Now where to begin? Very Long

BlueRose · #1 08/01/13, 03:01 PM

I am buying 2.98 acres owner financed. I want to support myself and maybe make a little money. I am also helping a friend with rabbits and a garden on 48 acres. I can use some of the land for what I want with Ms Connie's approval.

I own half the rabbits and am buying a metal carport to put the does in.
21 Nz and NZ/Cal and 6 colored does (rex, lionhead and a drawf). 10 bucks (way to many). At the moment 125 babies with moms, just weaned 20 and have I not for sure how many fryers.

I have 1 nanny goat (boer/nubian cross). Ms Connie has 13 cross breed nigerian/brush goat crosses. None tested. Working on getting permission for that.

I have bought books to study:
[I]The Backyard Homestead[I] edited by Carleen Madigan
The Self-Sufficient Life and how to Live it by John Seymore
Storey's Guide to Growing Organic Vegetables and Herbs by Keith Stewart
Gardening with Herbs by George Carter
Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats By Jerry Belanger and Sara Bredesen
Raising Meat Goats for Profit by Gail Bowman
BeeKeeping for Dummies by Howland Blackiston

Now my experience:
Raised on beef/pig farm.
My ex and I raised rabbits (commercial Pel-Freez); had 4 milking nannies and 29 boar and boar crossed nannies and a beautiful boar billy, and suffix ram and 30 sheep. Lots of poultry, pigs and 15 pair cow/calves.

This is my problem had serve head injury; don't remember how to do alot of stuff but some stuff is coming back a little at a time. Still have seizures and other medical problems. It's why I ask some silly questions on the forums?

Any other books or advice will be greatly appricated.

Thank you. Sorry so long.

Maura · #2 08/01/13, 04:52 PM

I don't have advice, but I wish you well. I'm glad it is coming back to you.

FarmboyBill · #3 08/01/13, 05:38 PM

Well, as Doc holliday told Frank McLowry when Frank said, (I gotcha now Doc) at the OK Corral. Doc said, (your a good one if you do). That's what I got to say about your raising a living on 3 acres.

arabian knight · #4 08/01/13, 05:45 PM

Wow less then 3 acres. Good luck is all I have to say. Hope you can do it.

Rustaholic · #5 08/01/13, 06:01 PM

I strongly suggest
The Encyclopedia Of Country Living by Carla Emery
It really is just what the title says.

I have a nephew that had a very bad head injury and he is still recovering seven years later. Being an ADHD guy did not make it any easier.
The one thing I see is before his accident he would back away from trouble now if trouble gets in his way he will attack.

Keep getting better.
I believe as you read through this book it will bring a lot back for you.

Rustaholic · #6 08/01/13, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabian knight

Wow less then 3 acres. Good luck is all I have to say. Hope you can do it.

Well I grew up on a 2.85 acre Farm.
We grew most what we ate.
Meat, taters, two veggies and small fruit at most meals.
We grew corn and raised pigs and chickens.
I learned to plant, care for, cut, shock, and shuck corn all by hand.
We butchered our pigs and traded most of the pork each year pound for pound of beef.
All summer long if I wasn't hoeing corn or picking potato bugs I was picking berries. We had strawberries, red raspberries, black raspberries and blackberries. A large patch of each.
We ate them fresh all Summer and canned or frozen the rest of the year.
If my five acres here was anywhere near as good as that land I would be doing it all here.

rharper · #7 08/01/13, 06:37 PM

Sounds like you've got a basic plan, and some good references (I think I have most of those on my own bookshelf, so I hope they're useful ...).

With the head injury, it'll do what it does, so you have to do what you have to do. Plan on learning it all again, and take whatever comes back as a gift. Don't expect it, or wait on it (it seems like you're already thinking like this, but I wanted to say it nonetheless).

I'm not experienced with head injuries, and I'm not playing the tough-love game either. But ... I have been close to folks who lost careers, or couldn't find the job they trained/qualified for (my father was a small logging contractor when the business collapsed, and I have a cousin who qualified as an electrician in one state but got boxed out by the union after he moved home and bought property, so couldn't get a job, and there are others--including plenty on this forum), and what I've seen suggests that if you bank on reproducing what you had, you're toast ... it likely won't happen, and all the time you spend waiting on what you've lost is ultimately time wasted. If you measure up what you have now, and what opportunities you can make for yourself without depending on those past expectations, you'll be on your way. It may not be perfect, but it'll do ...

