" If only I could homestead, I wouldn’t have work away from home and I would be able to produce my own food and basic needs. I will live off the land."
Oh, what a make-believe fantasy, such are created by homesteading articles and you tube videos. I’m not saying it can’t be done, however; magical homesteads don’t just appear but must be created with a lot of skills, hard work and a source of income. Homesteading varies depending on whether it’s for an individual, a couple or a family with dependents. The true question is “do you have the desires and skills for creating your own homestead?” Basic requirements include land, animals, shelter, tools and equipment and financial resources to get started and survive.
Getting into homesteading isn’t as simple as turning on a light switch, nor do you go to the farm supply store and select the homestead you want from the shelf. Your homestead must be designed and built from the ground up. Most homesteaders start out by raising a garden and preserving their harvest. Did they enjoy it, do they want to do more? Then, they start raising some type of livestock, usually chickens or goats. This is when they figure out if homesteading is for them or it’s not their cup of tea. Maybe they are afraid of the animals or the animals become pets and they can’t think about eating them. And don't forget about the manure that needs to be cleaned from the pens. Some people love the idea of having animals but don’t really have the time and skills to raise and care for them.
As the homesteader progresses, more crops are added as well as larger animals, needing more equipment and facilities. Thus, the need for more financial resources.
Other homesteaders are lucky and live among like-minded homesteaders, where skills and resources are shared.
However, the small farms of the mid last century are now either urban areas or part of the Maga-farms today. The small farm networks that helped beginners in the past decades have eroded away. The beginner now has to learn basic skills on the trial and error method and the tools and equipment which either could be borrowed or hired, are no longer available.
Yes, large farmers do have equipment that can perform these various operation tasks, however; they are either too large for the homesteader’s fields or are too cost prohibitive. Some of the local soil and water districts have no-till drills and planters available for reasonable rent, but most still requires at least a 60 HP tractor. Also, the small equipment of the past are either worn out or parts aren’t available even if you can find the equipment at an auction or sale.
Homesteaders need smaller, versatile, less expensive equipment. These monster tractors won't turn around on many of our small farms. I don't even want to talk about the debt.
Times have changed since I was a kid in the 1960’s, moving to a small farm. Then, we had neighboring farmers who custom-baled hay, picked corn or combined our small grain fields. Other farmers had bulls or boars we could rent (due to health reasons, swine are no longer able to be moved from farm to farm). This type of networking allowed beginners to get started and slowly purchase equipment and livestock as needed. Also, most of the pesticides, fertilizers and seeds are now sold in larger units than a homesteader can use and smaller units that are available are very expensive. So, what is the homesteader to do?
Let’s look at making hay. In the 1990’s Agriculture Cooperative Extension determined if a farmer was to buy hay making equipment for round bales, the farmer needed to make a minimum of over 200 round bales a year to be cost effective.
So, if you have 5 beef cows, you need at least 2.5 tons of hay per year per cow or over 12.5 tons of hay. If the small 4 x 4 round bale weighs 500 pounds you will need at least 25 bales.
So, the question is do you purchase the equipment or buy the hay. But, you think, I have this beautiful 5 acre hay field that can provide 3 ton per acre or 15 tons of my own hay. Where do I find someone to make my hay?
This was my situation this last year. I had one farmer who agreed during the Winter to make my hay but told me in mid-June he couldn’t.
Off I go searching for another farmer, about the 4th of July another farmer agreed to make the hay. I had already lost the quality hay that should have been harvested in June and then the second farmer never got to my fields. The hay was wasted still standing in the field. (It would be very difficult to move my cattle there for grazing - not considering fencing costs.)
When contracting small acres, you are at the bottom of the list. I have been green chopping the 4 acre field and I‘m in the process of fencing in another 1.5 acre field for stockpiling grass for late fall grazing (cost of fencing about $800). When depending on others, your homestead doesn’t have the same urgency as their farms.
Having enough good quality hay is a big problem for many small farmers/homesteaders. Either they don't have enough land to set aside a hay field, they can't afford or find equipment, or no one is doing smaller custom hay making in their area. Once you find a local source of good quality hay--treat that farmer well.
As we learn from the news of grain shortages, we think I could grow enough on my land to get through the winter. We can plow and plant those small two or three acre fields easy enough however; harvesting the grain is a major problem. If you plant 2 acres of corn and expect a 100 bushels per acre, will you really have the time to harvest 200 bushels of corn by hand this fall? Once again, we have major obstacles to overcome as small homesteaders. What can we do to solve these types of problems?
The Solution
We need to develop homestead support groups. In the 90’s families created food cooperative buying groups to cash-in on buying bulk discounts. Belonging to a homestead support group allows you to network in sharing resources, labor, equipment and most importantly, ideas and information.
That is why my wife and I started the Homestead Rendezvous (HR ) at Bergholz Ohio. The event provides an opportunity for homesteaders to meet, trade/sell products, develop a new customer base, explore various products, equipment and services Also, it’s a great time to talk with the different agriculture groups, dealers and agencies.
The Family Farm Field Day in Holmes County, Ohio in July is another great event.
Belonging to a homesteading support group and attending workshops and field days should be an important part of your homestead plan.
I want to feature one of the vendors from this last year’s HR. Stollers Lawn and Garden Equipment from Orrville Ohio. They carry an excellent line of equipment for the small acreage (urban) homesteader. The BCS equipment is a two wheel tractor that can perform a multitude of tasks, such as rototilling the garden, mowing the lawn, brush hogging the pastures, mowing, raking and baling 40 pound bales of hay. The unit can also pull small wagons and even small manure spreader plus in the winter it can plow or blow snow . The unit is loved by urban homesteaders because of its size and cost, they can drive thru 36 inch gates and the homesteader can earn extra money doing jobs for their neighbors. For other venders at the HR, check and follow the Homestead Rendezvous homepage on FB for updates and events.
I grabbed these from Stoller's website (https://www.stollerlawnandgarden.net) to give you some examples of their homesteader-sized equipment. Here is a hay rake, walk-behind tractor, and manure spreader. Many other dealers and brands are marketing equipment to meet the homesteaders' needs, including Mahindra, John Deere, and others.
Homesteaders face many obstacles and setbacks. You can stand around and complain or you can work to find a solution. Last year, canning lids were in short supply, the Amish in Holmes County learned how to manufactured them, thus solving the problem. If homesteading was simple, everyone would be doing it. It‘s not simple and it requires hard work and a willingness to learn.
This year’s Homestead Rendezvous will be Saturday May 20th 9 AM until 3 PM. At Bergholz Ohio in Jefferson County. It’s free to attend.
If you wish to be a vendor the cost is $20.00, it’s not a craft show or flea market. Follow The Homestead Rendezvous on facebook.
Events like The Homestead Rendezvous and Family Farm Field Day are great places to network, discover new innovations, explore alternatives to traditional farming, and much more.
It's almost Maple Syrup season! Check out my blogs about making your own maple syrup - even if you only have 1 or 2 sugar maple trees.
Until later,
Bob
Comments