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Experienced Farmers and homesteaders: I need help with the lay out of our 40 acre homestead

 
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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!
585689BC-2D87-4BA2-AB07-9789F7922041.jpeg
[Thumbnail for 585689BC-2D87-4BA2-AB07-9789F7922041.jpeg]
 
pollinator
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Location: Bendigo , Australia
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With the house in place, there are not many things you can do to change things.
Basically tasks you do more than once a day need to be closer than tasks you do weekly.

Security wise tractor sheds should not face the road and if they are set back as far as you can near where they are used, thats a better idea than near the house.

A natural pool could be near the trees, so its an expedition to get there and its pleasant.

What do you do for water?
Do you catch rainfall and use it? My signature will take you to a discussion on the matter.
 
John C Daley
pollinator
Posts: 5968
Location: Bendigo , Australia
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Other issues such as prevailing winds, proximity to usage points need to be considered.
If vegetable washing is going to be a big operation, can you recycle the water and reuse it somewhere when finished?
A settling tank and pump would solve that issue.

Does it snow and freeze?
 
Matt Legault
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Thanks for the replies, @John C Daley. In response to your questions, yes it freezes and snows, we go as low as -40 F sometimes. Good idea to collect washing station water somehow. Rain collection strategy is on the To Do list too. Good idea to have tractor shed hidden from the road.
 
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