History:
Did you know that most of the farm animals today are several times larger than the farm animals from a century ago? With the advances in genetic science, farm animals have been bred with one goal in mind, production! The reasoning behind this was to feed the masses in less the time. Farm animals are bred to mature faster and produce more to get the highest yields and the smallest investment of resources and time.
While commercial farming may have begun with well meant intentions, the bottom line has become the end goal. More and more small farms go out of business, while the conglomerates have taken over the industry. Some people have taken an interest in what used to be and have started selecting the smallest farm animals for breeding programs.
Miniaturization has become quite popular in pot bellied pigs, pigmy goats, ponies, and dogs, but what about poultry and bovine? We're in luck! In the chicken world, there are small breeds called Bantams. These breeds have been around for centuries and can be raised for both eggs and meat. The nice thing about chickens and Miniature Farms, is that you can still raise standard size breeds in small spaces.
In the cow world, there are actual associations that specialize in miniature cows, both used for meat and milk production. The nice thing about miniature cow breeds is that they eat half as much as standard breeds and still produce plenty for the Miniature Farmers.
Accessibility:
Most people dream of living on a farm, but that's about the extent of it. Farm land is very expensive and that doesn't usually include water rights. You have to have a lot of money to be able to farm these days. To take care of a farm, you have to have the necessary equipment. If you are planning on farming the land, you will need tractors and implements to till the soil, sew, cultivate, and harvest the crops. Depending upon the size of your farm, this equipment can cost from tens of thousands for used equipment and hundreds of thousands of dollars new.
I was lucky enough to grow up on a five hundred acre farm in Nevada, and a two hundred acre farm in Missouri, but only because it was a fourth generation farm. So what about all of us who want our own little piece of heaven, but weren't born into it and don't have the resources to fund it?
Farm Vs City:
So what if I grew up on a five hundred acre farm? The farm I grew up on is no more. I haven't lived on the farm for over a decade and yet I find myself longing to dig my toes into the earth, and work with the living creatures again. Money is never very plentiful, so I've hung up my dream of having the big farm and have decided on a smaller version.
I live in the city and have a small back yard. I love the modern conveniences of the city, but I miss the pace of life that comes from working with and watching living things grow. Can I have both? Why not!
Miniaturize It:
Imagine going to your white collar job in the morning and then coming home to a blue collar way of life. Miniature Farming isn't for everyone, but if you have enough of a desire to plant the seed, all you'll need is to help it sprout and grow. Miniature Farms can be the greatest teacher of children. They will learn the cycle of life as animals are born and as animals die. As you nurture your Miniature Farm, invite your children to work along side you. Let them help you dig holes in the earth and let them drop a seed into it.
I remember when I purchased our first clutch of baby chicks from the feed store and the look in my daughters eyes was one of excitement and curiosity. That batch of chicks are a year old now and she has learned much about the circle of life. I remember coming home one day to hear how Grace had killed two of the chickens. She had sat on them pretending like she was their mother and was keeping them warm. My wife told me that she came running to the house wondering why the chickens weren't breathing or moving. Tears filled her eyes as we explained what had happened to the baby chickens.
I take full responsibility for what happened to those chickens. It was my fault that I didn't supervise our little five year old during interaction with the chickens, but the lesson Grace learned was invaluable. She learned the fragility of life and the consequences that come with making choices. I had her bury the birds in our back yard to reverence the lives of those little creatures. She might not have understood the process completely, but she found an entirely new respect for living things.
Our first batch of chickens have been a learning experience for all of us as a family. Grace gathers the eggs everyday and we pay her for it. She is just learning how to add and so we started with paying her one cent an egg to gather them, and an extra four cents to wash and put them in the fridge. She may not fully understand how five eggs equals twenty-five cents, but when she gets to spend that money at the store on things she wants to buy another lesson will be learned.
I grew up gathering hundreds of eggs and butchering hundreds of chickens, but I am learning lessons all over again. When Grace sat on those chickens I was really upset. I didn't know what to do to teach her a lesson and so I called my dad. What he told me is what has ultimately inspired me to share my Miniature Farm with the rest of the world. I was mad that she had killed two of the chickens I had paid for and had planned on getting eggs from eventually and after telling him this, he said, "Cody, you aren't in the business of raising chickens, you are in the business of raising children."
A Miniature Farm is without a doubt, one of the most amazing things you and your family can every experience. Even though it can be quite an investment in resources and time, the pay off is priceless. Like I said earlier, you don't have to have a lot of space, in fact, if growing vegetables is all your interested in, this to can be considered a Miniature Farm. What you do need is desire and resolve. If you have that, let Miniature Farms guide you through the rest. My hope is to share what I have learned in a way that gives you the courage to do it yourself. Together we can reintroduce the farming way of life back into ourselves, our families and our communities.
Imagine if your kids came home to work in the garden or with the farm animals instead of heading for the video games? Click on the link below to start planning your Miniature Farm.
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