Starting new homestead

Hi. This is probably my first official post, but I have been reading this forum for years. I have recently retired and we have decided that we are going to move to my Mom's place in the next couple of years. I just saw where someone else posted a screenshot of his property and asked for opinions on what to do with it.  I am in the same situation. Since we might be there for the rest of our lives, I thought that I could ask you for your thoughts on what we could get started on now.

The house is bigger than what we need, but it was meant for our whole family originally.  The land is 3.83 acres, some wooded.  The back 1 acre is just grass and they have been mowing it for the last 5 years (I would rather not). The land slopes gradually from the back field down into the back yard and along the side of the house and down into a wet weather creek. The outbuilding is large and has stalls on the outside and concrete floors inside. There is a chicken house in the back field, and a small greenhouse next to the deck on back of house.

I guess that I am looking for ideas on fruit and nut trees, and pond placement.  Also, what would be the best use of the back 1 acre field? I think we will do raised beds or hugelkultur nearer to the house (and well water supply).  

Thank you! This is a great forum and any constructive comments will be appreciated.

Bruce

P.S.  We are in the Missouri Ozarks, just south of Springfield, Mo.

Not sure how to show the picture in this message, so I attached it.

Wow, what a great property!!

I guess the first thing you need to do is figure out what interests you, what you get excited abou. Food gardening? Flower gardening? Livestock of some sort? Bees? Orchard? Etc. There's lots out there to choose from. Or you could be like me a do a little of lots of different things. I opted to be very diversified.

Su Ba wrote:Wow, what a great property!!

I guess the first thing you need to do is figure out what interests you, what you get excited abou. Food gardening? Flower gardening? Livestock of some sort? Bees? Orchard? Etc. There's lots out there to choose from. Or you could be like me a do a little of lots of different things. I opted to be very diversified.

Great points.  Currently in our suburban home, I have pretty extensive flower gardens-primarily for Monarch butterflies.  I also have a couple of cherry trees and some blackberries in the only place in our yard that gets full sun. I have a koi pond, and I have raised tropical fish for at least 50 years.
I am planning on more food and orchard gardening initially. I would add flowers, maybe bees, and maybe some small livestock (nothing bigger than goats).

Hi Bruce!

Just wanted to drop in and say hi, as I am a new homesteader just north of Springfield!  Never done anything like this before, but we decided that we hated city life with all of its stress and wanted our kids to learn a different path.  We don't really know what we're doing yet, but know we would like to grow our own food.  My wife wants flowers for butterflies and maybe beekeeping.  Looking into getting that PDC from here to try to get a plan going that we can implement.  Would love to stay in touch and hear how things are going!

Trevis

Welcome aboard, Bruce!  Looking forward to watching your progress over the years ahead.