few health problems and want to change to a healthier food choice cause of it. Few of my friends are being very supportive with my idea and so is my boyfriend. It’s just getting started on it all since I work a full time job at 40hrs. I just started watching your channel cause of the goats. I’ve always wanted goats since I was a child and now at 30, I’m ready to start raising them for milk and not just thought of as pet when I was a child. I’d love to raise them naturally without chemicals cause as I’m getting older I’m having more and more problems due to chemicals alone.
At 40+ I am reentering the world of gardening and will be a first time goat owner soon. I just discovered your channel and have enjoyed watching you learn and learn through you!
I’m actually still in high school and have been following your YouTube channel for several years now. I’ve always wanted to have my own farm and raise my own animals and watching your channel really gives me the motivation to do so. Hopefully one day I’ll be able have my own milking goats or cows as well as grow my own food and be able to look back and remember that what really got me into it was a farming channel on YouTube.
Hi!
I grew up in a rural area and my grandad farmed commercially, along with my grandmother’s garden. We have 7 acres in central Florida and I’ve been gardening my whole adult life because I love quality fresh food. My struggle is planting enough for now and some to put away for later. Sometimes I get it right, others I don’t.
Hello-
We just got a pair of baby goats! I love your information! We plan to get a doe in milk next spring/ish and be on our way to home dairy. We currently have 6 ducks that provide us with lot of fresh eggs daily. Our family lives on just under 1 acre and your utilization of space for your homestead is inspiring and exactly what we are trying to accomplish here. Thank you for sharing your information and your story. We look forward to the emails and fun ahead!
Hey! Thank you so much for adding me to the email list. We live in Vancouver Island in Canada-BC. We have a little farm in a rural community, right now with a veggie garden and chickens and we are getting goats in a few short weeks! Right now my biggest focus is trying to navigate all the info out there about Nigerian Goats and the best way to care for and feed these little sweeties! I had either been finding inconsistent info or very very vague info. But I am loving your plan which is how I landed here in your YouTube land and went down the rabbit hole watching all the things once the kids were in bed and on the mail list and it’s been amazing! Thank you very much!
I LOVE your YouTube channel and I wish I could meet you. We are about to get chickens and maybe a goat. I have learned so much from you from cooking to animals. I also live in Arizona and we LOVE animals. We have about two acres of land and we live beside a church. I have subscribed to your YouTube channel and I’m so happy that I did that. Your friend, Iannis Horga
I would love to learn about more gardening and all though i do not have any farm animals right now i would love to hear more about that like goats chickens .when i was younger i had a friend she had goat I would help her with them i just love goats I live somewhere were I can’t have them but hoping in the future I can find a home with some land and start homesteading it my dream
I haven’t started getting goats yet, were in the process of building a pasture for them! we have 31 acre’s of land but most of it isn’t available for them because my parents own the property, but its a campground. We’re planning on also making a garden! We will only be using our goats as pets and for milk.
I haven’t yet started my farm yet, however I have always dreamed of living on a beautiful farm with tons of amazing animals. My biggest struggle I see myself having in the future is probably just finding all the information needed to give the best care to my animals (there is a lot of information out there!) but once I came across your Youtube channel and blog, I feel so much better now, thank you!
Hi! I am Stacy! I live on a little 13 acre farmette. We currently have chickens and horses. I am planning on getting Nigerian Dwarfs in the near future. Currently am educating myself on goat husbandry practices, milking, cheese making, yogurt making, and soap making. Have a friend who has Boers who is going to let me hang out and learn to trim hooves soon. She has 40 and does them all on the same day. Should be interesting! Your site has been invaluable to me! Thank you!
Hi! I found your YouTube channel when we were researching about Nigerian Dwarfs. We will be getting two wethers in a month but we’re having trouble trying to figure out a pen for them. We will have our ducks in with our goats. I’d like to know ALL THE GOAT things as we welcome our new babies to our far-met.
I came upon your site when I Googled how to build and fill Raised Beds. We watched your video and took your knowledge and are currently building boxes for our 30′ X 30′ garden area. We have four chickens right now that we’ve had for about five years and we’ll be receiving our four new chicks at the end of this month (May). My dream is to have a hobby farm when we retire, which is about seven to eight years away. Our current situation allows us to only have chickens. You are living my dream. I am enjoying watching your animals, children, and you and your husband as you “work” on your farm. After learning that you wished you had planted fruit and nut trees earlier in your farm career, I asked around about growing fruit trees in Maryland. We are adding that to our bucket list, maybe this year. I don’t have goats, pigs, or turkeys, but I love watching you work with them. It’s adorable. And I especially love your pond/pool. That is amazing. Thank you for being real. I am enjoying your videos immensely.
I have never had a garden or any farm animals, but I really want to learn how to grow my own food and how to care for chickens and other farm animals. I recently built two planter boxes, but I am a little late in the season and I don’t know what I can plant that will be successful in my area and that will fit in a somewhat shallow surface.
Hey i love your YouTube channel and I have struggled to keep my chickens protected from predators and lost my whole flock to a group of cats. I would love to hear from your experience how you keep stray cats out and I would love to know what all you would need to get started on a herd of Nigerian dwarf goats for a new goat owner.
Hi Parker-
I am sorry about your chickens. These articles can help you with your questions:
https://www.weedemandreap.com/urban-farming-getting-started/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/raising-baby-chicks-beginners-guide/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/raising-meat-chickens-years-supply/
Thank you Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Thank you so much this was a lot of help and I will make sure to do those things.
I’d say the biggest struggle is figuring out how much time I should be devoting to each thing to make it work. I have seedlings growing but when do I transplant them and how much water should I be giving them throughout the day. Did I plant at the right time of year for Florida weather…and there are always upgrade I would like to use but one blog says I have to have peet miss and another says I don’t so what do I invest in first? Then there are the chickens, I have a yard with a good fence but should I invest in a larger perimeter, another better coop? Is that more important than planting right now? I’m still figuring it out. Also, I’d like to invest in three goats but I want to have a larger section of our land fenced off before hand. How do I build up the goat essentials vs the goat dream package? Managing time and resources seems to be my biggest question.
Gardening is going good. We have 4 gardens going right now and lots of sprouts are emerging. Just got 4 baby chicks after not having any chickens for a year. We also have 2 baby goats joining our family in a week. We got two Nubian/Alpine crosses; a doeling and wether. Just waiting on them to be fully weaned from momma. My biggest concern right now is we are on a very small homestead and might have overshot on breed size when we purchased them. I can’t find any information on the specifics on this cross (i.e. growth rate, temperament, what breeds are best to breed the doeling with when she comes of age, and how to secure a buck without having to buy one, registration, medical concerns, etc.) I want to make sure they are healthy and happy while trying to make sure we give them enough room to grow. (We are on a quarter acre in the boonies.) Being a first time owner is nerve racking!!!
I just planted carrots and im scared that it won’t be successful.
It’s ok even if it goes wrong always believe that it will go right the next time
I’m just getting my feet wet with everything homestead. We still live in town so we are very limited ( no goats, only allowed 8 hens) we just got our 8 hens a few weeks ago, started our garden and learning all I can about growing food and goats for future plans. We are hoping to move outside of town within the next year and get a couple of goats once settled. I have severe dairy allergies and do great with goat milk. I love your youtube and found a lot of great information through your links. I am in Vermont so very different from you in AZ..
Well I’m all the way across the world in New Zealand. I grow lots of my own food and have 7 chickens for eggs (kind of a lie, I have 4 chickens for eggs and 3 freeloaders). We are on an inner city section (larger than normal, just over 800m2, no idea what that is in feet sorry). I want to try my hand at growing meat chickens but am so scared about the killing process. I want to take the plunge but worry that I won’t be able to do the deed when it comes to it…
My hardest problem is the gardening, because I live in New York it’s cold around 8 to 10 months out of the year, and the temperature changes so quickly, one day it was 50 out then the next day it was snowing, we need a greenhouse but we can’t find one that’s affordable, also when i try to look up plants that grow in NY that are toxic to farm animals ( mostly chickens and goats) it gives me plants that don’t grow anywhere near NY
We have just ordered our chickens and they are coming in July the biggest struggle for us is the fact of growing food because we live in Canada British Columbia and it gets so cold. another fact is that we don’t have a good season for chickens and it gets to minus 30 Celsius and plus 30 Celsius so for us it varies and on top of that we live in and area were the predator’s are always looking for a perfect meal that is pets and or chickens. our Pitbull, German shepherd, border collie always protects them but we don’t leave him out at night… we’ve started growing from seed in February in our shop and using a green house later on then planting the rest in beds. I thank you for all the advice for animals and food I really enjoy them and hope you keep up the good work! thank you Danelle!
All of it is a struggle but I’m trying but you are rocking it!
I live in central Florida and my biggest struggle is growing a garden because of the heat. I moved here from New Jersey and I have a lot to learn about the different growing seasons
We are so excited we found you guys! We live right out of the city limits. We have 5 acres right here smack dab in the middle of our busy little community in South Carolina! We just got our two goats and our 10 hens. We are tilling up the yard now to start our very first garden. I had researched so much and I was more confused after all the videos and reading until I happened upon your youtube channel. Now I feel like I am not the only crazy city slicker with a little farm in their backyard! Thank goodness my hubby wants a little farm any way. I talked him into doing it now at this property until we sell it and buy some land a build a house out in the country like we want to do. Thank you for helping us and I look forward to learning so much from you guys.
Hi Tracey, I’m in north carolina (polk county), about 30 minutes from Spartanburg! It was so exciting to see your comment and that you’re in South Carolina! What kind of chickens and goats did you get? We moved from suburbia (southern California) and are working to get a little homestead going. Just finished getting the garden plots ready…now on to chickens, sheep, and goats! 🙂
I live on a postage stamp size lot. Our HOA doesn’t allow “vegetable gardening” where it’s visible to the street, and we have to submit for permission to add additional tree plantings to our “landscaping”. Long story short, basically the HOA will not allow us to grow food where it’s visible to the public!?. So, any suggestions for vertical garden units and what grows best in them? I can, have and know how to use the drywall buckets, grow sacks, and basic large patio containers. I’m just not familiar with what grows best in smaller containers, and height-clearance wise. I live in WA, near Seattle, and about 60% of my growing space is partial-mostly shady, unfortunately.
Thank you for the farm videos, tips & tricks, the inspiration with homeschooling ?, and letting us into your family life!
Hi Amy-
DaNelle hasn’t really done much vertical gardening. It would be best to contact your local Master Gardners at your local county extension office and they will be able to help you with that and what grows best in your area.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have an almost acre lot but won’t be able to do anything with it until next year. But I enjoy learning what I can about urban farming, so I can research and prepare for when the time comes.
I and my husband Michael have been talking about getting layer chickens but just knot sure what type to get. We live in Minnesota where we have cold winters. Any ideas you can give me would be so helpful.
Thank you and I love your videos.
Hi Melinda-
Some hardy chickens that do well in colder climates are Australorps, Plymouths, Wyandottes, and Rhode Islands.
This article talks about keeping them laying in the winter: https://www.weedemandreap.com/keep-chickens-laying-winter/
Best of luck with your chickens!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi Melinda!
My husband, Mike, and I live in Michigan’s upper peninsula and have raised hundreds of chickens over the years. If I had to choose just one breed to raise for laying, I would get Plymouth Barred Rock. They are cold hardy, very personable, and lay plenty of nice size eggs. Buff Orpingtons are also a great option for these northern climates.
some cold hardy factors to look for in a chicken is its size, larger chickens tend to do better,(most dual purpose breeds will do well)
smaller combs (pea, rose) helps to prevent frostbite. I live in Idaho and we had some chickens get pretty injured because they had single combs, which are more susceptible to frostbite. Americanas, Wyandottes, brahmas, cochins, and buff chanteclers are really great breeds for cold climates.
Hi there it is Trinity
I am having some trouble finding the right animal for my farm.
I am so happy I came across your blog. We are building on 17 acres in N.C. ( I know I am spoiled to have so much land) We have about 2 acres that is covered in Kudzu ( the vine that ate the south ?). So our solution for dealing with it is, we are getting GOATS .. I can’t wait! I have had chickens for years and have always had a garden. I am just soaking up info on them till we get our fence up and get some. Agree with you that it is so hard to fine more natural options for our animals health. You can’t always ask a vet either, for they Usually aren’t as natural as we would like. So I appreciate you sharing all of your knowledge that you have learned just by doing !!! I do have one particular question. Do you test your goats milk ever? I was just trying to do a bit more research on making sure the milk is “safe” to drink. But by searching that, you get a LOT of crazy answers. Just curious your thoughts. Thanks so much!!!
Hi Jacqui-
Thank you so much for the kind words.
No, DaNelle does not test her milk.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I would have to say that I am on the same page Jacqui! Except for the fact that we only have 2 acres, but still working it. 🙂 We have had chickens for just over three years. I am ready to move on to goats next year, we are in the process of fencing the property as well – well…trying to figure out the best way to fence, that is. Since we moved to this house, we have been planning the pond, so we want to do that. I am of the same mind – I want to really take care of my animals, draw their blood, etc. It is hard to find a vet that will “allow” that type of thing. So I want to know it all!
I’ve done some research on milk testing. I called Montana’s diagnostic labs but they do more proteins and bacteria’s. Not the diseases that are all over the internet encouraging pasteurizing. We want to drink our milk raw but are nervous to start with the possibility of disease
My biggest struggle is to plant grass because I have cow’s and goats they eat a lot and it takes so long for the grass to grow plz help
Hi Lindsay-
Work with your local Ag extension agent or local COOP. They can help you find what is best to grow in your local area and how to manage your pastures to optimize growth and quality.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Mine would be timing. With the winters here in Montana it can be difficult to plan lambing at a time when it is not 40 below.
My biggest challenge right now is timing, since I live in Minnesota, you have to plan perfectly to get good crop yield, even in a small family garden. The other challenge is land. I wish I could move to a farm, but for now I’ve got dogs, cats, and gardens, but I’m hoping to get cattle, goats, horses, and more in the future!
I have been having problems with keeping my plants growing there Dying to fast on me I just lost my spider plant I still have pieces but I don’t know what to do please help
Hi Grace-
For plant troubles contact your county’s Master Gardners or check out growinginthegarden on Instagram.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Our adventure right now is finding good info for raising goats – we are getting a mama goat and I’m just absorbing a ton of info to get ready to bring her home – another adventure of ours is finding the time to do everything I desire in my heart for our homestead – working on taking little steps at a time even though I’d often like to have a lot more done than we have already – learning slow and steady wins the race – thank you for your great info – I’ve printed out a few homemade printouts you have on goats – and watched a goat birthing video of yours – again grateful for the time you have put into giving others good info – blessings- Jessie
I just got two does and one of them is pregnant, so watching your videos has really helped! LOVE your videos!!!!
Figuring out when out does caught. Got one that delivered her set of triplets she is a first freshener, didn’t have a clue she was going to kid til she kidded and the second doe still waiting and wondering if she will ever kid. Guess I’m going to buy one of those marking things for the buck this August .
Good Morning!
I too live in Gilbert along the tracks! We have ND goats (one currently in milk), chickens, ducks, geese, fruit trees, a pond and hopefully will get our garden up and going soon. I love watching your videos because I can relate to just about everything! I have also watched the video you did with Beth (Fairywood). My cute Buck was purchased from Beth. She has been very helpful with our ND goat journey. So my question is who do you use for your ultrasounds? I need to determine if my other doe is pregnant. I’m hoping! Thanks!
Hi Kelly-
You can try Herd Health Management.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi! I just brought home my very first farm animals, a pair of 5 week old doelings. So far they’ve been drinking milk from their mama and now they are bottle feeding since I brought them home. One of them will take the bottle willingly, but only about 3-4 oz but then I’m basically making them choke it down after that. The other one I have to force her mouth open to begin with but then she will somewhat willingly drink a couple ounces. I’ve been doing this 3x a day and they both usually end up having about 5oz at each feeding. The kid milk bag says that they need to be having 8-10oz 3x a day. However, they are also eating alfalfa and always seem pretty satisfied and not starving or anything! The reason I’m giving them alfalfa already is because the farm where I bought them already was. Should I worry? What do I do?! Thanks so much.
Hi Cambria-
As long as they are getting some of the replacer down, eating some solid food, and have access to fresh water (do not give them water in a bottle) they should be fine.
You may want to check and make sure the nipple your using is allowing enough milk to come out so the babies don’t have to suck too hard.
Also, check you goats for sickness (fever, etc.), any mouth issues, and monitor their weight to make sure they are gaining.
Best of luck with your new goats!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I already have chickens and a garden but I’ve been thinking about adding goats to the mix. I have a handful of chronic illnesses so I make a lot of my own food/care products and I feel like it would be helpful to have freah goat milk around for me to use in cooking, lotion, etc. However, I need to make sure I have the energy to properly care for goats so I’m looking for any information to help me decide if goats are the right thing for me. I could also use tips on gardening. I’ve only been serious about gardening for about a year so I make a lot of mistakes. This website appears to be full of helpful information and it talks about gardening in Arizona, which is where I live, so that’s a bonus.
I live in PEI, Canada with my husband, 6 month old son, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. We bought our dream 1 acre property with fruit trees close to the shore with the intentions of getting chickens, goats, and whatever other beautiful little creatures we could find and finally escape the city. We found out we were pregnant 3 weeks before closing on our house so priorities change considerably when we found out we were having Wyatt. We’ll probably start with chickens and a couple of goats next springs. Our winter is just getting started here and as most winters on PEI go, I assume we’ll be in for a long haul. I grew up farming so I’m so excited to get back to my roots. My husband however grew up in the city, and although he’s eager, has no real knowledge about farming. It’s fun driving by dairy farms and him asking which cows make the chocolate milk. Anyways, just wanted to say I love watching you’re family on YouTube and reading your insights. It’s been most education for my husband and I on our journey. It truly is the dream you’re living, and not just because you live somewhere that is permanently warm. ( I write this as it’s -17 degrees outside)
Our major issues here on the island are, the winters are long and ruthless, finding good breeding is hard and often quite expensive, and it’s a very short growing season for us to try to pack into one summer which dictates what we can grow.
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and your life with all of us out here!
Right now we have 5 chickens that are not laying eggs and have 5 ducks that are laying way to many eggs. I want to start a garden again but always feel like it takes over my life and I cant do much more then just that. We want to get goats but have no idea on were to start or what we need to do to get ready for them.
Try reading The Joy of Keeping Goats by Laura Childs and The Backyard Goat by Sue Weaver!
I have way too many chickens and some are retired and I need to figure out which ones are retired so we cull the ones who are retired and not a laying one. We want goats but manure management is not controlled (we live in MI so it gets frozen then SOL) My garden keeps getting blighted and produces nothing. It’s very frustrating.
