My greatest inspiration in my own backyard farming adventure has been to
hear the experiences of others. I invite you to read along here as
Homesteaders share their adventures and experiences from their own
farms, backyards, and homes.
Want to be featured as a Homestead Highlight? I would love to hear about your experience. For more information follow the link to the information page and share your own homestead here at the Backyard Farming Connection!
Today I welcome Kathryn to this space
Want to be featured as a Homestead Highlight? I would love to hear about your experience. For more information follow the link to the information page and share your own homestead here at the Backyard Farming Connection!
Today I welcome Kathryn to this space

How long have you been
backyard farming? What got you started?
I first got into
backyard farming when we purchased our home and I thought it would be fun to
get a few chickens, so we built a little coop out of salvaged wood and raised
three chicks. Those original birds somehow expanded into a flock of 12.
I think chickens are so much fun and even my husband, Edward, (who
doesn’t like animals) loves having fresh eggs and doesn’t mind (too much)
building, expanding, or making a new coop. We are building our fourth
right now, I swear it’s the last one!
What does your backyard
farm look like? Where is it?
We have a 50 by 100
lot in the city with a 880 square foot house. Edward and I run our businesses
out of our home as well. We heat the home with a wood stove and our
garage plays multiple roles including workshop, wood shed, hay shed, and dairy
parlor. Pretty much everything in our home is multi-purpose in some way.
In the front yard we currently grow herbs, flowers, strawberries and
asparagus, and the kids have a swingset. In one side yard I have four
raised beds, potted plants on the patio and the other side yard are two long
raised beds.
In the back we have two stubborn dwarf dairy goats, 8 noisy hens, and four chicks, a trampoline, the clothesline and a tire swing.. We are working on growing fruit trees and berries out back as well. We just added a third garden this week by breaking up some old concrete along the side of the driveway. We also have a dog who thinks he is a surrogate goat mother, a retired cat that sleeps in the middle of whatever patch of garden has the most sun at the moment and another crazy kitty that stalks the chickens from above.
What has been your
biggest success and biggest mistake?
I think my biggest
success has been learning how to garden. Not because I successfully
garden, but rather because it is my biggest weakness and I’m starting to
overcome my black thumb. I manage to kill about three quarters of what I
attempt to grow, even when it’s mint or blackberries. Part of that
includes my biggest mistake, which is inconsistent watering. I forget to
water and then end up drowning my poor little plants, but I’m getting better,
especially since I started using soaker hoses. The trick is remembering
to turn them on...and off again.
What plans do you have
for the future?
I have a lot of plans for the future! This year I plan to add meat rabbits and a lot more fruit trees and bushes and construct a top bar bee hive. I have a humanure system all set up and it works well but I need a reliable source of sawdust. I’d really love to have ducks someday and coturnix quail. I certainly hope I become a better gardener and can grow more vegetables year round. We have old windows in the garage waiting to be turned into a greenhouse and empty bed space awaiting more asparagus and strawberries. Also on my to do list is an aquaponics system, greywater system, rain barrels, a cistern under the driveway, solar power, red worm composting, raising silk worms, growing mushrooms and growing more plants without killing them.
Sounds like you are practicing to be a great gardener! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWhew - reading your to do list has me exhausted! Looks like you have a very productive home! One tip - automatic timers. They turn the water on and off for you, and unless the power goes out, they never forget! ;) Good luck on your future endeavors! Vickie
ReplyDeleteI love hearing about what people are doing in small spaces!You can really raise so much food intensively and it sounds like you are on your way to a real urban farm! Great job! Thanks for sharing!
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