If you had 5 acres to live on, what would you do with it?

Answer 1

I'm assuming that this would be in the area I currently live, central Illinois. So, I would probably do similar to my uncle, but on a smaller scale. 2 acres would be devoted to the home(here an acre is the equivalent of 4 standardized house lots), garage, utilty shed, dog run, small barn for raising pygmy goats (meat), possibly potbelly pigs (meat), rabbits (meat), and a chicken coop for chickens (meat and eggs) . An acre would be devoted to fruit bearing trees, specific to this region I would plant apple, pear, plum, and cherry, and possibly a row of grapevines. I would also have a couple of beehives in the orchard for two reasons, 1) pollinating the orchard and 2) producing honey. The last 2 acres would be devoted to a garden/small farm. On this I would devote space to corn, carrots, hot peepers, bell peppers, tomatoes, potatos, lettuce (leaf and head), cabbage, cucumbers, radishes, celery, beans (various types), and various squash.

The hardest part is getting this set up the first time. After it is setup, all you really have left is maintenance of the garden/farm.

Answer 2

We do live on 5 acres, bordering state land. We have a small pond in the back that attracts all kinds of animals and ducks. Put in a small orchard (16 dwarf trees) , asparagus, grape vines, blueberry patch , strawberries and raspberries. A garden and built a house and garage. We are planting about 1/2 acre in sweet corn and also have chickens. In the past we have fenced off a portion and raised beef (2 at a time) and pigs too. 5 acres doesn't sound like much to a farmer but you can be pretty self sufficient if you plan correctly. ( always plant extra for the critters)

Answer 3

Build a small 800 sq ft house, with one bedroom and everything else open, except the bathroom. Build it so I have an acre if front and everything else in the back. Make several gardens going lots different veggies in each. Hope there's a decent well for water, hope for lots of trees too. Difficult dream once you think about it. But I'd try to be as self sufficient as possible. And 5 acres isn't enough to do that, but it would help.

Answer 4

As a matter of fact, I do own five acres and live on it! I do the typical small farmer thing . . raise chickens for eggs, raise guineas for insect control and I garden! Pears, apples, blueberries, raspberries, mint, strawberries, grapes, herbs, and lots of vegetables!

Oh yeah, and I cut grass, lots of cutting grass! I have a Ford 1540 tractor with a 6 foot bush hogs, so it only takes a couple hours. I was using a John Deere lawn tractor with a 42 inch cut and that took me 6 or 7 hours!

Answer 5

I have a book titled Five Acres & Independence. I first saw this book maybe 40 years or more ago.

First printed in 1935.

Things change but still remain quite the same.

I would have a large garden & plant flowers & trees etc.

Answer 6

I live on 4 acres and I mow a lot. We have tons of flowers, three fish ponds, a huge garden, an RC car track and a large natrual pond with mallards and woodducks. And we are in the city limits.

Answer 7

Build a huge house on one of the acres and fill the rest with an orchard of tangerine trees

Answer 8

I think Robert has the right idea. That is what we have done with our 18 acres of rainforest - 3 for us, 15 for the critters..

Answer 9

It would depend on the setting of the land. Some choices are a huge garden, a lake, swimming pool and tennis court. All kinds of possibilities enter the mind.

Answer 10

Open a Doggie/Kitty DayCare or Kennels.

Lots of Fruit Trees.