We are currently building a house on 9 acres in Ohio and are starting with a blank slate! I am overwhelmed with the emptiness and am not even sure where to start. We’re looking to garden, raise 6 chickens or so and have just a few dairy goats! Our property is surrounded by very thick huckleberry bushes but no actual fencing and I’m stumped on what type of garden and goat fencing is most economical but will last a fair amount of time! I have three kiddos 10,7,5 that are dying to start with baby goats (of course!) so I’m also stumped on that as well. do I go all in and breed a doe almost right off the bat for fall babies or do we just start with a few babies and enjoy them before we start breeding/milking? Oh, the possibilities! Any advice/input would be so SO appreciated! My 5 year old and I have watched your videos for WEEKS now and she loves telling everyone who will listen about your goats (by name!). We also love the cooking sections of your videos too! She and I cook a lot together so we love gathering new ideas. We appreciate the time you (and your entire family!) put in to sharing your homestead with us! We look forward to many more videos! Happy Holidays!!
Hi Megan-
Sounds like you have some great things going on! These two articles can help you with fencing and space: https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-much-space-need-raise-goats/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-fencing-breaking-out/
It’s usually best to start out slow to make sure you know what you are getting in to and can have everything prepared. Breeding does depends a lot on the type of goat, because you need to plan around what type of cycle they have and also is weather dependent. Cold long winters and hot summers are hard on babies. So best to plan to have them born in the temperate parts of the year.
This article may give you some information to help you decide: https://www.weedemandreap.com/raising-goats-milking-goats/
Best of luck! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I am so excited! For more reasons than one, of course! My family and I are living on a .23 acre lot currently and are looking to move to a whole 1.73 ACRES!!! We wanted to plant a garden where we currently are but it just never worked (our garden boxes turned into firewood). AUTOMATICALLY when we saw our new place I was thinking… my kids and my dogs… and then… our GARDEN, our FRUIT TREES… our CHICKENS, MY GOATS! My husband immediately told me if we’re having any other animals they need to serve a purpose (because he knows I want them all). SO of course I immediately hit google… diary goats… and Nigerian Dwarf Goats (POOF!) and there you were! Y’all are living my dream! I said if they can do it, so can we(His grandmother lives in AZ, so that didn’t hurt)! I was looking at your original videos and thinking…. “Hey, we can do this!” that was before I saw what you have now! Congratulations on everything that all of y’all have accomplished together…and thank you for giving me an inspiration… and a “Hey… you’re not crazy or weird… you can do this!” moment! All of you are amazing! Great work!
Love your channel! We are in the beginning stages of transforming our property to a small homestead. We have had chickens and milk goats before but we got overwhelmed with some stressful life situations and abandoned our whole plan of a healthier holistic lifestyle. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart!! But we are all back on our feet and ready for change. I struggle with back pain like you did. Almost the same exact situation. My surgery didn’t help and I am in pain 24/7 and the only relief I get is from medication that I do not want to take anymore so that’s step #1 for me!! Thank you for all the info you put out! It’s very helpful!
Like you, I’ve found information about natural alternative to treatment a bit scarce. And living in New Zealand makes the availability harder at times!!
We recently got our first 5 chickens and have been getting ready for our first 2 doelings coming in 2 weeks or so. We live in Sydney metro area (Australia) and have a large backyard (for Sydney) that has been mostly underutilised until now. We have 3 children, 2, 5 and 10 years old and 2 Beagles, both girls. My husband and I love animals and I love gardening and cooking my own food (from scratch whenever possible), and getting all my ingredients as fresh as possible.
We want our children to learn about nature and where food comes from and the effort involved in producing it, while at the same time having a healthier and more active lifestyle. More nature and less videogames.
I came across your channel by accident and I absolutely love it, as you guys are doing what we want to do. Keep it up!!!
We are brand new homesteaders. We purchased a 10 acre property in Southern Oregon and moved here from the Bay Area 5 months ago. We have 3 boys, one a freshman in college and 8 yo twins. We moved to Oregon for a slower pace of life and are just now brainstorming about what we want to do with the land. We have 9 chickens that are just 2.5 months old. Can’t wait for the eggs in a few months! We want to build a small garden in the spring (I’ve been composting since we moved up here and should have ample available). I found your site because we want to get a few goats. The property is on a slight incline and we have scrub oak trees as well as poison oak. Hoping the goats can take care of some of the more wild areas while we consider next steps. I found your goat blog this weekend and am loving your content! So much good stuff! I am looking forward to reading and learning!! Thank you!
I just started following your blog and am so glad that a friend told me about you and your family. I just started my little hobby farm. On Easter Sunday I got two little pygmy goats (females) and brought them home. I then got 9 chickens and have just recently gotten 3 ducklings and another baby goat.
I am wanting to go more natural due to recently being diagnosed with EOE disease (which means I am allergic to all wheat and dairy and when I eat it or eat something that has come into contact with it my esophagus swells up and I have issues swallowing). So it has been a challenge finding things that I can make and knowing how much of the different non wheat flour to use. So I would really be interested in recipes you may have that you use a wheat and dairy substitute for.
We live in MI so the winters can get pretty cold here and we don’t have running water out by the goat/chicken/duckling area so one struggle is going to be getting water out to them every day and not having it freeze as we also don’t have electric out there yet.
I can’t wait to watch more of your videos.
Thank you for doing your blog and sharing your family and animals with us.
Fonda
If I had it to do all over again, I would live exactly the way ya’ll do. I am 66 (a young 66) lol, and we purchased a home with an acre of land about 2 years ago and I was able (finally) to have a garden. Jumped right in and failed! So I am researching and I am determined to succeed at this. I love, love to watch ya’ll on you tube and it really does help me to go for my dream of owning a few chickens and goats. The information you give to us is so valuable and I appreciate so much. Hopefully, I can retire next year and be able to do more. Thank you so much!!!
My biggest struggle is access to land. I am a transplant to a community of small properties established in 1942 as part of the Manhattan Project (Oak Ridge, TN). I hope to help my community develop shared properties on which to promote healthy, regenerative agricultural activities. I welcome your insight and resources related to successful community-based efforts to grow healthy and local food.
Been watching your channel for over a year now on YouTube. We currently have chickens but plan on getting goats and doing a garden. I have some fruit trees but they aren’t producing a lot yet. I love your use of essential oils and everything natural. Look forward to learning from you guys!
When I was a kid, I used to go to a family friend’s farm, collect eggs, bottle feed baby goats and cows, milk the goats, and be terrified of their emus. I never had a serious interest in farm anything, even though I enjoyed being on the farm all the time. But six years ago I suddenly woke up with the NEED for chickens!
It took some convincing to get the hubs on board, and me just deciding to go ahead and get hatching eggs… but fours years after that day, I finally had my chickens! I never realized I’d want more than just a few chickens and a (currently) non-existent garden, but a lot of reading and research later and, my dreams are bigger than my backyard.
My HOA has recently gotten more restrictive, and the hubs is trying to start a business, so all the plants I do have are in pots, and our budget is incredibly limited right now. I’d love to move to a little land, get some goats, and start a large garden. For now, I’m taking a permaculture class, homeschooling my kids, and gaining knowledge everyday.
I dont really have a struggle….yet. im here to learn and enjoy the videos and trying to suck up as much knowledge as I can! But I plan to get a couple of goats, chickens and maybe even pigs and bies when I move out!?
this is so true! i have been living on a farm (sort of) for 10 years! i really would like to get goats and/or pigs!
Hi I wanted a little farm my hubby buys 43 acres, has a stocked pond. I meant chickens, garden maybe a couple goats. Now we have to build houses and wells and septic tanks. My to you though right now is you use a lot of lemon oil I am very allergic to lemon and grapefruit, my daughter is lemon and lime. So is there an oil that can be exchanged for citrus oils.
send good thoughts that we can sell four houses and build 2 on the farm septics and wells oh and the men want a barn.
love the site
Our biggest struggle at the moment is time management on our newish farm: having so much to do in setting up the basics for our horses and future animals (fencing, sheds, shelter, windbreaks, improving soil etc) and trying to produce enough for ourselves at the same time, purchase more stock etc. Its also a blessing as we spend more time observing our land, refining our goals, and we have the benefit of knowing we’ve done it ourselves. We do tend to plan something, and with a bub and a 3yo we totally under estimate the time it takes.
Really appreciate all the info you’re sharing, especially as we venture into milking goats with the eventual goal of a house cow too 🙂
I am so interested in all the info you have buying two acres of land and starting from the absolutely beginning. Have bare land no fencing or electric or water and me and my 4 little ones, my cats and rabbits and plants all in a apartment living our daily lives and saving up for our farm I have dreamed about since I was a little girl.
Love your videos, been watching about a year now. You give me hope! My biggest problem is wanting to get the animals(chickens, goats, pigs, rabbits) and not being able to because of an HOA. Plus, it is very frustrating when my husband says you’ll never be able to have what you want. We do have 3 raised beds for a garden and a few fruit trees. Trying to learn how to make and eat healthier.
Hi Lisa-
Hopefully someday you can have the farm you want. Here is DaNelle’s article on working with HOA’s and having animals: https://www.weedemandreap.com/hoa-approved-backyard-farm/
Hopefully that will help! Best of luck with everything!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I am currently 12 years old, creating a mini farm on our homestead. I have a problem with my chickens, how do you get them to lay eggs for human consumption?
Hi Shrey-
Chickens naturally begin laying eggs around 6 months of age. Once they begin laying, they lay an egg every 1-2 days and you simply collect and eat them. Be sure your chickens have access to natural light, fresh water, and a good source of high protein feed and they should be just fine. Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi Danelle
My family and I live in a small town called Nigel in Gauteng, South Africa.
I’ve been watching your posts for the past month or two and I just can’t get enough! I enjoy it SO much and I am learning a lot from just watching you guys everyday. Unfortunately we do not have any goats, but we have 11 rescue dogs which we absolutely adore, 1 African Grey Parrot, 1 rescue cat , 2 hens and 1 rooster. I have never had much success with gardening, but the past few months I have started taking an interest in growing our own vegetables. I must say it gives me so much pleasure watching you guys pick the fruit and vegetables and then you preparing the simple, yet delicious dishes! Our two hens provide us with at least two eggs, sometimes three a day? So obviously we are on a much smaller scale than you are, but we’ve had them for about two years now and they really do provide us with lovely free-range eggs. Our house now almost works 90% with solar panels, which is saving us a lot of money. We do our best to live and eat healthy, but yes it does take a lot of time and effort, which we are now gladly doing, and saving heaps! Thanks so much for your vlogs, I enjoy them so much, and you guys are such an inspiration to me and my family. Be blessed! Linda H
The biggest thing I struggle with at this moment is patience. I’m one week away from moving from Pueblo, CO to the new home we just purchased in Vail, AZ. Monsoon started, finally, and I’m just ready to get there and observe the land and figure out where to start and what to plant and what my new life is going to be!
I am a young adult and I can’t get my veggies to grow in my yard, I use the soil from the ground. And I would like to ask what essential oils you use for allergies? We also have a tree that cane with a small root ball, what could do to help with that?
Hi Addison-
Raised garden beds may be an option for you to grow a garden. This article talks about creating a good soil to grow things in: https://www.weedemandreap.com/best-soil-combination-raised-garden-boxes/
This article goes through health issues (include allergies) and how EOs can help: https://www.weedemandreap.com/doterra/
For a tree with a small root ball, give it a good soil to grow in, loosen it’s roots up before planting, and stake it to give it support while it grows.
I hope that helps!
Best of luck with everything!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi Danelle, I have been watching your youtube channel for about 6 monthd now and love it. I live in Australia on 5 acres. We have a breeding herd of miniature goats, that on the next season would love to start milking. We have started to build a vegetable garden and we have chooks and ducks for eggs. We are only just starting and have so much to still learn. I love that you use essential oils, herbs and other natural methods for you goats and would love to learn more so i can help my goats be the best goats possible.
Thank you
Hi Stacey-
It sounds like you have some great things going on in Australia!
Here are DaNelle’s articles on natural care for animals if you would like to read more: https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/animals/natural-care/
Thank you and best of luck with everything! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi we have been enjoying your channel for 5 months, you and your family have helped us take a leap from a time two bedroom apartment, with no backyard or front yard, to moving into a home on 2.25 acres. My husband couldn’t wait to get his first plants in the ground (2 days lol) We are starting with bare land, with just a couple spigots and old rusty broken down barbed wire around half of the property. We are already designing how we want our one acre garden and our half acre animal pens. I would say, the hardest part for us is the time and resources to turn our dreams into a reality. The owner of the property is all for the plans we have for the property. The only thing that he requested was that we would need to take anything with us when/if we leave. If you have any ideas on how to do sturdy temporary fencing for goats, pigs, and chickens, it would be much appreciated. Thank you for all you help with, and keep the stump for willow.
P.s. My children LOVE to watch your channel and Luna is their favorite goat!
Hi Lovely Family,
I recently discovered your channel and it is perfect timing for me.
I am a horticulturist with lots of garden experience… although there is always more to learn and share!
My main interest in your channel and your family’s work is your understanding and experience with goats.
Shortly I am moving to a smallholding which I intend to keep goats on for milk and especially cheese production.
I have had some months of working with goats in the long past, but the idea of being totally responsible for goats scares me a little.
Especially areas such as sickness and birth.
Your channel has already provided me with much knowledge and courage and I will continue to watch closely to how you manage, feed and breed your goats as your site is giving more hands on information than I have found anywhere else.
I know that when I get my own small heard ( of nigerian dwarf’s ) I will so to speak have an ongoing online source of information and support and for that I am very grateful to you and your family for all that you share.
Kind Regards,
Emily
I am currently growing my little vegetable garden. Last year we dealt with slugs. They went into all of my tomatoes, peppers and lettuce. I want to avoid that this year. I’ve been reading about salt. I think I will be shaking some salt all over my garden tomorrow. Have you heard of that? Does it work? Will it make my veggies weird? Anyways, love your channel. Keep up the great work!
Hi Lina-
Yes, salt will dehydrate slugs, but you must be careful because it can also damage your plants. One or two applications of salt can be ok, but much more won’t be good for your plants.
Here are some tips on keeping slugs from damaging your plants: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/slugs#keep-your-garden-clean-and-dry-298061
I hope that helps! Best of luck with your garden!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I want to homestead so, so badly. Yet, because I still live with my parents and they’re not big farm people, I have to wait until I move out and am financially stable.
But! I can thank you and your YouTube channel for making me so goat-crazy! <3
I grew up on a small cattle ranch. I do miss it. I would love to find a small place to get back into that but not for profit but for myself.
I’ve been growing a vegetable garden for years, but have just started back growing one after a 4 year hiatus. I’m on a property just over an acre in a small country village. I cook everything scratch made for cost and health reasons, as I am a Type 2 diabetic and hypo-thyroid. I do make my own soaps, house hold cleaners, lotions; deodorants and want to learn more about healing with essential oils and natural remedies. I’m hoping to one day raise chickens for eggs. I love your YouTube channel and decided to follow your blog for more great ideas on natural living. Thanks so much! ❤
Hi! I’ve been following your blog and youtube channel and absolutely love everything you are doing. I am 17 years old and am going to study social work next year. I hope to one day start an animal-assisted therapy farm because I strongly believe animals can help us humans in more ways than we know. You have really helped me answer some of the questions I’ve always had on raising animals. My biggest struggle honestly is money. I want to be able to start right away but I can’t because I don’t have enough money to start this project. I need to be patient but meanwhile, I want to learn as much as possible.
Hi Nolwenn,
I’m not sue this would be the exact avenue for the therapist side, but perhaps look at a grant from the USDA??? Maybe someone can assist you with a business plan and model, to present to them. God’s blessings.
Hi DaNelle! I happened across your YouTube channel about a month ago while on a hunt for Nigerian Dwarf Goat content and I have been obsessed with your videos ever since! I’m finishing up my college degree now and have a little more work to do but my dream has always been to have a farm. I grew up with horses, chickens, etc but I love the idea of being self sustaining! I can’t wait to get some great information from your emails and I’m always excited to see a new video pop up on your channel 🙂
Much love from New Hampshire!
I grew up on a ranch, we raised beef cattle. We had success with improving the environment on our ranch with a grazing program started by Allan Savory. We also had a family garden with my Aunt and Uncle. Later we started a Raised-bed Garden nearer to our house. We had meat chickens several years. One year we had two laying hens in the flock, one of them laid eggs that fall. We also had some ducks that year. Earlier we had bought two goats, one bred doe and a buck. One doe wandered to our ranch from the Neighbors, she had thought she was a cow her whole life and would prefer to graze with their cattle before being adopted by our goat herd. We sent a kid back to the Neighbors following. Once we had to re-gather our goats when they got lost, we found more goats than we had started with. We later sold our first buck and our whethers, after borrowing a Boer buck from another Neighbor. I also learned about beekeeping from a Beekeeper one summer. I now live in an apartment in town and hope to have an acreage of my own some day. I think I will enjoy this site that I found, Weed ’em and Reap. My biggest problem is keeping my mind calmed down.
RIGHT NOW MY FOCUS IS METHOD, HOW TO RAISE GOATS, SUCCESSFULLY. I AM NEARING RETIREMENT, THEREFORE FARM LIFE IS GOING TO BE MY DAILY BREAD
We are almost 5 years into our home – 2 acres in Northern California. We set up the garden when we first moved in – raised troughs – 3 ft x 10 ft – 7 total. Last Memorial Day I set up automatic drip irrigation to each bed. It is amazing what a regular watering schedule will do to your crops – this was one of the best moves I could ever make and would encourage anyone without an automatic system to set it up. Next we moved on to nuts and fruit trees. So the fruit trees are into their 3rd years (15 in all) – so we are learning to prune, manage, etc – it is a first with many of theses fruits. There are 26 almond trees also in their 3rd year – and hopefully they will start producing this summer or in the next 2-3 years. Not sure how we will manage all of the nuts once they all get going. We recently got two wethered Nigerian dwarf goats – they’ve been with us a little over a week. So that is a really new learning curve for us – they are the cutest boys – very friendly. Our little dog and GSP could care less about the goats…but our Weimaraner is a different story – so that is a bit of a challenge – trying to get her used to them without trying to chase and take them down – slowly but surely – so that is our biggest challenge right now. We have really enjoyed all of the videos as we are learning about goats in general. I think chickens will be in order – maybe next year
Mostly, the get-up and go. I’m 60 and live (now) on the 5 acres of woods and cleared land we farmed as a family when I was growing up (just for our own use) cut trees for firewood etc. We didn’t do any slaughtering. Had horses, ducks, a tractor :). grew potatoes, corn, squash, and those regular NYS vegetables. I picked the wrong man to marry (sorry, this is lol all my farming problems in a nutshell) I live here with my 2 grown, unmarried sons and 1 daughter who aren’t completely land-and-animal oriented tho 1 daughter and 1 son like to think they are and will work 30-90 mins/day on a partial week. A local gal finished her Animal Science degree and her family has raised more animals (probably slaughtered.) I hope to rent goats from her over the Spring-Summer (so I don’t have to keep them thru the Winter) just to get the brush/poison ivy tamed around here. I kept chickens, too (free range) a couple years ago. Got about 6 eggs out of them over 18 months because they were completely free range. Got quite a few chicks but now they’re all gone.
