Farm Life

Hey Friends! 

 Today I wanna tell you a little bit about my mini farm and how it came to be. Also they'll be pictures throughout my little story because....a picture is worth a thousand words right? 😏 I think these pictures will help you grasp the feeling of living the farm life. ❤  

  Now I have ALWAYS loved animals. That's definitely not a new thing. However, my recent interest in goats, chickens, and anything else farmish (yes I realize that's not a word but...how else can I describe it?😏) is a passion I haven't always possesed. 

 I didn't realize that I had such an interest in farming/homesteading until this year. I have owned goats before and we've almost always had kitties and such, but this year I found that my heart was truly in it all. When I had animals before I used to loathe the weekly barn cleaning and walking out in the rain to feed and comfort a crying goat, but now it's different. I love to make their home clean and get them fresh hay and water. I like to just randomly walk out at any point in the day and just say hi. I find it very refreshing.

 Just having the animals around is wonderful, but I also find such fulfillment in learning new ways to better care for my little herd and flock. I have learned so much in the past year about tending to the needs of my animals. I LOVE to read blogs from experienced farmers who started out just like me and then slowly learned so many useful things. They have soo much knowledge to give the rest of us. I also find it super helpful to read information on a subject from several different sources and then use it to make my decision on that topic. Let me tell you folks there is way more info on farm animals than I thought imaginable, and EVERYONE has varying opinions (keeps it interesting right?). I certainly still have much to learn, but I do feel much better equipped to properly care for the animals. 

  We (definitely a family endeavor) got started on this farm journey in the spring of this past year. I had been up at Fountainview Academy in BC Canada for part of the year until we all we're forced to leave school due to Covid-19. When this happened I felt at loss for a while. It wasn't that I was unhappy at home I just felt I needed something worthwhile to occupy my time. So the chick endeavor was born. We went to Coastal and purchased 14 of the cutest  fluffballs ever and started down the path to farming. I finally had something to occupy my time while I waited to see what God had in mind for me.

 June came along and my mind turned to goats. My first thought was, "I can make money with goats"! It'll be an investment I said. So the investment was made (after a bit of convincing). I won't have my money back in the first batch of kids but we may get there eventually.😏 Needless to say, our little farmyard grew quickly. Thus the journey of farming began. Since then I've busied myself on learning as much as I can, plaguing Dad with farm projects. and just hanging out with the animals! 

 

 I've also been working as a babysitter for the past few months which I've greatly enjoyed!!! It is my favorite job ever!!! The best things farm and kiddos!!! However, it looks like I'll have to take a break on my job as a babysitter due to my struggles with Epstein Barr Virus. It seems to have flared up to a high level soo I guess I'm supposed to rest, keep a low key life, and build my immune system back up. Sooooo I am more grateful than ever for my new found love of farm!!! I think God new just what I would need. Plus, I totally believe Jesus is coming soon and very hard times are coming upon is. So what better time to begin practicing a simpler homesteading life?!?! I can't wait to share more of my journey with you!!! Right now I'm gonna show you are newest addition to the barnyard and a few things we've been doing to prepare for winter!! 

Meet Silas! 

Y'all he is adorable! Ethan payed for him all by himself and is thrilled with him. He is a fourth generation Mini Nubian wether (castrated male). He isn't going to bring us any monetary profit but he definitly brings plenty of joy to out family. Silas has a calm, mostly quiet disposition. He strikes me as very intellignet. Sometimes when you walking by you'll catch him just staring inquisitively at you. So cute!  He has only been with us for about two or three weeks but is settling in nicely.  At first Harlow and Poplar didn't know what to make of him but they are all great friends now :)It is so funny because Harlow and Poplar are almost 7 months old and Silas is only like 3 months old but he is already slightly bigger then they are. He will be bigger than them but hopefully not too ginormous. Aren't his floppy ears so ADORABLE!?!?! 

Here are a few more pics of Silas joining the farm!

I also want to show you the newest amazing project Dad has completed for me. I am soo happy to have it done. Plus it only took him a few hours and he used scrap wood we already had. It worked out great. Here it is guys!

All the winters I've owned goats I've had trouble with flooding in the winter. Lets just say my goat shed isn't built on the flattest ground and we live at the bottom of a mountain. Plus we live in Oregon soooo moral of the story the goats occasionally get flooded out. I didn't want that anymore. It's a pain to keep it clean and it's hard for the animals to keep dry which isn't good. One way we're gonna help the problem is with this raised platform bed. I saw the idea on Pinterest and loved it. I mean it works great to keep the goats dry plus they love to sleep up on something! Win Win! Thanks Dad 😊 

Well that's all for now folks! I better get out to check on the animals and enjoy this fall evening.🐐🍁

Blessings,

Sarah 💛