#smallfarm — Public Fediverse posts

This is very lowkey and we are not certain yet. BUT we're thinking about renting out the Ranch, really only to other artists/makers/stewards since it's currently not in shape to go on the open market and we lack the funds to get it there. The reason I'm putting this out here a bit pre-emptively is not so that I can disappoint you later with yet another change of mind, but so that I can see if anyone could be interested. This is going out quietly to our local community, too, but though most of you are not local I do know that there are folks out there for whom access to land is a dream, so it's something I'm putting out here nonetheless in case it reaches you, the dreamer!

Basically, it's a 1 bed, 1 bath house though currently some work needs to be done to get the interior shower working again. There's an outdoor shower, outdoor bathrooms, four camper trailers for either you or guests, and it's 5.75ish acres, a little more than 5 of which is fenced. There's a chicken coop, rabbitry which could also double as an aviary, and a pen that could hold growout pigs or a handful of sheep, mini goats, or even a tortoise if you're into that. If we were to rent it, we'd be removing the animals -- but whoever rents it would have free reign to raise their own if desired, or not. We've planted almost thirty trees and a plethora of other perennials, worked the soil quite a bit, and there's lots of opportunity to grow things and continue doing composting and so on. The main bedroom has been converted into a killer art studio, the trailers are on solar for living, and there's a workshop for either more studio space or storage. Renters could sublet trailers, host events, make art, plant things, and make it their own. You'd be renting from artists who love the place and not landlords, and helping us hold onto the land to save it from potential development were it to be sold.

Message me if you're interested, on here or send us an email at [email protected]. We can negotiate rent and talk about utilities and access and things like that. Again, our local community will get priority and nothing has been fully decided. BUT if you need a change, some space, a new community, access to land to try out your own dreams of a collective -- let us know. We're facing down some huge changes, and we're trying to make the right choices, and we don't want to sell, but need to know what our options are. Love y'all, and hopefully we can get some more updates on the shifts out soon!

#Housing #California #Permaculture #SmallFarm

I'm a day late on crossposting this BUT our August newsletter just went out to all subscribers and it's a really really good one for folks with chickens or who want chickens. It's on brooding and hatching your OWN chicks and specifically how we've gotten around some of the problems we ran into taking advice straight from some of the big voices in the chicken world (chicken world? I'd like to go there)

Anyway, check it out! This one is totally free. If you like it, pass it along!

Fairly soon we will also be unveiling the new Rancho de la Libertad website that Starlight is designing and developing. I'm very excited, I did all of the branding work on this and I think it's going to be a nicer experience than just the current Ghost site is -- and the writing will all be embedded.

https://rancholibertad.com/chickens-in-the-desert-hatching-and-brooding-chicks-naturally/?ref=rancho-de-la-libertad-newsletter

#Chickens #Chicks #SmallFarm #Permaculture #CommunitySovereignty #Sustainability

Today was our first test-breeding with two of our doe rabbits! If the temps aren't too high for the males to be producing fertile sperm, then in a little less than a month we'll be welcoming our first kits to the Ranch.

Next week we're also expecting another baby chick -- our current broody hen is sitting on two eggs, but based on the last candling it looks like only one developed an embryo but was developing on track despite the heat, so we're optimistic! This is not the same broody that successfully mothered our other two new chickens, so we're holding our breath to see if she does a good job come hatching time.

#Farming #ClosedLoop #Sustainable #Sustainability #RegenerativeAg #SmallFarm #Permaculture #Homestead #CommunitySovereignty

Hey friends, per our recent mutual aid request, here's our update. If you follow @Siiin, you've already seen something like this, but I figured folks here may be able to support, too, and we're also launching some Ranch related stuff to try to bring in more cash that you all may find exciting!

We've added a page on our website with a service we've dubbed "homestead coaching", but which is more like permaculture design on a much more intensive scale. Even if you live far away, we'd love to hear your needs and help you design systems, choose perennials for your climate, reconsider your water use and how you plant for climate resilience, and create a closed-loop system on your land. If you're on a smaller plot and still want help climate-proofing your garden or urban homestead? That's fine! We'd love to shift the pricing to reflect the smaller scale.

