Plymouth Rock
Australorp
Orpington
Broiler (our yummy chicken on table)
And it becomes -->
Cruel? No choice... We love chicken meat... :S
Friday, September 3, 2010
Chicken
Wah... There are so many breeds of chicken. Have to read about them before purchasing any of them. Probably have to check what breeds of chicken there are at the area livestock market.
Sustaining the farm
After having a short discussion, we decided that I may continue working in the city after acquiring the farm where A will stay and work on the farm. This is because at least there will be 1 stable source of income coming in every month.
Our discussion also concluded that we shall get at least 2 vechicles, 1 car and another pickup truck. The car, ideally, Hyundai Getz or similar, is for I to drive to work daily, though I has not acquire a license yet. As for the pickup truck, A fancies the truck in Transformers movie. The character protrayed the vehicle is Ironhide.
Pictures for references:
Our discussion also concluded that we shall get at least 2 vechicles, 1 car and another pickup truck. The car, ideally, Hyundai Getz or similar, is for I to drive to work daily, though I has not acquire a license yet. As for the pickup truck, A fancies the truck in Transformers movie. The character protrayed the vehicle is Ironhide.
Pictures for references:
Transformers Movie: Ironhide
Hyundai Getz
The art of Mowing
"A lawn mower is a machine that uses a revolving blade or blades to cut a lawn at an even length. A lawn is an area of aesthetic and recreational land planted with grasses or other low durable plants, which usually are maintained at a lower and consistent height." Quoted from Wikipedia
Mowing improves grazing of farm animals. It also encourages the growth of grasses, which in turns you will have softer, more edible grass for the farm animals. Mowing is good in a sense that you can cut down much hay feeding, meaning cutting cost. Not sure if this is right.
Mowing improves grazing of farm animals. It also encourages the growth of grasses, which in turns you will have softer, more edible grass for the farm animals. Mowing is good in a sense that you can cut down much hay feeding, meaning cutting cost. Not sure if this is right.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Yahoo! Answers: How can i start a hobby farm aimed at self sustainability? By farmfresh
The first step is not to wait for that farm. Urban homesteading is a way of life for many of us. Begin by learning skills that you would need if you ever do find that perfect farm.
Sustaining your self begins with food. Try buying your foods in season from local farmers markets. Learn to can and preserve those foods to last you throughout the year. I can everything from your basic vegetables to making my own soups, catchup, spaghetti, bbq, picante and other sauces. Buying locally grown produce in season is VERY cost effective and helps your local farm economy.
Next while at those same markets ask around about locally grown meats. I got several friends at work together and we regularly buy a grass fed beef. The farmer hauls it to the butcher shop for us and we pick up frozen wrapped meat for about $2.99 a pound. This is everything from hamburger to inch thick T bones! Buying meat bulk in this way keeps me in WONDERFUL meat for about a year. My family also buys 1/2 a pig, and two sheep this way each year.
Herbs are a good way to start gardening in a small space. With a good dehydrator (MUST HAVE -well worth the money)
you can raise fresh herbs enough for your family and evento sell in a few flowerpots. I also dehydrate onions (purchased from the shriners), mushrooms and celery (on sale at the grocery store), and (fruit from a local u pick ).
I live in a SMALL yard (40x120). I raise as part of a very decorative landscape: grapes (enough to eat fresh, freeze, and make jelly), Peaches (my dwarf tree produced 60 pounds of peaches last year!). I also have bush cherries for jam and a grafted dwarf tree that can produce apricots, plumbs, nectarines and peaches on the same tree. There are also apple and cherry trees available that produce several different kinds.
I have a small garden plot. I grow tomatoes, peppers, climbing beans and I have two half barrels (recycled Pepsi syrup containers) that I grow salad in.
In my area chickens are legal. I keep three hens in my backyard as pets. They provide all of the fresh eggs my family of three can eat and part of the year I have eggs enough to give away. Broilers are also relatively easy to raise I lease a space at a friends farm to raise my own chickens to eat each year. I can raise enough chickens for my family to eat as well as the person who leases me the farm spot's family. It takes less than 4 months from start to freezer to raise broilers.
I make my own soap and laundry detergent, I compost my grass clippings for the garden (with the litter from my hens it is nice indeed!), I drive paid off older vehicles, I buy clothing on sale or recycled (thrift stores). This is how I urban homestead and I am not alone!
Some day I hope to own a small farm - until then I learn!
Sustaining your self begins with food. Try buying your foods in season from local farmers markets. Learn to can and preserve those foods to last you throughout the year. I can everything from your basic vegetables to making my own soups, catchup, spaghetti, bbq, picante and other sauces. Buying locally grown produce in season is VERY cost effective and helps your local farm economy.
