What do I mean -- little land? little food? little money?
All of the above, I guess.
Say you have 2 acres of land, good zoning (meaning you can have animals and do what you wish). On this 2 acre patch you are wanting to set up homesteading. Maybe raise a beef cow or two, have a couple of hogs for processing, certainly chickens and maybe even a handful of rabbits.
You want room for the children and for family entertaining, of course. And there are 7 children in the mix.
So...how do you do it? Can you do it? Will it work?
Here's my thoughts...and they are not overly complete by any stretch...do chime in and give me ideas and share your experience!
Well, 2 acres isn't alot, but I do think it can be done. It all depends on how much you really want it to work. Chickens and rabbits are easy to start with and easiest for housing. Back north I'd build according to winter needs...something we can enclose for more indoor spacing during really cold, snowy, nasty weather. Rabbits are just as easy -- and let's not forget, prolific breeders -- so maybe just adding a room onto the end of the chicken coop to run a couple rows of cages.
Cows and pigs are moving into different territory. We have hogs. Pain in the rump roasts but oh-so delicious afterward. Not sure I'd care to have any more in the future, though. I am not convinced they are truly worth the aggravation yet. Still, pigs and cows can pasture together easily enough, but space? There isn't really alot with 2 acres, so we aren't necessarily looking at keeping them on pasture, so feed over winter...maybe raise them to butcher off before winter each year? Could be do-able, but really...I rather think the variety of animals on such a small space just isn't going to be easily achieved.
Garden and fruit space? Plenty of it, I think. My focus would be an awesome garden with more than enough food to go around, and lining that with fruit trees and bramble fruits. Then I'd look to those chickens and rabbits for our main food source. Maybe barter off some fresh chickens and rabbits for the occasional splurge of beef for dinner.
I just don't see the larger animals on the small space being cost effective. There won't be enough space to adequately rotate pasture areas and allow for regrowth. Dry-lots are doable, but not very animal friendly, and definitely not cost effective.
My personal thought (ya' knew I'd have at least one, right??). It ain't happening. Not such grand scale plans on such small scale land. It's a great size for a beginner homesteader, certainly, but I think it's setting the cart before the horse to plan on diving in head-first on this scale. Maybe I'm totally wrong (yes, it's been known to happen once or twice before...) but I think something on that scale will pretty much turn one off of homesteading. It's just too much, too fast.
What would I do, newbie from the city let's say, I've just bought my 2 acres and I'm getting itchy feet for homesteading? Garden and fruits, chickens and rabbits. Forget the cow and pigs for now. Plug every available penny into the 'land fund' kitty and pray for another few acres adjoining to open up. Or, start honing my skills now and save for that greener pasture down yonder road in a few years. I'd be learning all I could about canning, drying and preserving everything from that awesome garden and homestead orchard. I'd be changing my lifestyle to accommodate more chicken and rabbit, less burger and chops. I'd be starting on that homestead path of make if from scratch.
Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do
Or do without
That would become the family creed. Everything homemade from scratch, natural and moving in large strides toward self-sufficiency and complete God-reliance.
Then, one day, when I was no longer that newbie from the city with big plans I'd venture off to my real, true, forever patch of God's Green Earth. Fully armed with my homesteading skills and prepared to learn more skills...like raising the family beef cow and the mini herd of piggies (hmmm...would a group of pigs be a herd?). Maybe at that point I'd be ready to even raise some of my own grains for feed, too, or a bit of hay for winter storage.
Well lets see.. small scale its hard for me having 160 plus of woods and fields..
I think 2 acres is good for the type of animals you would have.. And not sure what state? But if its warm you wouldn't need to buy to much hay. And a cow doesn't eat all that much..
And for rabbits you could have hutches and free range them in a fenced in area..
Hens you could free range as well.. Then you would have your home somewhere and maybe an 1/2 left over for kids/fruit trees..garden.. My garden is 100x100 that is what you would be looking at I think. Not sure but it yields lots.
Depends on what kind of house you have if its up stairs and down and a basement.. On bad days the kids would have plenty of room..
Maybe you could have a root cellar dug in a bank.. Wouldn't that be nice.. I'm spoiled I've got a built in one in our basement..
Don't know if I helped just some thoughts.
Oh I have it you can move to Maine we have plenty of space....
Sister Brenda
~~Good thoughts. No, this isn't for me. It was brought up on a group discussion and I thought it was a good topic to toss out here for ideas. The family is up north somewhere...Michigan or Minnesota I believe it was.
Yes -- space for play in the house area would be great. I think a large patio area would work for family play, entertaining others, etc. And the dig-in root cellar...great thought. You have one inside the basement? You know, I just get more and more 'green' over your homestead! LOL
Trust me, if I could get Dewey a job up there in Maine, I'd come in a heartbeat! I miss winter....**real** winter....like you can't even imagine! The bugs, the snakes, the rain, the heat....I'd leave it all behind in the blink of an eye.
Deanna
Edited by HandsNHearts on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 10:25
What happened to the goats? They take up a small amount of pasture, can produce your milk and supply meat. Maybe this would be further down the road. I agree, not too much at once. Don't forget the beehives. I'll quit now.
Love,
Rhonda
~~Oh, goodness, GOATS! I totally forget about them. Shame on me! I'm not sure I could eat them, though I've heard good things....but yes yes yes, goats would be the milk option and absolutely perfect for a small scale homestead.
Thank you for the reminder!
Deanna
Edited by HandsNHearts on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 10:01
~Always Planning for Whatever May Come... Mrs Survival site
~Sewing and baking, of course
~write letters
~Pasta made, dried and stored away
~barn repairs, on-going
~bush hogging & timber clean-up, on-going
~List books at BookMooch.com
~build a new mailbox post
~monthly quilt blocks
No indulgences of self will can be trivial, no denial unprofitable; Heaven or Hell depends on this alone. A parent who studies to subdue it in his child works together with God in the renewing and saving of their soul. The parent who indulges it does the devil's work, makes religion impractical, salvation unattainable, and does all that in him lies to damn his child, soul and body, forever.
Susanna Wesley
At The School Desks
We are a Christian family desiring to raise our children with the primary focus of Training their Hearts!
I have no greater joy, than to hear my children walk in truth... III John 1:4
Train up the child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it... Proverbs 22:6
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!... Deuteronomy 5:29
Our mission in life is not to go to some far-off foreign land, but to work at home and in our churches and home communities. Our goal should not be to leave behind riches and possessions, farms and homes for our children, but a priceless heritage they will cherish enough to work fervently to pass along to their children. It has been done for generations and with God's help it can still be done. In teaching our children, we are striving toward a deep understanding of who they are In Christ. I am . . . a child of God, a gift to my parents and my country. I'm a person of great value because God made me. I can . . . do all things through Christ who strengthens me. God has made me able to do everything required of me. I ought . . . to do my duty to obey God, to submit to my parents and everyone in authority over me, to be of service to others, and to keep myself healthy with proper food and rest so my body is ready to serve. I will . . . resolve to keep a watch over my thoughts and choose what's right even if it's not what I want.
Shared by 
Shared by 
