Starting a Hobby Farm

Welcome!

Oh, hello there, fellow dream-weaver! Do you ever scroll through Instagram, see those idyllic farm accounts, and let out a wistful sigh, thinking, "If only I had acres and a lifetime of agricultural wisdom..."?

Well, honey, put that sigh away! Because today, we're busting through that myth like a tractor through a particularly fluffy hay bale (that's a saying.. right?) The truth? Starting a small hobby farm isn't some far-off fantasy reserved for folks with overalls and generations of dirt under their nails - although you'll probably end up with both and look cute doing it. It's surprisingly simple, wildly rewarding, and absolutely within your reach. No huge investment, no epic land acquisition, just a little bit of sass, some sunshine, and a whole lot of heart.

Our first garden beds we created while we were renting. These were 3ftx5ft each. You don't need a lot of space to start! Corn, tomatoes, peppers, herbs!

We were clearly excited!

I grew up in a suburb of Massachusetts... think cute houses, manicured lawns, little flower patches and maybe 1 small dog. I didn't grow up with a big garden, chickens or cows but I loved all of the above and therefore the second I could, I moved out, bought a house and my husband and I decided to see if we could take care of 5 acres in Montana with zero knowledge of owning acreage, farm animals.. or a home. To say I was overwhelmed at first would be an understatement but 4 years later and I am starting to realize it's not as difficult as people might make you think.. honestly if I can do it, anyone can. I too enjoy a life of doom scrolling, tv binging and porch sitting but I also love gathering our eggs for breakfast, running to the garden for dinner and enjoying the company of my 3 year old gelding Rowan. You can have a relaxing life and a farm Trust me!

Our acreage ready to go from dead grass and rocks to gardens and farm animals!

Your Dream Hobby Farm: Less "Epic Saga," More "Charming Mini-Series"!

When you hear "farm," do you picture sprawling fields, a grand old barn, and maybe a cow named Bessie? Adorable, yes. But for our purposes, let's dial that vision way, way down. A hobby farm is your personal slice of sustainable heaven, focused on joy, fresh food, and reconnecting with the earth. It's about growing what you love, learning as you go, and savoring the simple magic of nurturing life.

The secret sauce? Start ridiculously small. Like, embarrassingly small. Then, and only then, do you expand. This isn't a race; it's a delicious journey.. I mean that literally, just imagine that home grown tomato🤤

Tiny Triumphs: How Simple Can It Really Be?

Let's ditch the overwhelm and talk about those delightful baby steps that make you feel like a farming superstar without breaking a sweat (or the bank).

1.The Pot, The Patio, & The Power Greens! 🌿

Forget tilling an acre. Your journey might begin with a single pot! Recall the first photo? Heres a different view so you can really see what we were originally working with:

The entire space was maybe 10x10!

• Container Champions: Got a balcony, a patio, or even a sunny windowsill? You're in business! Basil, mint, chives – these aromatic superstars thrive in pots. You can even grow compact tomatoes, luscious lettuces, and zesty peppers. Your salad bowl just got a serious upgrade.

• Raised Bed Revelations: If you're feeling ambitious, a single 4x8 foot raised garden bed is a game-changer. It's like a garden cheat code: fewer weeds, better soil control, and a surprising amount of produce. Focus on high-yield, quick-growing faves like radishes, spinach, or bush beans.

• Dig Straight Down: Or, take some rocks from your property, make a square on the ground and dig right down, plant your seeds, water daily and wait for the magic to happen. Thats what we did, but we had to add a fence or the big mule deer eat everything (I also grew up where seeing a deer was a little treat.. OOOO wildlife😅)

1:Simplicity Score: 🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕 (So easy, it's practically cheating!)

2.Cluck-Cluck! Fresh Eggs Are a Snap! 🥚

The dream of warm, fresh eggs collected by your own hand is tantalizingly close. Chickens are surprisingly low-maintenance divas and you only need 2 to 3 to feed yourself and your significant other breakfast! I had never held a chicken let alone owned one before starting our flock. I read books, watched videos.. when I say I knew nothing I am not kidding... I didn't even know how a chicken drank water. Chickens are easy.. and addictive, a little messy but so entertaining.

