Homesteading and Hobby Farm/Ranch

lurkingdirk said:

I have goats, and 4 on 4 acres is about the perfect ratio for rotational grazing. I have six, but I have a lot more acres. I have all my livestock mixed together, so they can co-graze or whatever the term is. My chickens even get in with the animals some times, and that's healthy for the soil, too. I have 3 for milking that I make cheese with (my family could live on goat cheese). I have 4 for eating (all different ages to stagger the slaughter). Goats are actually fun to have around, Brutul is right, way way more personality than sheep. I will never have sheep again. They are stupid enough to get themselves tangled in something so badly they kill themselves. Rescue them out of a deep hole, they'll jump right back in.

One thing about goats - they're destructive. If they get into a mood, they're going to break something. I've stripped everything down so much, there's nothing to tear off anymore. All watering mechanisms are industrial, no sticky outy parts. I have separate indoor areas for the different livestock, and usually feed them separately. They can also climb. Just make sure you keep up with your fences.

But goats can be funny as hell.

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Blazin said:

There are federal rules about capture of water from impervious surfaces like a roof, states also have rules on top of this. FL has some of the strictest in the country. Federal rule is 1 acre of total disturbance requires a NPDES permitting. You'll know what obstacles there are when you go for the permit so I just take care of that prior to making too many commitments.

In practical terms what this refers to is the construction of storm water pits that will capture water run off rather than just letting a downspouts do something as horrifically horrible as putting water on the ground.

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lurkingdirk said:

Twice a day. I don't mind it, though it makes travel hard, or taking a day off hard. I'm not a big one for taking days off, though. Plus, I have a hired guy who helps with things, and he's very nearby, and if I ask him to do the milking, he's always happy and willing to do it. It definitely is a commitment, though.

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