1 acre heaven

[kygreendream]

We finally bought a nice home out in the country 2years ago. It is only one acre though with our house in the center and a fenced in back yard. Please tell me what you all do successfully on 1 acre!

Spring is coming soon so i need inspiration!

[brody]

we have less land than that where our house is (we have bought some more land recently)
on our home property we have 7 apple trees on the perimeter, a large veggie garden (lettuce, herbs, potatos, corn, tomatoes, garlic, beets, onions, peas beans etc) , raspberries, blue berries, asparagus, rhubarb, sunchokes
chickens and rabbits

with enough room left over for an agility yard and a nice sitting place

[kentuckyhippie]

We have a little less than an acre and have fruit trees planted around the peremiter, all our landscape plants are something edible such as herbs in beds around the house, grape vines on fences, most everything in the garden is grown verticle to make best use of the space. example, peas, beans, cucumbers etc are grown on short rows of fencing across the garden, we have chickens that are let loose in the fall into the fenced garden to clean up any leftovers, we have enough space to raise a pig, they don't need much space because you don't want them running around a big area and running off their fat Thinking about getting a goat to run in the fenced back yard.

[firegirl969]

I would recommend you looking at Mel Barthalamew's (sp) book, "Square Foot Gardening." You could build some raised beds and grow lots of veggies in a very small area. Add trellis' to the beds and add even more growing space. Also, plant Dwarf fruit trees, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. You have plenty of room for rabbits, some chickens for eggs and maybe meat, and a dairy goat or two if you buy their food or forage for it. On the back of your property, you could fence a pig pen in and feed out a pig with kitchen and garden scraps. Try and find the book, "The have-More Plan" by the Robinsons. I think you can find it online to read for free. They had about an acre lot and had a nice plan for self-sufficiency. Their plan is drawn off in the book. Hope some of this helps, firegirl

[miboje]

I recommend reading Food Not Lawns by Heather Coburn Flores.

[miboje]

We have 1 and 3/4 acre. There are 16 fruit and nut trees, 7 blueberry bushes, 8 raspberry plants, 3 gardens, a rain barrel, compost bin, compost tumbler, and an outdoor cook stove.

Next year I hope to have a greenhouse, laying hens, a summer kitchen, and a wood shed.

[ronbre]

put your trees and shrubs (incl berries) in first..also grapevines..remember that they will cast shade..when you place them..if you need windbreaks..put evergreens along the windy corner of the property..ours is NW

only plant things that your family will eat..you might also consider nuts along your property lines on the north or west.
remember when planning your trees to plan for any buildings that you will be needing to add to your property and allowing for any pathways you will need.

plan your perennial plants next..things like berries, strawberries, herbs, asparagus, rhubarb, horseradish, sunchokes, etc..and put those in south of the trees so that they don't get too much shade..plan the soil well for these..study and look to see what they need..(like blueberries require acid soil ..etc.)

then plan where you will have your other plants, annual vegetables, perennial and annual flowers or herbs..etc..

a good way to plan a property is to check out www.permies.com and plan for a permanent agriculture system..study study study this winter !! never buy plants from items you will not eat unless you plan to sell them

[paul]

Ronbre had some good sugestions. For more ideas Google "urban permaculture" and/or "suburban permaculture". There are people out there will well under an acre that raise a substantial part of their food.

homesteadpaul

[Hank]

ronbre has just about covered it all. Our homestead is 6 ac. up in the mountains but we are living on 7/10 of an ac. in town for now. It will supprise you what can be done on a small place. We have 3 apple trees, 2 peach trees, three blueberry bushes and a fig tree. As well as a garden spot. No livestock as the city does not allow it. Can't wait to move up to the mountain site!!!!!!

Hank
http://www.doublemfarmandchuckwagon.webs.com

[Wags]

Check out the book "The Backyard Homestead"

There was also a thread here just a couple of weeks ago on what one could do with a 1/4 of an acre: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre.

[Txsteader]

You also might google 'urban homesteading' for ideas on how to maximize space.

[dinahmare]

Hello!

We have 2 acres and this year my neighbor, who has 600 acres, paid me a lovely compliment by saying we were doing very well on such a small space. House is in the middle and we have probably 1/2 acre still wooded and the rest is devoted to a 3 stall barn, 2 paddocks, dog kennel attached to barn, a 100x60 sand riding arena, chicken coop, 2 vegetable gardens, a 10x30 shelter for wood, and enough grass to keep us busy with a push mower for a couple of hours.

Oddly, when you don't have alot of room it really stimulates creativity. This year we were able to purchase a small tractor and have been trying to figure out where to keep it for the winter. Eventually, we realized we could put it in the aisle of the barn at night and move it out during the day. The horses all have outside doors so we still had emergency exits intact.

Next year we are rearranging the area behind the barn where I hope to put a greenhouse close to the chicken coop.

I suppose it does help to be in the middle of nowhere. We are obviously very close to our property lines which could easily be problematic in a more populated area. I hope this gives you a good feel for what could be done in a small rural area.

[Backfourty,MI.]

When we still lived in the city I tilled up half the backyard for a big garden. Always had plenty for me & the neighbors.
1 acre lot I would do like Brody & kyhippie said & plant fruit tree's around the edge & veggie garden where ever you get the most sun. I would rather work in the garden than mow the lawn.

[foaly]

Don't forget about container gardening. I have no in-ground garden on my itty bitty city plot, just containers. I use anything that holds dirt.

I have grown tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, melons, turnips, herbs, potatoes, cabbages, broccoli, lettuce, beans, squash, okra all in containers. I even have grapes growing in large urn containers. No fruit yet but the vines are still alive and maybe in year 2 we'll have some grapes.

My favorite book for this is "The Bountiful Container".

I had a dwarf apple in a large whiskey barrel until it got about 6 feet tall and then it went in the ground. Full size apples, small tree.

I wish I had a whole acre to work with.

[Yvonne's hubby]

You can do a lot on an acre. While we have 37 acres, nearly all of our homesteady projects take place on about an acre around the house, the rest is pasture and hayfields for the cattle. An acre will provide you with twice as much garden space than most folks need. You will still have space for small animals..... chickens, goats, rabbits all require very little space. Lots of berries and fruit trees can be planted in ways that will provide landscaping and really dress the place up while providing yummies at the same time. Even with gardens and small animal projects........ I wouldnt sell that lawn mower just yet, you will still have plenty of yard to mow.