I live in Maryland with my parents, my older brother, and my younger brother. As many of you may already know, my sheep live at my neighbor's farm. However, my neighbor sold his farm (beef cows are movin' in!), so my sheep are moving to my house. We are purchasing two acres of my neighbor's, and we will officially own it on the 8th, so we will have four acres, 2-3 of which will be fenced eventually for my sheep.
In the meantime, my sheep are going to be drylotted/penned in my backyard using my deck as their shelter. Currently I have a 2006 ewe, a 2009 ewe, two 2012 ewe lambs, a 2009 ram, and a 2010 wether in my flock. As for my pets, I have two dogs, two indoor cats, a queen with her 4 'natural' kittens and 2 adopted kittens, 12-17 outdoor cats, a holland lop buck, and a 6 year old carnival goldfish. I think that's it
Okay...here are some questions.
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
Maryland, USA - hot summers, cold winters.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Me, my parents, and my brothers. My grandparents live in an RV in my front yard.
3. How would you define your farm?
In progress. Sheep are being drylotted right now until we fence in our property and build a barn.
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
Travel around the country picking out some really awesome performance-type rams and ewes to add to my flock
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
I have built a shed with my family and we are in the process of building another. Eventually we will build a barn for my sheep.
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
Nope.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
My neighbor gave me a ewe lamb in 2006. Ever since then I have been wanting to be in the agriculture industry and eventually I would like to become a large animal (emphasis on food animals--aka no horses and camelids) veterinarian.
8. Is it a hobby or an occupation?
Right now it is a hobby (more money going out than going in right now because we have to build a barn and fence), but I would like to make it my occupation.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
Primarily sheep. I have taken classes at my school like Horse Care & Management, Pre-Vet Lg Animal, and Agricultural Sciences so I do have general knowledge on all species. I would like to learn how not to kill plants. So I took horticulture...but I killed the plants I brought home.
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
Organic. Just not my cup of tea.
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
Only if I could produce it cheaper than what I could buy it in the store for.
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
My room.
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
No, but I'm sure I can learn.
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
Useful? Not really.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
Yes, we can have any type of livestock in any number so long as manure is controlled. I have six sheep right now but I would like a larger flock if/when I move to a larger farm.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
I don't know what a lathe is...but I know how to use power tools.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
I like gardening, but gardening doesn't like me. The garden always dies whenever it sees me.
18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Nope.
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
We have four acres in the country.
20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
I have my high school diploma. (Class of 2012) Does that count?
21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
Sheep! But I want pigs...but my mom doesn't like pigs because they're 'ugly' so I don't think I will have them while I live here. I also want chickens and I was *thisclose* to getting them but Southern States didn't have the breed I wanted so my mom said we'd come back the following weekend...but instead we went to Pittsburgh.
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
Livestock Production - nutrition, management, diseases, breeding/parturition, selection of seedstock on the basis of performance and phenotype...those kinds of classes.
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
Nothing that fancy. But I do like to build stuff.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
No.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
Somewhere in Maryland...close to where I am now preferably. I would like a place with at least 80 acres so I can run at least 400 ewes.
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
Nope.
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
Someone who's nice, courageous, strong, sticks up for themselves...and a little abs and muscles don't hurt either
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Kind of. They only look at them for the 'cute' factor but can't stand the thought of killing one for food. My aunt always tells me that farming is 'not for her' and I just have to giggle It's funny because they all eat meat.
29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
I like to cook and bake, but I have to have a recipe! Whole/natural foods as in not processed/junk foods? Sure...I eat it...like fruits, veggies, meats. Not so into raw milk...I like my milk pasteurized and homogenized! I had some of my friend's chicken's eggs when I spent the night at her house and they were pretty good, so sure.
30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
Best - getting my first sheep 4 days before my 12th birthday. Worst - putting my 16 1/3 year old dog down in May 2011. I knew him like my whole life.
31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
Nope.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
I know how to take care of critters.
33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
Nope.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
Nope. My parents have considered solar panels, but the cost would far outweigh any savings we would have.
35. What is on your to do list?
Build a barn, a fence, get some Katahdin sheep, and maybe get some Finnsheep & Romanovs to experiment with, trying to increase litter size in the Katahdins.
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
Nope. I would like to only if it's cheaper.
37. In what do you trust?
Family and friends.
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
Yes. I built my sheep feeder for $30 and it feeds 10 head, but if I were to buy something similar it would cost $120+.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
I have had animals all my life, so that has kind of shaped me into the person I am today. However, since getting my sheep I go down to the barn everyday at 5-5:30 to water them and check on them.
Read my lambing thread.
