What Is A Hobby Farm Versus Homesteading?
According to thefreedictionary website, a hobby farmer is as follows:
a person who runs a farm as a hobby rather than a means of making a living
And a homesteader is as follows:
- A house, especially a farmhouse, with adjoining buildings and land.
- Law Property qualifying as a person's home under certain laws, such as laws providing tax abatements and exemptions, survivorship rights for spouse and children, and immunity from claims of creditors.
- Land claimed by a settler or squatter, especially under the Homestead Act.
- The place where one's home is.
So reading both of these definitions, I fall into both categories.
I don't necessarily want to sell goods at the end of the road or at local farmer's markets; I want enough food in the garden every year to be able to preserve it to feed myself and my husband (as well as give away some to family members). So by no means would me having a "hobby farm" be for more than sustainability of our lives. Income from the "garden"? Extra money and income is always appreciated, but taht's not what my main goal or mission is right now.
Hobby farms are usually more than just a garden, but not quite a full-fledged farm; while a hobby farm has an operation, workers (the land owners mainly) the size and what you do to keep the "farm/garden" operating is downsized to fit your property. Hobby farms can not only supplement your food and income but can provide satisfaction of running your own agricultural operation and providing for your family.
The picture above shows a small (less than 1/3 of an acre of land) and we live on a 1/3 of an acre parcel; so we're spot on with the size. The picture lists the hobby farm as being both urban and suburban; but we are more in between urban/suburban/rural, so I call it RURBAN.
Livestock
As of yet, we do not have livestock. Dealing with an issue (neighborly thing, if you know what I mean), but I do plan on getting some chickens (for eggs and eventually broilers) and I'd like to get a goat again. I can use the milk for making cheese; as I am becoming more adventurous with my cheese-making skills, and for homemade soap recipes. I had come across a goat milk soap recipe recently and it sounded almost decadent.
And some day I'd like to add rabbits. My husband loves rabbit meat, and I am fond of it too; so added a few (or more) to the inventory is not out of the question. I raised rabbits in the past and am vaguely familiar with their needs and hutch requirements, so I am up for the little furry critters.
Water Collection System
Yes I have that one partially covered. I have the supplies (barrels with screw on lids, spicket and other minor plumbing pieces, an old window screen and adapter, etc), I just need the easiest directions to make this a reality and completed task.
What I Do On My Land
Image Source
I have a greenhouse but nowhere near the size of the one in this picture. But I do have plans to purchase a more permanent one than I have; and get this... my husband is on board with it! That doubles the pleasure of having a larger greenhouse.
Next gardening season I will be adding many new container styles to my garden. I learned this past growing season about space allocations and how to change a few things around to get the most out of my small parcel. I am real excited to start the container garden and expand my herb garden out front.
I would love to call this picture (below) my own with a few tweaks to the set up. But looking at the pole beans climbing in the background and the wooden container boxes with the hoops in the foreground, I can start visualizing some different ways to grow greens and herbs to extend my growing season later next year.
I actually have been researching the tri-pod set up for growing certain plants. On my morning walks lately I have been looking for branches of the right length and thickness to add to my collection so I can start "shaving" the bark off and prepping for next spring to make my own.
I will be using ones similar to this as a guide to make my own. I know my husband will say, "Just go buy some wood to make them... why bother collecting branches..." To which I say, "no, this is how I want my garden to be."