• The Tiny Flock: You don't need a poultry parade. Like I said 2 or 3 is all you need.. but be careful you'll quickly learn about chicken math and end up with 20! Some areas only let you have a certain amount and roosters aren't welcome in every city so pay attention to that before getting started.

• Coop Couture (on a Budget): They need a safe, snug little house to sleep in, a feeder, a waterer, and a cozy spot to lay those golden nuggets. Small pre-made coops are everywhere, or you can build a charming, simple one. We used an old shed on our property but you can build a coop out of anything as long as its secured, ventilated and they have a spot to lay an egg and sleep on a bar.

• Daily Routine: Chill: A quick morning check for food, water, and those glorious eggs. That's it! They practically do all the work. Plus they can eat the majority of your kitchen scraps, saving you money on trash bags and saving the landfill!

  
  

  

  2.Simplicity Score: 🐔🐔🐔🐔 (They mostly just chill and lay eggs. Winning!)

3.Berry Bliss & Fruit Tree Fantasies! 🍓🍎

Want the ultimate low-effort, high-reward food source? Perennials are your pals. Seriously, we just started getting serious about our berries last year.. my husband is OBSESSED! we have so many types now which is also half the fun (pro tip: buy at the end of the season, everything is super discounted, you can keep indoors until spring or if you have nice enough weather plant right away)

• Berry Besties: Tuck a few blueberry, raspberry, or blackberry bushes into a sunny corner or even a large container. Once they're settled in, they're basically on autopilot, gifting you sweet, juicy goodness year after year with minimal fuss. They are like weeds, seriously you won't have a problem keeping these alive as long as you water them.

• Dwarf Delights: If you have a touch more space, a dwarf apple, cherry, or pear tree offers future feasts. They're smaller, easier to manage, and yield amazing fruit with less drama than their bigger cousins. Or if you have the space, cherry trees are beautiful when they flower and put off so much fruit, plum trees are easy peasey and who doesn't love a good apple (apple trees typically only fruit every other year unless you know how to prune them... I do not have that skill set just yet. But that's ok! we start slow and gain knowledge as we go)

  
  

  

  Ok, this is corn but you get the idea 3.Simplicity Score: 🫐🍏 (Plant 'em, largely forget 'em, and enjoy the bounty!)

  
  

Some extra ideas - composting is great and easy but can be stinky, growing flowers are always a plus, and they make great gifts, put herbs inside and then dry them for use all year long... but start with 1 thing and go from there!

Beyond the actual planting and clucking, hobby farming is a mindset shift.

• Embrace the "Oops!": Your first tomato might be wonky or you'll get a fat strange carrot. I love the weird looking carrots we get - our soil is very rocky and has never had anything planted on it until now so a lot of our root vegies look a little odd and its always so much fun. It's not failure; it's learning. Laugh it off and try again!

• Become an Observer: Listen to your plants. Feel the soil. Watch your chickens. They'll tell you what they need. And there's a universe of free knowledge out there (books, YouTube, your local gardening guru).

• Taste the Magic: There's absolutely nothing like biting into a strawberry you grew, or cracking open an egg laid by a hen you know. It's connection. It's real.

• Savor the Slow: This isn't about efficiency; it's about enjoyment. The quiet moments in the garden, the gentle purr of a happy hen (yes they purr), the simple satisfaction of working with your hands.

  
  

So, ditch the grand, overwhelming vision. Start small. Start today. Your little hobby farm adventure is waiting, and trust me, it's going to be wonderfully, refreshingly simple.

Rowan says, do what feels right and the knowledge will follow.

Alright, fellow soil-lover, what's the very first, tiny seed you're going to plant on your new hobby farm journey.. what's the first farm animal you'll be adding? Spill the beans in the comments below!