My goal is to start a farm. What do I need to know/do first?

Question

I am 18. I would like to purchase a patch of land and create a farm and live on it for the rest of my life(most likely).
Should I read as many gardening books, etc as I can? What are your suggestions?
I would like a goat or two, chickens, bees, plants, etc.

Answer 1

first pick a spot of land some where you like with alot of acres, but before you buy it find out what the land restrictions are and if it is zoned or not. if it is zoned agricultural then build your house the way you like it. put some fence and barns up for the goats. buy some goats and grain for them. if you learn better by reading books its ok to read up in the books, but you can look online and they have lots of farming sites. http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv8-&p=farming

Answer 2

Noble goal. Been there - done that - Still there - doing that.

Oh yes. Please understand that this is a long-term thing. You won't reap the rewards for a long time. Worth it though.

Subscribe to good publications like Small Farm Journal and Country Livinig magazines. Even Mother Earth News (if it's still in print) is a good pub - but you have to get past all the odd phrases like "to boot" and "cackle-berries" (eggs).

Network. Visit farmers markets and form friendships with people from the self-sustaining communities so you can gain experience. Try working for a small farmer - which will probably have to be for free since most small farmers are usually getting by. It's the experience you're after.

Goats: American Dairy Goat Association has chapters all over the country. Join - even if you don't have goats - yet.

Bees - There's a national bee keeping association as well. Contact Dr. May R. Berenbaum, at the University of Illinois for information on honeybees in the US. She's the head of entomology. Great lady. Extremely passionate about bugs.

Get a good education in agriculture - perhaps with an emphasis on horticulture, entomology, etc. so you can start a business that will support your rural lifestyle (as in a greenhouse perhaps - or perhaps as a state agricultural consultant etc.)

Learn a good trade as well - mechanics, welding etc. so you can both fix your own equipment - as well as earn a living in the boonies fixing other people's equipment.

Remember, buying something - like a patch of ground - is the easy and cheap part. It's making that patch support your life, family, goals, etc. where the real work is.

But - it's worth it. Good luck, neighbor.

Answer 3

many people start off on a dream like this and soon realise that reality is tougher than fantasy.
before u make a land purchase, you should do your homework. After all, this is what u wanna do for the rest of ur life. you can't live from a vegie patch. it has to be a proper farm if u want to live from it. So, join a college and do a relevant course. It might take a year or two, but it will make sure that u have the right knowledge to do what u intend to do. or you could live with someone in the country. this will not only give u an idea of the real life, you would also learn the required skills.
PLease, don't just buy a patch of land with a few hens and a vegie patch. you can't live without electricity, petrol, car registration, clothes etc etc. unless u have another job off course.

Answer 4

I would get some books about agriculture too. I would decide on what type of farm you wish to have. A chicken farm? A bee farm? What would the specialty be? Your success also depends in the state where you live. Is your state an argicultural state? If not, would you be willing to move to one that is more stable in farming? It is important because not only will you need a community that supports your farm, but friends and family who you can ask questions or share ideas.

Answer 5

Dairy goats preferably Nubian's, honey bees, Poultry laying hens Rode island Reds are very good meat and egg producers but first and most important do your homework.Your proper preparations can and likely will be the difference between success and failure. A great many of these things cannot be learned from reading,but require hands on learning.email me if you have questions.