What can 1 acre get you? Part 2
Heather White
One acre of raw land with a few trees and it must have water could support quite a few things. One acre can support immediately beehives, depending on time of year, a moveable chicken coop along with two or three piglets and rabbits. If you choose to start farming in the fall or late winter the chicks will need a form of heat until they are old enough with feathers to stay warm. If power is available, then a simple heat lamp set up would work. If not, then a wood-stove inside your home until they are old enough with feathers generally around 4 weeks and try not to put them out on the coldest day of the year or with lots of snow. Remember 6 good layers will keep a family of four in eggs weekly. For your piglets you will need to build a hut for them and provide hay or straw for warmth during the fall and winter months. You could easily find 4 pallets, arrange them into a box shape with three sides and a top, stuff with hay or straw and that would work temporary for the piglets for the winter. Always provide hay or straw to keep them off the ground during the winter months. Remember even when it’s cold livestock will need fresh unfrozen water year-round. This is a daily chore unless you have set up waterlines as suggested in part 1 of this series.
On this one acre you should plan a garden and a compost area. Pick the area that is level and close to a water source for the garden and compost area. Most homesteader find this just makes life simple for a few reasons. First, its usually close to the house making trips to the garden or compost quick and easy. Second, water is usually near the home, both garden and compost need watering regularly. I would also invest in some home built cold frames for year-round food production near your home.
What to grow? If you are keeping bees, chickens, rabbits, and pigs I’d recommend growing food they need such as flowering plants like watermelon, buckwheat, peas, beans, squash, pumpkins, and the list is continuous. The items listed will feed all stock listed above. I would also recommend growing food your family enjoys. Remember your zone will dictate what to grow and when. If you are keeping chickens, rabbits, and pigs I would highly recommend that your grow hay as this will be an ongoing need for livestock. For years we grew enough hay to feed 6 cattle for 6 months and harvested it all by hand. Depending on your zone will determine the amount of hay needed.
Last, on your one acre of raw land, I would recommend planting fruit trees and shrubs. Crazy as it sounds, you will enjoy the huge savings you will get from your own apple trees and other fruit year-round. We find that we use ever fruit, even the bad stuff for our livestock. Nothing goes to waste. What doesn’t make it to the livestock goes straight into the compost for next year.