Next while at those same markets ask around about locally grown meats. I got several friends at work together and we regularly buy a grass fed beef. The farmer hauls it to the butcher shop for us and we pick up frozen wrapped meat for about $2.99 a pound. This is everything from hamburger to inch thick T bones! Buying meat bulk in this way keeps me in WONDERFUL meat for about a year. My family also buys 1/2 a pig, and two sheep this way each year.
Herbs are a good way to start gardening in a small space. With a good dehydrator (MUST HAVE -well worth the money)
you can raise fresh herbs enough for your family and evento sell in a few flowerpots. I also dehydrate onions (purchased from the shriners), mushrooms and celery (on sale at the grocery store), and (fruit from a local u pick ).
I live in a SMALL yard (40x120). I raise as part of a very decorative landscape: grapes (enough to eat fresh, freeze, and make jelly), Peaches (my dwarf tree produced 60 pounds of peaches last year!). I also have bush cherries for jam and a grafted dwarf tree that can produce apricots, plumbs, nectarines and peaches on the same tree. There are also apple and cherry trees available that produce several different kinds.
I have a small garden plot. I grow tomatoes, peppers, climbing beans and I have two half barrels (recycled Pepsi syrup containers) that I grow salad in.
In my area chickens are legal. I keep three hens in my backyard as pets. They provide all of the fresh eggs my family of three can eat and part of the year I have eggs enough to give away. Broilers are also relatively easy to raise I lease a space at a friends farm to raise my own chickens to eat each year. I can raise enough chickens for my family to eat as well as the person who leases me the farm spot's family. It takes less than 4 months from start to freezer to raise broilers.
I make my own soap and laundry detergent, I compost my grass clippings for the garden (with the litter from my hens it is nice indeed!), I drive paid off older vehicles, I buy clothing on sale or recycled (thrift stores). This is how I urban homestead and I am not alone!
Some day I hope to own a small farm - until then I learn!
Hobby Farm
Problems are arising.
The phrase "Hobby Farm" may very well refer to what we will be doing. As it was stated in the wikipedia, Hobby Farm "is maintained without expectation of being a primary source of income... Others are managed as working farms for sideline income, or are run at an ongoing loss as a lifestyle choice by people with the means to do so."
Hmmm... We do not wish to make money out of it, but, also do not wish to have it at an ongoing loss matter. Probably, hoping that, by building some extra houses, to attract tourists for staying, it will add in to major part of the income.
The phrase "Hobby Farm" may very well refer to what we will be doing. As it was stated in the wikipedia, Hobby Farm "is maintained without expectation of being a primary source of income... Others are managed as working farms for sideline income, or are run at an ongoing loss as a lifestyle choice by people with the means to do so."
Hmmm... We do not wish to make money out of it, but, also do not wish to have it at an ongoing loss matter. Probably, hoping that, by building some extra houses, to attract tourists for staying, it will add in to major part of the income.
Farm Dogs -German Shepherd?
German Shepherd Dog. Another breed to consider. Though not first choice, probably 3rd or 2nd choice groups of dogs, but definitely still into consideration. As the name stated, it is a Shepherd dog. Their primary job is to herd livestock and also guard them. Sounds perfect, right? Not so. This dog is highly intelligent, loyal and protective. They will, by all their means protect their owner and it's territory, even if it costs its life. Touched, right? But it also means they will not be friendly to intruders. Intruders like wild predators and strangers.
If our farm is to be a tourist-oriented farm, this breed may not be ideal. They may turn aggressive to the strangers, in this case, the tourists. Likewise, we may train the dog since young and let it socialise more with people, but there is no guarantee that it will be friendlier towards the tourists. For additional information, some experts say that, in fact, all dogs bite when provoked. It is not true that German Sheperd bite more frequently.
German Shepherd Dog is said to be the 3rd most intelligent dog, after Border Collie and Poodle.
Farm Dogs: - Alaskan Malamute?
This is a tricky part of the farm planning. Alaskan Malamute is til now our dream dog to have. We thought by having our own farm, we can own this breed. Because these dogs require a lot of space for them to run around. However, after doing some internet research, the least ideal place for them to stay is, in fact, the farm.
After reading around in the internet, it was said that, Alaskan Malamute's main job is as a sled dog. They love to pull cargos and run around. This breed also possess what is called a prey drive natural instinct. Meaning that, they will hunt and kill other animals, especially the chicken. From one website, it was said they might also kill the sheeps and cattles for fun. Another stated that these dogs are generally too friendly, probably too friendly as they may just follow other people away and wander off. "They should be under leash control or fenced in. It is in their nature to run off.",quoted from Wikipedia
Generally, my opinion is that if this breed was brought up since young, it may be taught to be friendlier to the farm animals and will get along well with them. However, this isn't so. The prey drive is a natural instinct. As what chinese says: 江山易改，本性难移
The question now is whether to ignore what is said, go ahead own this dog and risk the lives of the farm animals or choose another breed. Decision making is needed here!!
