2010 Farm Goals

I’ve been wondering about some things in the farm world….or is it hobby farm….or is it plantation…..????

Wiki puts it this way:

Farm: A farm is an area of land, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food (produce, grains, or livestock), fibers and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production.

Hobby Farm: A hobby farm is a smallholding or small farm that is maintained without expectation of being a primary source of income. Some are merely to provide some recreational land, and perhaps a few horses for the family’s children. 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. (emphasis mine)

Plantation: A plantation is a large farm or estate, usually in a tropical or subtropical country, where crops are grown for sale in distant markets, rather than for local consumption. The term plantation is informal and not precisely defined.

Whenever I think about the word “plantation”, I think of Sweet Home Alabama and the line that goes something like, “A plantation is a just a farm by another name, but it does roll off the tongue a little sweeter though. Now doesn’t it?” (gotta put the southern accent in there!)

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I call my place a small farm.  I would say our land is primarily for the purpose of producing and managing our own food. We have animals, veggies, herbs and fruit. I will eventually turn a profit, as most do.  Hopefully a profit that can be counted in the bank, but also a profit to our household. We always have food in our freezer and pantry that come from our land.  If we get a bull calf, we’ll have veal in the freezer. Once we do get a calf, we’ll have milk, cream, butter and cheese. With 18 chickens we will eventually get eggs!!! I think I need to send out a memo though, because 1 egg a day doesn’t cut the mustard. The pullets are beginning to lay but the old ladies aren’ puttin out anything!!!

I read a lot of farm blogs and all of them use their land to produce and manage food for themselves or for others.  Now whether they make a profit or not is another story.  I can’t imagine after a life time of farming only breaking even or not even doing that. I would certainly look at my practices and see what I was doing wrong if that were the case.

Joel Salatin often talks about the fact that most “farmers” collect stuff that collects rust. They are constantly buying the newest and fanciest tractors and trucks and have bank loans that would keep most of us awake at night.  They collect their farm subsidies from the government and continue to cry poor mouth. They despise those with more. Whether it’s Joel or someone in the big city who’s “made it”. He’s right, I’ve met them. But not all farmers are like that, I’ve met the other kind also. I’ve met many right here.

The dairy farmers that I call “my farmers” who sold me my Jersey heifers, are constantly seeking out ways to make a profit even though the dairy business today is nearly a profitless business. They are pursuing building a creamery and catering to those who have more money than they do.  They realize that they have to take their product to where ever the money is. They realize that certain classes of people want certain products and are willing to pay for it.  They do not despise those with money.  They are grateful that they can continue to farm and provide what people want. If it’s milk in a bottle that says “creamery” on it…then that’s what they will do to turn a profit. Even in this downward economy, they are pursuing what it will take in the 21st Century to continue as dairy farmers. To continue doing what they know and love. To continue being farmers.

I think it’s really “swell” (as my pottery teacher would say) that there are so many farming opportunities available today to just about anyone willing to work hard.  There are fiber CSA’s, veggie CSA’s, buying clubs, farmers markets, milk shares, beef, lamb and goat shares. You can find a small/large farmer who caters to exactly what you want and need. You can find organic, all natural, all chemical….you get my drift.  It seems that whatever you want today you can find it.

It’s my goal in 2010 to profit from farming. Whether it’s cash in my hand or food in my mouth, my goal is to make it. I’ll be charting my expenses this year and it will be interesting to see how it turns out, since this will be our first full year farming with animals on our land.

Now, to get this message to the chickens!!!!

My farm goals for 2010:

• To get a calf from one of my heifers. If it’s a heifer calf, then I’ll raise her up and sell her.  It will take a couple heifer calves for me to finally begin to turn a profit, depending on their breed and condition.
• A bull calf will be meat in my freezer.  Savings of $500-600/yr
• Once we get a calf we will then have our own milk, cream, cheese and butter. Savings of $2000-2500/yr
• I found my source for Label Rouge chickens and will be raising our own meat birds this spring. Savings of $200-400/yr
• I also want to raise our own heritage turkeys. Savings of $85/yr on one turkey for Thanksgiving!
• I’d love to do a farmers market or CSA. BUT…..
• Grow all our food for a year so I probably won’t do the farmers market or CSA. I have no idea how much I save growing all our veggies. But it’s a lot since I grow organic food and buy organic.
• I’d still love to get a couple 3 sheep for fiber sales or meat or something….definitely not for lawn ornaments! Although they are darn cute!
• I still want a milk goat! Savings of $500-550/yr on goat cheese!
• And even though it’s not a farm goal….I pray that I can continue to recover my body from these ravaging infectious diseases and to impart my knowledge to others seeking answers to Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella and Erhliciosis. All of my other goals are dependent on this one. And this goal is dependent upon nourishing food. It’s all connected one way or another! The circle of my life!
• Even though pottery has not turned into a business yet, I’d like to learn to throw well enough to sell my wares.

That’s it for now. A blogging friend and I joke around about what we always refer to as “next year”….so now it’s “next year”, what are your goals for “Next Year”?

It’s been another great year blogging and growing with you as my “blog friends”. I wish you JOY and peace in the coming year. May your heart and life overflow with gratitude and love.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!