A look at our "First Five Years" as Rookie Farmers
Five years ago, my husband Ken and I, moved from a subdivision, where we had lived in the same house for 40 years, to this 9 acre property, with the intentions of starting a hobby farm for our grandkids and begin an active retirement.
We had zero farming or gardening experience, lol!
If you would like to read the entire story of how we made the decision to move…here’s the link.
Small house...Big Kitchen!
The house was a 1963 rambler that was in immaculate condition. There was a nice size family room built on the back. Living with small bedrooms, I could tolerate…but the wall between the formal living room and little kitchen, had to go!
Here’s the wall that was taken down.
The wall was removed, the island built, the old cupboards were refurbished and now I felt like I was HOME!
Here’s a link if you’d like to watch the entire kitchen remodel in one post:
Preparing for our first farm animals...
Watching YouTube homesteading videos, Instagram tutorials and studying beginning livestock care, our first farm animals were being decided on.
Before raising livestock, you have to have a place for them to live! This little storage building, out in the back field, would be a perfect chicken coop and it already had electricity!
Building a fenced in run and connecting it to the shed, was the beginning of the new chicken coop. Painting it red with bright white trim, made our first livestock building clean, safe and cheery!
Baby chicks...yes please!
You can’t have a nice big chicken coop for a couple little chicks…let’s go get some!
How we decided which breeds to buy and other new chicken owners info:
What about a garden...
Starting the garden from this feral field, has been a TON of hard work! But a little hard work never hurt anyone!
With much enthusiasm, I sketched out my dream garden…mind you, I was 63 years old when I planted my first tomato plant, lol!
Starting with two simple raised beds, each year I have expanded the garden which now includes, a small apple orchard, raspberry patch, huge pumpkin patch, a vegetable area, flower area and strawberry patch.
The garden has been a journey of hard work, joy and dreams.
Now that we had chickens...
There was feed to store in the pole barn, unprotected feed was a big no – no…we needed a barn kitty. But why stop with one?
Sun and Moon are excellent hunters and loving pets!
All work and no play, does not make a good retirement! Sharing our farm with friends and family was our number one priority!
Grandkids birthday Parties...
When your little granddaughter asks you to make a chicken cake, you do…even if it looks like a duck.
What’s more fun than climbing on a tractor to get your picture taken”
The Red Theme...
Somewhere along the line, I started painting everything red, lol! First building was the chicken coop. To me, that was the perfect red…not to orange or maroon, but bright cherry red. Why stop there?
This is the garage/shed that I could see from my kitchen window…
It was painted a nice green to match the house, if I painted it red, it would look like a little barn!
Yes, this was going to be a working hobby farm, but it had to be beautiful too!
Here is my little red shed…I adore looking at it everyday!
Barn Suppers...
It is always fun to have guests over for supper. But there is something about eating outside…in the barn!
I love to entertain and set a pretty table, my friends love to pitch in and help make a wonderful memory for all.
Part two...
Part two of our first five years, will include building renovations, more farm animals will join the farm. And lots more parties and family fun.
Be sure to subscribe if you want an email notice of part two, our first five years as “Rookie Farmers”
Thank you to all of our current subscribers and readers for following along with the adventures of starting a hobby farm for retirement.
Fondly, Sandy
Love how you’re explaining all the steps over time- you’re doing it right!! 🩷
I love seeing all these pictures and reading all your posts! Love you!
Thank you for the encouragement for your ‘Ole Aunt San! Love you today and every day 💕
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