EllieMay
Loving the herd life
What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
I'm in South Central Kentucky smack dab in the middle of nowhere. I'm originally from California, so it was difficult for me to understand the 'hillbilly' accent spoken here. But I love it here and the climate is milder than I expected. We get no real snow; just some dusting that melts by noon. Summers are hot as can be expected, but I lived in Arizona for a year so I know the meaning of real heat.
How many people are in your family? Marital status?
We have five kids all grown and living their wonderful lives. So its just me and hubby here on the farm.
I'm the farmer and hubby sometimes helps with the 'manly' stuff.
How would you define your farm?
I have 15 acres of pasture, some trees, and ponds.
Goal is to have a self-sustaining hobby farm.
Also, want to buy the surrounding 25 acres so I can buy more sheep.
What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
I enjoy traveling and have traveled and lived overseas. Having a farm makes it difficult to leave unless I can find someone I TRUST with the care of my livestock for weeks at a time. But if I had the resource of a good and trusted farmer who knows what to do and can live on my farm while Im away, Id definitely continue my traveling adventures.
Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
Hubby and I built two chicken coops. We knew nothing about building so were quite pleased with our efforts. Now we build all of our own coops and pens. Would love to one day fix up our barn; but were hiring people for that job and help out where we can.
Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
Ive always wanted to live on a farm. Having grown up in the suburbs in California, I never set foot on a farm, but would always watch the old shows like Green Acres and wish I could live like that (just without all the self-inflicted problems).
Is it a hobby or an occupation?
I work on my farm full-time since I do not have a job. So its a hobby that Id like to earn a living at.
In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
Dont think I would ever want to get into the large commercial operations.
Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
So far we grow most of our own fruits and veggies. We basically go to the store to buy staples like salt, sugar, flour, etc.
Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
This was one of the reasons I moved to KY, so that I could do whatever I please with my own land. Right now Im only raising Katahdin sheep and will have one annual Duroc pig for meat, and we have chickens.
If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
Outside the US I would like to live in a place with mild climate year round. I lived in the jungle of Costa Rica for a few years; however, farming didnt work well there since there are way too many predatory creatures to make farming comfortable. I love the beautiful hills in Romania; however, I dont like the cold winters. Ive thought about moving to New Zealand, but thats still on my list of places to visit first.
Within the US I would love to live in the northern part of North Carolina (if it werent so expensive) and I also love the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia (but, again, its too expensive).
Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
Nah. Way too primitive for my taste.
Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
Yep! So far I've only processed my own chickens and canned veggies and fruit. I don't much like the canning of it all. Way too time consuming! Throwing things in the freezer is easy enough; just don't like the canning. I guess I am not fond of spending too much time cooped up in the kitchen.
Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
Were currently working on our own source of energy so we dont have to depend on any corporation for our basic needs.
What is on your to do list?
Buy a tractor!
I'm in South Central Kentucky smack dab in the middle of nowhere. I'm originally from California, so it was difficult for me to understand the 'hillbilly' accent spoken here. But I love it here and the climate is milder than I expected. We get no real snow; just some dusting that melts by noon. Summers are hot as can be expected, but I lived in Arizona for a year so I know the meaning of real heat.
How many people are in your family? Marital status?
We have five kids all grown and living their wonderful lives. So its just me and hubby here on the farm.
I'm the farmer and hubby sometimes helps with the 'manly' stuff.
How would you define your farm?
I have 15 acres of pasture, some trees, and ponds.
Goal is to have a self-sustaining hobby farm.
Also, want to buy the surrounding 25 acres so I can buy more sheep.
What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
I enjoy traveling and have traveled and lived overseas. Having a farm makes it difficult to leave unless I can find someone I TRUST with the care of my livestock for weeks at a time. But if I had the resource of a good and trusted farmer who knows what to do and can live on my farm while Im away, Id definitely continue my traveling adventures.
Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
Hubby and I built two chicken coops. We knew nothing about building so were quite pleased with our efforts. Now we build all of our own coops and pens. Would love to one day fix up our barn; but were hiring people for that job and help out where we can.
Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
Ive always wanted to live on a farm. Having grown up in the suburbs in California, I never set foot on a farm, but would always watch the old shows like Green Acres and wish I could live like that (just without all the self-inflicted problems).
Is it a hobby or an occupation?
I work on my farm full-time since I do not have a job. So its a hobby that Id like to earn a living at.
In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
Dont think I would ever want to get into the large commercial operations.
Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
So far we grow most of our own fruits and veggies. We basically go to the store to buy staples like salt, sugar, flour, etc.
Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
This was one of the reasons I moved to KY, so that I could do whatever I please with my own land. Right now Im only raising Katahdin sheep and will have one annual Duroc pig for meat, and we have chickens.
If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
Outside the US I would like to live in a place with mild climate year round. I lived in the jungle of Costa Rica for a few years; however, farming didnt work well there since there are way too many predatory creatures to make farming comfortable. I love the beautiful hills in Romania; however, I dont like the cold winters. Ive thought about moving to New Zealand, but thats still on my list of places to visit first.
Within the US I would love to live in the northern part of North Carolina (if it werent so expensive) and I also love the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia (but, again, its too expensive).
Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
Nah. Way too primitive for my taste.
Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
Yep! So far I've only processed my own chickens and canned veggies and fruit. I don't much like the canning of it all. Way too time consuming! Throwing things in the freezer is easy enough; just don't like the canning. I guess I am not fond of spending too much time cooped up in the kitchen.
Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
Were currently working on our own source of energy so we dont have to depend on any corporation for our basic needs.
What is on your to do list?
Buy a tractor!
