DKRabbitry
Ridin' The Range
Okay, here goes nothing...
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
I live in Southern MI. Climate, a little of a lot of things. Right now mostly wet
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Just me and DH in our cozy little farm house.
3. How would you define your farm?
Ummmmm... crazy? A work in progress. Unorganized. Pleasant. Frustrating. Fulfilling. Anything BUT a walk in the park, but just as nice
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
I would have horses again. We sold them due to lack of time and high feed costs and I miss them dearly. That was a hard move.
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
I more *help* with bulding things. I don't really have the confidence to tackle most things myself. But I am really good at bunny nestboxes!
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
Nope. Though I did cut a boxspring mattress in half. I used an Oxy-Acetalene torch for the metal parts.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
My love for animals and being too antsy to go hunting LOL I have always wanted a farm with lots of animals. I love learning how to care for new things and seeing them thrive. I love the complications that come with it. It makes me feel good knowing how my food was treated and that it truly was loved and cared for.
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
Hobby. I have mixed feelings about it turning into an occupation. For right now it is just to provide our little family with milk and meat, and hopefully sell some and help inform others.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
Dogs and Horses are really my forte... mostly dogs. I have had dogs all my life, and have been working them with a professional trainer for 8 years. I have had rabbits for a couple years now, so am pretty well versed on them, and I have done all SORTS of research on goats. I tend to dive into each new animal and read read read. I tend to forget most of it, but eh. It happens. I would like to learn more about everything. I love learning. I really have a wretched memory, but I still enjoy reading and learning about everything animal.
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
Ummm.... well... I do not like to say *never* because there is a time and a place for everything. But I don't see myself being a fish farmer. Maybe if we put in a pond I will raise some koi, but not like actually farming them or anything. No big salmon farm in my future... I hope anyways LOL
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
Indeed I am. We haven't gotten meat from the supermarket in over a year! We do still consume supermarket meat at other folks' houses, but our freezer has only seen venison, cabrito, rabbit, turkey, duck, chicken and on discusting ram that we have harvested ourselves. I think that is really cool
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
I like to just watch the critters. Either out in the barn watching the goats, or I like to watch my mice too (pet mice, not wild ones... although we do have those too LOL)
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
Yes, we have a lovely Ford 8N. I can also drive a bobcat, although we don't have one. And I backed a Semi into a tree before, does that count?
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
Not really. I am not the most *crafty* person there ever was. Artistic, yes. Crafty, no. When I am old and retired and have nothing to do, I would love to get some angora goats and try my hand at spinning. Buuuuut, I am a little too busy right now for that kind of stuff. Not to mention I don't think I could afford a spinning wheel.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
Legally? I think we are zoned wrong, but we are in the middle of nowhere on 10.5 acres surrounded by endless fields that aren't being used, so no one really cares. We have rabbits, goats, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and one lone experimental potbelly pig.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
I probably can, but I've never tried.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
I want a garden, but I don't like to do it. I am gonna have to force myself. I am much more into animal husbandry.
18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Very rarely, and usually just off the dock. Bait. If they ain't biting, I am gone. Too much fun to be had elsewhere to be sitting there bored waiting on fish.
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
It is a farm on 10.5 acres.
20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
I have an associates degree in applied science for graphics design. I am a novice at most things
21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
Champagne D'Argent rabbits (We have Giant Chinchillas too, but looking at maybe selling out of those) and Lamancha Dairy goats. Have a mix of a lot of others, but those are the main ones.
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
Oh sheesh, I would major in learning how to get motivated and do something. I would take *Finishing that barn roof 101* and *How not to leave a job half finished 105* and *Get your butt outside and clean that chicken coop 102.3* When DH isn't around to motivate me, I tend to just get lost playing with the critters and not getting work done.
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
I try not to. I am a great help, but I don't like power tools very much so I try to skimp with what I have at hand and it doesn't usually turn out right.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
Yes and No. I like the idea and everything and I like being as natural as possible, but I know that medicine gets it done.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
I love MI. I wouldn't leave it for the world. I am near family and my little house is perfect. I would like to own more land around us, even if it is just so it doesn't get sold to some joe-smo contractor who wants to pop up cookie-cutter houses all around us. But I think we are far enough away from any towns that that won't be for a while.
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
Heating. It is an add on to the furnace but we don't use the fuel oil anymore. Just the wood.
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
My Ideal super hero would be AGRI-EDUCATE-MAN! He would fly from town to town teaching the city folks and government officials about what farming is and why it is necessary to support local farmers!
