Dollars

So of course, starting a small farm is no small feat.  Careful financing is very important.  Ronny and I worked very hard to be debt-free before we made this leap.  We are what we fondly call "Dave Ramsey Disciples."  We took his Financial Peace University workshop about five years ago.  With discipline, obedience, and God's provision we were completely debt free when we bought the farm.  We made such great deals on the sale of our previous home and on the purchase of the farm that we financed a very minimal amount.  Due to great credit, large down payment, and no debt we were the first people our lender had ever written this type of loan for under 3%.  We had an wonderful realtor who carefully guided us through the entire sale and purchase process.  It is definitely important to have a good realtor who teaches you and who has your best interest at heart.

The moral of the story is:

• Be patient
• Get rid of debt
• Save
• Have a plan
• Find a good realtor

Other financial considerations that we have learned and taken advantage of include filing for an Ag Exemption and for the Ag/Timber Sales Tax Exemption.  Every county will be different in regards to application criteria for an Ag Exemption.  Our county required documentation.  I wrote a Business Plan that included an Executive Summary, Descriptions, SWOT Analysis, Planning, Implentation, Photos, and Invoices.  We were approved in less than a week.   I have used two books as resources for the business side of farming.  They are listed at the side of the blog.  The authors are Wiswall and Aubrey.

Each state will have a different process for applying for the sales tax exemption.  The state of Texas exemption application process is found Here.  Click on Texas Taxes tab at the top of the page and then on the link to Apply for Ag and Timber Registration Number at the left of the page.  After you get your registration number, you can set up accounts at farm supply stores and will be tax exempt on qualifying items that you may purchase for your farm.

I also found a really neat web site called the New England Small Farm Institute (NESFI).  This is a wonderful website NESFI  and you will find the Farm Start-up Checklist is very useful.  Here are some other websites that might be helpful Ag Grants and Beginning Farmers.

We have had great flooding rains that have definitely replenished north Texas lakes, ponds, rivers, and creeks after the awful drought of 2011.  It does present a challenge, though, when it comes to getting a garden in.  The second set of 75 blackberry bushes and 50 strawberry plants will be planted tomorrow and work on planting veggies will definitely be done this weekend.  We have sunny, warm weather forecasted.  Stay tuned for Pick Your Own Days.  Of course, they will be harvest-dependent.

I spent 10 days chicken sitting for my chicken guru neighbor and fell in love with the critters.  Never thought I would say that.  Feeding, watering, rescuing the old biddy from her shelf, cutting feed sack string off chicken feet, scraping poop, and collecting eggs aannnndd  feedin old Moe, the ferrel hog, was such a great learning experience.  My neighbor gave me the most beautiful glass chicken for doing barn duty.  I really earned that little chicken, though, when I had to put her big bull back in the pasture!  I headed out the door to go to work yesterday and look who was standing in my driveway!

Thank goodness for some men who drove by and helped me!

I know I gave the wisteria a bad rep on my last post but we did let one bush survive in the backyard and it was beautiful.  I will close out with some pictures from it.  Happy Farming!

We're In Love

If I've said it once, I've said it dozens of times.  I love our new place and so does Ronny.  We love coming home and hate leaving.  All the work we do is fulfilling and Ronny says over and over that it "just doesn't seem like work."

The fruit trees are planted and the Navaho blackberries are waiting for the rain to end so we can plant them.  I plotted out the garden tonight and bought seed today.  I am going to plant the vegetables in five phases:  fruit trees, blackberries & strawberries, early spring veggies, spring veggies, and early summer veggies.  On the list of veggies are spinach, mixed lettuce, onions, leeks, radishes, brocolli, cabbage, beets, carrots, green peas, purple hull peas, green beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, okra, squash, and canaloupe.  I don't figure we'll go hungry!  Stay tuned for "Pick Your Own" days.  You will definitely be able to pick blackberries and we'll see how the other produce does.  Once I get my fill, I will post "Pick Your Own" days.  Have I said, "I love this place?"

Peach trees blossom

I bought our chick starter set today.  I've been reading magazines from my chicken guru neighbor, information from the MyPetChicken website, and some books.  My neighbor is going to put me through my paces next week by letting me take care of her chickens to get some practical experience.  She is an awesome friend, teacher, and neighbor.  We hope to get blackberries and early spring veggies planted this week then start building the chicken coop.  Of course, Ronny also still needs to build the gate for the calves.  He has the fence up and the new corner built (it looks awesome!).  The rain has been wonderful and we will not complain but it has slowed a few things down. 

I have taken advantage of being stuck indoors by tackling those last three paint projects.  They are my nemesis!  The powder room is the first one.  It is the tiniest bathroom and in a state of disrepair.  The toilet area is so small that when I painted one wall and turned to paint the other, welllll, my hind end ended up in wet paint.  You have to see this picture to appreciate what I just told you :)

I hope to post before and after pictures of the kitchen soon.  We have just a few more things to do and it will be checked off the "to do" list.  The dining room is pretty much done except for flooring.  That will come when all painting is done.  Check it out!

Before

After

The most remarkable before and after is the creepy wisteria.  It was literally taking over the house.  It completely covered the carport and had great compost rotting under the two feet of limbs on the carport.  It was so invasive that it pulled the carport from the house.  We spent a full afternoon and evening taking it off one piece at a time.  Our neighbor offered to pull it off with his tractor but we were afraid it would pull the house down!  I don't think captions are necessary :)

Well, time to sign off.  Can't wait to crawl in bed and snooze to the sound of raindrops.  Here are some of the clouds that brought rain yesterday.  Good night and Happy Farming!  Have I said, "I love this place?"