If you know anyone who may be interested, feel free to share. We're in urgent need of funds, and we really do have a lot of value we can share. We will continue releasing newsletters, and paid subscribers there also help bump us towards feeding ourselves!

Thanks friends, hoping you're staying cool out there.

https://rancholibertad.com/homestead-coaching/

#Farming #UrbanFarming #Homestead #Homesteading #Gardening #Farm #SmallFarm #FoodSovereignty #Resilience #ClimateChange

You've been waiting a long time, and I finally remembered to bring my phone out with me for chores, so here are a few fun photos of the baby pigs :)

#Pigs #Pigstodon #SmallFarm #RanchoDeLaLibertad #Permaculture #Homestead

Twice-yearly* coop and run cleaning is finally done, and the chickens are pretty stoked about it. I probably was more bothered than them, to be honest, but they're out free ranging today and I'm supervising the babies, so they're happy about that!

*Once a week the capped manure under the roosts is cleaned out, but we do a deep bedding scheme which is why we only need to do a full cleanout twice a year.

#Chickens #SmallFarm #RanchoDeLaLibertad #Permaculture

Today we finished the #compost for Ferme Manestin. It‘s well ventulated, semi-shaded and protected from rain and curious dogs🐕
It has two chambers, so one can sit and mature while the other one is filled. The back panel can be removed so turning and using the compost later will be fun.

And btw: it’s completely from #reuse materials.

#smallfarm #nutrientcycling #soilhealth

Proud mama hen hatched two baby chicks early today, and we're hoping for more over the next few days. She's staying on the nest, so she seems fairly certain more are coming!

#Chickens #RanchoDeLaLibertad #Chooks #Chicks #SmallFarm

I'll also crosspost this with the updated figures from today's harvest for those of you interested. Since January first, we've produced on-site:

111 dozen eggs (that's 1,336 eggs approximately)
175.25 pounds of meat
21 pounds of vegetables
16.5 pounds of lard
7 pounds of animal fodder

This does not count the 100 or so pounds of unrendered fat in our freezer, nor does it count almost all of our spring crops that have yet to come to harvest (only the early season ones that we already harvested). We've given lots away, and we have lots in our freezer and canned for later.

Our inputs are minimal: once a year we make a bulk organic animal feed order, we use some well water, and I did order seeds last year (though often I save them from our own vegetables). No fertilizers, no mineral inputs, no purchased soil, no pots, no trays, no tilling, nothing. We've transformed about a half acre or so (and growing) of our six acres of previously landfilled, compacted, and completely soil-collapsed land into cultivable soil. It's taking time, but the momentum is building and it's getting easier every season to rebuild topsoil and produce more on-site with less inputs.

#RegenerativeAg #Permaculture #Farming #Homesteading #Food #SmallFarm #IndigenousOwned #Decolonize #IndigenousAgriculture #FoodSovereignty

Apparently chaotic gardening that is actually quite intentional:

We are digging the greywater channel deeper after adding a charcoal & rock base biofilter. This aims to reduce soil salting by minimizing water evaporation directly from the channel and forcing the water to be pulled *up* through the soil via the plant roots. Current seedlings in this basin are getting top water but when their roots can be expected to be slightly deeper they'll be left to only seek water from the saturated soil below. Initially I wanted to optimize for a proper floodplain but now I think intentionally incising the channel may be a strategy so long as matting roots can hold the bank against rains - we'll just have to see!

The squash mostly killed off by frost was pruned back, and the volunteer plants are frequently cut back and their stems used for mulch - you can see the slight mulch layer being built from vegetation in this site. The squash is trying to put on baby leaves again but the weather has been erratic so I'm fine if it just decomposes in place and doesn't come back, another round of beans, squash, and corn has been planted nearby and if the weather is conducive to getting a head start on the season we will have much more to harvest this fall.

The other side of the basin was seed blasted and is being mulched over with animal bedding and manure.

For this season this basin holds mostly cover crops sown for animal feed or milling, but when we can afford to we will be starting a series of trees in this basin to establish more permanent cover. Ultimately this will do more to avoid soil salting and nutrient loss, but for now simply establishing roots and working on soil restoration is a good start, especially where we can get a useful yield and bring down the cost to raise our animals.