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
So-So. My family thinks it is cool what I am doing, but they don't have the desire or dedication to do it themselves. My DH comes from a farming family though. Pretty nice going there and talking critters with his aunt. We don't have a whole lot of friends outside the family tree, the ones we do have we have kinda met through our animal endeavors so yeah, they like them too
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
I do not like cooking for the most part. DH does most of it. I like baking and making project things. I just got the stuff to make some cheese. But I don't like doing it on a daily basis. I love my raw goat milk and my farm fresh eggs. The muscovy eggs are fab IMO
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
Best animal experience? Too many to pick just one. My favorite feeling is when I get an animal that maybe wasn't cared for right, or wasn't doing so well, and to rehab it and see it flourish. Worst animal experience... ummm... I have a lot of bad ones too, it sort of comes with the territory. Right off the top of my mind, when my shepherd had puppies. We spent years planning this litter, had a bunch of people interested in pups. Fabulous bloodlines. She was a great mother, had 8 beautiful puppies.. then they started dieing. One or two, okay I can handle that, but one by one all but 3 of the puppies died. It was horrible. We think it was Fading Puppy Syndrom or something like that. I don't think I will EVER breed another dog again. The 3 puppies that lived are AMAZING dogs. All of them are great workers and I am lucky enough that people I train with got the two and I kept one. It makes me so sad thinking that all those other wonderful dogs didn't survive, but at the same time so grateful for these three.
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
DH hunts, I don't anymore. We also aren't above taking deer that have been hit by cars.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
I can clean a rabbit pretty quick I am not above trying new things. I think that is the biggest challenge for people taking that step. You just have to do it, and I do think that is a skill
33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
We do process our own meat. I would LOVE to get into canning... someday.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
We don't at this time. Of course we would LIKE to, but we are just getting started. That is on the list for down the road.
35 What is on your to do list?
Hahahahaha Everything
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
Not yet, but that is the ultimate goal.
37. In what do you trust?
I trust that my animals will provide for me as long as I provide for them, I trust my dogs will protect me to the best of their ability should I ever need it, I trust that DH will be there for me to the best of his ability, and I trust that God will guide me through this life and help me to reach my goals.
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
I have been blessed with a husband that is amazingly ingenuitive. I have my moments, but that man can patch anything so we can get by.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
I have always kind of been that weird kid that spent too much time with her dogs or horses, so I have really always been in this state of mind. My animals are a HUGE part of my life, and I am comfortable with that
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
I live in Southern MI. Climate, a little of a lot of things. Right now mostly wet
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Just me and DH in our cozy little farm house.
3. How would you define your farm?
Ummmmm... crazy? A work in progress. Unorganized. Pleasant. Frustrating. Fulfilling. Anything BUT a walk in the park, but just as nice
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
I would have horses again. We sold them due to lack of time and high feed costs and I miss them dearly. That was a hard move.
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
I more *help* with bulding things. I don't really have the confidence to tackle most things myself. But I am really good at bunny nestboxes!
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
Nope. Though I did cut a boxspring mattress in half. I used an Oxy-Acetalene torch for the metal parts.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
My love for animals and being too antsy to go hunting LOL I have always wanted a farm with lots of animals. I love learning how to care for new things and seeing them thrive. I love the complications that come with it. It makes me feel good knowing how my food was treated and that it truly was loved and cared for.
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
Hobby. I have mixed feelings about it turning into an occupation. For right now it is just to provide our little family with milk and meat, and hopefully sell some and help inform others.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
Dogs and Horses are really my forte... mostly dogs. I have had dogs all my life, and have been working them with a professional trainer for 8 years. I have had rabbits for a couple years now, so am pretty well versed on them, and I have done all SORTS of research on goats. I tend to dive into each new animal and read read read. I tend to forget most of it, but eh. It happens. I would like to learn more about everything. I love learning. I really have a wretched memory, but I still enjoy reading and learning about everything animal.
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
Ummm.... well... I do not like to say *never* because there is a time and a place for everything. But I don't see myself being a fish farmer. Maybe if we put in a pond I will raise some koi, but not like actually farming them or anything. No big salmon farm in my future... I hope anyways LOL
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
Indeed I am. We haven't gotten meat from the supermarket in over a year! We do still consume supermarket meat at other folks' houses, but our freezer has only seen venison, cabrito, rabbit, turkey, duck, chicken and on discusting ram that we have harvested ourselves. I think that is really cool
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
I like to just watch the critters. Either out in the barn watching the goats, or I like to watch my mice too (pet mice, not wild ones... although we do have those too LOL)
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
Yes, we have a lovely Ford 8N. I can also drive a bobcat, although we don't have one. And I backed a Semi into a tree before, does that count?