Love your YouTube show. It is so very inspiring. My husband has retired and we are moving to a 4 acre farm in California. We are looking forward to chickens, goats and maybe a cow. My husband is an avid gardener so we look forward to a new adventure. I grew up on a farm so moving back to my roots.
We live in the Mojave Desert in a tiny oasis community. My biggest issues are 1) alkaline soil, 2) alkaline water, 3) extreme heat June-Sep, 4) gophers and wood rats. Thanks!
My biggest issue right now is all the rain we have been having. Haven’t been able to get the vegetable garden prepared for planting. My cousin’s yard is like a lake. She already has chickens but need to build a better chicken house and run. She got two Nigerian goats about three weeks ago, they are so cute. They are about eleven weeks old.
We are learning a lot from your videos.
Thank you for sharing.
Doris, Louisiana
My biggest issue is learning to calm my mind and do one thing at a time! Haha! We are planting fruit trees and bushes this year as well has having a garden. We have added to our chickens. We are researching now about goats and honey bees!
My husband and I live on just shy of an acre with our 2 really little girls. We started with chickens almost 2 years ago and have learned A LOT, and are adding 2 Nigerian Dwarf goats, 2 Pilgrim geese, and a large raised garden bed this spring. We have plans to add berry bushes and a small orchard, hopefully this spring as well. I learn by doing, so we’re planting all kinds of vegetables and flowers, and will see how it goes and what we need to change the following year! My biggest learning curve right now is how to best manage our space to be productive. Our house sits right in the middle of our almost-acre, and our front yard is a septic drain field, so we can’t plant any trees and have to be mindful of weight on them (ie, raised garden beds).
We recently purchased 2 female goats because my 10 year old twin daughters wanted goats for their birthday! I would like to one day breed/ milk the goats. They are about 7 months old right now. I really enjoy watching all of your videos because your family looks so happy and willing to put forth the work everyday!!
We are retired. 15 acres in East Texas. I grew up around animals and they have been some of my dearest friends. We have 4 grown daughters and 7 grand children. We have a lot of health problems we are working out. We have grown blueberries for 28 years. My husband has always had the green thumb in the family but he isn’t well enough anymore. I am interested in anything !
My biggest thing right now is building a pen. I have plans for goats, chicken, meat lamb, and many more. I am 23 and live on my own. It is a bit of a struggle to manage a full time job, school, building projects, and more by my self. I know it will all be worth it when I can work from home and run a farm! Also I am having issues finding the best food/feeding regimens for goats.
This is a whole new lifestyle for us. Mainly motivated by just providing healthier food options for our family. We are older and I think my biggest struggle is just simply getting overwhelmed. We started with meat rabbits last year and planted a few crops which did so so. It was a learning experience really to see how things would grow in just our soil. This year I’m working on raised beds. We live on 18 acres with 2.5 acres cleared and fenced in although it’s quite overgrown. I am getting 3 nigerian does next month. One already in milk. She just had her first kidding two weeks ago. I actually went and assisted with the delivery of her cute little buckling. The other two are already bred and due in June, so I’m excited about that and working on clearing up some of the jungle field and putting in a safe little house for them. We have predators so at night I want to be able to completely lock them in so they will be safe. We also want to start our little chicken flock for eggs. Probably too much too fast but I have been researching and putting together a plan for months so hopefully that will help make it less overwhelming. Thank you for putting all this information out there for everyone to learn. I think that’s just amazing.
We’ve been at it a while now, 7 years with poultry, waterfowl, goats and cows. Also do a garden every year. That said, I set out to learn new things every day about the animals I keep and new food ideas from the garden. The longer you keep any animal, the more there is to learn! So I keep an open mind, hope to pick up tips an new ideas along the way.
I have a full time job so having enough spare time to get started is my problem. I’ve had chickens for about 6 years but nothing big just enough for the eggs. I have 5 acres but 4 1/2 are in woods. Don’t mind clearing it some and I know I’ll have to to make this work. I’ll take any advice you have. I live in south east Mississippi if that helps with any info.
I have to thank you for introducing my family and I to essential oils! This was are first step to a more natural life style. I make are own tooth paste, cleaning products and much more! In the future we will be getting some chickens and goats. I follow you on Youtube and have learned a great deal from you. I wish to learn as much as possible. Its a life style I look forward to. All though I think killing my chickens is something I will have to work on. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn from you and your family.
I have tried to do the organic thing since my youngest showed up with severe health issues following a hep vaccine. It was life changing. She was our change of life baby and now at 28 she faces a daily struggle to just eat something that will not set her off. Organic is the only thing to have worked. She is healing slowly but will never be completely healed. She is the animal lover with a quarter horse, pony, guineas, chickens, turkeys ducks, two neutered male goats and now 4 females. Two of which are in the house IN diapers and on bottles. Middle of cold here and deep snow so they will not be moved out till things are stable enough for them. I use the raised beds as I cannot bend down well to work in the ground. I built my soil up with the lasagna method and add to that yearly. We catch rain water to water when needed and the chickens enjoy what we don’t get harvested in time. Stink bugs are the worst pest I fight. They come in the summer at the peak of producing and suck the life out my plants. Especially the vines. NOTHING has stopped them that is not bad for us as well. We are in a rural area surrounded by trees on two sides. I don’t use insecticidal sprays but use DE and oils and soaps. Each year I try something new. So much fun NOT! I first found you on Youtube and watch all your videos…Love them.
I already have chickens and I have started canning my own garden. I hope to learn more about raising crops, goats (of course) and using oils. I buy doterra and I want to be able to use more of them on my animals for a more natural way of taking care of them as well as our self.
I’m so glad I just found your blog. One of my biggest challenges is trying not to take on more than I can handle. Is that possible? I want to do it all! My husband and I left the city life 2 years ago and moved to the Central Coast of California where we bought 5 acres. Goals: Raise animals for food and dairy using sustainable practices while feeding only organic non-GMO feed. Grow heirloom vegetables and a medicinal garden without the use of pesticides while instituting permaculture practices. Cross fence our 3 acre pasture so we can feed our horse, goats and pigs with as little supplemental feed as possible. The list goes on and on!
Looking forward to learning more from your site!
Sheryl
Hello!
So just one of my hurdles right now is building better animal shelters and making my own organic remedies to keep my animals and plants healthy. This year the California heat nearly wiped out my entire herb garden… I am considering building a greenhouse this spring.
Hi I’m from Iowa. My biggest struggle is living in the city and only doing small things! I really want to be able to do all of the big parts but I know that comes with time!
Hi from Washington. My biggest challenge is money (limited income) and space and bad knees. I am new to property – 1/4 acre. Not sure where I can dig , place coop, pens. Trying to figure out where everything is, prop lines, drain field, waterlines.
I’m unsure of rules in Washington. Up here in Canada once a fence is in place it becomes the property line until a legal survey is done.so be sure not to cheat yourself when fencing. I found my corner post by fastening a stick to a tire and measuring the number of feet in one revolution. I found the lost corner post within less then a yard of my measurement on a 1.5 kilometre stretch of road.
Cheryl. Look at your well tank are in your house, you are on a well. The company may be able to come out and assist you. Same for any septic system.
Anthony
Hi
Our main problems are not enough space and our health are failing. We se your youtube and vlogs, and they help keeping us going. You and your family are doing amazing work.
This my husband’s and my first year farming ourselves. I’d say, ALL OF IT has been the biggest challenge, haha! We live in the city, but have land 1 1/2 hours away. I work the city job, he tends our 14 hogs a few times a week. Also we have a 7 month old baby with no family in town. And just about NOTHING goes the way we originally planned. Like when we thought we should fence in the pigs with electric wire (without properly training them) and rotate them through the woods. Then they figured out how to escape and my husband had to chase/lure them back into their paddock. Multiple times. I could go on, but suffice it to say it’s all been a challenge, but no matter what hurdles come up, we find a way to get through it. There’s been many, many times I’ve thought there is no way we can make this work, but every time, my husband finds a way. So I am confident we will one day live on our farm full time. But I don’t think it will be easy 😉 Love your blog, it’s cute and fun and helpful and nice to know we aren’t the only ones doing this without much prior experience.
Hello! We are Jennifer and Jeff from Pennsylvania! We have a nice amount of acreage! We have been gardening for the last 10+years!! We grow flowers and vegetables! I did canning and picking of the vegetables we grew. We had kept chickens a couple years ago, but due to my chronic nerve pain issues caused by a cervical neck injury we stopped. My nerve pain has been under control the last couple of years and I started beekeeping. Have 2 hives that produced a nice amber sweet honey this year!! Being a bee keeper has helped us get back in a gardening groove. We are working on getting the chicken coup ready for chickens in the spring of 2019!! I have also been doing some research and educating myself about milk goats!! I love your blog/vlog!! I would love to get a couple Nigerian Dwarf goats!!
My struggle is that my hubby isn’t 100% on board – although he funds our goat “hobby” with his nursing job and and willingly helps because he loves us. I’d love to farm full-on, but right now we’re limited to 2 small raised beds and a small herd of 4-H goats.
I’m having trouble getting goats I’ve been researching About them but I can’t find the right information. I have chickens but I want goats I also don’t know where to get goats but I’m looking.
Hi Kadence-
To find goats, you can try Craigslist or contact your local county extension office and they can help connect you with folks that have goats and may have some for sale. Best of luck!
Thank you-Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have lots of animals and lots of kids. I’ve been attempting natural gardening for almost 18 years. I have chickens and rabbits and small here and there vegetable and flower gardens. I also homeschool. I love natural living and natural rememdies, I aspire to blog or vlog one day. Your site is very inspiring!
Hi there!
I’m Jenn. I’m 25 and my ENTIRE life I have dreamed of running a small farm. Growing up in a home that didn’t allow pets and that didn’t emphasize gardening skills made learning skills for this goal difficult. Learning about animals (and their care) and gardening from other families and individuals has always brought a spark to my life that helps me feel like I can do those things myself someday. Now, I live in Southern CA where our (temporary) housing situation doesn’t allow animals and only has room for a tiny patio garden. But, I LOVE your blog because I am soaking in all the knowledge I can, knowing that better, goal-achieving days are surely ahead!
We’re just starting out with a new home, a barn, and 2.5 acres of blank slate. We don’t have a budget to do things twice, so we need to make good decisions the first time around. I’m nervous, farming is something we don’t have any experience with. I’m thankful to have found this site to use as a resource!
hi guys. My biggest struggle is i have a boer goat and i really don’t know a lot about boar goats, and i want to start my own garden soon. I know boer goats are used for meat and i think milk. They are usually light brown and white. And i have had her for two years now. And im gonna start gardening soon but i don’t know a lot about gardening. Do you have any tips on gardening for me.
Hi Kiarna-
It’s great you are getting into goats and gardening and wanting to learn more. DaNelle has a lot of great resources for gardening on her webpage: https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/gardening/
For info on meat goats here’s a good website: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/14
Also for help with gardening and goats in your local area, contact your local county extension office.
I hope that helps! Best of luck!
Thank you-Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
My biggest struggle is find the right place to retire. Can’t be too far from the grandkids. Would like 3 to 5 acres preferably with no neighbors.
I keep searching, but haven’t found “the” place just yet.
Hi Monica-
Keep looking! You will find the perfect place one day! Thank you for reading and posting! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi!
We are soon moving to a 6ha farm with avos, pecans and a tilapia pond – we made the leap when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I decided to make a list of all the things I really wanted – a move to simple, intentional living with a health dose of self reliance/sufficiency.
I found your blog and have been binge reading when I can.
I guess I’m not sure what our farm will become but I want to give it a real go so that we all get back in touch with where healthy food comes from 🙂
i have dairy goats, any information for pasture.
Hi Carolyn-
Here are some articles that can help you plan your pasture:
https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-much-space-need-raise-goats/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/efficient-pasture-rotation-goats/
I hope that helps!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi Everyone. Ive been gardening for a little while. Still learning alot. I just got some land so we are thinking of starting a homestead. Love watching your videos and feel like im apart of the family…
Wow! How are you ever going to read all these comments! I’ve been at this a while but only recently in the Southwest. I have a horse, a donkey, 2 goats, 3 dogs and 4 cats. And I’m their only caretaker, who works full time outside of the house. I’m mostly interested in healthy, sustainable feeding and wellness, that is unlike many of the people and practitioners around here, and growing food smartly in this climate. Someone sent me your hysterical goat workout video a while ago (best exercise routine ever! I’m in the best shape of my life!) and I just recently discovered your YouTube and blog. It’s nice to network with other outside the box thinkers!
Hi Sonja-
It sounds like you have a great little farm going there! I hope you keep up your healthy and sustainable way of life. Thank you so much for reading, watching, posting, and for the kind words!
Best wishes! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I am super excited to have found this site! My biggest struggle is I am new to this whole new life style! We have layer chickens (so easy!) and 3 goats, 1 male who is neutered and 2 new females, which we hope to maybe breed. After our wedding next year, that we are holding on our 2 acre farm, I plan on starting a garden but have absolutely no idea about gardening either. I am looking forward to learning a lot about gardening, and maybe one day having meat chickens and also dairy goats. That of course will have to be once I have children and am no longer working full time, since running a farm (let alone a family) is a full time job in itself!
Hi to the four of you! Great family and life. My name is “Anna Banana” as everyone calls me. I am retired and disabled. I’ve got a long list of medical things that have happened to me and I just turned 60 (doing better now). I feel if I was really getting outside taking care of animals I would be a much happier person. I have been in the Insurance Biz, am in Real Estate and Avon. I really just want to be away from doing that full time. My husband is thinking about a piece of property that his family owns – 5 acres here in Palmdale, CA. I get excited when I sit down with my journal and make my notes each time I watch your vids and others as well. We are in the stages of acquiring this land and I know it’s going to cost a pretty penny to make it the farm I want with chickens, quail, turkeys and small goats to start with. I want to say “thank you” for your vids and will keep watching and learning. Anna Banana – hugs to all of you!
I’m gonna be that person ? but I just wanted to let you know there’s a typo in the first sentence.?
The biggest struggle is not having our own land right now. So everything seems a far away dream. I’m able to have a good size garden. But renting makes it hard to have animals. I’d get them in a heart beat, we live in farm land. But the possibility of the owner not liking the animals, or deciding to make us move, stops us from getting any.
Hi Jessie-
Thanks for the heads up! And good luck with your plans!
Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hello well my biggest challenge right now is RE establishing our homestead. Shooo and I’m pooped.
We bought us more acrage we had 3 now have 7. A lot of my plants and herbs didn’t make it inthe move. I had to over w/o tee them, but some made it. My garden is small this year trying to get fences built and all. Just got in the house in May. Lost my g
Oldest goat (Daisy May) last week. Be having guineas in a week. Chickens are doing good and rest of goats enjoying their new territory. Thanks for your hard work and info. Love to do things as natural as possible.
Blessings Tammy
I’m 63 now and started helping my mother garden organically when I was 10 but have never tried to raise farm animals. I’m retired now and have a couple of acres in the Shenandoah Valley so hope to remedy that shortfall. Like what I’ve seen on your site so far.
I have recently started working on a friend’s ranch with their goats and chickens and other birds, cows and horses. I have learned a lot more about goats than I can imagine. I love them. My family, well my husband has been trying to get me on board to live out in the country where the nearest neighbor is miles away and we are getting ready to do this very soon. There is so much to learn about growing your own vegetables and raising animals. I am excited but very nervous. I am glad I found you.
I think the hardest thing to do is figuring where to start. We’d Lived in the city for 29 years in the same house and we had four han lived in the city for 29 years in the same house and we had four hens. This really was against the rules but no one bothered us with it till my neighbors decided they wanted to do it and let theirs run loose then I got in trouble for it. We bought a 14 acre homestead moved our four hens and started remodeling the house which took over year. we have since added goats and a donkey and taking in some of the pasture there’s things that would like to do and get but we’re trying to figure in order of things and we’re not agreeing on any of it.. So that’s our problem!!
Our biggest struggle is probably the county’s ordinances. We (finally) were able to get chickens and are currently trying to get 2 Nigerian Dwarf Goats. There are laws on noises, smell, backyard structures (goat house, chicken coop, ect.), farm animals, and loads more!
The craziest thing is where we live. Honestly, it is the most rural part of the town! Since what we can legally do on are 1 acre is VERY limited, we are constantly forced to be creative. Guess that’s one pro, right?
I hope that one day, we will have the homestead of my dreams!
Do you have any tip or trick to getting Japanese Beetles to leave my sunflowers and beans alone?? I’ve done a little bit of research and found out that those Japanese Beetle traps just attract more the following year! I’m wondering if there is an oil that the beetles do not like. Thank you!
Hi Audrey-
These two articles can you use oils in your garden and companion planting to deter the beetles. https://www.weedemandreap.com/natural-pesticides/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/companion-planting-made-easy-peasy/
I hope that helps.
Thank you-Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Honestly, there are more than one struggle but if I have to pick only one it would probably be time. I work over 40 hours a week, school on-line (around 20 hrs), kids, husband, church, community, etc. You know, the list goes on and on. I have a very small homestead. I have 18 chickens and 3 dairy goats…mini-lamanchas. I have done a garden for years but am going to change it up and do raised beds…mainly for maintenance and convenience. I want to learn more about doTerra, the health benefits for humans and the animals, the do’s and do not’s and how much of what to give for what. I have children with special needs and knowing how to help them is my biggest concern. Any and all information will be appreciated.
Hi, I moved to the high desert of California going on 6 six years ago. We are raising chickens and have two goats. We are looking to expand when we have the time. We both work but love growing our own vegetables, fruit and fresh eggs. We live on about two acres. Our biggest challenge is time. I think we have the coyote problem resolved but there doesn’t seem to be enough time for us to do everything we want to get accomplished.
I look forward to your asdvice and to learn from all of you.
