Building Something

What a whirl wind of a month, with life exploding on the farm and the lives of our pigs ending. Both hives of bees made it though the winter, one much strong than the other. The one that got pushed over by the bear back in August and pushed over twice by the escape pigs in the early spring is much weaker, I don't blame them .  Getting our poatoes in on easter monday got me thinking about our harvest and they ways that we are trying to become self sufficient this year. With every passing year the farm evolves. It started four years ago with the building of our house and the purchase of our first milk cow.  We have different goals now that we did than. Here are this years five ways in which we are striving to become a more self sufficient on a half acre. 

1. Experimenting with growing our own animal feeds. 
This is one hudge expense for us on the farm with feed traveling all the way from Alberta and prices have increased over 30% in the last three years. This winter we are growing barley, mangles, wheat, buckwheat and rye.  We would like to have feed as a supplement not a main source.  
2. Meats and Sweets 
Right now we have ten laying hen chicks and four ducks. With fifty meat birds arriving next month and two rabbits arriving in the fall. That may seem small but on a half acre there is only so much life it can support. We are trying to grow what we can sustain.  We have also planted a lot of flower crops this year for the bees, if you love bees you should grow some clover, buckwheat, borage, lavender, lemon balm, dandelion, bergamot, sunflower, just to name a few. 
3. Winter storage crops
As little Morgan lays each poatoe in the ground I think of what meals we will enjoy from that plant. We are trying to grow as much in winter storage as we can, potatoes, carrots, beets, beans (drying), onions, garlic, squash, etc. Our last winter storage crops lasted us until about November with squash lasting lasting until Easter. This year I would love to still be eating our carrots at Christmas. 
4. Changing our focus from a summer garden to a year round garden 
In our climate with a greenhouse you can grow a lot of food through out the year. It's all a bout timing and this is something are learning. The volunteer lettuce I moved into the green house in late August 2013, we have been eating for the past three months. The chard and kale we got from helping a friend move in September have been feeding us for four months. We only need about three kale plants and four chard to supply all the greens I can work into our families diet. 
5. Building a financially neutral farm  
Starting out this year with a large goal of becoming financially neutral seemed overwhelming, but selling our pork. Planing on sell garlic this fall. Also using our time and talents for trades of goods and work trades. These are the first steps we have taken in meeting this goal. My thought with the farm is that everyone has to earn their keep. 

Wiether it be a laying hen or a honey bee. If we all work together we just might start something great together. 

Westcoast Seed Potatoes

Westcoast Seed Potatoes

Westcoast Seed Potatoes

Westcoast Seed Peas