Our first three years of farming were happy, glowing, enriching times. We grew by leaps and bounds and had very little struggles. We had aquaponics, fruit trees, and a huge garden. Our animals were healthy and happy.
But, since moving, we have learned a lot about the hardships of farming, and it's all due to the topography of our current location. We are on the side of a hill, literally on top of a granite rock. We moved with the idea of expanding and growing the farm, but we had no idea when we moved in that something as simple as pushing a wheelbarrow full of compost would be next to impossible. I have fallen more times than I can count, broken my foot and been ready to give up many times. We have been decimated by the wind six separate times; our coops, buildings, and shelters being blown to pieces and us trying to scrape together the time and money to keep replacing them over and over. Our garden is non-existent this year because of the wind, but also due to rodents. We have no pastures and no feed for the animals so we are literally bringing everything in.
This last year in particular has really forced us to look at what we are doing, why we are doing it, and what we want to do for the future. I had to go back to work because the farm doesn't turn a profit, and Steve's too busy to work trying to pick up where I left off. We've decided for now to greatly down-size the farm and scale everything back to a more manageable level where we can both focus on work and saving money. I never knew why everyone says farming is frustrating, but I see it now. We aren't giving up, however, we have plans of re-acquiring our heritage breeds and starting pasture raised meat and veggie CSA's again in the near future. But we need pastures first.
But, since moving, we have learned a lot about the hardships of farming, and it's all due to the topography of our current location. We are on the side of a hill, literally on top of a granite rock. We moved with the idea of expanding and growing the farm, but we had no idea when we moved in that something as simple as pushing a wheelbarrow full of compost would be next to impossible. I have fallen more times than I can count, broken my foot and been ready to give up many times. We have been decimated by the wind six separate times; our coops, buildings, and shelters being blown to pieces and us trying to scrape together the time and money to keep replacing them over and over. Our garden is non-existent this year because of the wind, but also due to rodents. We have no pastures and no feed for the animals so we are literally bringing everything in.
This last year in particular has really forced us to look at what we are doing, why we are doing it, and what we want to do for the future. I had to go back to work because the farm doesn't turn a profit, and Steve's too busy to work trying to pick up where I left off. We've decided for now to greatly down-size the farm and scale everything back to a more manageable level where we can both focus on work and saving money. I never knew why everyone says farming is frustrating, but I see it now. We aren't giving up, however, we have plans of re-acquiring our heritage breeds and starting pasture raised meat and veggie CSA's again in the near future. But we need pastures first.
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