Hi,
I am interested in raising Merino sheep and Angora goats for wool. I would also raise other sheep breeds for meat and goat breeds for meat and milk. I am still looking into different options. I am looking for a wool mill to transform the wool for yarn. The excess wool not good for yarn, I would still get it washed and sell it for building insulation.
I have also found someone who made a commercial type knitting machine that you don't need to do the knitting part. You can make the pattern by computer and set it to the machine.
What I think is most profitable, but I'm talking in theory here, I think is in finished products. Therefore, I wouldn't take the time to milk them myself but would have the automatic suction tubes to milk the goats. I could use the milk for yogurt, cheese, ice cream, sell some of the milk, cream, butter, dehydrated milk, and use some of the milk for soaps and creams.
I could have animals for meat, sell the sheep to other inspiring breeders; have a cheese process onsite; have a website to sell my produce. I could also have other products into this.
I could have a teaching program (about the animals, about knitting, making cheese and other products, soaps,...); I would get a couple of employees, have some kind of community programs to get them involved on the farm. It could be trading time for products for example.
I also would want to have a big permaculture food forest and garden and do the same there. I would also like to grow some alfalfa and some the animals' feed supply. I would sell some of those fruits and vegges, also have finished products. I would like to have some freeze-dried products, sell, the some of my meat, have canned foods like pickles, jam, fermented foods, etc.
I also would get someone involved with the marketing aspects of everything on the farm.
Am I too unrealistic? I could not do this on my own. There would have to be other people involved.
There could also be a B&B for other income.
It is hard to do everything by yourself. I think, it's important to get other people involved. Why? For learning, for publicity, for help, for productivity, growing the business but with a humane vision, etc. This needs a lot of planning first. This is where I am now.
I'd love to hear your feedback.
Danielle. (Québec, Canada)
