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Published:
August 11, 2008

Hobby Farming For Dummies

Overview

Do you long for the country life? Get back to nature and feel your toes in the dirt with this friendly guide to a new farming lifestyle

Don't know the first thing about how to handle the basics of small-scale farming, from growing healthy crops to raising livestock and managing your property? Hobby Farming For Dummies is the no-nonsense guide you need to decide what to farm, find the right piece of property, set up utilities, select plants and livestock, protect your investment, and so much more.

You'll get a realistic look into what it really means to move from your current lifestyle to a life farming in the countryside, starting with figuring out if the farming lifestyle is right for you. From what you need to know about maintaining country property to how to access a power supply, you’ll get help with major decisions of hobby farming:

  • Whether you're better off with subsistence farming or a more ambitious project
  • Which

outbuildings you'll need for shelter and storage

  • What tools are best for various types of farm labor
  • Which animals you want to raise and care for
  • Where to buy the land and how to acquire it
  • This comprehensive and user-friendly guide also shows you how to:

    • Avoid common farming pitfalls
    • Choose plans for your farm
    • Get along with your neighbors
    • Maintain your equipment and machinery
    • Raise and care for animals, including caring for sick or injured animals
    • Get creative by turning fiber into scarves and making cheese or yogurt
    • Enrich your soil with manure and compost
    • Reap the benefits of preserving fruits and vegetables

    Additionally, you can read about opportunities for fun in country communities and the top ten misconceptions about farm living. Grab a copy of Hobby Farming For Dummies and discover how you can live the simple life.

    Read More

    About The Author

    Theresa A. Husarik is a freelance writer and photographer who raises animals and plants small crops on her ten acres of farmland.

    Sample Chapters

    hobby farming for dummies

    CHEAT SHEET

    If you’re thinking about taking up farming as a hobby, educate yourself about the responsibilities. Research hobby farming by using local resources (like the library and neighbors), using the Internet, and volunteering at a farm. When you decide to plant, make sure you know your area’s growing season and to rotate your crops to maintain soil and plant quality.

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    Articles from
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    If you decide to leave the hubbub of the city for farming, remember that farming involves tasks that aren't part of the responsibilities of city jobs. Here are some ways to lessen the learning curve if you decide to take up hobby farming: Do some research so you can make a more informed decision. Besides all the pencil-to-the-paper research, like on the Internet, you can do some feet-to-the-pavement research — get out on the streets and go to the local businesses, the local library, the local county building, and so on.
    If you’re thinking about taking up farming as a hobby, educate yourself about the responsibilities. Research hobby farming by using local resources (like the library and neighbors), using the Internet, and volunteering at a farm. When you decide to plant, make sure you know your area’s growing season and to rotate your crops to maintain soil and plant quality.
    What's a farm without animals? A hobby farmer who wants to raise animals must understand that he or she is responsible for their care. Animals need food, water, exercise and clean shelter everyday. Good hygiene and care can deter health problems. This is the minimum care you should give your farm animals: Provide clean (and unfrozen) water daily.
    Deciding which crops to plant depends on how well things will grow on your farm. The length of the growing season is vital because you want your plants to produce fruit before the first frost. Determine the best times for growing by checking the back of seed packets or by consulting the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map.
    A hobby farmer, like a commercial farmer, must keep an eye on the health of the farm animals by checking them routinely. Daily observation tells you the animals' habits, and will help you determine if something is wrong or if your animal is sick. The following signs are warnings that your farm animal has an illness: The animal is lethargic or just not very active.
    Rotating the plants (crops) on your farm enhances plant health and soil quality. To rotate your plantings, divide your garden into several sections and plant each section with a different family of plant. Next year, plant something from the next family. For instance, plant squash in section one the first year; the next year, plant peas there; next year, plant tomatoes; and well, you get the idea.
    Finding information about farming (hobby or otherwise) isn't hard — plenty of resources are available. After you've exhausted all of the books at your library and scanned the Internet for information about farming, try these other sources of agricultural information: Your local cooperative extension office Your local county office Your state's official Web site (www.
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    Frequently Asked Questions

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