Wandering in from Upstate NY

Joined a few forums this week as hubby and I look to expand our lives with some slow wading into at least a partially self sustaining life. We are up by Lake Ontario on 24 acres. We moved here 5 years ago and in the same time frame of the move I developed autoimmune disorders. We are both in our 40s and it’s going to be a process to convert parts of our lives. I’m looking forward to learning from the site and the members here.

I’m experienced in all sorts of animal keeping. Hubby has done some with me and he is a good all around handyman and passable welder who is also learning to blacksmith.  He also has a full time day job but he wants to help me achieve my farming dreams even if it ends up on a very small scale.

We have a flock of speckled Sussex chickens already, a pair of mostly free-loader horses, various berry bushes and the start of gardens. There is a fair amount of medicinal and edible plants as well Already on the property, probably more than we have actually identified so far.

Goals include adding dual purpose sheep, meat rabbits, turkeys, guineas, and quail. Also expand the gardens and have some indoor or greenhouse growing space for aquaponics so we have winter produce.

Thanks for having me!

Hi Val;   Big welcome to Permies;

You've come to the right place.  Plenty of folk here with the same ideals you have.
Also there are some here with similar health issues.
I think you have many hours of reading posts ahead of you!

Please keep us posted on your farming and homesteading adventure.
We like pictures!

Welcome Val! Sounds like you've got some nice land, beautiful country up there (no matter where along the lake you are. We have some folks here up toward Fort Drum, which is the region I know, although the other places down near Hamilton I've seen are nice too). Look forward to hearing more from you!

Will do on the updates. I have a blog going too but I’ll post updates around along with, I’m sure, many questions and advice when I can lend it too.

Today i finished our first raised bed about a month behind schedule. Used companion planting, hope it’s not to late to get at least some decent yield.  Hoping for a long growing season to make up for my delay.

We are in Oswego County so roughly an hour South of Fort Drum. Maybe hour and 20.