Not all yards can host a farm, but a small farm can be enriching and practical for many homes if you have adequate space. Growing your food and caring for livestock can add purpose and excitement to your life. However, starting and managing a farm isn’t a walk in the park. Before making any decisions, look at what it takes to start a farm, even if it’s just a small hobby farm in your backyard.
What Type of Farm Do You Want?
The first step to starting a farm is deciding what you want from it. Is your farm primarily to host animals? Do you want only to grow crops? Would you enjoy a bit of both? Will your livestock be for enrichment and companionship, or will they provide food? If you have the time, space, and finances to host animals and grow crops, there is no wrong answer. You’ll need adequate shelter, exercise, and roaming space if you want animals on your farm. The animals you can get may be limited to the size of your backyard.
Budget for Farming Expenses
Farming may seem relatively inexpensive, especially as a hobby. However, starting a farm is much more than buying seeds. You’ll likely need structures like barns, farming equipment, crops, animal food, animal care equipment, and the animals themselves. If you don’t have a monthly budget, you should start by factoring in how much you can realistically spend on farming. Subtract your expenses from your monthly income to determine how much money you’ll have left over.
Build Farming Structures
Before starting a farm, you will likely need barns, fencing, and storage sheds, especially if you host animals. If you only focus on small crops, you may only need a storage shed or two to keep things lowkey.
Types of Barns
The main types of barns are stick-built or poles. Stick-built can take longer to build, but some consider them to be sturdier for hosting animals. Pole barns are also durable when constructed with suitable materials, such as steel pole barn rafters. Barns should be large enough to store equipment and provide adequate animal sleeping space without crowding your property. You may not need a barn if you only plant a crop or two without animals involved.
Equipment Storage
Growing crops requires tools, equipment, seeds, and crop storage. You’ll likely need designated storage space for these items, as a garage can only hold so much! Storage sheds can do the trick in a small yard farm, however. Animals will increase the storage you need, so be sure you have adequate space.
Fencing
Fencing is a smart idea to determine your property line, ensuring you have maximum space for crops or animals. It will be required if you have animals, at least in their corrals or pastures. Escaped animals can be costly and devastating.
Selecting Livestock
If you want some animals on your backyard farm, be sure they suit your needs. If you don’t have much space, chickens or goats can be good choices. If you want dairy or meat, cows and pigs may be the right choice if you’ve got the room. Horses provide excellent companions but are large animals that require large barns and pastures to roam. Backyard farms typically only host chickens, cats, or dogs, but larger yards can host a few goats or a cow.
Preparing for Crops
Before planting crops, getting familiar with your city’s climate is good. Local agricultural offices or online research can provide solid climate information. Crops usually do not grow year-round; some can’t grow in specific locations. Areas with mild winters, such as Florida or Georgia, may be able to grow certain crops in the wintertime. Northern areas will likely need to wait until spring for proper crops. Test your soil in all areas you’ll be planting to determine its health. Hilly backyards may provide challenges to growing crops, so planters may be ideal.
Crop Management
Once you’ve planted crops, they’ll require proper care and maintenance to see success. Fertilizing, trimming, and pest control are all routine tasks in gardening and farming.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer ensures the soil is healthy, and plants have enough nutrition to grow to their full potential. It isn’t a necessity, but it can significantly increase crop size and health. Be sure you’re using the correct type of fertilizer, which is natural and harmless to the environment or humans.
Pesticides
Pests like insects or rabbits often try to eat the crops you grow. Pesticides can be used as a preventative measure, but make sure you’re using nontoxic, natural pesticides for the type of pest you’re dealing with.
Animal Management
Farm animals require a lot of care, including grooming, feeding, and exercise. Chickens only need a little work outside of feeding, sheltering, and health management.
Pastures
Animals like cows, goats, and horses enjoy roaming and eating pasture grass. A fenced-in space for these animals to roam is a great way to feed and enrich larger farm animals. You can exercise them in these areas as well.
Exercise
Horses, in particular, require exercise and strength training. There are many ways to exercise a horse, such as riding, swimming, or running. You’ll want to ensure they have adequate space to run, walk, or roam.
Food and Healthcare
Budget plenty of money for food and healthcare. Even smaller animals require a lot of food over a month or year. Veterinary care can be costly, especially if you have multiple animals. Whenever you buy an animal, have a vet provide a physical to ensure everything is normal.
Conclusion
Farms are a lot of work, but a backyard farm can be fun and rewarding if you have the time, money, and space. Your farm can consist of crop management, livestock, or both. Before planting crops or buying animals, ensure you’ve constructed proper shelter and storage for your farm. Give animals plenty of space and care, and ensure your crops can grow in your home’s climate.