In the meantime, my sheep are going to be drylotted/penned in my backyard using my deck as their shelter. Currently I have a 2006 ewe, a 2009 ewe, two 2012 ewe lambs, a 2009 ram, and a 2010 wether in my flock. As for my pets, I have two dogs, two indoor cats, a queen with her 4 'natural' kittens and 2 adopted kittens, 12-17 outdoor cats, a holland lop buck, and a 6 year old carnival goldfish. I think that's it
Okay...here are some questions.
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
Maryland, USA - hot summers, cold winters.
2. How many people are in your family? Marital status?
Me, my parents, and my brothers. My grandparents live in an RV in my front yard.
3. How would you define your farm?
In progress. Sheep are being drylotted right now until we fence in our property and build a barn.
4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
Travel around the country picking out some really awesome performance-type rams and ewes to add to my flock
5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
I have built a shed with my family and we are in the process of building another. Eventually we will build a barn for my sheep.
6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
Nope.
7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
My neighbor gave me a ewe lamb in 2006. Ever since then I have been wanting to be in the agriculture industry and eventually I would like to become a large animal (emphasis on food animals--aka no horses and camelids) veterinarian.
8. Is it a hobby or an occupation?
Right now it is a hobby (more money going out than going in right now because we have to build a barn and fence), but I would like to make it my occupation.
9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
Primarily sheep. I have taken classes at my school like Horse Care & Management, Pre-Vet Lg Animal, and Agricultural Sciences so I do have general knowledge on all species. I would like to learn how not to kill plants. So I took horticulture...but I killed the plants I brought home.
10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
Organic. Just not my cup of tea.
11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
Only if I could produce it cheaper than what I could buy it in the store for.
12. Where do you end up when you sink into yourself, away from the outside world?
My room.
13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
No, but I'm sure I can learn.
14. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
Useful? Not really.
15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
Yes, we can have any type of livestock in any number so long as manure is controlled. I have six sheep right now but I would like a larger flock if/when I move to a larger farm.
16. Can you operate a lathe? Metal, wood?
I don't know what a lathe is...but I know how to use power tools.
17. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
I like gardening, but gardening doesn't like me. The garden always dies whenever it sees me.
18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Nope.
19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
We have four acres in the country.
20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
I have my high school diploma. (Class of 2012
) Does that count?21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
Sheep! But I want pigs...but my mom doesn't like pigs because they're 'ugly' so I don't think I will have them while I live here. I also want chickens and I was *thisclose* to getting them but Southern States didn't have the breed I wanted so my mom said we'd come back the following weekend...but instead we went to Pittsburgh.
22. If you could create a degree and curriculum, what would you major in and what classes would you take?
Livestock Production - nutrition, management, diseases, breeding/parturition, selection of seedstock on the basis of performance and phenotype...those kinds of classes.
23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
Nothing that fancy. But I do like to build stuff.
24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
No.
25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
Somewhere in Maryland...close to where I am now preferably. I would like a place with at least 80 acres so I can run at least 400 ewes.
26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
Nope.
27. What would your ideal super hero/villain be?
Someone who's nice, courageous, strong, sticks up for themselves...and a little abs and muscles don't hurt either
28. Are your family or friends also interested in animals?
Kind of. They only look at them for the 'cute' factor but can't stand the thought of killing one for food. My aunt always tells me that farming is 'not for her' and I just have to giggle
It's funny because they all eat meat.29. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? raw milk? farm fresh eggs?
I like to cook and bake, but I have to have a recipe! Whole/natural foods as in not processed/junk foods? Sure...I eat it...like fruits, veggies, meats. Not so into raw milk...I like my milk pasteurized and homogenized!
I had some of my friend's chicken's eggs when I spent the night at her house and they were pretty good, so sure.30. What was your best animal experience? Worst?
Best - getting my first sheep 4 days before my 12th birthday. Worst - putting my 16 1/3 year old dog down in May 2011.
I knew him like my whole life.31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
Nope.
32. What skills do you have that help you be more a self sufficient farm?
I know how to take care of critters.
33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
Nope.
34. Do you use alternative energy sources on your farm? Would you like to?
Nope. My parents have considered solar panels, but the cost would far outweigh any savings we would have.
35. What is on your to do list?
Build a barn, a fence, get some Katahdin sheep, and maybe get some Finnsheep & Romanovs to experiment with, trying to increase litter size in the Katahdins.
36. Have you ever lived completely off what you produce? Would you like to?
Nope. I would like to only if it's cheaper.
37. In what do you trust?
Family and friends.
38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
Yes. I built my sheep feeder for $30 and it feeds 10 head, but if I were to buy something similar it would cost $120+.
39. Has the experience with animals changed your attitude or habits?
I have had animals all my life, so that has kind of shaped me into the person I am today. However, since getting my sheep I go down to the barn everyday at 5-5:30 to water them and check on them.
Read my lambing thread.
