My current home doesn't have a verandah or even a porch but I dream of owning a little farmette again, with a verandah overlooking chickens, goats and gardens. Absolute heaven!

Benefits of Small-Farm Life

We've been here since March, got our first baby chickens at the end of April, for our goat babies in May, got our first laying hen in May, planted most of our veggies by Memorial Day, and from there.... a milking goat that actually provided milk and other laying chickens.

What benefits have we gotten?
-knowledge (how to milk a goat, make cheese, grow things)
-eggs (yummy delicious eggs with bright orange yolks)
-milk (for drinking and cheese-making and cooking)
-no antibiotics or hormones in our eggs and milk
-fresh tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, green beans, pumpkin, zucchini and more

The biggest benefit of all? Besides my Kid growing like a weed on fresh air, sunshine, exercise/chores, fresh milk and eggs, and fresh veggies?

I've lost about 48 pounds since the end of June! Yep, because I'm moving more. I milk the goat twice a day, feed/water/hay the livestock several times a day, play chase with the goats, weed and water the garden, and generally enjoy being alive more. You can't really get depressed with a miniature goat comes up to you and gently butts you, wanting a scratch behind the ears.

If you can even start small, you should. A couple of quail in your garage aren't TOO noisey! A milk goat provides excellent dairy products.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

You are livin' your dream...plus getting healthy...congrats!!!you are an inspiration

Unknown said...

That sounds devine! I don't know if I'd be able to give up the hustle and bustle of city life, but the older I get (ok, so 27 isn't really *old* but still!) the more I think I'd be perfectly happy living away from it all if I could have a little farm. You can't find goat's milk anything - except feta - here and I can only imagine how yummy it would be to have your own, fresh goat's milk products, eggs, fruits & veggies, etc. And while it would be a lot of work, tending the animals and garden must help you get lots of exercise, fresh air and generally help you feel good.

One of the things we're really looking for in our first house (whenever we buy it) is a decent amount of outside space. I'm going to start with some herbs and veggies and go from there!