We are moving to the site of our new 40 acre homestead in South-West Quebec. I’m looking for advice for where to locate and build a number of outbuildings, so that they are optimal, efficient, and adequately spaced.
We need to build:
- a barn (and barnyard), large enough for eventual 2 cows, 2 pigs, 2 sheep, and a chicken math number of laying hens and other poultry
- 25 x 100’ greenhouse
- hay shed
- wood shed
- tractor shed
- a permanent chicken coop (mostly for winter)
- duck house
- vegetable wash station
- garden tool shed
- an irrigation pond/ swimming hole (about 1/4 acre)
I’m hoping people can share insights pertaining to “flow” of chores, noise, smells, building orientation (sun and wind). This advice could take many forms:
“Make sure to...”
“Whatever you do, avoid...”
“We did X, and really wish we had done it (bigger, smaller, closer)
The property is a long, narrow rectangle, about 1000 ft wide, 0.7 miles long. About 15 acres of fields of sandy, poor soil, most of which we’ll sow with cover crops in 2021. We’re planting a modest vegetable garden in year 1 with permanent raised beds, choosing to focus more on establishing perennials the first year. About 15 acres of back woods.
We’re homesteaders with day jobs, so prioritizing our limited time is important.
I’m attaching a Google maps photo of front half of property.
Do ask if you think any additional info would help inform. Thanks!
