Having a go at building a farm!

[Francie]

Hi, I'm Francie. Welcome to my farm blog! I think I will be trying to relate how we are figuring out this farm thing as we go along. It's just a little family farm - no big deal. Of course, we try to use sustainable methods, with no chemicals. I'm sure we won't be perfect. My husband and I and our 3 daughters moved to NC in 2008. We have never lived on a farm, although my parents both grew up on farms. We decided to do this since our daughter wanted to keep her own horses, we have always gardened, my husband loves the country, and we figured we may as well add more since we'd have the space. We already had a beehive and the kids were begging for goats. I was brought up a city girl, and it took me a long time to warm up to the idea... pizza delivery? Internet? Ambulance, anyone??? But I love animals, my family, and new adventures. When I told my mother, she couldn't believe it. "Oh, no, you can't do that! Frances! (my name is NOT Frances, I don't know why she does that) We worked our whole lives to get OFF the farm! Why on earth would you DO this?! All that WORK!" (Well, why do I do anything, mom - just to piss you off! ;-) With gifts of canned vegetables and pictures of cute kids and farm animals, she is coming around.

I learned a thing or two about the farm from my family and extended family, without even realizing it, such as collecting rainwater for the garden. Some of their info is more suited to growing up north, so I've had to adjust and find new info about gardening and animals in the south. This is the fun part, when my husband and I dig up information and compare notes and just try it. So far, I think the animal care is MUCH easier in the south! I can't imagine getting up in the dark at 10 below zero to trudge through the snow and freeze while doing chores! But I admit, I don't do many chores in the morning - the kids do, they're great! :-)

We wanted many more green features on our house when we built it, but seeing as we have yet to sell our old house, some of those ideas got tabled. It's more expensive to move away from the conventional. Maybe someday we can add them. At least some things were thought about and prepared for, such as the orientation of our house. It is situated 7.5 degrees west of south, to capture the most solar radiation through our windows in the winter, and for future rooftop solar panels. I couldn't get the roof overhang extended, but I could add some ugly awnings someday. Just kidding! Maybe they won't be ugly. Maybe they will just add to the circus atmosphere! Goes along with the nuclear yellow paint and the bright red front door (eek!). In the meantime, I have heat-blocking film on the windows in the summer, along with blinds.

We wanted a metal roof, but it was way too expensive. I think it would not be so cost-prohibitive for a house with several layers of shingles, that needed them stripped before getting a new roof. That is an expensive job in itself.

There are many aspects to healing yourself, or if you are in good health, to ensure you stay that way. It is time consuming to think about what is best for you with regards to your environment as well as what you eat. It's kind of sad that it requires that much mental energy, since some of the things we worry about are man-made. And it just figures that we built a cedar deck on our old house right before they came out with arsenic-free wood! Oh well, hopefully we will make up that money in all of the extra good food we are growing!