There are around 2.1 million farms in the United States. If you’re looking to become a part of that statistic, there are steps you can take in order to make your dream farm a reality.
Even if you only have a small area of land to work within your backyard, there are still ways you can start a small hobby farm.
Here’s what you need to know about how to start a small farm and live organically.
Research Will Help You Know How to Start a Small Farm
You can do research and gain hands-on experience by asking a local farmer if you can complete an internship or just help out when they need help. This will better ensure that you have a good idea of what you’re getting into when you start your own farm.
This is also a fantastic time to ask any and all the questions you have about starting a small farm. You might even be able to secure good farming connections while you’re at it.
Figure out Your Land
In order to start a farm, you’ll need land to dedicate to it. The first thing you’ll need to do is take a look at what the landscape looks like that you have to work with.
Envision what you want on your farm and how much space you’ll need for each part of that. A small farm can be on land even as small as a half an acre.
That can accommodate a vegetable garden along with a few small animals. Chickens are the perfect size to put on your small hobby farm because they don’t take up too much space.
All you’ll need is an area to build your chicken coop on. If you want, you can also fence off some land around the coop for them to walk around in.
Start Gathering Resources and Planning
Before you start actually farming, you’ll need to decide what resources you need to invest in.
Figure out how much everything will cost along with any repeating expenses like food, fertilizer, water bills, electrical bills, etc.
Plan out how many small animals like chickens that you want to have on your farm. This will help you pick the right size for the chicken coop. Make sure to also purchase reliable fencing to help keep what you want in and what you don’t want out.
The Tools That You’ll Need
A working farm will need some tools for daily maintenance and tasks.
Investing in a rotary screw compressor will help when you need to use larger tools like jackhammers, pneumatic pumps, and different riveting devices. It’s also incredibly handy when you need to inflate a tire on your truck, trailer, or tractor.
If you are focusing your efforts on a garden, look into getting the appropriate tools. Look for things like:
- Trowels
- Gardening Forks
- Shovels
- Rakes
- Loppers
- Pruning Shears
- Watering Cans
These tools will make your life a lot easier when doing maintenance around your farm.
A Possible Source of Income
Knowing how to start a small farm on your land can give you a fun hobby or even a new source of income! All you need to do is spend some time planning and researching what you need before starting this journey.
Blue Bell Inn provides design and DIY project information for both the inside and outside of the home.
Continue reading through our blog for more outdoor home project ideas the whole family can enjoy.