Starting a new homestead/permaculture farm but need help

Hello there,

I have this dream of starting a homestead/permaculture farm on a specific 80 acre parcel of land up in Newberry, Michigan (Upper Peninsula). It is maybe a 10 minute drive from Newberry, and I am prepared to buy it, but I have one major problem, I have chronic illnesses and health problems that prevent me from being able to physically do the work myself.

So if I am to do this, I would need someone to help do much of the work.

I'm posting this as an opportunity to begin a permaculture farm from scratch. Once it is up and running in a few years time, then I will be ale to offer pay. At this time, literally all I will be able to do is offer free housing and utilities once we set that up.

Here are the main projects:
Set up 2 mini homes modified for Upper Peninsula climate
Get a water well drilled
Install septic system
Set up large year-round greenhouse
-within the green house have a section for 2 goats, rabbits, mini worm farm, and a chicken coop
Set up wind turbine electric system
Set up compost system

Depending on how much help we have, we may be able to set up some gardens to overwinter.
There will be many acres to set up a farm/orchard next summer and even some garden boxes done according to the JADAM/KNF methods.

Far in the future, I would like to create a production system for microbes/agricultural inputs according to the specifications in this article and also in this patent recipe:
Article: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/the-old-man-and-the-secret/
Patent: https://patents.google.com/patent/US2908113A/en

I also would like to eventually dig a deep enough area to start a pond for rainbow trout (depth needed so they don't freeze - and also set up a small cricket farm/snail farm for their food) and also set up a fenced area so we can leave animals outside without risk of bears or other predators attacking. I know fences are a little controversial but frankly, I want cats and I don't want them to be eaten by foxes etc. at night if they refuse to come in.

Dogs and cats and all animals are welcome.

I am not looking to socialize very much. I just want to live in peace on land with animals.
This is a pipe-dream of mine that has the chance to come true. If this might be a dream you would like to co-create, please let me know.

Thanks everyone.

Here's the property listing, if interested:
https://www.northernmichiganlandbrokers.com/pages/listings/details.php?mls=1129233

You might consider getting some livestock guard animals to keep predators at bay-

Such as a Great Pyrenees, a donkey, a mule, a Llama,  and even a goose, or all of the above...

Thank you William, yes I definitely plan on having 2 huskies and maybe a donkey. Thank you!

Liz Leahey wrote:Thank you William, yes I definitely plan on having 2 huskies and maybe a donkey. Thank you!

I understand Husky lovers.  I have two of them in the family that will always have a Husky.  That said, and this is my opinion only, I don't think they are a good choice to protect your animals.  I've been around quite a few, and they have high prey drive and are more likely to kill your animals than protect them.  I would recommend a livestock guard breed, but I may be biased

Hi Lizzy,

I have the same problem,

I was climbing for many years wind turbines and now reaching the 60 years of age all my joints are more or less worn out.

A problem in Thailand is that human labor is pretty hard to find. The mentality is more the way : This month I work, getting paid and next month I have cash in my pocket and disappear without further notice.
The month after the money is spent and I'll return claiming my job back (For another month) or even within the month of work they come and go as they please.

So I started to find out, what animal is suitable for doing a specific task

Pigs are the tractors incl. driver
Cattle is cutting the longer grass
Geese are cutting the shorter grass
Goats are good for weeding
Ducks do good job against slugs and snails
Turkeys are going with pleasure for bigger pests
Guinea Fowls take care of hidden pests, snakes and they are brilliant finding ticks protecting your dogs and cats (But they are LOUD)
Capybaras like rough grasses
Chicken will close the trenches that the pigs left by scratching
Dogs as puppies integrated will make even Chicken as their family and protect them from predators and thieves.

and the story goes on and on.
They will not ask for wages, they will not complain but will be happy to roam free.
So you have only a few tasks to maintain the pastures, re seeding etc. which needs way less manpower..
You will be the one who does mainly the Administration works like pasture planning, lifestock exchange etc etc..

80 Acres are sure great to make pasture paddocks and if you make a smart sacrificial center (Pig Pit e.g.) your job is to monitor the pasture, open one gate for the coming days and close the one connected to the pasture they use till it is cleared.
Sure not everything what is shining will be gold and you might need to improve things as there is no one fits all solution...

Picture 1:
I had to cut out of my drawings the sacrificial area as it needs to be designed matching your pasture paddocks and your needs.

Picture 2:
With a good planning (Manure and Urine management like composting pits) you even could make a fence around this sacrificial area and on ground level you have the pig area incl. gates
Above the fence you make a highway with gates that work also as ramps.
Put the building for the goats above the pig area and hit two flies with one clap.
Goats love elevated housings as they are brilliant climbers.
This way you could even separate the pigs on one pasture and send the goats on another..

I even thought to integrate the chicken coop there but I will let them "work" as they like speaking free roaming.

This is a very basic explanation of my tasks but I am planning now since 7 years the "how and why" and made improvements as they popped up in my mind.
But may be it helps...

Hi See Hes,

Wonderful advice, thank you. You are absolutely correct about animals having a very important role in farm activities and maintenance - thank you for all the useful and helpful tips. I am sorry to hear about your labor difficulties in Thailand, that is truly unfortunate. I believe one day the same pattern of work will begin to happen here too.

Also what a great idea for incorporating the goats and the pigs in this rotational pasture pen! Thank you for sharing your ideas and designs. Maybe one day I, and other permits on the farm, will be able to create something like that

I hope someone reliable comes your way. I believe animals understand how to live, peacefully, with nature. They are not materialistic enough to cause them to feel separate from nature. I think that's actually a really healthy down-to-earth approach to life. Live within your means, live in harmony with the earth. I'm really looking forward to this farm Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. I wish you the best for your farm.

Being left alone on some land is my life goal but… unless I mass crammed some SKIP knowledge I’m not particularly confident in my abilities to complete some of those tasks.

Being in a tropical climate it’s a completely different world in a place that has a winter… let alone snow!

I’m 28, quite reliable and honest, a fast learner, physically fit, but I don’t have the best confidence as conveyed here.

I am interested but going from tropical suburbs to both entirely new work projects and a new ecosystem is quite a bit.

I looked at a property in Newberry awhile back.  I think the closest big grocery store you had to drive through Wisconsin back to Michigan to get to.  The one I was looking at was looking at was a few miles down the road from the Indian Casino.

I myself am fairly fit, but I thought that Newberry was too remote for me.  The farther out you go, the more of a challenge it is.

We bought 120 acres in Cheybogan a few years back.  Now have power, well, and septic.  16x32 greenhouse.  We are always entertaining new faces.

Anyways, I wish you well on your journey, no matter where it takes you.

Hey there, I sent you a moosage, but figured I’d reply here as well.

If you went forth with purchasing the land and are in need of some help, I’d love to discuss it with you. I do have a wife and two small daughters. I’m not sure if you have accommodations for that. My wife and I are 32, our daughters are 3 years and 7 months, respectively. We currently live in SE MI and are looking for alternatives to the current ways society at large is moving.

Hello. I may be interested in what you offer. Please text me at. 330-601-7173.

I am Jeremy.

Have you found a person yet? Im interested.
pattiofrain@gmail.com