MenagerieMama
Chillin' with the herd
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
I am in NY, Oneida County. We are in zone 5 and it snows 6 to 7 months out of the year here. I loathe the winter.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Currently we have 4 humans in our family. My husband, 1 DS, 1 DD and me.
3. How would you define your farm?
We are homesteading fools. Cramming everything we possibly can on less than 1 acre.
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
Spare time...I don't understand the meaning of this word! 
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
We have only built a large chicken coop, alpaca shed, duck shed, and now working on a goat house.
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
I wish. If a screw, nail, superglue, or ducktape won't hold it together, I'd need to hire a professional!
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
Life inspired me. Once I had my own children, I viewed the world in a completely different manner. I've always loved critters and easily bonded with most, even as a toddler, but the way I grew up, moving around year after year, I knew I wanted to provide my kids something I never had...security, a garden for flowers and produce, and a menagerie of animals. :bun
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
This is a hobby that we'd love to develop into an occupation.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
Plants and chickens are my thing. I need to learn mostly about the other farm critters and how to keep them happy and healthy, and the eventual pursuit of utilizing what they have to offer, whether it be fiber/fleece/milk/looks or education.
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
I don't want to paint myself in a corner. Really, right now I am a kid in the candy store and want to try a bite of everything.
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
Definitely! We acknowledge the irresponsibility of commercial farming, and have made a plan to grow almost everything ourselves, and to buy local from those with the same intentions and practices.
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
I find myself in la la land.
I am a dreamer in every way. I'm always thinking of how to improve my life, my kids lives, the farm, the house, the school, the community...my KITCHEN!!!
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
I can drive all sorts of tractor equipment.
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
I am getting my feet wet in the crafting world. I have always been artistic, but am finding I love making practical things too. One of our biggest goals is to teach where we can, and all the while be open to learning where we can.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
We are zoned agricultural/commercial. As long as our critters are happy and healthy, we can have just about anything. Right now we have 2 Huacaya alpacas, 1 pot belly pig, 60 +/- chickens, 13 ducks, 2 Sebastopol geese, 1 Holland Lop bunny, 3 mixed dogs (2 Bichon/Yorkies, 1 Jack Russel/Pug/Yorkie), 2 rescued barn cats, 2 parakeets. Soon we will be adding 3 goats and 1 mini horse to the menagerie.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
With skill? Not likely.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to garden! We created a 150+ feet of stonewall flower gardens a year and a half ago, have eleventy billion raised veggie beds, utilize two humongous garden plots at DH's Aunts house for growing veggies and sunflowers, we planted dozens and dozens of fruit bearing trees, bushes and vines. You name it we grow it!
18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Explosives??? That's an option???
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
We own 2/3 of an acre, and are looking to purchase a farm. We live just a hair outside the village, on a main road, so we get LOTS of rubber neckers passing by (along with some unwanted visitors thinking we run a free petting zoo!
) Our area is definitely rural.
20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
It all depends...I am a novice to goats and mini horses, and the eventual cow we will be getting. I've got the poultry thing down!
21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
Education and interest. We don't have a specialty per se, but like to claim a tiny corner on the alpaca fiber, goat soap and goat cheese market.
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
Homesteading 101. I would major in animal science and horticulture.
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
Dabble in furniture repurposing/refinishing.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
Not currently.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
New Zealand.
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
I wish.
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
Super hero...the ability to slap common sense into stoopid people. Or would that be the villain? It is violence after all. :/
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Not really. Most friends I've had my entire life don't understand my infatuation and pursuit of farming/homesteading. My family thinks this endeavor is just nuts. Not one of my 4 siblings (all older than me) even has a dog or cat. Why raise chickens when we can get eggs at the store? Some people just don't get it.
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
I don't like cooking nearly as much as I like baking. Whole and natural foods are always the best way to go. I have yet to consume raw milk. Farm fresh eggs...we get those daily.
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
I'll have to come back to this...there are a bazillion to choose from.
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
Sometimes. DH likes to hunt for deer, though he doesn't take the time to get out and do it. We harvest wild grapes, elderberries, blackberries, etc where we can.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
I am an avid reader...once I have an interest, I dive in whole heartedly to learn what I can. Then I pass all projects over to DH!
Reading and delegating duties...those are skills, right?
33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
We are learning to can and preserve our goods. Mostly we just freeze everything.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
Not currently. We would love to do rain water collections and gray water management, on top of adding wind and solar power. Our homestead is wind blasted...it makes sense to incorporate a way to harness that readily available energy.
35 What is on your to do list?
It might be shorter to put what is NOT on my to do list! We are working on goat pen/shed, a place to put the mini horse, putting the rest of our property fence up, rerouting the driveway, taking down a few trees, building more raised beds, transplanting several plants...ugh...the list is overwhelming.
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
I think it would take a little more creativity on our part to do this...but it is an eventual goal.
37. In what do you trust?
Humanity. Friendship. Hard work yields the most rewards.
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
Always.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
Well, we can never just take a vacation on a whim. Someone has to look after the animals.
