Friday, March 18, 2011

Farmer Kate

So we moved in December of 2011 to our new house, which if you have been reading this blog (and why wouldn't you) you know is in East TN.  We're about 20 minutes or less from NC and VA if that gives you an idea of how east we are.  ;)  But that's not important, the point I want to make is we moved to a house that has 4 acres of land.  I've got a fairly large backyard, huge back side yard, and then a pasture field.  All our neighbors are about the same way, so I'm surrounded by pasture/farmland.  Anyway, everyone who comes to the house wants to know what we are going to do with the land. Now there are several things I want to do, but I also need some ideas and I thought, why not ask you all? So here goes...

I want a nice swing set for Elizabeth in the backyard.  We have a nice level section that I can see from the kitchen window, which would be perfect.  The rest of my land is fairly level, but not as nice as this section.  We have a friend who is getting rid of their nice swing set, so we're trying to get it.  I haven't seen it yet, but it's a nice wooden one.  We'll see.

I want to put in a garden. My Paw-paw is a great gardener and always sends us potatoes, summer squash, strawberries, etc. from his garden in NC.  It's always super delicious, and I think I'd like to try it.  I know it's a lot of work, but I know it would be worth it.  One, we love fresh fruits and veggies.  Two, I plan to make Evie's baby food like I did Elizabeth's and the homegrown veggies were always her favorites. :)  (and Jen, if you are reading this I will have an email out to you about baby food asap, same with the cloth diapering) Three, I'd like to shake off my reputation as the angel of death for plants.  Yes, I even killed our wedding fern.

I want a clothes line. One, because I always love that my mom's sheets smell so good (she has been line drying all my childhood and beyond).  Two, because I know it saves money/energy.  Three, because the sun bleaches out stains on the cloth diapers naturally.  My hubby didn't believe this one, until he saw it himself.

From there I get stuck.  Several people have suggested animals...but I'm not sure about the work.  Plus the only animals I'm used to caring for is cats, dogs, and rats.  (for those of you who don't know, I was a graduate student and then postdoc in neuroscience and worked with rats for about 10 years (from undergrad to postgrad)) Cows, chickens, and other farm animals are not in my expertise.  Though I'm sure I could talk to our neighbors- in our little "neighborhood" there is a pony, llama, donkey, and chickens.

So here's where you all can help.  What would you do with a huge pasture field? 

Not sure the cowboy hat is me??? ;)

4 comments:

Brandy@YDK said...

I grew up in the country and we had a very large garden and it was hard work and I refuse to have one to this day. lol. we also had chickens. Chickens are super easy to take care off and you get fresh eggs. And they stay pretty much close to home without having to be penned in but you have to clip their wings.

Nichole said...

Sounds like great plans! I second the clothes line, it seriously saves cloth diapers! Annabelle'e are out right now in fact! I love it! As far as animals, I am no help! LOL Good luck with whatever you decide....oh and I want pictures if you get a cow! LOL Cute picture!

jen @ homeinthecountry said...

I think we might be living the same life (only I'm in MI!). We've been really into gardening & canning in our backyard (we've got 9 acres but only about 1/2 acre is cleared - the rest is woods). I'm totally enamored with chickens, but not sure we use enough eggs to make it worth it... Also, not sure what the dogs would think of them. The laundry line is awesome, and I'm looking forward to sunbleaching our cloth diapes, too!

Amie said...

Let me have an acre so we can be neighbors! I’ll take the acre the furthest away in the crappiest part so you won’t miss anything and still feel isolated.
We want a clothes line, but are lacking in level, rock-less areas to put up poles! Working on it though. Garden – start small and work your way up so you don’t get overwhelmed. Or plant things that ripen at different times

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