OK, so here is what we decided after listening to you good folks, and talking to some menonite friends of ours.
1) We will get the garden set up in a way that is manegable to us... square foot boxes. This method makes it pretty "easy" for us (as gardens go), and the kids can help. Last year, they all had thier own box. That will be priority #1, because that is something we already know we can do within certain limitations. This will be our 3rd year for a garden. Still needed... build the boxes, put in good soil (there is compost from the barn area already on the property), have the soil tested to see what else it needs, order seeds, do more research on organic plant protection, PLANT at the right time.
2) We will have a few laying hens right off. We have the facilities for them, and that seems like a good way to get our feet wet. Still needed: Chat with the good folks on the poultry forum, and read books we have on the subject. My neighbor has chickens, and my 4 year old has made it his job to be the egg collector for them. He is excited about being able to KEEP that job.
3) In a few months if things are going well with #'s 1 and 2 (maybe after a short vacation :-) we will get dairy goats. We spend a HUGE amount of money on dairy for our family. 5 kids drink a LOT of milk, eat cheese, etc... dh likes to make cheese, so this seems prudent. We are inheriting the milking stand and equipment (they are coming with the house), so the only real expense to get started will be related to the animals themselves. BUT, if we feel we can't handle it yet after trying the chickens, we will contine on with the sources of these things that we already have. We really need a cow, but just don't think we are ready to try that yet.
4) Continue to get our meat (chicken, beef, pork, lamb) from other farmers for this year, and next year re-evaluate. If our garden goes well, we will be eating less meat anyway.
5) My two little boys are BEGGING me to let them have a worm farm? They heard about it somewhere. Since 6 and 4 year old boys think worms are COOL, they REALLY want to do this.
Anybody know anything about this? Could they just have enough of a "worm farm" to play with the worms, and learn how such a thing is done?
6) Bunnies are not an option. Bunnies have been pets around here, and my chilren will NOT hear of eating one! Funny, they are not that way about most other animals, just bunnies.
Thanks for the input. Other comments are, of course, welcome.
Cindyc.