After reading around in the internet, it was said that, Alaskan Malamute's main job is as a sled dog. They love to pull cargos and run around. This breed also possess what is called a prey drive natural instinct. Meaning that, they will hunt and kill other animals, especially the chicken. From one website, it was said they might also kill the sheeps and cattles for fun. Another stated that these dogs are generally too friendly, probably too friendly as they may just follow other people away and wander off. "They should be under leash control or fenced in. It is in their nature to run off.",quoted from Wikipedia
Generally, my opinion is that if this breed was brought up since young, it may be taught to be friendlier to the farm animals and will get along well with them. However, this isn't so. The prey drive is a natural instinct. As what chinese says: 江山易改，本性难移
The question now is whether to ignore what is said, go ahead own this dog and risk the lives of the farm animals or choose another breed. Decision making is needed here!!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Sales in New Zealand Farm 2
Yet another beautiful farm on sales. This is a 5 hectares land with a 133 square metres house. This cost NZD316,000 inclusive of GST. Here are the pictures:
Looking at farm for sales - New Zealand
Looking and surveying around in the internet for the sales of farm, it can be concluded that the targeted landsize of our farm at a affordable price would be about 5 hectares. A 5 hectares land would cost about NZD200,000 - NZD400,000 in New Zealand. NSD is approximately the same as SGD as of now. 5 hectares equals to about 12 acres, which is 1/4 of the farm we stayed in perth.
Typically, saw a piece of land of 6.67 hectares in Taumarunui, New Zealand, the asking price is NZD250,000 + GST. Here are the pictures:
Typically, saw a piece of land of 6.67 hectares in Taumarunui, New Zealand, the asking price is NZD250,000 + GST. Here are the pictures:
Why Farm Planning?
This blog was created after a holiday at a farm stay in Perth. A & I have decided we would migrate to a country and start a farm one day, targetted year 2020. The farm may be themed for tourist stay, just like the farm A & I stayed.
The idea is to have a small scale mini farm, with, probably, 2 or 3 chalet type of houses. A main building for us to live in. The main building maybe a 2 storeys high house. 1 or 2 sheds for storing farming equirements and some sheds for the animals.
The size of the farm should not be less than 40 arces, or cost not more than S$300,000 for the land only, and not more than S$500,000 with the houses.
Our farm should include few farm animals and some land for mini scale plantation. the farm animals are under the care of A, while the plantation is under the care of I. As for R, it will be up to him to decide what he will do or wants to do when he grows up, probably, in 10 years time.
Farm animals with the likes of sheeps, cattles, chicken, ducks, geese, dogs, etc.
Plantation are likely to be oranges, chilli, etc... I will elaborate it more again.
The idea is to have a small scale mini farm, with, probably, 2 or 3 chalet type of houses. A main building for us to live in. The main building maybe a 2 storeys high house. 1 or 2 sheds for storing farming equirements and some sheds for the animals.
The size of the farm should not be less than 40 arces, or cost not more than S$300,000 for the land only, and not more than S$500,000 with the houses.
Our farm should include few farm animals and some land for mini scale plantation. the farm animals are under the care of A, while the plantation is under the care of I. As for R, it will be up to him to decide what he will do or wants to do when he grows up, probably, in 10 years time.
Farm animals with the likes of sheeps, cattles, chicken, ducks, geese, dogs, etc.
Plantation are likely to be oranges, chilli, etc... I will elaborate it more again.
Introduction
As an introduction, we shall define the term GAIR.
A stands for Allan. the main man of the family.
I stands for Irene, the queen of the family.
R stands for Raphael, the prince charming, son of Allan and Irene.
As for G, tentatively, it represents Goh, the family's name. it may become Giselle if there is a princess that came along the way. By the time, it may become AIRG due to the sequence of individual age. :)
In addtion, main supporting character will be Muffin, the 3 years old mini schnauzer of the family, and she is also the supposingly protector of the family. Not forgetting Latte, the freed Sheltie.
We will introduce more characters along the way. Til then...
A stands for Allan. the main man of the family.
I stands for Irene, the queen of the family.
R stands for Raphael, the prince charming, son of Allan and Irene.
As for G, tentatively, it represents Goh, the family's name. it may become Giselle if there is a princess that came along the way. By the time, it may become AIRG due to the sequence of individual age. :)
In addtion, main supporting character will be Muffin, the 3 years old mini schnauzer of the family, and she is also the supposingly protector of the family. Not forgetting Latte, the freed Sheltie.
We will introduce more characters along the way. Til then...
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