Have a great day
Nino
I’m Malinda of 4T Ranch in Lockhart,TX. We were kind of thrown into homesteading after I was willed 100+ acres a little over 4 years ago. We had 2 months to get livestock on the land or lose our ag exemption. We fixed fences and bought 4 cows. That was enough to get started. We have now wxpanded to having 2 horses, more cows, Boer goats, Nigerian Dwarf goats, chickens, ducks, and geese. We have a few struggles…rebuilding the farmhouse into a livable home, actually living in Austin, TX on a postage size lot, and definitely a lack of good information on the internet. It took me a year and losing 6 Boer mommas and their babies to worms to find good reliable information. I have been watching your YouTube channel ever since The Rhodes family stopped by your house and have used your website, fiasco farms website, and Onion Creek Ranch’s website as reference tools. Thanks for helping with the goats!! By the way, my Nogerians and chickens are my favorite animals on the ranch!
I don’t have any challenges as of yet. Since Ive become a Massage Therapist & Reiki practitioner; I’ve been drawn to a more holistic lifestyle. I’m getting married 11/11/2018 & we are about to open our own handcrafted soap company & the goats milk soap is my favorite. We currently live in Fort Worth & have a three year plan to move to Nashville where it’s cooler overall so I can spend more time in nature. (I’m allergic to heat lol) We would love to get an acre or two so I can hopefully get some milking goats & start my own herb garden for my soaps. I’m an animal lover where as my fiancé is scared of animals due to a bad childhood memory. Because of your videos he’s more on board with me getting goats! Yay! So I just appreciate the amount of effort you & your family has put into your videos & blogs. I truly feel my learning experience has been cut in half through your knowledge that I may not have to wait until we get to Nashville to get my goats! Thank you & keep up the great work!
So glad I found your site. You’ve already answered my 2 biggest concerns – how to raise grass-fed sheep (emphasis on grass-fed), and how to make my own sprouted wheat flour. Love that as young people you are farming like old people, the natural way. I’m 75 and don’t grow my own veggies but buy and eat almost exclusively organic. I do have pasture raised meat and egg chickens and will soon have grass fed lamb to eat. What I do raise makes money for me as well as provide food. It’s so rewarding to raise these lovely animals and eat their produce. Thx for your encouragement. And I send my encouragement to keep up the good work.
My problem? Finding somewhere in crowded and expensive England to buy a house with even a bit of land! The area I like is the least expensive and has the most fertile soil but still a struggle to find somewhere.
My biggest struggle is the overwhelming depression stemming from day to day city life, working in Phoenix, the traffic, the smog, just so much concrete and brown everything as far as the eye can see. My entire life I have just wanted to live among mountains and forest, basking in nature and just being in complete peace with a small farm. Nothing too complicated, just an acre or two. I live in Maricopa AZ but I’m from Chicago, so any advice on growing anything in this dusty, dry, hot desert is more than welcome since I’m very new to the area.
Hi. My name is Darla and I just want to say thank you for sharing your knowledge. I’m just getting my feet wet with gathering information on goats, chickens, and gardening. I’m a 19 year brain cancer survivor with many health issues and just know if I can live healthier I can have a fuller life. That’s where you come in. My hardest issue is that I live on only a half an acre and I’m trying to start out this goat, chicken raising and gardening life. Please continue to share your knowledge. I’m soaking it up.
We live in Beverly MA. We have a small yard, 5000 sq feet. We have 2 kids, 6 and 5. We have 25 chickens currently free ranging in the yard. They have eaten everything! I have no grass anymore, my lilies and hostas are nibbled to the ground. I need to create a run for the hens, but will miss having them ranging. I still have my herbs in the house. Readying the yard for veggies. What are your must grow summer veggies? My kids love growing what they eat. I can’t plant anything just yet, until the pen for the hens is complete.
Hi Danyelle-
Sounds like you have lots going on! Here are the simplest veggies to grow and are staples in the garden. https://www.weedemandreap.com/5-vegetables-beginner-gardener/
Plus, always love to have some watermelons!
Not exactly sure what its like in your area but these are great garden plants to grow and how to grow them: https://www.weedemandreap.com/planning-your-garden-vegetables/
Best of luck in all you do! Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistants)
Energy… between work, school and social schedules, I feel like my energies are drained. I know my health is not at its best causing me to lose energy much faster than I should be for a young 29 yo! My goals for this next year; continue to choose all around healthier lifestyle options, BUY A HOUSE WITH LAND, and grow at home businesses for homestead sustainability.
I eat USDA organic foods only, about 85 percent. It’s made a big difference in my energy level.
Hi Megan,
I l
Used to lack energy also. May I suggest a sleep study. I learned I have severe sleep apnea. I now have a Cpap. Makes a huge difference.
Space!!!
I need space. We live in the city of Edmonton and in an apartment none the less. So I’m working on healthy eating with hopes that God will lead our family to the country where we could begin gardening and raising animals.
I’d love more info on the difference between cow and goats milk. I know that cow milk has a protein in it that wreaks havoc in the body but I just assumed all milk was like that!
Hi, thanks for your site. I like that you are attempting all this in the desert southwest like me. As to your question, I think that we are really quite blessed currently. There are physical and online resources – your site, Master Gardener network, Native Seed/Search, books, meetups and more – that are at our disposal so much more than before. I guess my complaint is the same tired “more time, more space”, but I am enjoying what I have and what I’m doing.
Cheers,
Thanks for sharing all of your information and family events! This has become my go to for goats as well. We are horse folks and this year we are new to chickens and goats. We have them just for pets as we got two bucks. No worries I detest dairy milk, haha. All almond for me! I’ve been talking for years about the science behind why cow milk is so bad for us. So I’m glad you’re using goats milk. I might try that soon myself. So my question is about our kids fat little bellies. They are about 3 months old. We bottle fed them from day one as they were pulled from a new mother that had 4. We had no issues moving them to hay and they love it. They get a more alfalfa mixture that we feed the horses during winter. Problem seems that they only eat parts of the hay and waste a lot! 5:00 AM and they’re out there looking for Matt, as I like to say. I feed them about half a flake twice a day and that barely keeps them from screaming for Matt. I’ve been trying to substitute this with grazing in the yard for old weeds and the first of a little grass this week. Spring is just barely here in Wyoming. Anyway, to the point, their little bellies seem quite fat. Do I need to change their feeding? Do they need some probiotics? Are we in danger of colic? Thanks for your help! If you guys ever visit Wyoming you’ll have to stop by our little ranch.
Hi Timothy-
If you think your goats are suffering from bloat you can give them baking soda and that should help. Also keep them away from grain and make sure they have plenty of fresh water. Giving them a probiotic would be a good idea too. Also make sure your goats are wormed to ensure this isn’t affecting their health.
Here are a few articles to give you a little more info on how goats eat with links to products that may help.
https://www.weedemandreap.com/what-do-goats-eat/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-to-care-for-baby-goats/
https://www.https://www.weedemandreap.com/natural-goat-dewormer/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/supplements-for-goats/
I hope that helps! Best of luck in Wyoming! Happy Goating! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Biggest Struggle: finding like minded people in my area. And goat care. Yours is my go-to source about goats.
Hi Tabitha-
So glad we can help! We appreciate you reading and posting! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi, I’m loving all the information here. My biggest struggle is that we’re pretty hippie-ish and we have no idea what to do as we get started to stay away from things that aren’t needed and using natural alternatives instead. We’re getting our garden started this year and upgrading to chickens next year and goats shortly after. Any and all advice, tips, etc are appreciated.
We have found that our biggest hurdles are information and the energy to get it all done. lol We bought an 8 acre wooded lot with just enough cleared for the house that was on it. Since I was raised on a farm, I had big goals (bigger than my ‘military brat’ husband). But since we have both retired, we are making it work. Good information is paramount!! I follow specific people on YouTube and Facebook for that reason. Justin got me all in to the chickens and now YOU have me enthused about goats!! Never thought I’d be into goats, but they are sooooooo funny to watch. We recently fenced in a couple acres for three goats and have added a Great Pyrenees to that area. So now, our little backyard project has grown to include rabbits, chickens, ducks, goats, and dogs. lol That’s not including the new chicks and the gardens I have planned. I often see so many possibilities in 8 acres. I think a barn may be next on the list, mainly to help me get organized. I’m glad that we found your videos when we did; they have been so helpful. Keep it going.
Hi DaNelle,
My husband and I bought a 3+ acre property about a year ago and we are trying to raise some of our own food. My biggest struggle is probably financial and energy. We are both in our late 50’s and have some minor health issues mainly related to movement and pain (arthritis and sciatica). I have chickens, ducks and rabbits at this point but would like to add goats and sheep. I’m very impressed by your operation and watch your videos all the time. I have trouble sourcing good affordable feed and making sure what I am getting from my animals is worth what I’m paying out in feed and other costs. I realize that part of the benefit is knowing what my animals are eating and that they are being raised in a healthy environment, but I also would like for my costs to be lower and more manageable. Any ideas? Keep those videos coming. So fun, entertaining and educational. Thanks so much.
Hi Cindy-
Yes, feeding can get expensive. Some things that can help are buying in large quantities when possible and trying to source food from local growers or a local feed CO-OP. Giving chickens your kitchen scraps and leftovers can really cut costs too. You can even ask family members, friends, and/or neighbors to save leftovers for your chickens. I never buy chicken feed, they only get leftovers, and what they forage when they are roaming the yard. Plus, I plant a garden just for them with veggies they can eat and they get the bugs off the plants too.
As for goats, a proper pasture rotation can create a quality forage for your goats and cut costs. Here are some ideas on that: https://www.weedemandreap.com/efficient-pasture-rotation-goats/
Also, here is how DaNelle feeds her goats and sheep:
https://www.weedemandreap.com/what-do-goats-eat/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-to-raise-grass-fed-lamb-like-a-boss/
I hope this helps! Best of luck! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
My biggest struggle is finding information. We live in Australia and moved 30 mins out of town 18months ago with no idea what we were doing and the hope that we might be able to live off our land and teach our children about where our food comes from. I stumbled across your you tube channel a few months ago and I’ve leant so much already! We have chooks, goats and some sheep and a sad sad failure of a veggie garden. I look for ward to your emails and working my way through your blog! Thanks DaNelle
I’m a newbie who just discovered this site, retired not long ago to AZ (White Mountain) in a house on 1/4 acre, the fenced in back yard of which is big enough to grow much of, if not more than I need to survive. Born and raised in a small Iowa farm town, I don’t consider it “yucky” to get my hands dirty and manure is music to my nostrils.
This will be a work in progress for me for the rest of my life because I’ll need to get a dozen and a half pine/cypress/oak trees (with problems) removed from my property to make room for fruit/nut trees and trellises for berries etc. And my back yard will eventually be a patchwork of raised garden beds and possibly chicken coop(s) and goat residence.
In the meantime, I’m enjoying reading/learning and will do what I can, as I can.
Biggest struggle? There never seems to be enough time. I’m working full time, plus some. I’d like to grow more fruits & veggies, and have more animals, but I can barely keep up with the stuff I’ve got now. I’m eager to learn more efficiencies (love the permaculture concepts) and maybe some ways to keep up my energy.
I watch your YT videos they are entertaining, sometimes very funny, and clean viewing. I am retired and to old to farm, so my error here is i love to learn about all thing and/or any knowledge stuff… i do food fermentation, water kefir, i am going to try to grow some Fresno Chile peppers and make fermented Fresno pepper hot sauce. So far my attempts at fermenting are mixed. Still learning. i don’t know if you will get this email with so many reply to your Q&A but i am all for your growing your channel, and will watch any & all videos that are produced with great anticipation.
Hi Marc-
Thanks so much for the kind words. Sounds like you have really gotten into fermenting. I hope you continue you with that and always keep learning! Thanks so much for watching, reading, & posting! Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hiya, My fiance and I are from Central Queensland in Australia. We are just starting out on our journey to grow our own food. We rent in town presently and are saving for a deposit to buy our first home with some land so animals arent an option for us yet… but they will be in the future!! 🙂
We are focusing on the garden side of things now. Growing our own herbs and some vegetables and we just got some fruit trees we can grow in containers so we can take them with us. I am super excited for my Native Finger Limes and lemonade fruit.
I am a sponge at the moment… soaking up all of the knowledge i can get my hands on!
My husband and I have decided to start a homestead of our own. We already have quails and chickens, and we are working on a goat house and yard. I plane on getting two Nigerian Dwarf goats soon. Our biggest problem is finding the resources that we need to grow our homestead. We live in a small rural area in southwest Alabama. I have been following you on YouTube, and you have helped us so much already, and I look forward to watching you daily! Thank you for all of the great information that you have given us so far!
I have recently bought 5 acres in ‘the city’ on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. I have subdivided it for a lot for earch of my 6 children (currently 15-28 yo) , I have allocated about an acre for ‘homesteading’ or an attempt at it…..an apiary, a garden, chickens & a couple goats. A unique adventure for me. My project is in its infiancy, I am thankful that I found your blog!
Our biggest challenge was finding land with a house on it that was not a major fixer upper in our price range. We ended up getting a deal on just land, which was mostly cleared for us. Yay! So now we are working on selling our home so we can get a manufactured home to put on the 8 acres. So excited to be starting our little farm!
Our biggest struggle is finding a place to have the ability to have farm animals. We garden as much as we can in our backyard but would love to expand and learn more about cold season gardening in the Texas panhandle
Hey there! We’ve dabbled in the farm life for years, but I think we finally have decided to go all in! I’m not sure what our biggest struggle is, farm life is an investment and we are growing a little at a time.
My problem is locating a place like you have where i can do the same
My biggest problem is finding what the right feed amounts are and finding good livestock at a descent price along with shelter and fencing. It doesn’t need to be fancy but it’s always expensive ?
My biggest issue is water rights. I want a small pasture to raise poultry, pigs, and sheep. I will possibly have to move to a new area in order to have the pasture/grass I want.
Hi ya! From Queensland Australia! I totally agree with kevin!! Love free stuff and “hunting” for a street bargain! I’ve finished building my chicken slider which is made from old trampoline bases and scrap timber..;) now just to fill my yard with hot new chicks???. We have access to Australian miniature goats and are looking into wether or not they can be milked successfully? Would love to talk more about your sheep. Do you only feed them grass? What age do you recommend getting them?
Also wondering if the cute miss Lydia might be able to do a vlog on why she loves her chores and why it’s important to “be involved”..;) perhaps even if your prince could do one directed at boys…;) I have 2 boys so any encouragement would be great!!!
Love ya crazy!
Juanita
Hi Juanita-
Sounds like you have a lot of great stuff going on!
Here is DaNelle’s article about her sheep: https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-to-raise-grass-fed-lamb-like-a-boss/
Pretty informative on how she raises them. And great suggestions on the kids vlogs! Thanks for the ideas! Best of luck!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
im only 12, but i am planning on getting goats within the next few months. problem is, ive been saying that for about 6 months now. my parents cant seem to get the goats rolling. i don’t know how to get moving with the whole backyard-farming thing. i think your youtube channel describes exactly what my family of 6 wants to do, but we are kind of not getting there very fast.
I live in two different places one in the summer and one in the winter.
My biggest struggles are not enough space to do all that we want & also not enough time in the day to do & learn everything I want to…but we are having fun anyway! Just doing what we can with what we have 🙂
Hello!
I love your site and YouTube videos! Found the one of you killing and cleaning a chicken, because that’s what we have to do soon. You made it look so easy! Then I saw your raised-bed soil recipe and decided that’s what we will do this spring, as opposed to a traditional row-type garden. Thanks for the great info!
My biggest struggle is having to work full time to make a living, therefore, not having enough time to do what I love. We have 5 acres, a vegetable garden, multiple raised beds for vegetables, flower gardens, chickens, dogs, a cat and honey bees. I find myself rushing around when I am at home, trying to get things done that I want accomplished.
My biggest struggle is lack of yard that I think I can use. My yard is all hill and in the woods, which means almost 0 sunlight and no space flat/without trees:(.
Hi Kaylin,
Hills can be tiered for gardening.
It takes some work and money, but definitely doable.
My biggest struggle is lack of knowledge. I’m new to all these and I’m still learning. Some days I don’t even know where to start. We have started with Nigerian dwarf goats. We lost one sadly from bloat but we are researching, watching videos and your website and videos have been the most helpful!!
I love this so much. I actually can relate to ya’ll very easily. I’m an FFA Swine Showman in the Gilbert area and I found your little farm so attractive. I love seeing a different aspect of the livestock/farming world and now thanks to this I’m considering raising some Pygmy or Dairy Goats for fair.
Hi Belle-
FFA and 4-H are some great programs! Good luck with fair and if you choose to go with goats! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Mine biggest struggle is probably planting to early Or to late i cant ever get the right timing. With my goats and cows i’d love to learn how to help them in birth rather then taking them to the vet or having the vet come to the farm i love watching your youtube channel i already have learned a lot from there!
Hi! I’m new to all this and I’m pretty young. I have had many stomach issues and I want to start a garden and get a few chickens(or maybe a milking goat). Have any tips?
Hi Landyn-
That’s great you want start doing all this! Here are some links to DaNelle’s articles that can get you started:
https://www.weedemandreap.com/starting-vegetable-garden/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/raising-baby-chicks-beginners-guide/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/buying-milking-goats/
I hope this helps! Best of Luck! Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi, just about to write “my biggest struggle” but read your post. Do look into juicing vegetables and fruit, my wife has similar problems and can not eat solid foods – juices have kept her alive and she is now much stronger physically and mentally than for years. Beginning of last year I thought she would need hospitalising, a week after we started the juices she was a different person.
finding more Southwest permaculture/farm folk. we have our own unique farming issues that other people don’t necessarily get.
I live on approximately 12 acres and have horses, ponies, miniature horses and now goats (Nigerian Dwarf)! Oh yeah and two wonderful dogs! My kids are grown, so it is just me, my husband, and the critters. I am starting a goat business (breeding, soaps, etc)! I work full time, so this will be my fun side business that I hope turns into something great like you have going! I need help tho! I have my goat bred, due anytime, have stuff to make soap, but now what!? Blog? How do I do a blog?
Hi Kristen-
Wow! Sounds like you have some great things going! If you want to get into blogging DaNelle has put together some great resources about blogging. Check them out here: https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/life/how-to-blog/
Good luck with your animal family, soap making, and any other things you venture into! Thanks so much for reading and posting! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Good Morning , I have an amazing Wife and five amazing Daughters ( 2 of which live with their Mom in another town.) . My Wife and I are looking to start a Homestead , and I like the thought of having a lot of land to raise more and produce more , But after watching your videos and reading some of the things you have written I see that I don’t need a lot of Land .
If you could go back and do it over would you buy more than an acre or do you prefer the Limited space ( less to Maintain) ?
