Now that we have have been living on the farm for over six months, owned the farm for over a year, and started this thing over two years ago I think it is time for me to offer some lessons learned from time to time. Of course there has been a lot that we have learned over the past couple of years, but specifically I want to share some lessons that pertain specifically to beginning the farm and getting everything going from scratch. Today’s lesson … patience is a good thing!
As I was standing out in the sprinkles yesterday moving a fence for the five heifer calves so they could have new grass (and because they were out already) I realized how many of our struggles and problems could have been avoided by a little bit of patience. For example … we bought our first Dexters before we even had a farm, we bought our first pigs before we had their pen completely built, and then we moved the Dexters to the farm before we had any perimeter fence built. On top of that we could really use a shed/barn of some sort to keep everything out of the weather.
In a perfect world where I was perfectly patient I would say that by now it would be best if we only had our chickens and a few pigs. Then as we had our fencing in and a shed up we could start bringing in the cattle. But, it is not a perfect world and I am very far from perfectly patient! I admit that I really just wanted to get this farm going and in doing so I pushed things along a little too quickly.
So, my advice to others wishing to begin a farm: Get the basics in place before you get going. On the surface I thought we would get a jump start on our cattle herd because that is something that takes time to grow, but in reality we would have probably been equal with or even ahead in the game if I had just slowed it down a little bit. Make sure you have the fence in, water figured out, shelter from the storms (if needed), and a plan. We just had some of that (water and a plan with some holes).
So right. Having the patience to get the basics down can make the progress of the enterprise a lot easier. On the other hand, perfectionism can sure slow progress. Your doing a great job, thanks for sharing it with us.
Added to what Art said, some of the basics only appear to us, in the form of basics, after we’ve stumbled into them.
I agree wholeheartedly. I can’t remember if we have ever brought an animal home with a place already ready for them. Moving a bunch of junk at 10 PM in the middle of winter to get the new calves in a pen is NOT fun! We are getting better though. It helps that we have reached a point where we can start cycling animals through the different areas that are already set up.
Your recent post shows you really are getting smarter even if not more patient. Hope I can come help soon.
Seems there’s a lot of synchronicity going on right now. Another blog that I have recently started checking out, The Yeoman Farmer (no, not me, I’ve always posted as Yeoman or The Yeoman Lawyer in my occasional blogging efforts), has an entry today about “Starting Small”, on cattle. He mentions Dexter’s at the tail end of his blog. http://theyeomanfarmer.blogspot.com/2009/05/starting-small.html
Seems a lot of Yeomanry are pondering start up topics on their blogs right now.