#permaculture #earthworks #greywater #RanchoDeLaLibertad #Farming #SmallFarm #FoodSovereignty #NativeOwned #Indigenous #RegenerativeAg #Gardening

A passionate, provocative, and very nuanced take on whether or not it is ethical to keep livestock just sent out to subscribers. I've thought about this for years, and hope that my thoughts spur your own pontification on your relationships with all animals - pets included - and the broader context you live in.

Please consider subscribing and sharing if this is valuable, to help support our mission.

Thank you as always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

https://rancholibertad.com/on-the-ethics-of-livestock/

#Livestock #Animals #AnimalRights #Regeneration #RegenerativeAg #Agriculture #Farming #Homesteading #SmallFarm #RanchoDeLaLibertad #CommunitySovereignty #Environment

Busy, productive weekend 👩‍🌾 Many food crops were transplanted. An acre of beds were prepped for more crops to be transplanted.

#FoodSecurity #SmallFarm #FoodCrops #GrowFood #FarmWork #WorkParty #Food #Wsanec #Saanich #VictoriaBC #YYJ #VancouverIsland #VanIsle #PacificNorthwest #PNW #Farming #Volunteering

Climate change is here now and it is hot, thirsty, windy and dangerous. And how it affects growing food is significant. Over the years, I've seen a lot of comments like “I know HOW to grow food, I just don't need to right now” or “yeah, when SHTF I'll be out there putting in a garden and hunting”.

Listen. If you aren't gardening right now, you don't know how to garden. I've been gardening my whole life and every year it changes, the climate changes, the zones change, the air moisture, humidity, wind, plants and soil water needs, changes in what varieties will do well in more heat, less water and humidity, length of growing season, - every aspect of growing food is rapidly changing and you need to adapt.

You will be lost in the weeds – no pun intended – if you don't start right now (better yet years ago unfortunately) to learn the basics and understand how climate change as well as other factors such as animal movement and migration, insects and pollinators, birds, rodents, and troublesome bugs affect your ability to make the most of your available growing space. Plant diseases are more troublesome as the planet warms up and the zones move north, along with fungal diseases, harmful insect migration, invasives, predators and prey.

Seed germination and viability seems to be becoming an issue the last few years. I'm not sure if it's supply chain, dishonest corporation practices, lack of expertise or what, but it is getting weirder. A couple of years ago we had pepper-gate (massive numbers of mis-labeled seed packages mainly with pepper varieties but also squash and other vegetables). This year has been a challenge to get kale and some lettuces to germinate for no apparent reason.

Last year we had a very late spring deep freeze which took out many kinds of fruit trees in BC. There were few locally grown soft fruits such as peaches to be had. So far this year, the blossoms are showing promise, so here's hoping.

The point is, grow food RIGHT now while you can learn and also have a monetary buffer while learning, during failures and while grocery stores have fully stocked shelves. During a societal collapse is not the time to find out that your soil is severely lacking in a necessary nutrient or that your growing zone won't support your stable foods or that the rats will eat you out of house and home. Learning how to deal with all of these issues now and sourcing out possible solutions in your local area while becoming familiar with typical ups and downs builds resiliency in your future security.

#prepping #GetPrepared #homesteading #smallfarm #backyardgardens #victorygardens

Je bénéficie de la Dotation Jeune Agriculteur : une aide de l'Union Européenne et de la région Nouvelle-Aquitaine pour mon installation en maraichage 😃
Ça va me permettre de payer une bonne partie du bâtiment à venir ! Merci !

Thanks @EUCommission

#maraichage #bio #AB #agriculture #paysan #Europe #UnionEuropéenne #UE #EU #EuropeanUnion #smallFarm #NouvelleAquitaine #régionNA #PyrénéesAtlantiques #Béarn #FEADER #DJA #DNJA

The new hens have graduated from the tiny pullet eggs to these magic eggs. I only cracked open 2 eggs to make oatmeal bars this morning. It's kind of luxurious.

