What would you do with this?

[Vernitta]

What would you do with this property? How would you do the layout of your animals and barn?
It's 8.36 acres. At the bottom you can see the road. It's the thin white line (I whited out the street name). The driveway crosses a creek. From there you can see the house, pool, and garage. Going up the property there's an incline where the trees are. We aren't sure how bad it is, but my husband will find out this weekend. There used to be a structure of some sort in the middle section. Then there's the last section. According to the topographical map the only incline is that thick group of trees between the first and second section. On the right side of the property is forest. On the left are some neighbors, woods, and fields. Behind are fields and forests. Across the street is a forest.

So, if this were your property how would you do the layout of your homestead? We want to free range chickens. We will either get a couple of milk goats or a dexter, but either way we would like to rotational graze them. We, of course, would put in a large enough garden to feed our family of 6. We would also like a greenhouse.
Thanks for any ideas. As newbies we appreciate any advice.

[Patchouli]

My biggest concern with a property spread out like that is your grazing animals would be out of your sight because of the trees between the house and the rest of your property.

[Vernitta]

That's my concern too. Would a couple of lgd be enough? Or alpacas or llamas?

[JV_FL]

my smart answer is golf driving range or rifle range.

[||Downhome||]

drop a drive way the length, lay out you paddocks the difference of the width.

ours has a fenced front field, then the house and sizable yard again fenced, the backs separated into two sections, one a good bit smaller, gates at all the divisions. drive runs most of the property length, we can drive the difference if need be.

[karenp]

What is that in the middle open section behind the house? Do you know if there is water run back there?

[Wolf mom]

You can get suggestions here, but you have to decide based on your soil, prevailing winds, land slope, water stub outs, and your lifestyle (like to walk, have to watch little ones?)

Take it slow - some things can't be moved. I'm sure we all have stories about that.

[motdaugrnds]

Vernitta, How wide is it? I like the idea Downhome had of running your drive all the way down it and fencing (with a variety of gates) for what animals you want. The main problem I see with it as is concerns protections you may not be able to give your animals. Yes a couple of LGD would be a good idea with or without that road down the entire length.

Your larger animals (ones who do not need as much care) could go at the end of that stretch with their guardian (your llamas or whatever) could live there full time if you made sure they had a way of getting out of bad weather. If you get "dairy" animals, you might want them closer. (Wherever I placed my stock, I would want their housing near my garden for convenience in mulching with their bedding.)

Do you know what is being done with that open area next to yours? If they are spraying chemicals, it would be good to know.

[Vernitta]

Well, it doesn't matter now. Someone else bought the property.