Homestead Goals Articulation
Plants• Vegetable gardens• Herb garden• Keyhole garden• Fruit orchard• Nut trees• Berry patch• Flower/ pollinator garden
Animals
• Chickens• Goats• Pigs• Work horse• Bees• Mini cows
Structures• Chicken coop• Moveable electric fence• Barn• Lean-to’s• Greenhouse• Tool shed
Natural Resources• Well• Solar panels• Pond• Rain water collection system• Drip irrigation
Machinery• Tiller• Lawn mower• Tractor• Wood chipper
Other• Compost • Food storage area
Goals
• Plants: provide food for my family and I, attract pollinators, create diversity in to manage pests, disease, and weeds
• Animals: manage pastures by grazing, fertilize, provide meat and eggs
• Structures: store tools, provide season extension, protect animals
• Natural Resources: decrease costs and use of outside, non-renewable resources
• Machinery: make tasks around the farm easier and less time consuming
Diversity• The permaculture principle of diversity especially relates to the plants I want to grow
on my homestead. I want to grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables for several reasons. Fist, to help manage weeds, pests and disease by creating a varied habitat where one species can’t become too comfortable. In addition, a diverse selection of plants ensures that there will always be something producing regardless of environmental forces that might damage certain plants. Lastly, a diverse ecosystem is generally healthy, able to maintain itself, and able to rebound from stress.
• The only aspect of a homestead that isn’t a great fit for me is the machinery. If at all possible, I would like to cut back on the amount of machinery and fossil fuels used. This could be accomplished by using animals to graze and using a work horse for cultivation and hauling needs.