What to do on my new small farm

4 posts
Fri, 10/19/2012 - 11:30 #1

Member for

11 years 6 months
Benben
Last seen: 10/25/2012 - 10:22
Joined: 10/19/2012 - 11:08

What to do on my new small farm

hey everyone

my nan has  had a small farm before and she had grown plums. she had to sell the farm but has got another farm now and would like to see it go to go use. my family enjoys motorbike riding but my nan wishes to see it go to use aswell as this. the problem is i have very little knowledge about farming but do acces to a ute and tractor. also with work and tafe i wont be able to attend to the farm alot maybe once or twice a week. my main questions are. will i be able to grow something with my experience and learn as i go ? what would be best to grow? if possible would love to do plums for my nan. im willing to put in hard work on the days i can get to the farm and can find help on them days.

so if anyone could help me out that would be amazing for me and my nan

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Tue, 10/23/2012 - 14:21 #2
rmcpb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13

Some questions:

  • Where abouts is the land
  • What size is it
  • How close to your work
  • How is it fenced
  • What is growing on it now

With a bit more info you may get some better guidance from the members.

Cheers

Rob.

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Wed, 10/24/2012 - 09:59 #3
Benben
Last seen: 10/25/2012 - 10:22
Joined: 10/19/2012 - 11:08

the land is in bargo nsw about 45 minutes aways from home

there is about 4 acres that has no trees. and theres nothing growing on it now just grass. it is well fenced with just a wire fence.

thankyou 

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Mon, 10/29/2012 - 11:43 #4
rmcpb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13

OK, with that bit of extra info maybe we can think of something that is possible. I think the main problem is lack of supervision. Farming is not something you start and come back to at the end to harvest a crop or to draft a few stock off for sale, it takes constant supervision. However, after saying that, it may be possible for you to set up an orchard on that grassy land if planning rules for the shire allow this activity and the markets are there or can be created but again its a time thing.

If this is possible it would take lots of research to work out the fruit you want to grow and how you are going to market the produce but that is a bit of homework for you. If you have the water available you would need a drip irrigation system on the trees otherwise you are at the mercy of the rain patterns and that can be irratic to say the least.

If you go this way I would not kill out the grass when establishing the trees as it would open the ground to erosion and drying out. Before you plant the trees you would spray a bit of glysophate in the patch (maybe a metre around each tree) so the tree can get going. If the orchard is finally established it may be possible to graze some sheep under it to control the grass and for an extra income stream.

I would say to start very slowly by having a grand plan but plant a small patch of trees that will keep you and your family in fruit. Get them going and learn to work them then slowly add to it.

If you have the water now and the fences could handle it maybe a few sheep are a possiblity but again it comes back to supervision. You really need to keep a constant eye on stock, they have a habit of getting out and you are responsible for any damage they do, as well as getting sick and needing attention. After saying this remember that sheep need to be shorn which is an added expense of time and money.

Possibly bees are a way to go as well. Honey and wax are both good crops that require minimal input and would work well with fruit trees and mixed pastures that are not overgrazed.

Cheers

Rob.

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