Hi Joshua-
That’s great you want to start a homestead! Choosing to have a lot of acres, or just 1 or 2, really depends on if you want to raise cattle or stick with smaller livestock. For DaNelle’s situation, 1 acre is enough for their 5 little goats, plus raising 2 lambs each year and a flock of chickens. But, she knows that for somebody wanting to raise more lamb meat or a steer for grass-fed beef, they will need at least 2+ acres. I hope that helps! Best of luck! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I’m
Like that too !! We are looking
For the place to do it !! My kids are 11&7 one is
Special!! Both goes to regular school we live in the city and
I’m
Ready to move !! Bees goats chickens fish and compost is
What we are looking
For !!!
By far, my biggest struggle is time balance. I have two small kids, a medium sized herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats (with three currently bred) a large flock of birds and two HUGE garden spaces that I need to plan! Plus wanting to document, photograph and blog about it all! I sell eggs, breed goats and hope to eventually build a farm store.
I have a 5-acre farmette in rural (COLD) Northwest Illinois. My husband wants to add meat rabbits to our load this year. My kids are pre-school aged and I struggle with finding a balance between doting on them and building my farm and life up to where I want it (my farm and blog has become my outlet outside of being a mommy). How do you do it all while homeschooling?!
Hi Abby-
The answer is magic. Just find some fairy dust and it will be alright! Ok, maybe that’s not the real answer. 😉
I absolutely understand how tough it can be with little ones (both human and animal) running amok while you are trying to rope, wrangle, and rein them in. You are right about it being a balance. I have found it best to start out small and just slowly add in more when time allows and seems appropriate. It is far better to do less well, than do a lot in a shoddy fashion. And let’s face it, some days just aren’t good at all. But they will pass, and good (and great) days will come.
As your kids grow they will be able to help you in more ways than you think. Do not be afraid to give them chores and responsibilities. They will benefit from this, and you and your farm will too. As for homeschooling, as long as you are meeting the state’s requirements and your kiddos are learning, do it when it is convenient for you. If summer’s work better to school your kids, do that. If winter offers more down time on the farm, up the school work your kids are doing during that time. Find your own schedule.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are so many things I did around my farm that were a result of my neighbors and family helping me. Just be kind and reciprocate later when they need a little help. And make sure you delegate the things that need to be done, and don’t think you have to do it all yourself.
If you want more on what DaNelle has done you can check out her “Life” page on her website: https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/life/
If covers a gamut of topics from blogging to homeschooling.
I hope this helps! Best of luck! Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
My biggest struggle is actually figuring out WHERE to do it all. We have 1/2 acre (all yard) and no outbuildings. I have had a garden (traditional row garden) in years past at other houses we lived in, but would prefer to make permanent no-till beds. Never had any livestock animals (interested in chickens, dairy goats, and bees). Where would the beds go? The compost heaps? The chicken coop (how much room does each chicken need in a run)? The bee hives? The goat pen? The milking shed? AND…having time for it all now that I work full time. Especially early on, when we’re getting up and running. So, my biggest struggle is just about EVERYTHING!! Lol!
Hi Candi-
I love that you recognize the hard work that will be needed to design and run a small farm, yet you still have so much enthusiasm for it!
Here is a link to some backyard farm designs that DaNelle put together that I thought might be helpful to get you started. https://www.weedemandreap.com/backyard-farm-designs/#comment-179247
I hope this helps and some day you get everything up and running! Best of luck!
-Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have a small house with no backyard and live in a horribly strict HOA: I tend to change that in 2 years and save for a larger home with an Urban farm: I am a Vegan however and would not raise animals for eating, but mainly for yard and pest control (chickens and goats)
I would say good resources and managing my time well too
My biggest struggle right now is probably preparing for my goat to give birth. She’s due in about 6 weeks and I’m worried something might go wrong. We had one who gave birth perfectly fine when we weren’t home but she was my sisters and we didn’t expect it. This is my baby and I don’t want anything to happen to her so I want to know how to prepare myself for all of that. Also we just sold the mother of our almost 1 year old miniature silky fainting/Nigerian and she’s very depressed. Is there a way to help her?
Hi Caitlyn-
I understand your worry about your goats. Here are a couple of articles DaNelle wrote and a video of hers that will help you prepare:
https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-pregnancy-delivery-checklist/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/post-partum-care-goats/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-birth-video-tutorial/
As for the sad goat, she just needs a little extra attention from her humans right now. Hopefully she is mixed in with the other goats and isn’t all by herself, because goats hate being alone. Just keep an eye on her and she will snap out of it soon.
I hope this helps! Best of luck and Happy Goating! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
We haven’t quite started yet but we are going to be moving in the spring and we are on the lookout for something with enough space so I can start to raise goats and chickens. I have been doing some gardening with what little space we have but it’s been hard since for the past 2 years, I’ve gotten pregnant twice (once on bedrest) so I have two very small ones to wrestle. For now though, I’m working on growing herbs and experimenting with them. My husband got me a small cheap greenhouse for mothers day and I’m glad I can start putting it to use. I am very much enjoying your YouTube channel and blog. It gets me super stoked to get started! Thanks for all the helpful tips. One question though, when starting to raise goats for the first time, would it be better to start with does or kids?
Hi Ali-
Sounds like you have busy and ever progressing life! Keep going!
As for whether you should start with does or kids it’s really up to you. I’ve done both and it works great either way. It’s more of the goat themselves and their personality that’s makes the difference. This article DaNelle wrote has some good advice on getting your first goat: https://www.weedemandreap.com/buying-your-first-goat/
I hope this helps. Best of luck and Happy Goating! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I bought a 12 acre farm in August and haven’t started with my plans yet. The property was very overgrown and the farmhouse is 77 years old! Both need much work, but I LOVE it! It has 2 large barns, a chicken coop, fenced grassy pastures and a pond! There are several other animal enclosures scattered around and I am finding out from my neighbor that the lady who lived here for 40 years was a horticulture major from UGA. Underneath all of the overgrowth that my 21 years old son and I are uncovering as we clean up is beautiful, exotic plants, flowers, and trees! I can’t wait to start with some goats & chickens, but am researching first, so finding you at this time has been a blessing!
Hi Kitty-
So excited about your purchase! It sounds like you are finding some wonderful treasures and enjoying your labor of love. That’s great you are researching all you can. You can also check out DaNelle’s YouTube videos here: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCf4zEY4qO8OSK5P3sP9MMEQ
They have a lot of good info too and are pretty darn entertaining! I hope this helps and all goes well for you! Thanks for for reading and posting! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I would love to have a homestead which I am proud of. We have 8 dairy goats, it seems as if they get sick and I don’t know what to do. I am trying herbs, but they get expensive. Last year, we lost 2 babies. This was difficult.
I also have a 9 month old baby. It is hard to handle livestock and a baby.
Hi Becky-
Homesteading and raising animals is no easy task, especially when you have a little one to care for. Having goats is a constant job and when they don’t make it can be very difficult.
Here is an article DaNelle wrote about goat disease that may help you: https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-diseases-signs-symptoms/
This is an additional article about deworming, since this seems to be a common, but terribly damaging problem: https://www.weedemandreap.com/natural-goat-dewormer/
Just keep fighting the good fight, you are doing better than you think. There are good days and bad days, but in the end, it will be worth it. This last article, with video included, is about homesteading and really puts some things in perspective:
https://www.weedemandreap.com/ten-things-dont-tell-homesteading/
Best of luck! You can do it! Thanks for reading and posting! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I remember reading one of your blog pages back when we first got chickens here on our 1/3 of an acre spot in town in Maine. Remember reading about goats on the blog, thinking, cool, but we could never do that! Fast forward one year and many city council meetings later, have two lovely ND does along with our Buff Orpington, four Barred Rocks and one Easter Egger. Who would’ve thought! Looking forward to bees maybe next year? Main problem is trying to protect the garden from the livestock beasties, kind of gave up the battle this summer, except for a few protected barrel planters on the back deck.
Hi Audrey-
That’s so great that you were able to do that! I understand about the critters munching up the garden…seems likes it’s their favorite food and hobby. Congrats on everything and Best of Luck in the future! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I am just getting started and I am confused if I should begin everything at once or do it in stages. What I would like to know is whether it is ok to start keeping all the animals at once? For example chickens, ducks, goats etc. Off course not forgetting the gardening aspect.
Hi Kelvin-
Getting started, or even figuring out where to start can be confusing. This great article DaNelle wrote helps explain some of that: https://www.weedemandreap.com/urban-farming-getting-started/
I hope this helps! Best of luck and Happy Farming! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I am trying to get a little goat farm going and my own vegetable garden. Our property is clay unfortunately.
Hopefully you can get all that going! As for the clay soils and gardening here are couple articles on building raised garden boxes and the soil to put in them. https://www.weedemandreap.com/build-raised-garden-boxes/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/best-soil-combination-raised-garden-boxes/
This should get a garden going for you. Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I am having a lot of trouble finding good information on feeding livestock in a totally sustainable way. I don’t want to buy feed at all. I want to plant the right plants and grow the right food and even breed the right proteins for them myself. I want to make a magical chicken pen with tons of plant life that they thrive off of and love. And herbs that help them remain healthy without medication. Goats as well. But I am starting to piece together what I can do. One of the other big issues I’m facing is designing the perfect layout for our property. Your pasture rotation for goats was the best and only one I could find. Love to know how that worked out by the way! Any real life photos? But I think people underestimate how much other people want to learn from them. Where do you keep which animals in respect to your home and garden… etc. We are still in the planning stages and I want to have a layout before we buy but having trouble. Learned things like goats like to be near people so don’t put them too far away. I want 10 million more tips like that for planning purposes! Thanks so much. You site is hands down the best and most helpful one I’ve read and I have read quite a few!
Hi Christina-
Sounds like you have fantastic goals for your farm! So exciting!
Here are a few articles of how DaNelle plans her farm. They are pretty detailed and very helpful.
https://www.weedemandreap.com/building-goat-pen-step-step-videos/ (this one has some great pics!)
https://www.weedemandreap.com/backyard-farm-designs/ (this one has great designs and at the end there are some digital resources that are really helpful)
https://www.weedemandreap.com/what-do-goats-eat/ (this one talks about how DaNelle feeds her goaty herd)
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=weed+em+reap+videos+youtube+farm&view=detail&mid=762773F89273FF7D512A762773F89273FF7D512A&FORM=VIRE (this is a video tour of DaNelle’s farm)
I hope this helps your planning! Best of luck and Happy Farming! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I was raised on a farm so I still have farm girl in me. I am attempting chickens 3 or 4 for the first time. Any suggestions on breeds or coop suggestions? Also interested in pest control. Cabbage
Worms almost destroyed my fall Brussel sprouts.
Hi Lynne-
That’s great you are thinking about getting chickens! They are great for keeping insect populations down. They have helped my garden, as long as they didn’t dig it up before it was established. Yes, I have some trust issues with my chickens 😉
If you have trust issues with your chickens, like I do, then you may want to try out these methods that DaNelle suggests: https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/gardening/natural-methods/
As for breeds of chickens, look for ones that are known as good egg layers and have docile personalities. Some good overall ones are Buff Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks (aka Barred Rocks), and Rhode Island Reds (especially good if looking for a dual purpose, eggs and meat). All these breeds are cold hearty too incase that matters.
I personally raise Silver Laced Wyandottes. They are good egg layers, do well in the winter, and have sweet personalities. Plus, I just personally like the way they look. Another chicken I like, that isn’t an actual true breed, is the Easter Egger Chicken. Good little personalities, and they lay different color eggs, hence the name Easter Egger. So there are some breeds to think about and possibly start with.
As for coops, here are a couple articles DaNelle wrote about that.
https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-to-build-a-chicken-coop-for-under-50/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/urban-farming-getting-started/ (click on the resource links in the article and it will direct you to some info on coops). https://www.weedemandreap.com/farming-update-new-animals/
I hope this info helps and you get your chickens soon! Best of luck and Happy Chickening! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
My husband and I have been interestested in Homesteading for the last 15 years. We’ve finally been able to get 7.5 acres in the Fl panhandle and are trying to make ot work
We’d already started with chickens about 8 yrs ago and we now have about 40 along with ducks and turkeys. We sell the chickens eggs at my husbands workplace and it helps us get by. Hoping to raise some turkey babies for profit but I’m over the ducks.
We hope to get some pigs soon( to trn a bit of profit) and hope to go to goats after and eventually get some mini cattle.
I have very similar health issues as you did to start due to a car accident so your story went to my heart. I enjoy the information you send and hope my family can eventually (mostly) support ourselves with our small farm.
Hi Chrystal-
I am so glad you have enjoyed the site and hopefully found some valuable information. I wish you the best of luck with your plans and hope all works out for the very best! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Howdy! We live in Coastal GA. We are reformed city folks (well I am, still working on hubby) and have three chickens in our reluctant HOA neighborhood, and have two Nigerian Dwarf goats down the road. We bred our goat-girl, Sally last year, delivered two healthy baby does on our back porch, and successfully milked Sally. Sounds good for rookies, right? Of course it’s hot and buggy, but the worst thing is, we have no soil! According to our soil analysis, we have mostly sand with a minuscule amount of organic matter, and a very acidic pH. There are literally oyster shells in the yard. We are trying to figure out what likes to grow here and adapt. Raised beds? What’s your favorite substrate? Blessings and Thanks. Bunny
Hi Bunny-
Sounds like you have really adapted well to this newer lifestyle and things are going pretty darn well!
For your soil and garden bed question here is a great article DaNelle wrote about this very topic. https://www.weedemandreap.com/best-soil-combination-raised-garden-boxes/
And if you are looking for some more helpful info here are here other articles about similar topics: https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/gardening/soil-seeds/
I hope this helps and your soil improves. Best of luck and Happy Gardening! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Time management is challenging with all the other things going on in our busy lives. Love goats and have raised Sanaan goats for more than 20 years:) 3 cows, chickens, Muscovy ducks, geese, quail project for eggs. catfish project and of course, the pigs:) Sustainable living as much as possible. The goats eat the weeds, they produce manure which we compost to use in the garden which produces more with fertile soil, which being organic is the healthiest food we eat, and the scraps go to the livestock which produce the manure etc etc the cycle repeats itself. I’m glad to see this website and of course, always want to learn more about sustainable living with the garden and farm animals. I’m in Las Vegas visiting family but the farm is on the property on Timor island, Indonesia. Dry tropics. Goats here most commonly die due to diarrhea with coming from worm infestations.
Hi DaNelle and Bobbi.
My biggest struggle at present is balancing time. My husband and myself work (hubby F/T and me P/T). I have so many things I want to accomplish, but so little time at the end of the day. It’s enough just to keep the animals fed and watered and fences in good repair. Family are not always as supportive as I’d like (or need). I just carry on and do my best. I’d love to get a goat or two for both milk and meat or a sheep or two. I’m on 8.5 acres in a dry dusty part of Queensland. Rain is rare, but we’re on town (reticulated) water so water isn’t an issue.
Thanks for the inspirational video’s DaNelle. Your channel is the first one I’ve watched where I’ve sat there and thought “Yes . . . I can do this”.
Thanks again.
Hi Ann-
Thanks for the kind words. It is tough managing everything sometimes…never enough hours in the day. Just keep fighting the good fight though! Thank you for reading, watching, and posting! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Was raised on a small farm and am trying to do as much gardening and maybe have a few animals to teach my granddaughter how to do farm work.
She really enjoys helping in the garden and learning how to operate my tractor. Since I retired I have more time to enjoy teaching her as much as possible.
I live on 5 acres and have the use of my Dad’s 14 acre farm that my sister lives on that is about 5 miles from my home. My granddaughter is 10 yrs old and we live in North Middle Tennessee.
Hi Jerry-
This is so nice to hear! Good job on involving your family, especially the younger generation. Best of luck with everything and Happy Farming! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I started to grow chickens. Best decision I’ve made, but I’m looking at getting goats. Hope it goes well.
Hi Lue-
Great on the chickens! And super you are thinking about goats too! Here is the link to DaNelle’s articles and tutorials about goats. https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/animals/goats/
It will be very useful as you start out and continue on. Good luck and Happy Goating! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I always had a garden when I was living in Idaho. I’ve been living in Arizona for about a year now and I have no clue where to begin with this sand and heat! On top of that, we are OVERRUN with rabbits… any tips for any of these things?
Hi Tori-
It is definitely a different gardening/plant zone from Idaho to Arizona. I have put a few links in here on how DaNelle gardens and the things that work for her. The last 2 links have are general links to her website so you can take a look at all the subject matters she has covered.
https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/gardening/vegetables/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/12-raised-garden-beds/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/gardening/soil-seeds/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/gardening/
As for the rabbits they are few things you can try. Fencing around your garden with the appropriate size wire will keep them out (and naughty chickens too, just incase you have some of them running around as well). Also, since rabbits are sensitive to smell you can plant onions or garlic around your garden or sprinkle Irish soap shavings or ground up hot peppers and garlic around your garden’s edges. Rabbits also don’t like cats or dogs, so if they can be roaming around the garden this will help, even just their scent can keep rabbits away. Planting lilacs and lavender might be an option as well. They can keep pesky rabbits at bay due to their strong scent, plus they are so pretty! I hope this information helps and your garden takes off and does really well! Thanks for reading and posting! Happy Gardening! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Aphids!!!! They are the bane of my existence. I can’t get rid of them. They are destroying my cucumbers. What do I do?
Hi Kelly-
Yes, aphids can drive you crazy! I feel your pain. Here are 2 great articles on pest control, natural and organic style, that DaNelle posted: https://www.weedemandreap.com/natural-pesticides/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/organic-garden-pest-control/
Give them a read and hopefully they can help you out. Best of luck and Happy Gardening! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I must say – for now I must live vicariously through you. Would love to give it all up for a small farm – grow my own vegetables, and have a large yard for the kids to run around in. Health wise, had colitis – and thought I was living a healthy lifestyle before being diagnosed. It was awful, debilitating and miserable. I still deal with the consequences..but am glad to be here for my two children. As a single mom 24/7 – trust me, I must stay healthy for my kids. For now, your living part of my dream.
Organizing and tracking is a big mess for me! I’d love to say “this worked, this didn’t” in all areas of our little hobby farm life! And easily do it, quickly, sanitarily lol!
Saw you for the first time on the Home Grown Food Summit this weekend and thought you were fantastic and with your quirky smile reminded me of Drew Barrymore! I am a daughter of a woman that was raised during the depression on a Apple/Cherry farm in Oregon and thought farming was too hard on a female. Even as my younger brother and I grew up and both of us had more interest in outside in the big city finding the stray strawberry plant, blackberry bush or parsley plant, Mom would send us to learn from the library instead of encouraging us with her knowledge. 40 years later, both of us have large properties (Him in Seattle and I in Florida) that we are still learning to manage and make the most of.
