Saturday, February 11, 2012

How do I begin a farm?

We have just purchased a country home, a fixer upper, and I am looking for knowlege about some upcoming projects. My first is I have a ton of really high weeds to take down, our typical weed eater isn't strong enough. Any ideas? Also, we have a pond, a real pond, not man-made, that deperately needs cleaned. It has a ton of "slime" (I'm told it's pollen) on top of the water. There is no filter or aeration system.Where do I begin? And what is the most inexpensive way to do this? I

am not afraid of hard work. I just don't know what I am doing. I am also looking for a baby nubian female goat, just for a pet. Is there also anywhere out there to look for farm animals that need a home?

How do I begin a farm?
See if you can rent a "bush hog" that will go through you deep weeds. It will need to be pulled behind a tractor, I believe.



I can't help with the pond. Google "Farm Animal Rescues" and you might find a place that will let you adopt rescued farm animals. They have them for domestic pets all the time.
Reply:Call the SPCA they are always looking for people to take animals depends on how much land you have but sounds like you need a brush hog at least once your local phone book will have people that hire out to do this if you have a lot of land by one. Cleaning the pond if it is just pollen the a pool skimmer will work if it algae contact your local fish and game department they will point you in the right direction
Reply:?
Reply:Get the goat first and show it the weeds.

That might do the trick.



You do not mention the acreage - so I can be only general about the farming bit, but there may be a county agronomist who can advise on what crops are best suited to the soil and climate. Fish farming?



For a large bit of land and a long driveway, in a snowy clime look for a small tractor with mowing and plowing attachments.



About the pond - Catfish? Bass, Pike? Bass and Pike use weeds for ambush hunting, and make good eating. Catfish clean the muddy bottom and make good eating.



Is the pond spring fed? What sort of livestock are in it now?



Does it receive a lot of runoff from rain or spring melt? That can carry lots of fertilizer and other chemistry in it. Make a small dam to guide runoff away from the uphill side.



To filter the top of the water I would prepare a pit to contain the water processor, and make a fairly wide dam with an overflow to allow the pond water to flow to that one spot.



The pump should match the capacity of the overflow, and take water from the bottom of a sand and gravel screen. This is sort of like using a large pool sand filter.



Periodically dump some chlorine in to the filter to kill off the algae and use the pump output to refill the pond down a huge pile of rocks you set up to work as a cascade to aerate the water.



With a goat as lawn mower, you will find the grass in the shade to be much shorter than grass in the sun.


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