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It's weird, looks like I'm a farmer...

xisnotx

Permabanned
Joined
Sep 24, 2010
Messages
2,144
I'm not sure why...didn't grow up on a farm...

Just like the idea...

Meat...all types...I want a huge herd...of everything...

I like meat...

Farming for an intp? Does it fit?

What appeals to me is that, within reason, you get to set your own lifestyle..you're not answering to anyone...just you and the world...

Also, with online education becoming more and more acceptable...I can pursue my PhD as well....which is awesome...

I guess I'm happy. It's a nice change of pace...
 

Not_Me

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Joined
Jan 16, 2008
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INTj
I had several friends who did farming for a while. There are many benefits, but there are negatives also. Some of the work is quite filthy and demanding. You have to answer to the weather. Cashflow can be a problem.
 

kyuuei

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We've been learning the ins-and-outs of gardening lately, and canning.. Starting out small helps a LOT. It doesn't feel so overwhelming then..

I'd suggest starting with chickens, and see how you like it. If you don't get roosters and just hens, they're not noisy, and they're useful for both chicken meat and eggs. They're fairly low maintenance for farm animals (just clean the coop out, clip the wings, and feed them just about anything) and they eat their weight in table scraps, weeds, and bugs.

The bigger the animal the more investment, but we're looking at starting with chickens and then moving to goats, pigs, cows, and maybe even a bison in the distant future.
 
W

WhoCares

Guest
I grew up with a hobby farm, we had about 100 goats, a cow for milk, a pig for meat and a handful of calves for meat also as well as 3 horses and a bunch of chickens and ducks. Even with 4 children and 2 adults working this farm it was a big job. Milking the goats and cow daily were a task and a half because we did it all by hand. We all seperated milk, churned butter and made our own cheese. Depending on what type of farm you want though, livestock husbandry is a constant job. We also harvested several acres of hay, the old fashioned way, with scythes. Not sure why we did that, it's not like I grew up in the 1800's. :unsure:

The upshot of all that though is, I now have the skills to be a homesteader even though I live in the middle of a city and work a modern job. I still do make my own soap, candles, skin care, roast coffee, render tallow etc out of habit and a need to feel connected that way again. You can take the kid off the farm but you can't remove the farm from you. I still like to go to the agricultural shows and will return to a rural area in the next few years.

I think I will turn my hand to micro-farming fruits and veges though and barter for the rest. Animals are very high maintenance.
 

sprinkles

Mojibake
Joined
Jul 5, 2012
Messages
2,959
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INFJ
We've been learning the ins-and-outs of gardening lately, and canning.. Starting out small helps a LOT. It doesn't feel so overwhelming then..

I'd suggest starting with chickens, and see how you like it. If you don't get roosters and just hens, they're not noisy, and they're useful for both chicken meat and eggs. They're fairly low maintenance for farm animals (just clean the coop out, clip the wings, and feed them just about anything) and they eat their weight in table scraps, weeds, and bugs.

The bigger the animal the more investment, but we're looking at starting with chickens and then moving to goats, pigs, cows, and maybe even a bison in the distant future.

And the cool thing about chickens is they know where their home is. If you don't have any predators, they just hang around the yard.

Some people also use chicken tractors which are like a mobile chicken coop with no bottom, so they are protected and there's no bottom to clean out and you can just drag it to different spots in the yard so they can always have fresh grass and bugs and they aren't depleting just one spot. The droppings they leave behind help the soil and recycles the area.
 

Mole

Permabanned
Joined
Mar 20, 2008
Messages
20,284
The Romance of Farming

you're not answering to anyone...just you and the world...

You are not answering to anyone except the Bank, the weather, the market, the Department of Health and Safety, the Department of Disease Control, the Irrigation Commission, the price of fuel, feed, machinery, and the Environmental Movement.
 

kyuuei

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And the cool thing about chickens is they know where their home is. If you don't have any predators, they just hang around the yard.

Some people also use chicken tractors which are like a mobile chicken coop with no bottom, so they are protected and there's no bottom to clean out and you can just drag it to different spots in the yard so they can always have fresh grass and bugs and they aren't depleting just one spot. The droppings they leave behind help the soil and recycles the area.

I've heard about those quite recently, and pondered getting one for the depletion reason. Chickens amaze me, they're worth their weight in gold when it comes to sustainability and ease of care and they're quite cheap to buy as chicks.
 
W

WhoCares

Guest
I've heard about those quite recently, and pondered getting one for the depletion reason. Chickens amaze me, they're worth their weight in gold when it comes to sustainability and ease of care and they're quite cheap to buy as chicks.

Make one out of PVC pipe and birdnet, it's quite cheap and you can get free plans on the internet. All you need is a hacksaw.:newwink:
 

cafe

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Apr 19, 2007
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I love the idea and I've tried gardening and raising chickens. It was way too much work -- time-sensitive work -- for too little return for me. Won't say never again, will say not anytime soon.

Backyard chickens is a great resource, FWIW.
 
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