How to set up a back yard farm

vegetable garden raised to support my organic needs

Many people want to start a backyard farm project but have no idea where to start from. Majority think setting up a backyard farm will cost them a fortune but this is not true as almost 70% of the material you need is right before you and around the neighborhood. 

I started my backyard farm on a 21,780 square foot plot (half an acre) with 3 rabbits, 2 chickens, 4 ducks, 2 guinea fowl and 30square foot of vegetable garden. The start was hard as it always seems to most starters but passion pushed me through. I had no idea about farming, I made so many mistakes and worst of my finances were bad because I lost my job during the pandemic. You must stay focused on the goal  the results will surprise you - 15 eggs for breakfast everyday and . I will take you through the most important steps to get you started on this amazing journey: 

1. Start with passion 

Before you even think of farming you need the energy to hold it, to drive it. Yes like any other professional, farming requires an irrational and irresistible motive to meet requirements. It was my love for rabbits that pushed me into raising a vegetable garden. I was looking for an organic way to feed the bunnies when I stumbled into crop husbandry. I could not produce considerable amounts of hay neither did I have money to buy pellets nor maintain its supply so I raised a rabbit garden by growing vegetables. Passion is innovation, passion leads into new horizons. Passion is the will to do things, it will lead you into carpentry and metal works for much of your farm needs, you will eventually become a DIY guy with plenty of skills. 

2. Get a piece of land (any size works)

By the time you think of backyard farming you already have a piece of land to put to use. You don't need large pieces of land to produce your own eggs, meat and vegetables for your organic health lifestyle. Plan your land . If your plot is fenced you may grow your vegetables along the fence and reserve space for constructing a rabbit hutch and chicken coup in one of the corners. No matter the size of land you got Chickens, Rabbits, Ducks, Guinea fowls and turkeys will be grateful for your efforts and live together in peace. Your plot size will determine whether to free range your birds or put them in confined coop all day long. My half acre plot allows me to accommodate 100 birds in total free ranging and supplemented with feeds. Pastured birds will cut feed costs by 80% and give you dark orange yoked eggs. 

3. Be handy

Believe me you won't go without holding a hammer and nail. Your backyard farm will not stand without structures, you will have to raise wooden structures from the chicken coop to the vegetable garden fence so be ready to learn much of these skills on YouTube. For most of your DIY farm projects  you will need a hammer, nails, gig saw, codeless drill, tape measure and a wooden square, these tools can be bought from any hardware shop and they are quite affordable. For the most reliable brand you will have to choose between Makita, Dewalt, Ingco and DCA, go for the battery chargeable tools than plug and play tools as this will enable you work off the grid. 

4. Be Patient

Once your chicken coop is raised, your rabbit hutch is ready and the birds are in you will have to be patient for them to grow. Sometimes misfortune strikes and you loose some of your poultry, sometimes the rabbits may give birth and almost all the litter dies. This is common to first time mothers so don't lose hope but I can assure you that once animals and birds get acquainted to their new environment you will be surprised by new babies every month, patience pays off.