SustainableAg
Lovin' The Homestead
Welcome to the forum! I am a newbie myself. I look forward to reading about your adventures! It sounds like you are off to a great start. Congratulations 
IL Newb
- Thread starter Land of Lincoln
- Start date
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
Hi, and welcome from Texas!
baymule
Sustainability Master
Welcome from northeast Texas. Here's how I built my chicken coop.
http://www.theeasygarden.com/threads/hoop-coop.18291/
You will love having chickens, they are so much fun. We let ours out to free range and they get into everything! The fresh eggs are so good, that you will NEVER eat store bought again!
Your place sounds like a home worth living in. If you like gardening, mosey on over to www.theeasygarden.com sister site to SS, link to the right.
http://www.theeasygarden.com/threads/hoop-coop.18291/
You will love having chickens, they are so much fun. We let ours out to free range and they get into everything! The fresh eggs are so good, that you will NEVER eat store bought again!
Your place sounds like a home worth living in. If you like gardening, mosey on over to www.theeasygarden.com sister site to SS, link to the right.
sumi
Rest in Peace 1980-2020
Welcome to SS 
Great to have you here! You have a good size piece of land there for a few projects and chickens and that garden and fruit trees is an excellent start. What else have you in mind critter-wise?
Great to have you here! You have a good size piece of land there for a few projects and chickens and that garden and fruit trees is an excellent start. What else have you in mind critter-wise?
sumi
Rest in Peace 1980-2020
One of my first thoughts when I read your intro this morning was "Pigs". When we had a bit of land I kept a large (over 100) flock of chickens, from which we sold enough eggs to pay for their feed and put a decent sum in our pockets), and I kept some pigs for meat. Since we also had a large vegetable garden and some fruit trees, much of the pigs' food was home grown and we grew scratch grains for the chickens as well. Surplus vegetables and fruit got stored in the freezer for the pics and for us, out of season.
Pigs need little space, compared to other livestock, and little work. Feeding and watering and cleaning up now and then, depending on the size of their pen, you won't have to do it often, and unlike other livestock, pigs keep their waste in a designated area, which makes cleaning easier. If you are allowed to keep a small number on your property, I'd put that on the "think about" list. It's a cheap source of meat and waste food (from the fruit trees and garden) disposal unit
Pigs need little space, compared to other livestock, and little work. Feeding and watering and cleaning up now and then, depending on the size of their pen, you won't have to do it often, and unlike other livestock, pigs keep their waste in a designated area, which makes cleaning easier. If you are allowed to keep a small number on your property, I'd put that on the "think about" list. It's a cheap source of meat and waste food (from the fruit trees and garden) disposal unit
- Thread starter
- #15
Land of Lincoln
Lovin' The Homestead
@Mini Horses - thank you for the list making ideas, I needed that. Prioritize that list and refining & timelining are great suggestions, thank you. Oh - and I didn't really fire my four legged buddy, we did spend a lot of time tossing that tire around after that picture was taken. I sure wish I had that energy.
@sumi - pigs would be a great addition here, I agree, however I'm not quite sure the neighbors would like it. I'm kind of in the city but on the outskirts closer to the country here so I'd have to check the city ordinances for that one. I have a friend who raises hogs and I help him on occasion, so for now, I think I should probably just stick with that route. I'd love to have a hog or two though.
@Lynn Manes - Sterling IL is north of where I reside and due west of Chicago, fairly close to the Iowa border if I'm not mistaken. I'm sure you endured some very cold and windy winters up that way when you were there.
@sumi - pigs would be a great addition here, I agree, however I'm not quite sure the neighbors would like it. I'm kind of in the city but on the outskirts closer to the country here so I'd have to check the city ordinances for that one. I have a friend who raises hogs and I help him on occasion, so for now, I think I should probably just stick with that route. I'd love to have a hog or two though.
@Lynn Manes - Sterling IL is north of where I reside and due west of Chicago, fairly close to the Iowa border if I'm not mistaken. I'm sure you endured some very cold and windy winters up that way when you were there.
sumi
Rest in Peace 1980-2020
I hope the ordinances would be in your favour for livestock! Pigs are great fun, as I'm sure you know My only complaint with them was that they can be a bit noisy, especially around "feed me!" time.
My only complaint with them was that they can be a bit noisy, especially around "feed me!" time.
Britesea
Sustainability Master
Maybe your friend would be willing to let you keep a hog with his (they grow better when there's competition for the food) and you would share the chores? That way, you could still get that wonderful meat without making a lot of neighbor-enemies
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
I'll bet he was!
baymule
Sustainability Master
Yes! Toads are your friends! Get some broken clay flower pots (not in pieces, but with a chunk out of it) and put them in the garden in a shady spot, if you have one. They make great toad hiding places. Provide some cover for them and they will patrol your garden!
