Straw Hat Kikos

[Straw Hat Kikos]

All right. I'm giving journalism a try! Let me start out by saying that, yes, I am a guy on BYH. lol Doesn't seem like there are to many of us but that's fine. You can call me K because that's my first initial. I have already listed some info about me and my ranch on "My Page" so if you go there you can check out some more that I do't feel like posting on here tonight. So I guess I'll begin by answering some of the questions.


1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
I live in the great state of North Carolina. I love it here. If I was not here I would go to Texas or Michigan but I really like Missouri too. I'm glad I'm here though. Great people and great weather, but most importantly, great NC BBQ!!

3. How would you define your farm?
It's only on a few acres, but I share a ranch with another farmer and I have over 30 acres I am able to use on a good friends land.

4. What would you do with your spare time if you had any resources you needed?
I would run cattle. I love cattle. There are so many things I could put in here but I would take me forever.

5. Have you ever built a house, barn , or other types of building? Do you want to?
YES I have built several coops, shed-like stuff, extended carports, duck houses, goat huts, dog houses, and many many more.

6. Can you weld? Steel, aluminum, MiG, TiG, stick, Oxy-Acet?
Nope. Would be cool though.

7. Who or what inspired you to be a farmer/rancher, hobby farmer?
I don't really know. My parents, I guess. lol

8 Is it a hobby or an occupation?
Both. I make some money with my goats but have a job too, so it's both really.

9. In what areas are you knowledgeable and in what areas would you like to learn more?
I would like to think I know alot about goats but as in everything you can always learn more!! I also know alot about chickens and their diseases. I would like to know more about cattle.

10. In what types of farming will you never choose to do?
AI on turkeys. I've seen Dirty Jobs. lol

11. Are you interested in providing more of your own food supply?
Yeah, but I am not into the whole "Go Green" thing that comes with it. I would like to raise my goats for meat and milk, along with my breeding program. Beef cattle would be awesome.

13. Can you drive a farm tractor or a semi?
Tractor yes, semi no. At least not yet. I'm going to get a CDL soon because I think it is always wise to have one current.

15. Can you legally have all forms of livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
Yep, sure can. Got goats, dogs, chickens.

18. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Yes I do. Bass fishing. Bait.

19. How much space/land do you have or rent? City farm? Country?
See #3

20. Are you a Novice, Technician, degreed?
Hoping to get a degree in genetics and something else to do with AG and math soon.

21. What is your farm specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
My goats!! That's my specialty!!

23. Do you do wood work? framing, finish, cabinet?
Only when building something for my animals.

24. Are you interested in herbal animal medicine?
Can't say I am. I have my theories on herbal worming and I will not get into them here. For the most part I am against.

25. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
See #1

26. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
Only for heating the house.

31. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
Deer hunt. Best meat around.

33. Do you process your own meat? Can or preserve?
Yes, I know how and process my own meat. Very good skill to know.

35. What is on your to do list?
Don't even get me started!!

37. In what do you trust?
In God I Trust.

38. Do you make and fix things yourself to save money?
I think we all know the answer to this one...

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

Welcome to journaling!!!!
I look forward to hearing about your going ons and such as the days go by!

 

[elevan]

 

[SmallFarmGirl]

Welcome to journaling on BYH! (I am actually sort-of a real journalist) Can't wait to read!

 

[marlowmanor]

Welcome to BYH journaling. So I'm curious (and if you don't wish to answer you don't have to), but how old are you? Its always interesting to see young people being successful on their own farms.

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

Thank you everybody! I'm hoping to have some fun with this.

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

So not much happened today, but this morning when I was taking care of the Kiko does I got the back of my legs all cut up. As I have said before they don't get alot of food so when I bring it to them they want it bad. Most of the time I wear jeans because I am going back into the woods but I got up late and it was raining and I felt kinda lazy, sooo I went out in shorts. Bad idea. First of all the boys (two great prys) and Callie all wanted to say hi to me. So I'm having wet dogs jumping up to say hi. The dogs were in the buck pen and not with the does. So I go in with the does and right next to us are those pesky "Wait-a-bit" bushes. (Thorns) The does are eating the food and Sis gets her leg tangled up in the thorns along with my leg, so she tries to run and when she did that the other does freaked and ran which caused the thorns to tighten and wrap around my leg, thus cutting up the back of my legs. I grabbed Sis' horns and got us both unstuck. Was not fun. That's the down side about summer thorns.

 

[marlowmanor]

I just turned 27 in March. From the posts I've read from you it seems you have a lot of kowledge for your age. That is great and admirable. I grew up raising goats and if DH and I ever get enough land I will be into raising them again. DH wasn't raised on a farm so he doesn't quite "get" why I want to a farm so bad but is willing to let me have my dream to a degree. I want my kids to have the farm experience. Too many kids now a days are too focused on material things and electronics. Ok, now I sound really old! Ok, I'm done now, I have kids to get to sleep.

Getting wrapped up in thorn pushes sounds painful. Sorry you got hurt. I'd be getting some clippers to those bushes.

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

haha 27 is not old! Thank you. I try my very best to make myself as knowledgeable about what I am doing, in this case goats. If you weren't raised with it then you won't get it until you have a farm/ranch. I believe that raising children in that kind of a setting is so healthy for them. They learn so much including, but not limited to, responsibly, hard work, and a strong value of life. They also learn that food is not from the grocery store. Food is from normal people that struggle to make a living, but yet we all want food cheaper. Most importantly they learn about life and death. Death is real and kids that grow up on a farm seem to know that and value life more. The thorns did not feel good but I'll live. No point in cutting them down because there are so many everywhere. The live IN the woods. Also when the thorns grow their leaves the goats eat them up quick. It's their favorite!!

 

[Roll farms]

I must be ancient....

Welcome to journaling!

I had kikos, after my first group of 'fancy' boers proved to be poor-doers....but, I couldn't give the kikos away around here, everyone wanted BOERS. Went back to boers and I'm breeding for hardiness. I have some I haven't dewormed in years. We do their feet before breeding and after kidding, maybe 1 other time ea. year if we have a really bad wet spell.