Your video on the Home Grown Food Summit was fantastic, especially how you encouraged your children to be a part of it. I plan on following you ( to stalkish?) and taking your suggestions to heart. Time is of an essence right now since both my husband and I work full time and we won’t be able to move to our larger property for another 5 years.
With that being said, I just may be able to move a few chickens into the back yard a bit from my bee hives since there are no restrictions about chickens. Thank you DaNelle! We are the cool ones now!!
Right now I’m suburban homesteading while dealing with fibromyalgia and a spouse who is half on board with gardening and chickens.
That about sums it up proper. I’m looking for a way to control my fibromyalgia without to many pills. And it seems like everything sets off my fibromyalgia these days. It’s hard to get up, move around, DO anything. Doctor says my wbc stays so high I actually am shedding some in my urine. I know I’m tired because my body is hyper manufacturing wbc, but why? Why does my body feel the need to do this? Well, obviously there’s inflammation somewhere! Doctors don’t know and would rather give a pill as a ‘band – aid ‘ then actually get to the root of the problem. The naturopath said to try castor oil and beets. (Beets are super hard to find in the winter time even canned ones).
So, I (for the most part) drink filtered water, whole fruit juices, an occasional cup of coffee. I eat organic, grass Fed beef, pig from our ranch that have had no antibiotics or adulterated in any way. My garden is A MESS because I just haven’t been able to get out there and play in the dirt. I joined a local co-op and obtain organic milk kefir, raw whole milk and yogurt. Now, they are offering vegetables as well.
But I’m still not feeling any energy. My internal ‘battery ‘ is at a constant 30%. Making it very difficult to get up and do whay my brain says needs doing.
The constant pain is getting to be very debilitating. I put on a brave face and hubby is super supportive when my body ‘just can’t ‘. But at least the chickens and the dogs are fed and cared for properly. Now, if I could get him to help me in my garden……
Anyhow, I’m full of EO scepticism. At this point I feel I’ve tried just about everything out there. Naturalist, naturopath, dietician, western medicine, and chiropractic. Although I’m keeping my chiropractor. I actually feel like that does help.. But I’m looking for more. I mean I know I’m no longer 20 years old, but I am still to young to feel this dang old. Lol
102 degrees yesterday, goats were heat stressed. One is pregnant. I know you got hit hard with the heat in Arizona yesterday. How do you protect your animals in this high heat? . We have no air conditioning here. Yesterday, I wet them down. They were dry in 30 minutes, so I soaked towels, kept them with me and kept pouring water on the towels. I put Emergen-C packet to sweeten their water to get them to drink. I need to find some trimmers to shear them more, scissors don’t take enough off.. I turned the chickens loose to find shade. I am thinking of getting a bag of ice into their water. Your thoughts would be welcomed.
Also, I grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, and my parents did the grow food .had animals and kept a pantry. You are a kindred spirit! Found you on this 2017 Home grown food summit, I have been enjoying your blog. I facebook posted “goat crossfit”,. As a like-minded digital friend, I welcome your fun as you take care of your family, enjoy urban farming, homeschooling,, real food, and as you explore and express the good life! You are one of a kind, a special warm and wonderful person.
Gardening has been extremely discouraging! We had great success with Back to Eden gardening for the first 3 years. Then WEEDS took over and then the voles moved in. Been trying to find a way to eliminate voles, and planning on building metal tin grow boxes with wire mesh lining the bottom of the beds and starting all over again.
We are currently in the process of rebuilding our soil. Over the years, with poisonous aerial geoengineering being done over the Los Angeles area, we have noticed that our toads, earthworms, sowbugs, preying mantis, crickets, and snails have been disappearing. Lithium, an explosive chemical that triggers fire tornadoes, exploding trees and uncontrolled wild fires., also serves as a desiccant drying up clouds when added to a mix of nasty geoengineering chemicals, thus lithium may provide that perfect weddings for millionaires. This deadly chemical not only has caused this ten year drought on the West Coast, but also lithium causes muscular and abdominal cramps, brain fog, headaches, flu-like symptoms, and weariness. Every time we are chemically fogged either over the ocean or in the air, we are exhausted and unable to work outside. We have also read accounts where this aerial spraying of lithium has caused cats and dogs to suffer, so it is not surprising at all animals including arthropods are likewise affected.
Anyway, back in 2010, we noticed no earthworm activity at all, and our attempts to raise any vegetables met with consistent failure as the sun burned the leaves and left the ground parched. Aerial photos show the use of big agriculture and small farmers using more and more covers on their crops. Thus, we have been diligently composting all garden trimmings, have renewed our efforts at worm farming, have consistently mulched our gardens and trees, and have purchased some shade cloth, but the rewards have been few and slow. Nevertheless, we now have a great pile of compost ready for spring 2018.
We used to raise goats and chickens, but ceased doing so due to a heavy predator burden of coyotes, foxes, raccoons, bobcats, possums, and cougars. We have had dogs, but the dogs spooked and ran away due to illegal neighborhood fire works and meth houses exploding nearby. As a result, we are hoping to relocate to a more rural area outside of California, Oregon, Arizona, and Washington, which all use geo-engineering.
Our searches for small farms or properties containing one to five acres has been dismal. Arizona has been ruled out due to its pervasive use of Round-Up, heavy geoengineering, and heavy spraying of chemicals for mosquitoes and the Zika virus. Now we are looking at Utah, and possibly Nevada. Idaho and Montana are too far north as we cannot handle the freezing weather and blizzards. Any helpful information or leads would be appreciated.
My daily struggle is time. I work full-time out of the house and I also have two young children (2 and 5 years old). So, I have very little time allocated to working in the garden. We also want to add at least chickens to our homestead, but I am again worried about the time factor.
My biggest problem is MY FATHER,and his excuse.IT COSTS TOO MUCH FOR WATER.Lame excuse huh?He used to grow a garden the old way,in furrows.
Not only is that a big waste of water,it compresses the soil and inhibits plant growth.There are far better ways to grow.food than in furrows.One that I am interested in is called Grow Bio-intensive.I found the PDF book called ‘How to grow more vegetables ‘by John Jeavons.376 pages of wonderful information about growing a food garden.Check it out,you will NOT be sorry.
I just love your blog and youtube channel. It has been a really helpful reference, particularly for the goats. I have two Nigerian Dwarf goats and once we had them bred I started going through everything goat related on your website. Thank you! It’s really encouraging to see another family making similar choices to mine- we homeschool, I try to follow a traditional diet, we’ve got chickens, we’ve got a couple rabbits, and I’ve been learning to garden for a few years now. I’m not a natural with animals, or dirt for that matter, but I do it because I love my family- and it really helps when I’m watching a video and you make it look simple and normal. (Disbud a baby goat? No problem! Check for two hooves before your goat delivers? Simple! Ha! As if!) I think your video on how to butcher a chicken was the best I’ve seen anywhere, and all the detail regarding what I need for the goats has been SO HELPFUL! I also pick up tons of little gardening tidbits watching your videos. Little things you mention in passing when you’re gardening are helpful to me too. Random things. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I have had Lymes Disease twice in my life and the first time was when I was 8 years old. No one knew what it was but since it didn’t kill me I was just expected to live with pain and lethargy.
The second time was in my 30s and again I was not treated for it because the doctor did not believe that Pennsylvania had Lymes Disease. Luckily I finally found a Contagious Disease Specialist who said I had such high antigens to it that I had to have had it all of my life. BINGO, but he also said there was no way to treat it effectively at the later stage. Now I am 69 years old, in frequent pain, and I get exhausted so easily but I keep on moving. Last year I bought a used golf cart so I can get to the rest of my two acres to plant and garden. I am the president of an educational garden club, and the coordinator for the Jefferson County Penn State Master Gardeners. I also have four children 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
I simply want to learn so I can apply whatever is possible to my property since I can finally get out and about to work on it. I have chickens, cats, dogs, and would adore goats, but that’s not going to happen. I keep as busy as possible without taking any prescribed pain killers.
I love seeing your homestead grow!!! My granddaughters want to video me and my EZGO Homestead. I’m not sure enough to do it although I do speaking engagements and am good at them.
Thank you for teaching me and allowing see the realities of homesteading without needing a tractor or a team of horses! 🙂
Hi Cheryl,
My heart goes out to you to hear about your pains. Your symptoms are very similar to what I had last year. Lyme disease might be related to high thyroid antibodies. Thanks to a pharmacist named Dr. izabella Wentz, my pain is gone and I am living an active lifestyle. Just don’t give up! I do suggest googling this pharmacist and checking your thyroid antibodies as many women have them and doctors don’t know much about them. May you get better soon!
Hi! I am in the middle of North central Phoenix. We have 1 acre much of which is consumed by house, driveway, pool, guest house, but we built a small barn and have had chickens for many years, 2 Nigerian Dwarfs that I have had for 2 years and who are due with kids any day now (first time) and many garden boxes where we grow as many veggies as we can. I also have a husband, 2 kids and 2 dogs. I have been following your blog since before we had goats and have read everything you have written about them. I am so excited and nervous for our goat babies to come! I do have a question, who do you use for a vet and do you know any vets this direction? There are no ruminant vets in Phoenix that I can find and am always trying to find a vet less than an hour from my house:)
I am completely new to farming. I have wanted goats and chickens for a long time but I am just now in the position to care for them as far as land and time go – money is another issue altogether. 😉
Do you have any suggestions for breeds to start with?
Any trustworthy breeders you would suggest?
Are there any goats that produce milk AND have lovely hair for spinning and weaving?
Do you know anything about any farming support/benefits from our government?
I have many more questions!
Thank you!
Chele
Alabama
Hi Chele. Here is a link to all of my posts about goats. I hope it helps!
DaNelle
https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/animals/goats/
Hi, living on an acre Northwest of tucson, been doing chickens for a couple years now, just acquired a couple goats (a Saanen doe and a La Mancha buckling). Don’t know a lot about goats, but trying to learn, looking forward for fresh milk for cheese making. The soil here is about 90% cliche, so buying fodder instead of growing it.
Figuring out our land! We don’t have a ton, 3 acres, but it wasn’t well taken care f previously. We’ve lived here just over a year and we have found so much trash in the garden area and woods. Ugh! Plus we have a marshy area but due to a drought last summer we aren’t real sure what it’s like.
Watch out for nails. We are on borrowed land that had construction waste. I sweep the ground with a magnet on a stick. I have found more nails
than I care to count. The owner who is happy we have cleared off all the junk., (Trust me the amount of trash was very bad), he asked why the goats weren’t out. After I told him about the nails, a nail went up into his boot about 5 minutes later. I have heard no more complaints since! Beware of hidden wire and wire fencing hidden by dirt and weeds. If you systematically hoe the land, hoe so you hit and pull a little towards you, you can find hidden hazards. Hope this helps! .
Is property tax cheaper to own a residential house on 1 plus acres or is property tax cheaper on a house listed as small farm?
I want to move out of Colorado to a more milder climate for longer season gardening and to have a donkey if I want one.
Where in TX and central states on the USA map would be considered natural disaster free location?
HI! We live in small town Oklahoma! We have had beef cattle, horses, laying chickens and meat chickens for years. We just got our first sweet little Nigerian dwarf! She is seriously the sweetest thing ever and due to have babies at the beginning of April!! I cannot wait! Babies on my birthday!
It is all new to me about this milk goat stuff. I mean, I have NO IDEA what to do. The lady we bought her from said to only let the babies nurse for six hours and then take them away. Milk her, and battle feed the babies. That makes me a bit nervous. She had triplets last year and that was her first time birthing. Surely that momma goat knows more about raising her babies than I do!!
Any how, seriously love your blog. I love my farm, i love my oils and I love your blog!
I do wish I better at canning and preserving. Also, I wish i could figure out how to make a living at that! -_-
I am interested in having some goats, however, we do not have alfaalfa plant available in Sri Lanka. We have good Napier varieties.i grew some sorghum. Tel me any other grass good for goats.
Struggle…is getting everyone on board..daily! I don’t know why we are so hung up on the other business in our lives that we can’t stop, plant the garden and reap. I read all the books, have the tools and know how…just don’t want to go about it alone.
I’m a backyard farmer, I grow my own food. Since I live in the city of Chesapeake VA. I’m not allowed to have goats, rabbits, chickens or ducks. I make my own butter and put up food for the winter. I also make jellies, jams and syrups from the assortment of fruit that I grow.
Hi DaNalle!
My husband and I live on his family’s 5 generation shellfish and tree farm. I’m new to gardening and it’s a bit overwhelming figuring out where to start. My last two attempts have been way too overzealous and I ended up with a garden bigger than I anticipated and couldn’t keep up with it daily. We have plenty of space, I just need some help taking baby steps so my garden is successful this year. I would really like to learn how to set up a drip system. Watering is my biggest challenge. I cannot keep consistent with it due to my work schedule.
Excited to have found your blog! Shaye speaks very highly of you 🙂 I just joined her Doterra team earlier this year (so technically I guess I’m a part of your team too!)
Best,
Kyla
Finding the time – having a full time job, husband having a full time job and getting called out all hours of the night AFTER he gets home, 3 kids – one in college, one in HS, one in preschool. We raise goats and trying to learn all we can to feed and care for them naturally and inexpensively so we don’t lose the babies. We also have horses as we do a lot with them. Would like to grow more garden veggies to eat healthier too.
Right now I struggle with trying to do it all at the same time. When I began moving everything over to a healthier lifestyle, I quickly realized how much everything overlaps one another. I have eczema, asthma, and allergies, so it all started with not wanting chemicals and fake stuff on me from my chap stick and lotion to detergent and cleaners. Now it has transfered my kids and husband BC I want long healthy lives for them and to teach them that they aren’t required to just grab what’s on the store shelf. I also garden without chemicals, I don’t even like to throw out fertilizer! And we have chickens too and I want to treat them the same way. So it all comes full circle back to our bodies. Any website that can get me plenty of info on any of these topics is worth it for me. Thankyou for being that website thus far
Jean Martin Fortier has a book out that is basically farming for dummys. He has everything in there about garden production right down to how many seeds to plant when, etc. They raise $150K of produce on an acre and a half of land. It is an excellent resource as the climate outside Montreal is similar to BC.
Natural pest control
Fleas on the dog
Rats/mice in the coop!
?
Biggest challenge for us lately, natural pest and disease solutions. From using milk spray for black spot to finding solutions for squash bugs and cut worms. Then there’s the cloning plants and growing slips… But the biggest pain; squirrels! They dig up and eat everything! So I plan on buying them a feeder and hope they leave some grapes and strawberries for me next year. Hah
A squirrel feeder will bring every squirrel in the neighborhood. A small dog or cat would be better. Squirrels also kill birds.
I am so excited that I stumbled across your site last night while looking for a way to prepare jerky from the elk of mine and my husbands most recent hunt. My husband thinks I’m a little crazy because now I am talking to him about having goats. We live in East Mesa Arizona and the soil here is not great for gardening. However growing up in apartments and always having fresh veggies thanks to an awesome dad who put in really long days as a construction worker; then come home and work on these long trofts that he built so that he could grow fresh veggies for us, inspires me. I want so much for my family. I didn’t inherit my mom and dads green thumb. I myself have a black thumb and seem to kill everything that I find myself in contact with. I hope that this page will help me. My husband and I have one more year until our home is paid off. We just hit our 40’s. We are looking forward to purchasing property so we can live more off the land. I thank you so much for creating this page so that I am able to start planing for our future.
Hahaha, love it! DO IT!
I am starting a garden in our backyard {likely building and placing to start growing in spring 2017}. I am looking forward to learning about gardening even though we are in very different climates {I am in PNW}. I am starting to look into a little goat as a pet {doing the research and then need to ultimately convince hubby. Also, not sure it is allowed in our HOA : /. Details!} and might consider chickens. : )
I’m a bit young, (age 16 young) but I am so passionate about my animals. Me and my mom have this kind of system going where I take care of my livestock and she takes care of the garden. I don’t have any property and all my animals are at my local farm. I live in the Bay Area and I was super lucky to make a connection with someone, who eventually became one of my best friends, let’s me keep my animals at the farm, AND let’s me raise and show her animals (who I eventually claim as my own). Because of my passion with livestock I plan to go to Modesto Junior College and have my own property where I can learn about animal husbandry, live the life I was meant to, and love waking up in the morning to do what I am so passionate about. I guess my problem would be I am still a teenager and I dream big so I need to learn my limits and I need to start applying myself more. I would like to do more WWOOFing (world wide opportunities on organic farms) and make more connections with people like me who live for the rush of livestock!!
Wow, how inspiring Haylee! Definitely dream big, it’s so nice to have all that experience under your belt!
I will be working with Villages in West Africa, the first of next year!
Wish us success. Our gold is to make each Village self containing
before moving to another.
I am already obsessed with your blog! I freaked out on my husband when I first discovered it a week or so ago. Now I’m catching him reading on his phone all the time! We live in the Pacific Northwest- Willamette Valley to be specific. We are interested in some more info about the shelters/pens for animals. It can get pretty wet here and it seems to make it feel even colder! What’s the correct set up to ensure the animals are okay thru the winter? We don’t have a barn; we’ll building everything ourselves. Chicken coop, goat pen and pig pen. Thanks!
WE just started our homestead we have 10 acres we have had it for 15 years but just had the to start working on it. My hubby and I are disabled and have started to use the land we have. Last year we had a small veggies garden did fairly good, this year we had a bigger garden we alright not great. My eldest son lost his job so we started messing with chickens. we started with 6 and 4 die we went back and got more this time they help us on what we needed to do. (like cleaning there cute little butts LOL)
We finally had them growing and going outside during the day until my hubby build there little coop. then started building up adding more chickens we added 17 more chickens but my poor hubby had to build another coop we had an order for all female and as they grew we found out we had roster in the bunch. so now my hubby is building him a “coop ” of his own. But he still hangs out with the chicks that came with him.
Well, now the 1st 5 chicks are wonderful they come when I call them. And they sing with me when I greet the in the morning. the other chicks know that they are chicks and come when I call them. Some the first have started to lay eggs, and they call me when they have. Am starting to learn about herbs and veggies to grow during the winter time. Am having so much fun learning things about the home. Hope still to learn allot more.
Our issues have a lot to do with being in a fairly new location and dealing with bad ground. We are also in southern Indiana which means we don’t have the year round growing seasons. We have had goats for a year and a half and love, love, love them! We also have chickens and just recently started losing them to a predator, discovered it was a red fox and we think we have fixed that issue, but it seems like it is always something new. I love the variety but I am exhausted 🙂 Love your blog and your instagram.
Recently retired and want to live my dream–chickens, goats and a half-dead old horse in the back yard–before I get too far gone. This site looked like a good source.
