We just started a farm. It is a small homestead, but when you start with chicks, add in ducks, fruit trees and a large garden plot (still in the works), I think farm is the appropriate term. It’s not just a hobby garden. Starting a family farm and homestead was never my vision.
It was never my goal to be a farm girl. I loved animals as a child, but, I wasn’t one of the girls that wanted a pony. It just seemed like too much work and too much expense to keep up.
But, since my husband retired from the military and we have settled down on our forever homestead with some land, I want to use the land to help us provide for ourselves and give our kids a great country experience before they are adults and start their own lives.
My kids have grown up in small cities, large cities and suburban areas with all of our military moves with kids. They usually have neighbors and the rules that come with that lifestyle. But, country life is a new experience for all of us. I think there is something special about that.
This post is sponsored by Katie VanSlyke. All opinions are my own. Please view my disclosure for more info.
Starting a Family Farm
I never wanted more work for myself. Motherhood has always been enough for me. Looking back I was the kid that always took in animals. I bought a pet rabbit for myself back when I was in middle school. My dad and I built a hutch for it. Then, my mom found a duckling in the road when I was in high school. We tried to keep it, but it was already sick. Probably why its mama left it in the first place. (The animal world!)
So, now as we start a family farm we have collected some animals. We got four chickens. And after that, we got two ducklings. And, then, added four more chickens. So far it is not as much work as I thought it would be. It counts as my outdoor time, exercise and the kids are always willing to help. It’s been a family bonding experience. I am grateful for that work.
Grateful for Farm and Family
Now I trudge outside every morning in my rain boots, and feed and water our birds. It is added work, and yet, the kids help me and it just feels like fun and productivity. I feel like we are giving our family a boost.
The work is fun. We can celebrate our mini farm love by going all in on this new goal for our family. I wear the mini farm love proudly! After moving every 3 years during our military time, I just want to soak in the new goals that come with this new path on our forever farm.
Celebrating Mini Farm Life and All It Teaches Us
Teaching life skills sometimes looks like building a chicken coop, learning to care for ducks, and preparing to till a large garden. My kids may all return to “city life” when they grow up. But, The lessons and experience they are gaining from living on a small farm will teach them major life lessons.
Hard work can be fun. It is rewarding. Providing for your family is the supreme goal on this earth, and all good things come from our Creator. We don’t take one moment of all of that for granted.
Life had gotten so fast. We are inundated with new inventions, new ease added into daily life if you just buy in to the need for more stuff. (It’s not easy. It’s not the simple way.)
But, our generation wants a return to simple, practical life skills. The experience of digging in the dirt to grow a garden and building things with our hands. The lack of learning to do things with your hands has led to laziness. It has led to thinking that dirty work is not fun.
But, I can tell you, it is so much fun. There is a slower speed in digging up the dirt. Exercise is built into our daily routine. We walk down the hill to the coops and back up so many times a day, I have a natural stair climber.
The kids even ask to help with farm chores because it feels productive rather than just busy. It could be that the outside time, and being in the sun, raises our moods. I think it is also the working together as a family.
Chickens and ducks provide entertainment, but they also provide us with food. Digging in the dirt to plant a garden does the same. It is investment that provides-and hopefully abundantly-so we can share. And, we enjoy these little critters.
It makes me think of fellow farmers like Katie VanSlyke. She shares her farm love with her mini cows and horses. She shares that love with all of us on her Instagram page and through her fun farm swag. We can wear the mini farm love proudly.
Seeing other small farmers loving this lifestyle encourages me to look for the positive.
Small Farm is Just the Start: Next Up, Goats and Mini Cows?
I recently took the role of coordinating a farmers market for our little country town. A local farm, Bison Berry Farm, offered to host and local vendors are signing up for our first summer season. I saw small farms in our area and felt like they should be highlighted through a market.
Right now, our small farm is not producing anything to sell. And, starting our farm was not a business idea for me, anyway. But, my children are excited about the prospect of creating a living from what we produce with our hands. My youngest daughter is full of ideas and wants to add goats to our animal collection. Maybe mini cows and a horse will be part of our future too. So, stay tuned on Instagram as we cultivate and grow this little plot.
The kids’ joy in this is exciting to see. I had one vision for our little family farm, and they have their own spin-offs that make them excited. We get to see what will come from all our work and time together.
Starting a family farm is not scary. We are doing small things and taking it one step at a time. Using materials we had on-hand rather than buying all new and making it matchy-matchy. That keeps costs down and keeps the financial aspects from overwhelming our hopes.
It’s our little family farm. It’s pieced together, not perfect, learning-as-we-go, but it is ours by the grace of God.
Whether you have a small farm, a backyard garden or just love the mini animals, check out Katie VanSlyke’s Instagram page and get some cute mini farm swag to show your love for mini farms.
