Hi folks. My wife and I just celebrated our first full year on the homestead. Between learning the environment (zone 3b), gardening, and animal husbandry, not to mention normal life things, we've been very busy.
I'm currently on a bit of a vacation, so I thought I'd see if anyone is interested in asking some questions. I'll answer everything I can, provided time permits. I've included some photos for your perusal–not really conveying anything in particular, just some nice photos of various things all taken on our property.
Some basics:
* 7500 sqft garden and I grow mushrooms
* We have geese, chickens, and rabbits for livestock. Chickens are mostly for eggs, though we will have culls each year. Geese and rabbits are for meat, though I will also sell some livestock for breeding programs/pets. All are heritage breeds.
* We have ~40 acres, mostly forest, with 1/4 mile of riverfront.
* I have some experience with chickens, rabbits and gardening, but not much as an adult. My wife had no experience with any of it except some gardening as a kid.
* My wife works full time part-remote, I've worked this last year exclusively (almost) on setting up the homestead.
* We are ~1hr from town.
Thanks for taking the time to read the post, and to comment if you do. Fire away if you've got any questions!
by The_Sporeceror
19 Comments
Good luck from a fellow northern Minnesota homestead! 25 miles from the Canadian border as the crow flies.
Beautiful photos! Looks amazing. I really love seeing photos from the other side of the world 🌎 wishing you all the very best. 🤩😀🤗
What made you choose Northern MN?
Do y’all have any kids? Did you live in the city prior to purchasing the property? How much time did you spend planning/saving before buying?
Cheers from southeast ND!
Feel free to tell me to take a hike, but how much have you invested in the homestead so far? And have you had any issues with getting insurance living on a homestead? Looks incredible! Great work 🙂
I’m in Vermont, and we get pretty hight humidity with our cold temps, is it drier there that frostbite isn’t a problem for your animals? I have to keep my birds indoors their coop when it’s -20.
Welcome! It’s our first year and we are in Northern MN too!
Absolutely phenomenal! Did you have any prior experience before this? Just asking because for the first year and in an area with that brutal of a winter you’ve done an amazing job. I love seeing homestead success like this!
Having grown up in a climate where there is never snow (California) what challenges have you found with snow in a homestead environment?
What things do you appreciate about having snow/seasons?
Could you please give some details about pic #11. I think itbis beans.
Get some cats asap : )
great pics, ty for sharing
What’s your dog’s name
I have goose envy 🙂 🪿
I’m in northern MN too!! Hey neighbor! 😊
That’s a good looking dog. Looks like the standard poodle I grew up with. Half the time she looked like Chewbacca
Oh my goodness the last photo!!! Ol’bucket head!!
I suppose you have a well? How do you prevent lines and pumps from freezing? Do you leave spigots running? How do you keep your animals’ water from freezing?
Where did you learn how to do everything?