Oak Knoll Farms - My New Journey

[Oakknollfarms]

@Oakknollfarms

So, this is all new to me. Having grown up with beef cattle and race horses, I never expected to inherit my family farm. It didn’t have a house on it, so I built a tiny house on wheels and put it out here as a place to stay while I was here getting this beautiful place all cleaned back up after my Dad let it get over grown. I was only here a week out of every month.

And then I never expected to follow that a few years later with a divorce......

And even more unexpected was to acquire a bottle baby Nigerian Dwarf, named Chip, who had been rejected by his mother. This decision quickly became 2 goats...... the second of which is Dale, his brother, once he is weaned, since I discovered that they don’t do well as a single. My friend, who has a farm, gave them both to me because she knew that I would take really good care of Chip, and Chip kinda fell in love with me when I was visiting.

Then 2 weeks later, the same farm gave me my first 4 hens.....

I had decided when I moved out here that I wanted to start my homestead and become more self sufficient, but I certainly hadn’t intended to start with the goats AND chickens. All within 2 weeks of moving out here....... AND all before I had found a job! . Scary, but it’s given me the chance to build a chicken coop and the goat enclosure and get things ready before I am working again.

So, here I am, the Accidental Homesteader. Starting this crazy journey. And I love it.....

I also woke up to find my bottle baby very, very sick with pneumonia this morning. So prayers for his speedy recovery. I love this little guy and am lucky enough to have an awesome Vet that let me bring him to her house on a Sunday, no less.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Hope your baby gets better! Nothing better than an awesome vet - sounds like she's a keeper!

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

Well...very great start to a new life..new WAY of life and your new journal!! I’ll definitely be reading!! I’m really sorry to hear that little Chip is sick..what a scarey thing to deal with..on your first goat...I’m really glad, too, that you have a nice vet...that makes all the difference in the world!! Can we see pictures of your land and chickens? What breed? Are they laying? I have 36 hens and two cockerels. They lay very good for me!! I sell my eggs. I’m starting a hatch on Wednesday with an incubator..and two hens want to go broody really bad! I stole their eggs today because we’re getting a lot of snow tonight so I want them in the coop. But, next week I’ll let them set..more chicks!!

 

[Oakknollfarms]

Pics of Chip & Dale, the farm, and the ladies. They are red comets and I love how they talk to me when I go outside. They didn’t stress out from the move at all and have been laying for me every day since the morning after I brought them home. This week, I plan on opening up their coop to let them start free ranging (I’ve got about 70 acres out here and I’m a good long ways off the main road).

I want to add Ameracaunas and Wyandotte’s next year. Eventually selling eggs and chicks and fertilized eggs. I’ve got an old horse barn that I want to turn into a giant chicken coop with runs for each breed and may even look into breed preservation for some of the more endangered breeds.

I’m also planning to stud the boys at the farm that they came from (with non-related females, of course) and eventually grow my own herd here as well..... to sell as well as milk.

Then I plan on adding the bees. I’ve also been planting as well. A plum tree and herbs to start and later I want to add apples and peaches, cherries and pecan trees.

I’ve got the plan, it just might take me a few years to implement it. But living in a tiny house leaves me lots of time and (lack of space) to be outside.

Not a bad start for just a few weeks of being here. Some days I think I it off more than I can chew. Other days I think I’m super woman and can do it all. Now...... where did I put that cape?

 

[Coolbreeze89]

Beautiful pics! So glad you have a pup to accompany you on this journey. You have an amazing plan. You’ve got this! I look forward to following along.

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

So, Chip has the black face, and Dale the white? Beautiful scenery!! You have a great plan...I’m the same way with our farm..we dove right in and all of it happened in a year! It’s been a crazy ride!! It started as a hobby farm, now it’s turned into a business!! I love it..it’s a passion!! I can’t wait to keep reading!!

 

[Oakknollfarms]

Yep! Chip with the black face and Dale with the White...... and I can’t believe I forgot to mention my Smooshy Labrador, Angus. He’s my partner in crime, love of my life, protector of the farm, master ball fetcher and Daddy of Goats . He’s only met the ladies through the coop fencing, but I haven’t had any problems with any species that I introduce him to, so I’m sure he’ll be great with them as well.

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

Yep! Chip with the black face and Dale with the White...... and I can’t believe I forgot to mention my Smooshy Labrador, Angus. He’s my partner in crime, love of my life, protector of the farm, master ball fetcher and Daddy of Goats . He’s only met the ladies through the coop fencing, but I haven’t had any problems with any species that I introduce him to, so I’m sure he’ll be great with them as well.

My son has a 2 yr old choc lab...he’s a big baby, by big I mean, like 107 lbs!! He’s even afraid of my kids!! But he does hurt any of my animals!!

 

[Oakknollfarms]

My son has a 2 yr old choc lab...he’s a big baby, by big I mean, like 107 lbs!! He’s even afraid of my kids!! But he does hurt any of my animals!!

Labs are such amazing dogs

 

[Senile_Texas_Aggie]

Miss @Oakknollfarms,

Thank you for starting this journal! This way we can all follow along with you on your journey! You have a beautiful place. How many acres are cleared and how many are woods? Tell us more about yourself and your plans and dreams. That way, the folks who have done what you are dreaming of can guide you along, and others like me can dream with you!

Senile Texas Aggie