Whew! What a last few weeks! We have been soooo busy around here at the farm. Many decisions have been made on the direction of which we wanted to take this farm. Now, we just have to work at getting there. So many decisions, I don't even know which one to tell you first.
First off, I'm quitting my job in just a few weeks.(yea!) We decided that I could save us more money by staying home. It will be the best thing for us. More home cooked meals, animals getting more attention, and things actually getting done around the house.
Next, we have decided to go deeper into the goat business. Meat and dairy goats are what we are going to have. We want to specialize in Tennessee Myotonics. (Fainting Goats) We just love them! Very hardy little buggers. We've actually just had our first pair of twins. I have some really cute pictures. I just can't find my camera. hehehe. I post them as soon as I find it. We had a buckling and a doeling. I think that's a good start. Sell one and keep one. We have a good friend who is helping us get our farm up and going. She makes her living off of her goats so she knows what she is talking about. It's good to have someone like that in your corner.
Another thing that we have decided is to work harder on being more self sufficient. As you all already know, the world is suppose to come to an end this year. (insert giggle here.) But then we got to thinking. Wouldn't the Dec. 21, 2012 date be a good date to work towards being self sufficient? If something drastic DOES happen then,(insert another giggle) then we will be ready for it. If not, we will still have met our goals to become self sufficient. Win, win situation. We are going to can more things instead of freezing them. Our freezer is full right now. It would be a shame to lose it all if the electric would go out.
Speaking of electric, we need to be as electric free as possible. Turning off the t.v. (my addiction). Drying more clothes on the line. Using oil lamps instead of all the lights. (stocking up on the oil for the lamps. Then learning how to make it myself or the equivalent.)
So as you can see, many things are changing around the farm. Sure, we have kicked the ideas around and around. But, this time these are stead fast goals.
So until next time,
Small Farm Girl, on a mission.
P.S. We still haven't decided on a name for the puppy. Now, we are trying to come up with a name for the farm too! I am the worst namer ever!
18 comments:
Good luck with your fainting goats. I didn't know they were used for meat. We do Nigerians and Nubians for dairy. I have a friend with fainting goats who loves our milk so much he plans to start milking his this year. I can't wait to see if they pass out on the stand!
Stevie @ ruffledfeathersandspilledmilk.com
Stevie, now that is funny! The fainting goats really don't give milk like the Nigerians or Nubians. But they are very mucular. The fainting makes them more muscular.
What great goals, and congrats on giving up the "real" job for a REAL job!
I like the goal for 12-12 date. Fitting, I think.
I've also been trying to work on more canning stuff. I love our freezers, but if the electricity went out for more than a few weeks, we'd be in a heap of trouble with the three freezers full of food.
Sounds like a new year of new stuff going on for you!! How exciting!
Don't feel bad about not having a name for your farm yet, one will come and it will fit perfect for you. It took us a few years (once we decided to have a farm) to come up with the best name, and one we could agree on... even changed it a few times! Now we have one that we love, but really it's the farming itself we love.
Can't wait to hear more about the cooking and fun farm adventures you'll have. And see pictures of your new babies!
Congrats on the staying at home thing. I am sure you will be missed at work.
Sounds like you have your head on straight for the new year. good luck with it best wishes.
I wsh you all the best in your endeavours, we have been on our self sufficient path for a few years now. I have been able to cut right back on the money used to buy food, and we saved enough to buy our solar power further reducing costs. We grow our own meet too. I'd live to milk a goat but as I have become I'll, I can only just cope with what I have on my plate right now. As I type my beets are cooking getting ready to be canned so we can enjoy them throughout the coming winter. It's a hard life in many ways. It the rewards are many, not just the monetary ones.
Good for you guys! I'm with Carolyn Renee, now you get to have a REAL job! LOL!!
Okay, now about this whole end of the world on 12/21/12...has anyone but me noticed that that date is the Winter Solstice and it would make sense to end a calendar then?!? I know I always consider the Winter Solstice the end of the year!
Back to your farm plans...the goats sound like a great idea! Have fun and keep us posted! :)
Sounds like your goals are set! All that needs done is the implamentation!!I love fainting goats! They are so cute. Can't believe you haven't named that pup yet!! Get with it!! Poor thing! Just name him Jack. ...debbie
Sounds awesome! I can't wait to watch your journey unfold! It will be so awesome! As far as the pup goes..since the cat is Cash...I would just stick to the music theme and name him Willie...
So happy you are able to quit your job and stay home. Being self sufficent is so rewarding. The new puppy is so cute. I like the name Luke for him. Good luck on naming the farm. We just named ours our last name. Not very original but it works. It was good to hear from you. Rebekah
Exciting plans!! How about Wrangler for a name for your new pup.
being able to quit a job feels so refreshing does'nt it.. i think with the goals that you have set before you for the coming year will work out for you..it is for sure a lifestyle thing...and i think that you will adapt well to it. i hope that you will be able to report your progress in your "great adventure" more often and let us know what you have learned and what you might need help with. we call our five acres ChiggerRidge...that is because when we moved here you could,t stand or sit anywhere without getting chewed on by the red bugs. those days have come and gone but the name stuck. my parents had a place in the arcadia valley that they named "poverty palace".
Carolyn Renee..Your right, the REAL job begins. lol
SLF...We need to come up with a name so we can get a web site up and get some cards to pass out.
MDR...If I start getting lazy and sitting on the couch,eatting bon bons, I'll think of you. lol
Angela..I would love to have some solar panels. Yes, you are right. It is hard, but it dose have rewards.
Candy C...I think it's interesting how many things people can come up with for Dec. 21, 2012. My thought is, what if they just ran out of room for the calender?
Debbie...I know! It's driving me crazy not having a name for him. You can't call a dog unless it has a name. hehehe
Melissa...Willie, hmmmmmmmmm.
Rebekah...Our last dog was named Luke.
Anono...Wrangler is a nice name, but I could get tongue tied if I yelled that name. lol
Anono....LOVE the names!!!! Hmmmmmmm hehehehe
Absolutely fantastic! Congrats on your new job, the goats and all your other goals! I am officially jealous and look forward to hearing about your journey this year and we work towards some similar goals on our itty bitty homestead :-) Cheers to 2012!
Sounds like a solid plan. Go for it and have faith!
Lana
Good luck with your decisions! I didn`t know the fainters were used for meat, either.
Wow! Some exciting goals for the new year! I wish you great success with all your endeavors!
Good luck in your venture. I sincerely wish all the best for you. We are trying to become more financially independent ourselves by rasing goats and dairy cows. With the price of gasoline it is hardly worth the money to drive to go substitute teach. Keep us all posted on the goat adventure. Cheers,
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