Starting Your Own Farm- An Essential Guide
- Written by: The Times
Have the city lights lost their shine for you? Are you tired of running in the rat race? You have always dreamt of living a country lifestyle, and are at a point in your life where you're ready to make it come true. It's time for a major move and career change, it's time for you to start your own farm!
So, what is it going to take? Well, before you go shopping for barns, we had better have a look at how to get this project going! Today we will focus on the most important factor- location.
Selecting a Site - You basically know what you want, a quiet, verdant, rural area away from the city's hustle and bustle where you can acquire some green acres to call your own! Even so, you are still going to need to consider a few things before you stake your claim.
- Climate and Soil - This is going to be determined by the kind of livestock and crops you intend to raise. First do some research to understand the amount of rainfall, average temperatures, and the length of the growing season in the area you are considering. The soil is particularly important because you will need it to grow your cash crops and feed your animals. Check pH levels, texture, and how many nutrients are contained by taking samples and investing in some test kits- you will need to continue to do this even after you've chosen your site as these factors change over time and use, and will have to be amended. Now you will be able to choose plants and animals that will thrive there. If your current home has a garden, test out your test kits there first!
- Water Supply - You can't run a farm without water, and lots of it! You must select a site with a reliable water source, even in the dry season, such as a deep well, natural spring, or access to a river or stream. Check local almanacs for a history of the area, is it prone to droughts? On the other hand, what about flooding? You don't want too much of a good thing! Another critical thing to understand is the water's quality. You are going to need to get another pH test kit, this time for water (they aren't the same) and discover how acidic or alkaline the supply is- too far either way isn't preferable, for most purposes you want to be around neutral. You are also going to want to consider how you are going to move the water from its source to your crops and livestock, is there infrastructure in place, or will you need to put it in?
It's also very important that you check with your government's resources, they will help you to get your farm started legally and successfully.
Well, grab that pitchfork and get to work, farmer! The sun's about to rise over your new farm!