#Homesteading #chickens #baking #SmallFarm

So, my one hive (Persephone) that I thought was lost then when I realized they were alive, so small I didn't think they would survive and had seen a mouse go in there in the winter.... IS BOOMING. I put a medium on top of the 2 deeps last spring to ward off a swarm before I could split and tried to move it today but honestly, all 3 boxes are full of bees. No mice in sight. Did not see drones yet but there was drone larva. They will have to hang in there a bit longer. Waiting for Queen cells, drones and good weather, then will probably get another double split this year. Phew.

The other 3 hives are doing well, I mean, like how hives should. Tidy, happy, lots of bees but not a tidal wave of bees when I take the lid off! Sheesh. They all have nice yellow saddle bags flying in, and one girl had something pinkish-red in her saddle bags so the pollen is coming in but I gave them good quality patties anyway. Four hives is my limit so I'll be selling the splits late this spring. 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝

#BeeKeeping #homesteading #SmallFarm #Sacred

Get yourself some Sweet Sleep (and anything else you'd like) for 20% off. Use code "sweetsleep" or just go here: https://milkbarn.farm/discount/sweetsleep
#smallfarm

I FINALLY got my electric fence repaired after a big storm in January that brought down a tree, caused power outages with brown outs and surges. I've been waiting for a new fencer controller to come in. Got it today, hooked up and running at 13,000 volts. My bees and chickens are safe again. It's the only truly functional way to keep beehives safe from bears and keep bears safe from people. It's a commitment for sure to keep it maintained.

#homesteading #beekeeping #SmallFarm #CountryLiving

Roots and Refuge Farm: My best tips & advice for homesteaders | VLOG https://www.allforgardening.com/736328/roots-and-refuge-farm-my-best-tips-advice-for-homesteaders-vlog/

#gardening #growingfood #homesteading #howtostarthomesteading #raisinganimals #rootsandrefuge #RootsandRefugeFarm #smallfarm #tipsforhomesteading #VLog

The arctic outflow is hitting hard tonight in my area. My hens have a small-ish safe-pen attached to their hen house that I built after the bob cat attack. It is completely enclosed with a roof. Yesterday we attached greenhouse plastic around the pen to stop the wind from blowing in through the cracks of the hen house and give them a safe place to peck around out of the wind during the day.
I'm so glad we did that as the winds are brutal tonight. The wind chill factor is almost 10 degrees colder than the actual temp. I don't know if the bees will survive but I've done what I can for them. As for the hens, I put extra straw in their house, and gave them some wheat this afternoon to peck in addition to their layer pellets.

They also have a heated water thing inside that gives off a tiny amount of heat. The hen house is big enough with ventilation along the eves so humidity is not a problem. But even with their fluffy coats, I would not want to be a chicken tonight.
❄️ ☃️ 🌨️ 🌬️
#Homesteading #SmallFarm #Prepping #ArcticOutflow #DamnItsCold

Climate crisis is a food crisis. As the local food growing weather shifts with climate change we are going to have to adapt along with it. That can mean finding new varieties to grow, new ways of keeping crops cooler, wetter, warmer or drier. We have to plan ahead for events that we are not sure about. We have to try to follow a path of logic without definites. We are being challenged to use our resources and tools in ways we never have before. Some ways that some of us might change what we are doing could be using greenhouses more and expanding them to all seasons which means finding ways to keep them cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Of course 4 season greenhouses already exist but they are prohibitively expensive for the backyard gardener. As of now, my greenhouse lengthens the seasons by one month in spring and one month in fall. Last year I successfully overwintered brassicas, spinach and a couple other things under the second tunnel. They didn't grow in the cold but they stayed alive and grew fast and early in the spring. This year, the rats got in there and ate everything. So I don't know. Constantly looking for ways to adapt.

#ClimateCrisis #ClimateChange #FoodSecurity #Homesteading #gardening #SmallFarm

I have 3 hens left from the 6 two years ago. (one bad day with a Bobcat) I give them no additional light, they are welcome to go slow for the winter, they have deep straw, a large indoor space with a (now) protected safe pen with roof, slightly warmed water that never freezes, free feeding always and treats most days. They are allowed to free range during daylight when we are all at home. I STILL get either 2 or 3 eggs per day from them. They are going into their 3rd year this spring. When these girls stop laying altogether, they will live it out as retirees. They've earned it.

#MySweetHens #Homesteading #chickens #SlowFood #LocalFood #SmallFarm