Stupid question

[jjgrappler]

Stupid question but I am a city guy looking into getting into homesteading. i am just starting out small due to space issues with rabbits and a small garden. Question is how do you ask people for help. I am interested in helping out at a farm to get some pointers and learn how to manage different animals and see day to day business. How do you go about doing something like that?

[Jan Doling]

Post a notice at the feed store.

[PNP Katahdins]

Not a stupid question! Ask at the local large-animal vet offices. Sheep and goats are smaller meat and dairy animals that may be easier to start with than cattle. Harder to fence in though. Predator control is always an issue, including roaming dogs.

Do you know anyone that farms or homesteads, like through work, school, church, etc? They may not need help but might know someone that does, and could provide a reference for you.

Good luck. Lots of people have done what you are getting prepared for.

Peg

[QoTL]

For me, that has probably been one of the hardest aspects.

Thankfully, it's the age of technology.

I have watched a ton of youtube vids. Not just one on a subject but countless on each thing. Read lots of books and websites.

When I truly needed help doing something, I posted an ad on craigslist and a wonderful woman came to help me.

Otherwise, It's been a ton of networking. Our hayman, with whom I have traded info (I showed him how to dress a chicken out, he answered lots of questions about horses), was someone my husband used to work with. I bought my first buck, and talked goats, with a woman who we had also met through work. One of my favorite people I met on a goat list, and she and I share goat info back and forth.

My garden has been a five year's experiment. The only person who gardens close by uses pesticides and more chemicals than I'm comfortable with. I have asked lots of advice from people I bump into about all sorts of things (had a very interesting conversation with an expert on trees, for example). Otherwise it's been a lot of trying one thing, trying something else.

I think it's terrific to talk to people and read up. But I do think at the end of the day what works for one person DOESN'T for someone else. We all develop methods that work for our particular locality, with our particular gardens and critters. So if you hear conflicting information, that may be why. Store it all away

I will tell you after the first garden, I got chickens. I had zero help or advice beyond Storey's Guide to Chickens. And yet somehow they all lived and thrived. I think starting small helped.

[springvalley]

Personally, I think this forum, Homesteading Today, is a wonderful place to get answers! Just ask away. As my dear father once said, "The only dumb question is the question not asked!" The only way to get answers is to start asking, so fire away!!
Catherine
p.s. There are also farms out there that would love to get an intern... or as some put it... slave labor. You basically work for them for the knowledge you gain. We do this here in IL, so if you're close and want to come for a while....

[jjgrappler]

Yea I tried to help on a local farm when I was a teenager but never got a call about coming to help. I may have to go out and network around. I live in central Pa if anybody knows anybody who needs some help. This message board has been a savior to me and I wish I would have saw it before I tried a vegetable garden this year. Would have been less headaches and more produce on my table.

[jjgrappler]

I have so many books my heads spinning lol. My favorite so far has to be barnyard in your backyard.

[MoonshadowMom]

Check out the local county extension office. They have a world of info and people there who have a lot of knowledge of the suitable crops and people of the area. Tons of good pamphlets and info at no cost. Worth stopping in.

[Otter]

LOL, I butchered my first rabbit with Carla Emery's book propped open in front of me. I was so worried I'd get blood on it - it was a library book

Put up an ad at the feedstore that you're looking for part time work, animal related. And don't let anybody act like they're doing you a favor by letting you shovel their poo. Get paid and ask questions.
Also, keep reading from books and learning. There is no single right way. I guarantee they do it different in Peru. But any one who has low production and lots of losses and says "Well, that's just the way it is" is not doing it right. Yes, there are always some losses, but not many and you try to not have the same thing happen twice - but there are people who are happy to spend 20 years doing it wrong and accepting 60% of what their production should be.

Go down to the local USDA office and find out about the local Master Gardeners course. I've had a couple of friends take it and they all loved it. It will be lots of regional info which is great. I've wanted to take it for years and I will now that I'm not moving around.

[mickm]

jjgrappler, there are no stupid questions, just stupid people that ask questions

Craigslist man! There is a farm services link, check it out and volunteer your help. You might even get a low paying job out of the deal.

Tons of info on line, as well as in the library.

The truth is you can never learn everything, and getting your hands dirty and figuring it out works best for most folks.

[Pelenaka]

Here's some links for volunteering in a community garden in PA.
http://pittsburghgardenexperiment.or...FWBd5QodNRo8ug

link for finding a community garden in US - http://acga.localharvest.org/

National Substainable Agriculture Info Service (apprenticeships) -http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/internships/

I didn't learn gardening from family unless you count the Summers picking as a migrant worker either in my Grandfather's half acre garden or my Aunt's homestead. Cousins ran the produce stand.
Books, books, and more books. Websites, websites, still more websites. Practice, practice, more practice.

~~ pelenaka ~~
http://thirtyfivebyninety.blogspot.com/

[jjgrappler]

Love my books got a ton of them and got more on the way lol. I will have to look in Craigslist and post an ad at the local tractor supply. I really don't know of any local feed stores. Man I feel like a city slicker lol.

[Pelenaka]

I'm a city slicker, with dirt between her toes.
Try 4-H they should have good leads also.

~~ pelenaka ~~

[jjgrappler]

Ok what exactly is 4-h?

[Wags]

If there is a particular animal you are interested in - saw Nigerian Dwarf Goats - find breeders in your area and tell them you are researching info and ask to see their goats and their set up. Most goat people are happy to "talk goats" and fill you in on husbandry needs.

[mary,tx]

Originally Posted by Otter

LOL, I butchered my first rabbit with Carla Emery's book propped open in front of me. I was so worried I'd get blood on it - it was a library book

I delivered the first couple of goat kids with a book in one hand. That was eleven years ago. And I still had DD run in for the "Keeping Livestock Healthy" book this last kidding, when I had one present with its neck turned back. I had to see a diagram of what I thought I was feeling before I could fix it.

[plowjockey]

My vet is 40 miles away, so I'm learning to treat animals myself.

Books, Google and this site, will pretty much get the job done (except for catching the sick critter).

This is not rocket science.

[ronbre]

just stop in and visit and ask if you can tag along and help out with chores..and ask questions..also if there are amish in your area you might ask, they love to to teach people how to do things..

[jjgrappler]

Good idea my aunt works directly with the Amish so I guess I have an in lol

[Callieslamb]

Extension service's Master Gardener program. Take it.