I moved to Virginia where we have 10 acres and would like to have chickens. The struggle I have is with my fear of snakes. We have copper heads and black snakes in our back yard ever Spring until winter. The chicks and eggs may attract them more often. Any advice?
I have had only trouble with one roster. It is a Dominique’s. He is very aggressive has killed to other males & a female. Now have him opened alone. I have found a lot of good information at these sites.
Countryside Network.com
Purely poultry.com
Livestock conservancy.org
I feel like my garden is a constant struggle and something is always getting eaten, doesn’t come up and mostly just never turns out as I desire it to. Deep mulch gardening helped TONS this year, but still didn’t get my fall garden going and I started it in July!!!!!
We have been trying to get our 2 female rabbits to have litters. The first time we tried mating them we got no litters. We are on our second try and if they are pregnant they should have their babies in a few days. We’ve put both females with the male at separate times at each attempt to mate them. We are really hoping to have two good sized litters. We are new at this and if you have rabbits it would be helpful if you had any advice.
One of our rabbits had babies. She had 4 today. We are so happy.
YES! We’re just starting here, no-till gardens 3 years now -HUGE learning curve, especially with fall planting and season extension. We just got goats this spring and pasturing them has been a huge learning process we only have an acre and a half, but want to grow as much of their food as possible -finding pasture they will EAT, can’t be too short, can’t be too long, can’t be living on it(won’t eat it if they’ve pooped on it too much. . . but they poop when they eat!) So, tiny pasture management for goats. Also, their feed (concentrates), I want non-GMO and NO soy (narrows options down a bit! although I’ve recently found Chaffhay and I think it’s going to be our savior!) I’m experimenting with feeding rabbits naturally and that has had it’s own set of challenges. I would like to raise meat chickens next year, some cornishX and some heritage and I’ve been devising my own ration for that! We are hoping to get a piglet this fall, to butcher in the spring! We continue to experiment with chickens and rabbits in our garden and are learning that with every change the chickens withhold eggs for a period!
And, on top of all of that we started a fledgling blog this spring and the learning curve plus time management curve is huge there as well 🙂 but your stuff on that topic has been extraordinarily helpful! We have homeschooled for 18 years, so I feel ya there! and we have been on a whole food campaign since my 14 year old was diagnosed with MS 9 years ago – which was the catalyst for this whole homestead grow your own food thing.
So, basically ANYTHING you throw our way is useful! and We love you!
Look at youtube videos on Vitamin C pioneers such as Linus Pauling, Suzanne Humphries, Thomas Levy, and Dr. Cathcart. They achieved complete healing for MS patients. It would be worth it to research and find similar health professionals.
keeping forage for my goats and horrible garden this year due to soil issues!
Great site. Keep up the innovation end !!
Thanks
Good advice on companion growing and also edible weeds. Rest underway! Thanks,
Anna
My biggest struggle is the lack of potable water on my property. We buy bottled water for drinking and truck in water for plants and animals. Our well water is high in boron (naturally) and we only use it for household stuff. I found a lot of good information and helpful people when I took a permaculture course this summer. They focus on natural solutions.
Can you distill your water to get rid of the boron?
We have recently moved to a new area in New Mexico. Trying to finish the fences et al in order to get the animals all moved to our new home. My garden was a total disaster last year – nothing grew!! Anyway, will try again in the new location. Going to build a huge green house and see if we can grow year round. We now have about half an acre to work with instead of a small garden plot. The chickens, ducks and goats will have LOTS of room to roam and we will be seeding an area just for them. Greens and other goodies for them to dig through. Also, going to finally breed the Kinder goats we have. They will be 2 yoa in March 2017. Wish us luck!
All the above. I truly only like to do all farm work myself with no help from outsiders because they just don’t get that farming is a 365 day 24 hour 7 day job. So hard once all the vegetables need to get picked at one time
Sincerely Dan
I just moved onto 3.5 acres with nothing on it…so we need to make a plan on how to make this our own mini farmstead…we have 2 calves and are building a coop for our 20 chickens, which is almost done, but trying to figure out how to best lay out our property to be able to farm and garden! I love to have a full supply of food in my freezer. The property we lived at I was able to garden, so I did get beans, carrots,beets and lots of potatoes 🙂 but I want to plant more next year!
The hardest part about the lifestyle I love is remembering to take care of myself. My friends have taken notice to it now, so they’ll reminds me to take care of myself, too, and that means so so much to me
I like to read your entries about chickens most. I live in NE Kansas and most of what you write about gardening in the desert does not apply since we have an abundance of water where I live.
I would like to start raising goats and chickens, I don’t have either as of yet so any information you could offer on getting started would be helpful.
Dealing with the heat. Phoenix’s poor soil. The cost of soil amendments. The slowness of compost.
We lost all of our small fall crops because we planted too early. The Texas heat was just too much for our green beans, cabbage and broccoli; even though we started them inside.
Starting out back yard animal raising
My problem with gardening the past couple years has been that we haven’t gotten ANYTHING out of it. The plants grow but don’t produce any fruit.
Probably a nutrient deficiency. Try adding wood ash to the soil.
https://www.the-organic-gardener.com/plant-nutrients.html
How to market my food as a csa share. Im a urban farmer and want to try adventuring into a profitable hobby, is there a certin way to start up a csa
http://www.themarketgardener.com Jean Martin Fortier describes how to do it in his book. They produce $150K on an acre and a half of land.
My biggest struggle is coming up with NEW meals from scratch for my 4 always hungry home-schooled children that are paleo like!!! We are on a budget of $100 a week and it seems like sandwiches are the most affordable option. We cook a lot of burgers, tacos, spaghetti, beans and rice, grits and oatmeal. This years garden was a fail because the mosquito sprayer killed our bees!!! 🙁 The chickens are doing fine!! Laying when they feel like it. I give them red pepper and flax to help boost their egg laying.
Purchasing the things I don’t grow, that Ilike locally.
I would say my biggest struggle right now is trying to decide on flock size, wishing ducks weren’t so smelly, and trying to decide how much acreage we need to be able to grow food for ourselves and for our animals. Buying organic chicken feed is so expensive.
Lack of time.
Losing our goats because of our ignorance or not catching something wrong in time (parasites got three this year alone despite deworming & treatment; alas, they were too far gone.) has been the hardest struggle. Worst year ever for us regarding our animals & farm management, possibly due to heavy rain earlier in the year & dewormer ineffectiveness.
Balancing home/farm life with outside life with kids involved with sports & school, as well as working. If I could just time my bumper crop of tomatoes to process, life would be good. This year I took time off work the end of August to deal with my garden harvest but the tomatoes decided that the end of September would be a better time to ripen.
My biggest struggle is probably with real food and finding time and the know-how to do it all. We do butcher our own chickens, milk our own goats, grow lots of our veggies and collect fresh chicken & Guinea eggs to eat plus we will have our first pig within the next two weeks and bees in the spring! I do bake bread with a wild-caught sourdough starter, but only sometimes. I can’t find the time to commit to baking bread every day or even a couple times a week and I struggle with finding new and exciting ways to incorporate and present new dishes at dinner time. I’ve found lots of real food recipes that I would love to try but they seem to call for unusual and possibly rare ingredients. Or maybe it’s just that I’m unfamiliar with most of the ingredients.
Time. While trying to learn more about percalture and lean farming while still moving forward.
My biggest struggle is dealing with health issues, including anxiety and depression, and beating myself up for not having a garden this year or getting more done to maintain things, etc.
Gardening in our crazy Nevada climate is my biggest challenge.
I would like to know more about using the oils on the animals and natural cleaning
My biggest struggle is selling all those adorable baby goats… The farmyard seems quiter.
My biggest struggle is finding the time to do all I want to do! There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get it all in. And big part of that is that doing things more naturally, cooking gluten free, keeping the barn clean to keep pests out and fly population to a minimum, keeping weeds out of the garden, and taking care of myself and family and our home just takes more time to do with the holistic approach. Organization is a big part of what I need – to have simple, quick answers at my finger tips from cleaning solutions to headaches to animal care – what essential oils or natural solutions it takes to get the job done. I find a fair amount of ‘good ideas’ on the internet but having the time to weed through them and then try them for their effectiveness takes way too much time. Thanks for listening!
I’ve just bought Boer goats. Never had any experience with goats. Would like any information on raising all types of goats.
Healthy living is a struggle. About the time my wife and i get things settled and organized on the farm with our goats (fainting and milk goats), chickens and ducks (chicken eggs for eating and duck eggs for cooking, as duck eggs tend to make everything fluffier!) the horse, the corn and wheat fields and the river that runs through it all, our work schedules go berserk and our healthy eating habits go out the window. We try to maintain a balance between it all and that balance always seems to be the first to go. We look forward to Weed em and Reap!
Finding good resourcing. I live in a very rural area of Nevada. We’re 4+ hours from three major cities but it’s not realistic to frequently leave the livestock and life for that stuff. Finding consistent, good, resources has been a challenge. Everything bit of information I’ve gotten on the best ways to breed, heard, and work goats/lambs/chickens,turkeys is ALWAYS 100% different from the next person. My household has adopted two main concepts “live and learn” and “ya win some, and ya loose some”. Ya have to do it your way and not everyone else’s since they can’t agree anyways!!
My biggest challenge is finding the time to do it all. I have a big garden, 350′ of potatoes plus one more smaller garden bed. I also have two cows and two goats that I milk twice a day plus two pigs and both meat birds and layers. So it is challenging to do it all. In my spare time I make cheese with all my milk.
.
We raise dairy goats, layer chickens, meat chickens, and meat ducks. Background-wise we are both from dairy cow families. We have found a significant lack of information pertaining to goats particularly for Nigerian Dwarfs. Standard equip used for standard sized goats doesn’t work for Nigerians. We have had to make our own or complete exhaustive searches for equipment even simple things like hobbles, milk buckets, udder cleaner, stanchions, etc. we have utilized some supplies you have named-thanks!
All of our animals are raised free range and organic. We haven’t had any issues yet (fingers crossed). We also find an amazing lack of information pertaining to processing dairy goat milk, like how to make butter, separate cream, make ice cream, yogurt, cheeses, whipping cream, etc. granted, there are some basic “goat recipe how to” out there, but the high butter fat of Nigerians requires most of the recipes to be altered significantly. I think that if people knew how to make products from their home grown animals, more folks would opt into it.
Growing enough food in challenging conditions to “move the needle” on the grocery bill.
WEEDS! Keeping them out of the garden. We don’t want to use chemicals for that purpose. This year the weeds were especially prolific. I think something must have blown in from somewhere. Because every time I had the garden looking great, I would go out in a couple of days to see a carpet of green. Really, every spot of nicely tiled soil would have little grass sprouts. I noticed this in my neighbor’s garden also. Anyway, long story short, we fought this all year. So, I would appreciate your recommendations. Thanks!
http://www.themarketgardener.com There are some good techniques in Jean’s book.
Time there’s never enough time in the day to get it all done
Trying to take things slow! I have 4 children and a grandchild, and work full time (for now) in healthcare. My plan is take retirement in 5 years and farm full time between acreage on our family farm and our homestead. I want to do everything now without thinking about hidden costs like fencing and housing sometimes. We have 4 piglets arriving sunday and I still haven’t decided on fencing! eek!
I am currently struggling with milking. This is the first goat I’ve ever milked, and she is a first freshener, so we are both newbs. It’s been a little over 2 months now, and she is just NOT easily milked. She won’t stand still (even with a billion different hobbles I’ve tried, she bucks like a bull!). She’s got super small teats, and after the whole run around every morning, I only get about 1 cup of milk. I’m not giving up, but I love any and all of your information about goats and milking 🙂
Just moved to a farm
Starting my garden
Chicken Hok (coop) ready for occupation
Goats on the list – but one step at a time….
We don’t have a farm… just a suburban backyard with chickens and a lame attempt at a garden. Our biggest challenge is that, apparently, we have fill-dirt in our yard and not soil. It’s acidic (had it tested) and mostly sand and clay. I grew up in the North where we dropped a seed and it just grew magically. I have not been successful growing anything here in San Antonio with the heat, bugs and crappy soil. I’ve tried so many times and have given up… but I have a desire to learn and to try again… sometime… I hope. I fear that we won’t have a choice someday, sooner than later.
Yes!
I have used so many of your gardening/farming tips from your soil mix to your strawberry write up. They have been very helpful I often wish for updates or look at it now pictures though. We have a additional 650 square foot lot we have filled with fruit trees, chickens, berries and some room for the kids. Our front yard has been made into a vegetable garden using 10 water troughs. We are trying hard to live as much off our little area of land as we can and it is beyond exciting and rewarding! You are an inspiration and we are very grateful for all your helpful knowledge.
Backyards farmer and raise chicken the problem I’m having is space too produce enough food maybe not all but I would like to be somewhere around 30-50% groom my yard please help
I fall in love with the animals and can’t butcher them. I no longer eat beef because my bulls were my babies. I am not currently raising farm animals… heart-broken; and I’m not gardening yet — surrounded by walnut trees- other plants don’t like those, but I enjoy all of this information just the same. So I didn’t want to click on the other options as nd miss out! 🙂 I add still try to eat healthy real food, though! Prep time and planning are difficult. Meals almost need to be instant. No more prep time on weekends…..they are just as busy!
Gardening. I can’t find a system where I don’t have to dig up the ground and eliminate weeds and grasses growing .
My biggest struggle right now is just figuring out how to get started. We just bought our (almost) dream home and are getting settled in. After we’ve dealt with the usual bout of unexpected new-home issues, we want to get started with chickens, goats, and a garden, we’re just not sure what to begin with or how. Still hashing it out, I suppose.
Dealing with burn out and many changes going n in my family it is hard to get excited and motivated again. I’m wanting to get that back. My husband is doing a great job with the chickens and our peach trees are loaded. Didn’t garden this year due to son getting married and the burn out. Wanting to get the excitement back. Will be working on that. Thanks for your blog!
Large area. Looking to rotate crops. But also would like to know what kind of winter crops to put in.
Convincing my husband (just kidding). My biggest struggle is the financial aspect. I’m just beginning our homestead so we are slowly getting all the things we need and it’s adding up pretty quick. Just hope it’s all worth it in the end. I want our children to share our love for this lifestyle.
Our biggest struggle is canning/preserving the harvest at this point.
Farming, by the way our little March hares (Nigerian goats) have settled down very nicely ;). After lots of tlc, time and sweet goat feed, just like you’d train a rescue badly treated dog. I got a very nice buck. He’ll be spending some time with our four girls next couple of months, trying to space babies every two weeks for deliveries we only have two birthing stalls in milking shed.So if like info on what I’m going to need to have on hand for deliveries. Also we have alkaline soil where we put our garden and am thinking of a lasagna bed which I’ve seen online. What do you think?
The big challenge is keeping the soil moist and fed the right minerals. After about 6 years of thinking I was doing it right and struggling to produce foods, I stepped back alot and started to think and observing alot, LOOKING DEEPER INTO EACH PLANT and watching it’s function as it grows. I noticed that alot of plants self feed themselves. I watched my Hybiscus plants and they drop the flowers and leaves underneath and It is amazing how these flowers and leaves stay under there own plant, it is almost like it was designed just for them alone. I noticed that heat destroys just about everything and growing trees in full whiskey barrels, brings alot of cool shade everywhere, you can contain the roots if trees are grown in big barrels. I like corna copus trees, ( I know I spelt that wong) these trees have needle like leaves and they are awesome ground cover leave, because they don’t blow away in the wind and if you have alot of them you can lay down on them and go to sleep, they are that comfortable. Another great thing to do is to cover your soils in wood chips and garden that way, just keep adding every year wood chips, IT WORKS FOLKS!
But the main thing I am discovering is follow GOD’S method> GOD already has a perfect design in growing plants and trees. Just observe and you will see.
Amen brother! I couldn’t agree more ?
We are about to move from a tiny lot to over five acres. My biggest concern right now is how best to set up the new place to work with the land, plant in the best locations, and create a system that is mostly self-sustaining.
soil. I don’t know where to start. Our soil isn’t very good, not much grows in it except weeds. I have these beautiful garden boxes, that my Husband filled with dirt from the yard, and when I water, all I get are weeds, and little to no seeds coming up. How do I test my soil to figure out what it needs? Do I need to shovel out that dirt and add soil from garden store? And if so, what soil do I use. I go and look at the store and there are 20 different types. I feel so overwhelmed about doing it wrong and failing, that I just don’t do it at all. It is a sad story.
Time in this busy life, I am not farming but grow fruit trees and vegges and raise chickens and ducks. I never quite get it all happening!!
Time management! I think I’ve mentioned before, I have a 20 acre goat ranch and just acquired sheep in May. Chickens and ducks I have a community garden through the 3F foundation based in Florence. I also have ducks and chickens. But, I’m a also a Realtor in the Southeast Valley with my office being in Gold Canyon. I’m also making soap and spa products from the goats milk to sell on the side. So, managi g my time is a skill I need to work on. That and knowledgable mentors. I would say that is equal with the time management. Especially with the sheep. Then I get to find time to actually cook for myself. That too is hard because for the first time in 26 years, I’m not responsible for taking care of another human being so I’ve slacked off on the good eating habits. With my commuting, I’ve done a lot of fast food in the car on the way home. I’m about an hour and 15 minutes southeast of Apache Junction.
But our biggest concern is becoming more self sufficient
We are doing great with gardening and have a horse tons of chickens and three dogs but unlike you we live in western washington
Not enough hours in a day! And like you mentioned, finding safe pesticides that are natural and work! We are always evaluating the feed we are giving our anumals and trying to find the best product we can for the price.
Just finding time to get it all done! My husband and I both work full time away from home so it can be a struggle to get stuff done at home.
My health is the biggest struggle to my art of homesteading. Fatigue and pain sometimes take me out of the game.
Hi DaNelle!!!
I have been homesteading now for just short of 5 years. I love simple living and homesteading so much I started my own blog just 4 months ago. 🙂 I am not a spring chicken so starting a homestead and a blog at my age is a bit out the norm, but I am having the time of my life! I just want to take a minute to thank you for your blog and all its helpful resources. You were one of my “go to” blogs when I was first starting out. 🙂
Next on my list to learn is essential oils and using them on my farm with my goats, chickens and pigs. I just joined your FB page and I am super excited to learn things from you! I would love to learn the basics of oils especially in the farming niche. What oils I need to have on hand for kidding, worming, dehorning, and skin conditions are at the top of my list. I would also love to have something to give a boost to my goats when less than ideal weather hits my farm. My bucks are housed outside most of the winter until spring breeding season, they usually do fine but sometimes when the temps are well below zero and the snow is falling it can take it’s toll on them. I would love to have something to give them for a little extra push.
