Farmestead Why and How

first thing first on the plan for the farm , Although we know what we want to do once we get it , we need to get to the point where we can actually get it
 we have eliminated one vehicle  payment in an effort to save more income and have less disposable expenses.
2nd step is to simply live more economically, Eliminate wasted money, if food and meals are already built into the food budget, then dining out has to be reduced to once a month per couple
same with gas station "treats " and what not
3rd, is to get healthier to begin with if you are carrying around an extra 60 lbs of body weight and its not muscle  then all work is harder to do and you are not as physically capable


Why start a Farmstead  (Again)

 City life is sickening everyone the innate laziness thats bred into city life is  slowly killing everyone
 chasing the almighty dollar is killing everyone.
There is no real satisfaction in paying rent when you know you the money is wasted
When talking with the kids, best memories from market gardening and on the farm, even though on our Arkansas farm we were dirt poor and barely making ends meet,
 though thats the same as we are right now, There was a level of satisfaction within the farming community and life
 Retirement is not an option , at over 43 years of age with nothing saved the only way to have a lasting income or livlihood will be by farming something that can be continued for several more decades.
75-80%  self reliability is a reasonable expectation

While independance is a desire for all , the eldest and his girlfriend need to have thier own home on the property , He does not want to move away from the family  and that is fine , his efforts will be welcomed on the farm

Outside of gardening  which is a given ,
the livestock has to be sustainable as well, constant re- ordering  and re purchasing of livestock has no place inside a sustainable farm

heritage heirloom  and open pollinated types of vegetables, seed saving
pridcution of feed for the animals on the farm , beyond forage has to be considered as part of a closed source option
 many of the long term plans involve a significant outlay of capitol beyond the intial purchase of the land
goats 100-200 per animal starting with 10 animals requires 20000 dollars
not including the farm building set up

 hoop houses for year around growing  9 due to climate this should be a realizable possibility
 chickens and goats for dairy and eggs
hatch out 2-3 clutches of eggs to replace flock/meat
buckling goats either sold or traded or wethered and raised for meat
raised bed gardening for sustainability.composting and worms for compost fertilizing and the garden
bees 2-4 hives
fruit trees 30 at 20.00 each planted 1st and second year
hazelnut bushes at 10.00 each  50 planted
gooseberries raspberries rhubarb