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
Not really. I am not the most *crafty* person there ever was. Artistic, yes. Crafty, no. When I am old and retired and have nothing to do, I would love to get some angora goats and try my hand at spinning. Buuuuut, I am a little too busy right now for that kind of stuff. Not to mention I don't think I could afford a spinning wheel.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
Legally? I think we are zoned wrong, but we are in the middle of nowhere on 10.5 acres surrounded by endless fields that aren't being used, so no one really cares. We have rabbits, goats, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and one lone experimental potbelly pig.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
I probably can, but I've never tried.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
I want a garden, but I don't like to do it. I am gonna have to force myself. I am much more into animal husbandry.
18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Very rarely, and usually just off the dock. Bait. If they ain't biting, I am gone. Too much fun to be had elsewhere to be sitting there bored waiting on fish.
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
It is a farm on 10.5 acres.
20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
I have an associates degree in applied science for graphics design. I am a novice at most things
21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
Champagne D'Argent rabbits (We have Giant Chinchillas too, but looking at maybe selling out of those) and Lamancha Dairy goats. Have a mix of a lot of others, but those are the main ones.
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
Oh sheesh, I would major in learning how to get motivated and do something. I would take *Finishing that barn roof 101* and *How not to leave a job half finished 105* and *Get your butt outside and clean that chicken coop 102.3* When DH isn't around to motivate me, I tend to just get lost playing with the critters and not getting work done.
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
I try not to. I am a great help, but I don't like power tools very much so I try to skimp with what I have at hand and it doesn't usually turn out right.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
Yes and No. I like the idea and everything and I like being as natural as possible, but I know that medicine gets it done.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
I love MI. I wouldn't leave it for the world. I am near family and my little house is perfect. I would like to own more land around us, even if it is just so it doesn't get sold to some joe-smo contractor who wants to pop up cookie-cutter houses all around us. But I think we are far enough away from any towns that that won't be for a while.
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
Heating. It is an add on to the furnace but we don't use the fuel oil anymore. Just the wood.
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
My Ideal super hero would be AGRI-EDUCATE-MAN! He would fly from town to town teaching the city folks and government officials about what farming is and why it is necessary to support local farmers!
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
So-So. My family thinks it is cool what I am doing, but they don't have the desire or dedication to do it themselves. My DH comes from a farming family though. Pretty nice going there and talking critters with his aunt. We don't have a whole lot of friends outside the family tree, the ones we do have we have kinda met through our animal endeavors so yeah, they like them too
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
I do not like cooking for the most part. DH does most of it. I like baking and making project things. I just got the stuff to make some cheese. But I don't like doing it on a daily basis. I love my raw goat milk and my farm fresh eggs. The muscovy eggs are fab IMO
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
Best animal experience? Too many to pick just one. My favorite feeling is when I get an animal that maybe wasn't cared for right, or wasn't doing so well, and to rehab it and see it flourish. Worst animal experience... ummm... I have a lot of bad ones too, it sort of comes with the territory. Right off the top of my mind, when my shepherd had puppies. We spent years planning this litter, had a bunch of people interested in pups. Fabulous bloodlines. She was a great mother, had 8 beautiful puppies.. then they started dieing. One or two, okay I can handle that, but one by one all but 3 of the puppies died. It was horrible. We think it was Fading Puppy Syndrom or something like that. I don't think I will EVER breed another dog again. The 3 puppies that lived are AMAZING dogs. All of them are great workers and I am lucky enough that people I train with got the two and I kept one. It makes me so sad thinking that all those other wonderful dogs didn't survive, but at the same time so grateful for these three.
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
DH hunts, I don't anymore. We also aren't above taking deer that have been hit by cars.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
I can clean a rabbit pretty quick
I am not above trying new things. I think that is the biggest challenge for people taking that step. You just have to do it, and I do think that is a skill 33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
We do process our own meat. I would LOVE to get into canning... someday.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
We don't at this time. Of course we would LIKE to, but we are just getting started. That is on the list for down the road.
35 What is on your to do list?
Hahahahaha Everything
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
Not yet, but that is the ultimate goal.
37. In what do you trust?
I trust that my animals will provide for me as long as I provide for them, I trust my dogs will protect me to the best of their ability should I ever need it, I trust that DH will be there for me to the best of his ability, and I trust that God will guide me through this life and help me to reach my goals.
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
I have been blessed with a husband that is amazingly ingenuitive. I have my moments, but that man can patch anything so we can get by.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
I have always kind of been that weird kid that spent too much time with her dogs or horses, so I have really always been in this state of mind. My animals are a HUGE part of my life, and I am comfortable with that