Sorry so long,
Have a great Sunday!
Tracy Lynn
My husband and I are backyard farmers. We’ve been growing our own garden/food for two years and having some struggles. Many of our fruit trees are only a couple years old so we know we have to wait some more years for those to produce, but our vegetable boxes are kind of hit and miss. This year our tomatoes were horrible. We live outside of San Francisco in a rural area that gets very hot in the summer but talking to many people many say they also had trouble with toms this year.
We get great plants but low volume on the actual vegetables. I think we may be planting too many plants together. We are also having trouble with our citrus plants. The lime has yellow leaves and our lemon tree’s leaves are all falling off but there is a lot of new growth at the top part of the tree. It looks pretty strange.
I actually don’t have animals (yet), but we plan to in the future, and I love all your informational articles about that, so I clicked that option even though it doesn’t 100% apply just yet! (I grew up on a small family farm, so am fairly used to animal husbandry – just haven’t done it as an adult myself yet!)
My biggest issue right now is keeping up with our huge garden – and in particular, dealing with all the garden pests without using any chemicals! I have always gardened organically, but until the past 2 years, never had a big enough garden to attract many bugs. That all changed now, and this summer we were overrun with all sorts of pests! Would love to know more organic methods for dealing with *specific* garden pests – i.e. squash bugs, cucumber beetles, etc.
Thanks for all your awesome posts and info, and I love your personality! 🙂
Rose.
Thank you for taking the time to share and for your lightheartedness and humor. We are new at this whole back yard farm thing and struggle to find good info and resources for taking care of our pregnant goats, past control sans pesticides, and time to do all of this. We understand the convenience of fast food and microwaves, although we don’t partipate in it. Time saving and/or planning tips would be awesome!! Thank you again for YOU!
Hello hello!
My biggest struggle right now is TIME! I have so many projects I want to do to become more self sufficient, but with little people and my husband working a 9-5 (and sometimes 7-8 or more/traveling for business), I feel like our large garden is a challenge enough! How do you manage your time/family/chores with kids to get it all done!?
As far as food is concerned, there is so much conflicting information that I don’t even know where to start. I’m just doing my best to be a home cook and use our garden goodies.
Hey there… I’m supposed to be prepping some homeschool stuff for the week… but, i’ll take a sec and answer your question.
we live in southern california in a small city called hemet. we have 1.5 acres… laying hens, meat chickens at the moment, turkeys for thanksgiving, nigerians for milk, and a few market hogs that are scheduled to head to the fair next week….
my biggest frustration about trying to raise animals in general… is i feel like there is a lack of organic/ natural anything around me. i know it’s out there in other communities. but locally, it’s tough because of where i live. i feel like i have to work extra hard and do all this research just to cover my bases.
i SO appreciate your blog. it has helped guide me along the way and has encouraged me to not settle.
thanks so much!
bethany
We’ve always grown our own food but we are just beginning to raise our own animals, goats and chickens. I love learning from you and hearing your stories!
Keeping up on the upkeep of my livestock is getting harder and haste harder!
The older I get the less I can do:(
My biggest problem right now is trying to keep from being overwhelmed. I want to do more than I have time for. I am working on keeping a balanced schedule and keeping my joy. After all, this is fun stuff, right? I think so. ?
Biggest Challenge: getting hubby to get on board. I just got 3 goats, and I have always had a garden, but I also have a thriving handmade business and DH thinks that I do not have time for everything so he won’t put in a garden in for me. I can do it myself with the help of a few friends, but then the negatives keep rolling in. I just wish he would go along for just a bit. I do love gardening so much, and I am so happy when I do it.
2nd big problem is to get my dog to “like” the goats.
I live on 5 acres but I am only allowed chickens and ducks. I work full time leaving at 7am and returning at 6pm. I also live on rock, so I either have raised beds or straw bales for my garden. BUT I am retiring in 3 weeks and will finally have enough time to do my garden justice.
I’m like you, finding good information about natural ways to have a farm is so difficult!
All of it! We just purchased a property with 6 acres and we want to fill it all! We have dogs and 2 mini pigs but we want a good garden, fruit trees and goats, chickens and the like.
We will be moving to southern Missouri and our biggest concern is being able to grow food all year long. I think we’ll need to make some kind of shelter for growing and maybe pots so feeding the plants will be necessary. Don’t know what the best feed for them will be and how much room we’ll need for growing.
I find that although I absolutely love to grow my own food other events in life take priority and I don’t have the time to care for my garden and it suffers badly. The end result is my plants die and my fruit trees don’t produce as well as they should.
How do you fertilize fruit trees with free range chickens pecking about ?
As a single mom of 3 that works full time I would say my biggest struggle is time. Time to get everything done without using a headlanmp to do the chores lol. I love my life and wouldn’t change it for the world but I often feel time is my enemy.
I live on 5 acres in Hot southern california ( inland empire ) and I have my coup and my free range chickens. Now I am ready to tackle a garden. I am a yoga teacher , an essential oils distributor ( young living) , and into healthing living. Love your blog , thank you!!
I think our biggest struggle is pest and weed control. We don’t have goats yet…but we’ve raised laying hens for ages and also have riding mules. We’ve always gardened and canned food. We’ve recently put in a pond and have been working on stocking it ourselves.
Trying to balance it all is sometimes overwhelming. Also looking for how to rejuvenate the soil for optimal quality and nutritional value along with increased production.
I keep bees and overwintering is always hard. I live in the Piedmont in SC.
Lol! How to decide which struggle is the biggest right now, is probably my biggest struggle! Everything needs something, and learning and doing anything fast enough to not let something else fall in another area, is a real challenge. I love the challenge but hoping I haven’t lost my mind.
I’m finding myself enjoying the silliest things that it seems the rest of the world is possibly missing the intrigue on a daily basis. Thank You so much for your information. I found your story at just the right time in my life.
Thanks again.
Right now my biggest issue is trying to protect my plants & vegetables from the incessant spraying of chemicals from mosquito control ?
I would like to get my yard certified as a wildlife habitat in order to combat the spraying, but haven’t done enough research yet on how to go about it. The zika virus has people scared & calling for MORE spraying, I’m of course against any and all chemicals so I’m the odd one out it would seem.
I just want to have a little piece of nature untouched by cocktails of chemicals….that while killing off the evil mosquitoes, it also kills off so very many beneficials ?
I don’t think it’s beneficial to breathe these chemicals, much less have my chickens, dogs, cats, & pigs breathing them. Not to mention the fogged chemical cocktail leaves a film of these chemicals on my plants & vegetables.
Any suggestions on what routes to take if anyone has ever dealt with this in their backyard farming would be much appreciated ?
Currently I am not growing plants nor animals but am in the midst of an extended medical leave. Am looking forward to returning in less 9 to 14 months. Meanwhile, I am not letting this time go to waste but to improve/increase my knowledge. Goats for milking (to make soap) and a few chickens for household needs and raise vegetables and mushrooms for Farmer’s Market as sales outlet.
The correct term would probably be “pest management,”. But all I can see are those pesky cucumber beetle, squash beetles, locusts, and I am not even sure what ate all the grape leaves this year…
I companion plant, have used cayenne sprays, neem oil, planted squash later (but this DID work…I actually had and have a good crop of zucchini.) But I can’t get a. Good crop of cucumbers yet. Or any greens…
We’re out there with the chickens pre and post to clean up HUGE grubs we get…they are so helpful!!! And this year I saw a decline in locusts…thank God! But ants and should I admit cockroaches…yuck were abundant.
You asked and I delivered a chapter…
Thanks for all you do and your wonderful blog!
The hardest thing about being a small scale ranching operation is that friends don’t understand that I can’t just pick up and go someplace. Theanimals and gardens need tending 365 days a year. No days off
Our biggest challenge right now is learning to grow enough food for us and our animals in a very short growing season, zone 3d in northern Quebec. also we have to get their winter home built in the next 3 weeks. Winter temps expected to reach 40 below! Brrrrrr.
Time 🙂 and how to reclaim weedy pasture without large machinery. Thank you!
Raising chickens and all that goes with that.
WINTERS COMING.NO ELECTRICITY.FROZEN WATER BOWLS IN SHED/COOPS.DOES ANYONE KNOW IF “SNUGGLE SAFE”DISCS WORK UNDER WATER BOWLS?
I am alone on the family farm since my spouse passed. Husband raised beef cattle and grew their corn and hay. I no longer have farm animals and rent out the fields. I do have a small garden, am waiting on the last tomatoes to ripen before a frost.
Want to try some sourdough bread using organics to see if my body can tolerate it. Want to use your recipe but cut it in half, in hopes it will turn out well for just myself.
Thank you for sharing your life/recipes etc with all of us.
We (husband and wife team) are trying to make things more efficient and in so doing, we sometimes don’t work together enough to problem solve. Case in point, young turkeys were flying out of their pen which is a pallet frame with the cap of a pickup truck laid atop. The back window could be lifted up to allow my 5’4″ frame through the door underneath. When he fixed it so the turkeys could not fly out, he enclosed the window to the cap with chicken wire… so now, I have to crawl in to get to their feed box and such. Time consuming and what if I put out my back trying to do it? Forget it if I have winter attire on. I will have to shed layers to get inside…ugh. thanks for reading. But one more thing. If something is not pertinent to me, I skip over it…Like, I don’t have goats. But sometimes I take time to read about goats because I am constantly seeking ways to build self reliance. If you start sending only emails that have to do with specific parts of homesteading, I will likely miss out. Does that make sense?
Our biggest struggle is finding time to manage the farm, raise animals, grow crops, etc., and still both work full-time.
Being pregnant with our third child! And the heat – we are in southeast Texas.
I guess weed control right now is a big problem. As much as we try to keep the weeds under control, by about half way through the season, they are taking over. We must have brought them in with some manure or hay, and now have new varieties.
For me some of it is aspirational at present. I teach Baking Theory at a college in Toronto Ontario Canada, but I have 2 1/2 acres about 150 km north of here. I’ve got a big vegetable garden that the deer and groundhogs haven’t yet located. When I retire there will be chickens, a Dexter cow or two, maybe a rescue horse, some goats -always loved goats! So for now I’m gathering intel and enjoying your blog. I really enjoy your writing style.
Cheers,
Sue
First I would have to say time. My wife and I work full time and finding the time to do it all is probably the hardest part. Looking forward to retirement so we can give it 100 percent. Also weather we live in upstate New York so the winters can be a littl tough but we love what we are doing and it just keeps growing. Thanks for all the good info we love your website. Ken
I’ll be 70 in Nov. and I’m slowing down on the heavy work. I need infor on getting things done while saving my energy. I DON’T INTEND TO QUIT, just looking for easier ways to get things done. I’ll be building a small hay/storage barn in 2017. Any suggestions would be great. I can’t afford to hire the work done. Love your web site. Loice
We are in the process of moving to 30 acres, and yes, I purchased the goats before I have even moved in (5 of them no less). Now I’m trying to figure out housing and fencing while the woman I’m buying them from boards them for me. I bought two bucklings and three does. I should have probably waited with the bucks, but since they were unrelated to the does and that were registered Nigis I couldn’t help myself. We are only interested in the milk and finding a date for the does each year was going to be difficult up there, so I went ahead and bought boys as well. Thank you for turning me on to goats. I actually told my husband it was your fault when we visited the goats to pick some out 🙂
Time! That is my biggest issue. Balancing our weirdo lifestyle with raising a family. We improve our garden each year, but it never produces very well. Despite composting, using natural bug repellents, fencing, no till techniques- the whole garden is wiped out by rogue bunnies, woodchucks and bugs! It is very disheartening! If we were pioneers, we would have starved!
Learning how to do things more naturally without all the chemicals.
Hey DaNelle!
Wow. Good question.
Biggest struggle currently is just to get started with this homesteading lifestyle.
Moved to a farm about 6 months ago, and taking everything a day at a time. There is a lot of work that needs to be done before we are anywhere close to sustainable, comfortable living, but we are blessed to be here.
The resources which I specifically struggle to find is how to get started with homesteading. Like, which area should you start improving first? There is a lot of info available on how to manage/improve your homestead, but zilch on what to do when you’ve moved to a farm with bad drains, rubbish lying around, and depleted clay soil in the planting zones. And which animals, for instance, are best to get started on if you are planning on living off the farm but still stupid regarding care?
Love your posts, by the way. Looked after some goats for our neighbour for a few weeks… turns out our farm isn’t ready for goats yet, so I will look at your cuties.
Thanks for your effort. And I hope your farm and family are blessed in abundance!!
Regards,
René
I am having goat but I don’t know what to feed the goat.
Sourcing affordable non gmo feed in our area is proving to be difficult for me. I’m new to goats, but have just been feeding my chickens plain old feed store feed for years and really want to make this change.
At the moment, (it changes) I’m really struggling with gardening (I have these crazy lizards and a lot of cane toads that gross me out and jump out at me while I’m trying to plant or weed) and eating more vegetables. We already eat mostly all organic and non gmo, but lately I’ve had an awful sweet tooth, so I’ve been baking a lot and I just haven’t been very creative in preparing vegetables .
Time Time time that’s my struggle. I have to work at a job other than just my farm. I think my biggest struggle comes from needing to do a thing. But when trying to start the project and there are seven other projects that need to be done simultaneously as I am starting the first one. For instance say I need to haul a big round bale out to my horses. In order to do this I have to pass through my sheep pen as my other gate that leads to the horses has been blocked by my pack rat husband who has thoughtfully placed 6 non-functioning snowmobiles right in front of that gate.( Forget asking him to move those:( So I have to herd(bribe with grain) my sheep,llamas and goats into my barn. Sometimes that is an adventure all by it’s self. Then open 3 gates pick up any baling twine that made it’s way into the sheep pen move any panels that have been pushed out of place. Pick up rocks and sticks yell at the dogs who think horses need to be herded too. Get the tractor if it starts or the truck if the tractor doesn’t. Get the chains wrap them around the bale and hook them to the tractor/truck. Now I can drag the thing out to the pasture yell at the dogs again, lift and roll over the green feeder that helps keep the horses from standing on the bale, drop it over the bale. ( By the way that feeder is heavy) Done, right? Wrong! Now I need to go back through gates pick up more rocks, etc., call the dogs, chain gates shut, and now the fun part. Wade through sheep, goats, and llamas to get to a door that they are all jostling to be first out. I have a metal panel near the door that I climb on now because I have been trampled before so when I get up on that I open the door. Sometimes the sheep are in such a hurry they get themselves stuck in the door way, kinda of funny. All this on a good day takes about 30/45 minutes but on bad days hours.
I am starting a garden with 3 kids under 3, so just a plant at a time. The wild rabbits are eating what I plant.
Lack of time to do everything properly.
I have had a huge struggle with stinkbugs. They have chewed up almost everything in my garden. I am in the panhandle of Florida.
cheap ways to keep a large chicken farm very simply. for example, we (and our neighbors) are huge fans of the rooster collar that you taught us!! and i also enjoyed and was encouraged by your home butchering video, and have butchered my first 2 chickens within the last year, which was a huge milestone for me. May God bless you sister, keep spreading the knowledge that helps others to live better lives and take care of themselves.
Not enough rest!
Being able to grow enough food in my square foot garden.
One big struggle for me is finding the time to research natural solutions to problems when they first crop up, rather than waiting until a small problem becomes a big one. For example, I waited an extra two weeks to research how to get rid of mites in one of my goats (I was busy practicing for an upcoming orchestra gig out of town and was then away for a little while), and a smaller problem turned into a lot of mites on the goat. Luckily my other goats never got them (or at least they weren’t visible), even after a couple months of trying different methods to try and get rid of the initial goat’s infestation. It was one of those things where I could have contained and gotten rid of them much quicker if I had been on the ball immediately. It’s the same with fruit tree issues (yay for black spot living in the wet PNW) and any garden issues that crop up. Obviously, with experience, things get easier since the knowledge is already there and time doesn’t have to be spent researching it, but I’ve only been at it for about two years and haven’t seen everything. I also started homeschooling my kindergartner this year, so there is a lot of research that goes into that, and keeping up with my rambunctious toddler. I love my life though and everything in it! This lifestyle is the best! =)
My biggest issue is the soil where I live. I’m in Southeast Louisiana & the rain has literally washed out the nutrients in the soil. It’s a constant struggle to keep everything in check. Our nightshades have not produced much in the last few years. My winter garden does well though. Currently I have my chickens & ducks running amuck in the garden before I plant my winter greens. As for my birds, I’m dealing with a bout of fowl pox spred from the mosquitoes. My baby turkeys have been hit hard but they are hanging in there.
My biggest struggle is growing my own food. I’m just not very good at it. I’m so overwhelmed with all the information and I don’t know what to plant when and what to plant together. I had one year that started out ok but then the aphids came, this last year was terrible. Hoping for better in the coming years.
My biggest struggle is time, energy and money. There never seems to be enough time to get things done, I don’t have very much help. And some days I don’t have the energy to barely get out of bed. And money! Right now we are still in the trying to get this place set up and we are only getting money for the chicken eggs, but even then it’s only paying for the chicken feed. So we aren’t making any money yet.
We need more information on how to properly care for our animals when something is wrong. Also, we’ve had a weird year in our garden.
Single grandmother in city neighborhood.
Work full time as self employed
Hanna Somatics Educator for about 10 years now, Baton Rouge, La.. Love hearing how Somatics has aided you in recovery your body/life. I see & hear this weekly!!! Would do it for free if I could.
Just raised Granddaughter who turned 18 this week, homeschooled. Now starting with 4 yr. old grandson. 🙁 Must Have Healthy (not fake) foods!!!!
Trained in and use essential oils, Young Living. Very passionate about the oils. They are our medicine chest!!!
Have 7 dogs, ages 6 – 15, & 1 cockatiel with no health issues. Use raindrop therapy and fully organic diet with them.
Lovvvvve to cook! Love to bake bread, especially sourdough. Family gluten free 6 years now.
Determined to grow something organic this year and end up with a manageable garden.
Desperately want chickens for eggs and eating but no room with 7 dogs in backyard so I buy from a nearby chicken farm. 🙁 Maybe once they move to heaven.
Thank you for the gift of your blog!!!!
Peggy, Louisiana
I have been following your blog for the past couple of years now. We lived in the city and found you searching for a layout so I could talk my husband into getting chickens (that took 5 years, but I won him over). We started with 5 and then 6 Silkies. Then we had the opportunity to move to a small rural town with a fixer upper on an acre lot! I have watched all your videos and now we have 2 ND does too 🙂 Now that we are settled in a little better, we have built 3 raised garden beds and plan to plant some fruit trees this Spring also. So happy with our little farm and excited about the growing season, honestly a little anxious too. Thank you for letting us into your lives to help us along the process!