2018 is going to be the year of growth for us here at Autumn Rayne Acres. We have only been living on our property since June 2017 so have little in the way of infrastructure for our homestead. Last summer we put in a very small garden and were able to enjoy fresh peas, green beans, carrots, okra, tomatoes, summer squash and cucumbers.
For 2018 we plan to expand our garden with the goal to be able to preserve enough food to reduce our need to purchase store bought produce by 50%.
below is the site of our new garden for next year. We have sectioned out a 70 foot by 70 foot space, tested the soil and have amendments lined up once the ground thaws. We will also keep the space from our garden next year too. One will have full sun all day where last years garden is partially shaded most of the time.
Our second goal for our homestead is to expand our orchard. Right now we have two very mature apple trees, a pear tree, and a peach tree that produces rotten fruit (not sure what that's about - still researching). So, our goal is to plant several more apple trees and a few cherry trees this year. Our goal for the orchard is to be able to produce wine next fall from the apples and berries grown on our property for personal consumption.
In keeping with the growth theme for our resolution for the coming year we would also like to increase or chicken flock. Right now we have 2 roosters and 9 hens. They produce more than enough eggs for our family of four. However, I would love to see some revenue be generated through the sale of farm fresh eggs. With the space we have and the ability to free range our birds we should be able to increase our flock with another 9 to 12 hens. My goal here is to generate enough revenue with the eggs to cover our costs for feed and bedding for our animals.
Not pictured - but also something we plan to grow is our goat heard. currently we have two Nigerian Dwarf Goats. Once our female is old enough in the spring we plan to breed her for the purpose of milking and selling the kids. I may re-evaluate the breed of goats we have to something larger. But ,for now Frigg and Loki are more like pets and don't particularly serve any real purpose other than to provide me entertainment and manure for the garden.
I am aware the dwarf goats are not particularly great for milk production - which is partly why I chose them. My family does not care for goat milk. So, the milk would solely be used for the production of my soap and possibly cheese. So, I don't really need a lot of milk.
As you may have noticed in the first picture our resolution is to grow in Faith and Sustainability. I am newly awakened to the Tora and am desperately seeking to learn more and grow my faith and live my life as was designed by our creator. I look to this new year to grow my faith and relationship with the Lord.
Happy New Years from our Homestead to yours!
Thank you for participating in the most recent #homesteadingchallenge! This comment is to inform you that the winner and a few honorable mentions have just been announced! I hope to see you in future contests!
I'm liking your ambitious plans for 2018. I'm going to follow you and can't wait to see how it goes!
Thanks for the follow. We are really excited for the potential 2018 holds for us :)
It looks like you have a good space to expand into. I look forward to seeing your updates. May I ask what breed of chicken you are raising? They're lovely! We had chickens at our last place and plan to raise them again now that we've moved. Coincedentally, like you, we moved to our new place in June of 2017.
Hi @britchesbrambles
congrats on moving to your new place! This is our last and final move now that my husband will be retiring from the Army in less than 2 years. Very excited to finally be in our forever home! As for the chickens, we have two breeds at the moment. We started out with the Mottled English Orpingtons. They are a large dual purpose breed. we like them as they are very docile and make great pets. Down side is they take FOREVER to start laying. We purchased a breeding trio in August 2017 and we just started getting eggs from them in November. The other smaller black birds are just your run of the mill black sex-link. they are a little noisier than the Orpingtons but are great layers. We have 6 of them and get about 4 eggs a day from them. I get a random Orpington egg every other day - If I did not like them so much they would probably have been put in the pot already.
Happy Homesteading!!
This is our final move, as well. That's why I'm over-thinking everything. :D I want to make as few missteps as possible in setting up the infrastructure here. I just requested catalogs from a few hatcheries to help us decide what breeds to raise. We really like Black Australorps and don't care at all for Bovan Browns; that much I know!
Great resolutions! You've been entered into the challenge, thank you!
In 2017 our egg sales from a flock of 22 hens was just over $2,600. Our total feed costs for chickens, ducks, and fish for our aquaponics system was a little over $1,200. We use premium non-soy, non-GMO feed and are able to get $6/dozen for our eggs. So covering your feed and bedding costs is definitely within the realm of possibility.
One other thing to consider. Put those chickens to work. Get some poultry netting or fencing around where you’ll be putting your garden and let the hens start tilling and amending the soil. Think of them as little biological farm implements with fringe benefits.
Wow - that is awesome! I was thinking of pricing around $4 dollars per dozen. I use Organic non-GMO Feed too. We do let them free range - when they want to come out of the coop. before the snow dumped we would let them out of their run to free range in our back yard each day for a little while. They have a tendency to want to wander into the woods. so for now, they are on supervised free ranging. LOL
I will look into the poultry netting for next spring so they can spend more time in and around the garden too. that's a great idea!