I am in NY, Oneida County. We are in zone 5 and it snows 6 to 7 months out of the year here. I loathe the winter.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Currently we have 4 humans in our family. My husband, 1 DS, 1 DD and me.
3. How would you define your farm?
We are homesteading fools. Cramming everything we possibly can on less than 1 acre.
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
Spare time...I don't understand the meaning of this word!
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
We have only built a large chicken coop, alpaca shed, duck shed, and now working on a goat house.
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
I wish. If a screw, nail, superglue, or ducktape won't hold it together, I'd need to hire a professional!
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
Life inspired me. Once I had my own children, I viewed the world in a completely different manner. I've always loved critters and easily bonded with most, even as a toddler, but the way I grew up, moving around year after year, I knew I wanted to provide my kids something I never had...security, a garden for flowers and produce, and a menagerie of animals. :bun
8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
This is a hobby that we'd love to develop into an occupation.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
Plants and chickens are my thing. I need to learn mostly about the other farm critters and how to keep them happy and healthy, and the eventual pursuit of utilizing what they have to offer, whether it be fiber/fleece/milk/looks or education.
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
I don't want to paint myself in a corner. Really, right now I am a kid in the candy store and want to try a bite of everything.
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
Definitely! We acknowledge the irresponsibility of commercial farming, and have made a plan to grow almost everything ourselves, and to buy local from those with the same intentions and practices.
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
I find myself in la la land.
I am a dreamer in every way. I'm always thinking of how to improve my life, my kids lives, the farm, the house, the school, the community...my KITCHEN!!!13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
I can drive all sorts of tractor equipment.
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
I am getting my feet wet in the crafting world. I have always been artistic, but am finding I love making practical things too. One of our biggest goals is to teach where we can, and all the while be open to learning where we can.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
We are zoned agricultural/commercial. As long as our critters are happy and healthy, we can have just about anything. Right now we have 2 Huacaya alpacas, 1 pot belly pig, 60 +/- chickens, 13 ducks, 2 Sebastopol geese, 1 Holland Lop bunny, 3 mixed dogs (2 Bichon/Yorkies, 1 Jack Russel/Pug/Yorkie), 2 rescued barn cats, 2 parakeets. Soon we will be adding 3 goats and 1 mini horse to the menagerie.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
With skill? Not likely.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to garden! We created a 150+ feet of stonewall flower gardens a year and a half ago, have eleventy billion raised veggie beds, utilize two humongous garden plots at DH's Aunts house for growing veggies and sunflowers, we planted dozens and dozens of fruit bearing trees, bushes and vines. You name it we grow it!
18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Explosives??? That's an option???
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
We own 2/3 of an acre, and are looking to purchase a farm. We live just a hair outside the village, on a main road, so we get LOTS of rubber neckers passing by (along with some unwanted visitors thinking we run a free petting zoo!
) Our area is definitely rural.20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
It all depends...I am a novice to goats and mini horses, and the eventual cow we will be getting. I've got the poultry thing down!
21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
Education and interest. We don't have a specialty per se, but like to claim a tiny corner on the alpaca fiber, goat soap and goat cheese market.
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
Homesteading 101. I would major in animal science and horticulture.
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
Dabble in furniture repurposing/refinishing.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
Not currently.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
New Zealand.
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
I wish.
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
Super hero...the ability to slap common sense into stoopid people. Or would that be the villain? It is violence after all. :/
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Not really. Most friends I've had my entire life don't understand my infatuation and pursuit of farming/homesteading. My family thinks this endeavor is just nuts. Not one of my 4 siblings (all older than me) even has a dog or cat. Why raise chickens when we can get eggs at the store? Some people just don't get it.
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
I don't like cooking nearly as much as I like baking. Whole and natural foods are always the best way to go. I have yet to consume raw milk. Farm fresh eggs...we get those daily.
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
I'll have to come back to this...there are a bazillion to choose from.
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
Sometimes. DH likes to hunt for deer, though he doesn't take the time to get out and do it. We harvest wild grapes, elderberries, blackberries, etc where we can.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
I am an avid reader...once I have an interest, I dive in whole heartedly to learn what I can. Then I pass all projects over to DH!
Reading and delegating duties...those are skills, right?33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
We are learning to can and preserve our goods. Mostly we just freeze everything.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
Not currently. We would love to do rain water collections and gray water management, on top of adding wind and solar power. Our homestead is wind blasted...it makes sense to incorporate a way to harness that readily available energy.
35 What is on your to do list?
It might be shorter to put what is NOT on my to do list! We are working on goat pen/shed, a place to put the mini horse, putting the rest of our property fence up, rerouting the driveway, taking down a few trees, building more raised beds, transplanting several plants...ugh...the list is overwhelming.
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
I think it would take a little more creativity on our part to do this...but it is an eventual goal.
37. In what do you trust?
Humanity. Friendship. Hard work yields the most rewards.
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
Always.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
Well, we can never just take a vacation on a whim. Someone has to look after the animals.
