Homestead Planning - What Will the New Year Bring?

At the end of each year we like to reflect on what we accomplished – both success and failure. We also like to do some homestead planning. That way we go into the New Year with a solid plan on what we want to get out of our homestead.

With this year almost over a new year will be here before you know it! For us here at MrAnimal Farm, last year brought a lot of new challenges. We grew our goat herd by several does, we added brooder infrastructure as well as new stall area and fencing for the goats.

Among all of the growth, there were also some failings. Our Spring garden was not nearly as successful as in past years. And we found that with all the growth, it left us with little time for regular tasks.

As the new year approaches, we are looking forward to the following:

1) Continuing to grow our little farm. Not necessarily by adding much more in the way of animals. However, we will be adding new products (goat milk for feed, eBooks, Online Farming Courses). And we will be working to expand the does stall area and their fenced pasture.

2) Streamlining Processes. This, we have found is SO important for keeping things running smoothly. Since we grew so much last year, we didn’t have very much time for streamlining tasks.

Now that we have had more time to think things through our goal is to have things more organized, mapped out and streamlined.

3) Improved Spring Gardening.

Part of our garden failure, quite frankly was lack of time. This year, our goal is to get plants into the ground on time and have the garden better planned so that it is easy to take care of a little each day.