All across North America, people young and old are interested in obtaining some land and starting a farm operation.
Many beginning farmers with little or no experience with production agriculture have similar questions:
"What are my marketing options?"
"How can I finance my farm start-up?"
"What should I grow on my land?
Hobby farms can be as small as a backyard with just one small pen and as large as 10-20 acres. It all depends on your resources and how deep you want to dive into farming. The best approach is to start out small and grow as you gain experience.
Small Farm Memoir
Gleaned from a faithful journal of more than a decade, this memoir about modern-day farmsteading describes how the author built and maintained a farm for self-sufficiency, acquired and cared for livestock, planted and harvested crops and kept to his simple lifestyle.
William Paul Winchester, the author, bought 20 acres of farmland in northeast Oklahoma with the intent of carving out a simple life as a farmer. He comes to this career with a degree in biology, some mechanical and carpentry skills, a knack for cooking and writing, but no actual experience in agriculture.
A Very Small Farm chronicles Winchester's daily life on the farm he calls "Southwind." Southwind has an apple orchard, a peach orchard, a poultry yard, and a quarter acre of garden. He describes his daily routines and management techniques at the farm including repairs to his house, planting and tending his crops, looking after his chickens, and collecting eggs. His main source of income is the sale of honey from fifty beehives and occasional odd jobs in the community.
Pastured Poultry Profits
A couple working six months per year for 50 hours per week on 20 acres can net $25,000-$30,000 per year with an investment equivalent to the price of one new medium-sized tractor.
Seldom has agriculture held out such a plum.
In a day when main-line farm experts predict the continued demise of the family farm, the pastured poultry opportunity shines like a beacon in the night, guiding the way to a brighter future.
