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Making Maple Syrup

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:30:17 +0000

With the days above freezing and the nights below, here in Vermont it's already time to tap the maple trees and gather their prolific sap, boiling it down into delicious maple syrup. Whether you're using lines or buckets, it is a good time to gather the supplies you'll need for sugaring. If you don't have your own trees, consider asking a neighbor if they mind if you tap their trees. In exchange for some homemade maple syrup, they might be very obliging.

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Starting a Farm or a Farm-based Business?

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:33:46 +0000

Finances, business licenses, business plans -- if you're starting a farm business, you might be wondering where to begin? And if you're starting the farm itself at the same time, you've got animals, crops, and equipment to think about. Or perhaps you need to start at ground zero: buying or leasing the right farm.

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How to Grow Sprouts on the Small Farm

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:00:09 +0000

It's that time of year -- too cold to really get going in the garden, but winter's been around long enough to have worn out it's welcome. It's a great time to bring some fresh, alive greens into your life -- sprout them!

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Do You Really Need a Small Farm Business Plan?

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:20:00 +0000

The depths of winter are the perfect time to work on planning. And for many small farmers, that means writing their first business plan or updating their existing one. With tax season around the corner, you can be extra efficient by combining tasks - take care of the financial section of your business plan after reviewing the previous year's income and expenses.

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Fresh, Delicious Microgreens

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:57:55 +0000

Mmm...doesn't it sound about time for some freshly grown greens? Yep, you can do it in January - with a heated greenhouse, or a cold frame or polytunnel in warmer climates. Microgreens are healthful and easy to grow. They're also an appealing niche market for some small farmers. Whether growing microgreens is right for you will depend on a few factors, especially your proximity to high-end restaurants who use them to add a flavor punch to dishes. But microgreens are growing (sorry for the pun!) in popularity among home cooks, too, so you might find buyers for them at your local farmers market. They're easy to experiment with on a small scale, so give it a try! The process scales up easily to greenhouse-sized production.

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Ordering Package Bees Online

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:42:40 +0000

It's January -- not a bad time of year to order honey bees for the spring. Although the season seems far away, this is the best time to place orders for equipment, too. Order now, before the apiaries get swamped, and before they sell out! Demand is soaring for starter sets of package bees that the beginning beekeeper can install into a hive, because so many people are wading into beekeeping these days. It's a rapidly growing hobby.

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Training Farm Dogs

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:57:11 +0000

Training dogs on the farm requires a large investment of time and energy. You must be devoted to teaching your dogs commands, generalizing to different settings, and maintaining them by working them regularly. There are many uses for dogs on the farm: they can serve as livestock guardians, herd sheep or other animals, or simply provide personal protection from unwanted intruders. Many farmers also hunt and use dogs to retrieve waterfowl or flush game birds.

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Fencing on the Farm

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:09:05 +0000

Fencing is an important part of any small farm or homestead. There are quite a few different types of fencing to choose from, depending on your purpose. For example, chicken wire is made up of small holes that young birds can't get through, and it must be high enough that birds can't fly over it. Sheep only need short, widely spaced fencing to keep them contained and electric net fencing works particularly well for them.

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New Farm Book Reviews

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:12:20 +0000

I've been taking my own advice and catching up on some reading during this winter break. I recently enjoyed reading and reviewing three books about the farming life: The Joy of Hobby Farming, Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre...

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Start Your Hobby Farm

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:24:35 +0000

Thinking about starting a hobby farm? There are so many things to consider - what animals to raise, what type of land to buy, how to afford it all! - that it can be easy to get discouraged. I've compiled some tips for those ready to start their hobby farm lifestyle - overarching ideas that will help you prioritize and manage the many tasks ahead.

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