I have only about a fews left as a crew member;so I am asking some questions before I leave.

I have for a long time want to live on a farm. It sounds interesting and never boring. So what do I need to live on a farm? There is some land I am interested. I don't know how many acres it is, probably over 90. So what some " rules and regulation" and requirements to be a good farmer.
If I have that farmland, do I start lttle by little? Thank you for any help and advice.



Tree Dude

That's a difficult question to answer in a forum like this. I think you need to understand and clarify your objectives first. As an example, do you need income from this farm? Or do you want to just live a self-sustainable life style. Just those two questions alone will take you in different directions. Remember, failure to plan is planning to fail.
We have goats and chickens and get along very nicely on 10 acres. If I add cattle to the mix I need more land and an entirely different set up.
The best thing you can do immediately is to attend the TOFGA (Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association) meeting in Kerrville, Jan 25th-27th. You will meet every kind of farmer in the state from flowers to citrus and get to hear them speak. If you can't attend, tapes will be available. The conference is only $210.00 and there are a lot of inexpensive hotels and B+B's in the area. It's a lot cheaper than buying a piece of land that won't meet your objectives.
Tony M

Thank you for the help.

Some of my relatives live in Kerrville, so we often go there annually on holidays.I wanna go, but may not. But I can go to the Arlington Home and Organic Gardening Show on Jan. 13-15 with Paul James. I will talk to some folks there.

Tree Dude

Tony is right about planning and what he is doing
with 10 acres is about all you can do. We have 44
acres of our own + our neighbors 7 for a total of
51 acres. I wish I had at least 50 more. With the
drought we don't have much grass or brush left -
we have mini cows and meat goats.
When you buy a place you have to know how much
restoration you will have to do - hence money
resources. Most of the land in north TX has been
farmed out and toxic chemicals were used. You
have to have a plan to restore trace minerals
and detoxify the soil. You also have to restore
the humus in the soil.
We let the cows and goats add "fertilizer" to build
up the soil, but that means you have to buy a lot
of hay. This was our first year with really good
pasture and then we ran into this drought.
Plan as much as you can and be prepared for all
kinds of things that you can't imagine when you
get started. You need money and time.
Are you planning on making a living or living the
good life? The "Green Acres" TV show was more
than just laughs.
There was a school in Alabama that had information
that with the right crops you should be able to make
over $100,000 / year off 25 acres even in a drought
year with minimal irragation.
The Best to you,
Robert D Bard

Then I will plan.


Tree Dude