February 21, 2014

A post from my original blog

Titled "Spring is coming.......on the farm!!"

So we have a tentative closing date for March 28th. This has already been changed and I’m sure it will change again. Almost all paperwork is in, appraisal is done and we’re just waiting for warmer weather and less snow. Here are the plans for things so far

Garden – I bit the bullet and bought the Mother Earth news garden planner app. It was painful at $10.00, but so well worth it!!! Because I’m not going to be able to test the soil and look for drainage problems before we move in, I’m just going to be using raised beds this year. I’m planning potatoes, onions, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. I am in no way a gardening master and really have no idea what I’m doing. My experience consists of having a potted Roma tomato plant last year and harvesting 9 tomatoes off it…….yes…….9. But I learn the best from mistakes, not books. Not the easiest way to get through life, but it works.

Chickens- our 4-h group was looking for a host family to do the embryology class so guess who signed up….this gal!! I seriously get to take the class, learn all about chicken development and hatching, turn the lovely things daily and then we get to watch them hatch right in our own basement!!!! How. Awesome. Is. That.

So these will be our chickens we will be bringing to the farm. We have no coop yet and am not sure about our plans for one, but I saw an easy one to make on a Becky’s Homestead video. It consisted of PVC piping which to me translates, cheap, easy and temporary.

The house- first thing that will need to be accomplished will be gutters on the house, ASAP. From there we are going to begin replacing windows. I’m excited for Doug to learn all this handy stuff and I think his man spirit is too. Men were made to build and work and create. He hasn’t had much opportunity thus far in his life, so I’m excited to see him flourish at the house.

Other livestock- I thought my dairy cow was going to be our first big livestock choice, but I’m finding out that hogs are pretty darn easy. I’m pricing out and planning out a pen and am hoping to have our own hog to raise for meat this year. No clue as to when you get them or where you get them, but I’m letting God lead the way, and as I hold Jesus’ hand we follow Him.

Dairy cow- my goal is to be schooled up and ready by next summer or fall. I know for sure I want a jersey because of all the delicious fat in their milk! Until she comes though, we will have to figure out a way to keep her in pasture- whether it be fencing or tethering, and we also will need to start adding a milking stanchion to the shed, and a little shelter for her. I cannot express my excitement about my lovely dairy cow, it’s the only “thing” in this life that I really want….yes, a dairy cow.

And one of the best things that is happening with this move is that one of my bosom friends is moving right down the street from us. We will be like Anne and Diana, performing signals to communicate with each other from our porches. It is very exciting and encouraging to have a close christian sister nearby. I’m sure we will need each other more than we can imagine. Asking for a cup of sugar is no longer walking 10 feet next door. It’s going to be the kids hopping on their bikes and riding half a mile :)

Sigh….sigh…. Sigh…… I go to bed dreaming of summer there and wake up planning. I am trying to be in the here and now, embracing the current time, but the current time is cold and windy and gloomy and there’s cable and nothing for the kids to do outside. My delusional mind thinks that winter on the farm will be better than this. But alas, I would much rather be huddled up next to my warm cow milking right now, than be looking at the neighbors house directly in front of me.

I can’t wait for the horizon..everywhere I look, there will be the glorious horizon.