As long as you're breathing, and have a roof over your head and dirt under your feet, you've got a chance. Roll with it, and ask whatever questions you like.

BlueRose · #8 08/01/13, 06:39 PM

Thank you everyone. I know it will be an uphill battle. I am going to talk to Mr. Guy and see if he will maybe sell me the land behind me which would bring the total upto 7 acres. I wish I had the money to buy the 26 acres he has for sale.

Rustaholic, Just placed order on Amozon

Vosey · #9 08/02/13, 08:06 AM

I don't have experience with rabbits or goats but wanted to wish you well. I have experience with TBI's from my work and I expect that it will help your memory to be doing familiar things. Be strong and realize you will be frustrated and sometimes overwhelmed and plan for that.

I recommend Jackie Clay's "Growing and Canning Your Own Food", it's not just gardening, but includes goats, rabbits, chickens etc. with good canning recipes. I find her to be just a great inspiration as well.

bruceandis · #10 08/02/13, 10:02 AM

BlueRose, it looks to me that you're well on the road to recovery. From reading your posts in this thread, I'm confident you'll adapt to your "new normal."

Your question was whether you can make a go of it on three acres. Well, this fellow in his blog is doing it on one acre.

You're currently a little short of five acres, but here's a book available through Amazon.com that talks about self-sufficiency on five acres:
Farming for Self-Suffiency: Independence On A Five-Acre Farm There ought to be a few good ideas that you could adapt to your situation.

Here's another, something of a classic in the field (pardon the pun): Five Acres And Independence I think I have a copy packed away somewhere.

And here's a guy who claims self-sufficiency on a quarter of an acre: Mini Farming: Self-Suffiency On A 1/4 Acre

Good luck. Keep us updated on how you're doing.

mpillow · #11 08/02/13, 10:32 AM

Do you have a regular buyer for your surplus rabbits, goats, etc? If not then I would scale way back....to what your market and yourself needs. Fresh vegetables are much easier to sell IMO.

Where I live in the North East ---you practically have to give things away...so I try to produce at the scale of my market without filing farm taxes and the gooberment having a paper/tax trail on me.

mpillow · #12 08/02/13, 10:39 AM

Be sure to read this related post:
We are selling our farm…. (Good Read)

doing it in NM · #13 08/02/13, 03:16 PM

I know nothing about a head injury, but land wise you can do a lot. I went a day early for our annual Farmers market managers meeting this year so I could go on a farm tour. This was hosted by the Farm to Table group. We saw a 3 acre farm that was very sustainable. They raise all veggies, with a few small animals thrown in. Sante fe NM has a year around Farmers market and with help from the farm to table people they also sell to the school. It is just a husband /wife team that during peak times uses kids to help pick and weed. So if you work hard most anything is possible.

BlueRose · #14 08/02/13, 10:07 PM

I got a lot to learn and to remember. I can do this! If nothing else I can grow enough food for me and the animals.

Thank you all for your advice, support and will wishes.

Vosey · #15 08/03/13, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueRose

I got a lot to learn and to remember. I can do this! If nothing else I can grow enough food for me and the animals.

Thank you all for your advice, support and will wishes.

Enjoy your journey BlueRose and keep us updated!

BlueRose · #16 08/03/13, 10:21 AM

Well do. I hope to learn how to upload pics on here soon.

Pony · #17 08/03/13, 05:37 PM

John Seymour's book is great, b/c he has suggested diagrams on how to do things on one acre, two acres, five acres, etc.

Nick and I did a lot on just 1/3 acre in the 'burbs before we finally got the farm. With your experience, I'm sure you'll do well on 3 acres. It's just about scale, really.

Are you going to remain South Central? (Hope so, b/c I want to meet you - maybe over at Alice's?) Did you get custody of the PelFreeze number? They pick up in Norwood, don't they?

ronbre · #18 08/03/13, 06:00 PM

read the country living encyclopedia by Carla Emery

BlueRose · #19 08/03/13, 08:07 PM

Pony I hope to met you soon as well.

Unless something major happens I will be here a long time.