Canadian Acres
Farming in the North
Homesteading Goals: 2015
After writing the summary post of our first year on the farm I am amazed at how much we accomplished… and also a little overwhelmed because I mean, how in the heck do we top that?! But with the New Year brings a refreshed sense of over achieving and I think we’re up to the challenge.
Earlier this week, Clay and I sat down to sketch out our farm goals for the year and my oh my, how do we still have so much to do? Ah yes, it’s called homesteading and there is a reason that not everyone else we know is doing it. Starting from scratch takes time, patience and a crap load of work. Also, mistakes. You have to be willing to make mistakes and not kill each other over it. So far, nobody has died (save a few critters here and there). Well, we’re pretty good at making mistakes so might as well continue to do what we’re good at!
Here is a breakdown of our 2015 homestead goals:
- The Garden:
Maynard in the garden site last summer - Triaged from last years list my major focus this year will be implementing my garden. I have big plans, big plans I tells ya… to the point of maybe too much but I am committed to taking it one step at a time and starting with a well thought out, drawn out plan. The hard part for us is starting small, so we will be practicing that.
- Design, design, design… I am designing my garden based on permaculture principles that incorporate many different ideals on how to best work with nature to accomplish our goals. The back 1/2 acre will focus on an integrated food forest design and the front part will consist of hugelkultur beds, suntraps, keyhole beds, mandala beds, microclimates and herb spirals.
- Books I am currently reading or have read for research are: Sepp Holzer’s Permaculture, The Holistic Orchard by Michael Phillips, Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway and Integrated Forest Gardening by Wayne Weiseman (just to name a few).
- We have to build an 8 foot elk fence around the acre section. For a while I figured we didn’t need it and all would be fine, but this winter has proven me to be a liar.
Thor stands down two bull elk directly next to my garden site - Our water system will be a major project as an acre is a lot of ground to cover. Whilst I’ll be designing the garden with plenty of water saving techniques (swales, hugelkultur and mulch) we will still need a reliable source of water. The garden plot is currently located between two existing dugouts so we will need to figure out a way to best use these resources. And also will need to get ducks, obviously…
Dugout located on the right side of the garden site… perfect for ducks, right? 
An elusive Peace River water hippo and some sort of creepy water goblin enjoying the dugout on a hot day 
The second dugout is located to the left of the garden site in the section of trees - Then it will be time to dig and dig and dig and move and lift and haul and plant and water and plant and water and…. spend so much quality outdoor time with nature my soul will fill to the brim.
- Design, design, design… I am designing my garden based on permaculture principles that incorporate many different ideals on how to best work with nature to accomplish our goals. The back 1/2 acre will focus on an integrated food forest design and the front part will consist of hugelkultur beds, suntraps, keyhole beds, mandala beds, microclimates and herb spirals.
- Triaged from last years list my major focus this year will be implementing my garden. I have big plans, big plans I tells ya… to the point of maybe too much but I am committed to taking it one step at a time and starting with a well thought out, drawn out plan. The hard part for us is starting small, so we will be practicing that.
- Building our horse corrals:
Corral site - We will continue on our lovely log peeling journey to finish up the rails we need to start construction on our corrals. The land will hopefully start to turn into pasture as we finish the last 150-200 rails. Then it’s time to put them up!
Clay peeling logs with two very hard working supervisors - Once the corrals are finished, the goal is to load up the 50-60 wild horses from across the river, transport them 3 hours to the farm and let them get used to the idea of being contained. We’ll host a big old party to entice people to come help us with the cutting, branding and breaking and will hope that all goes well and Wyatt doesn’t get killed immediately by a wild horse… some will be sold, some will be kept and the mares will be transported back across the river with Thor as their new stud… I hope he’s up for the challenge!
Our Fjord mix stud Thor in the front 
The wild ones last summer
- We will continue on our lovely log peeling journey to finish up the rails we need to start construction on our corrals. The land will hopefully start to turn into pasture as we finish the last 150-200 rails. Then it’s time to put them up!
- Install my clothesline, keep muddy dogs and loose chickens away from it
- Install gutters on house and add a few rain barrels
- Landscaping:
The fire pit area in need of some finishing touches - Finish fire pit area
- Lattice the bottom of the deck
- Chicken yard and area around well
- Re-seed patches in lawn
- Chickens:
- I want to add some Ameraucanas and Blue Copper Marans to the flock
- Going through our first winter with the coop has pointed out some flaws with the interior design so we’ll be working on remedying some of these issues
So there you have it… doesn’t seem so bad…. right? Oh who am I kidding, it looks really bad, but in a good way. There is a reason we don’t have TV.
I’ll be looking for full-time work and have many personal goals in mind this year as well, so it all could go either way. But this is the path we’ve chosen and we enjoy the good life so here’s hoping we don’t collapse in a heap of exhaustion, or even worse, end up with goats 🙂
Ever optimistic and always on our toes. Cheers to the new year!
~Katy
Canadian Acres 
Oh, My Gosh what a beautiful piece of property you two have !! I really enjoy your blog Katie and you are such a good writer enjoy every sentence ..Looking forward to see about all your process for the 2015.. Keep them coming ok . Love Uncle Leo & Aunt Judy
Thanks Aunt Judy, we love here. It’s been such a great lifestyle change for us. We are hopeful that 2015 is just as productive as last year so keep your fingers crossed 🙂
Hello, Katy! Love reading your blog. We live a valley over from you, just off the Hudson’s Hope road. We have just started this country life after raising four kids. I love the fact that someone is learning along with me! I have managed to keep most of my chickens alive this winter. Lost one to a hawk and one to a weasel. Keep up your writing! Enjoy every minute, such a gift to live in a beatuful place like we do 😊
Thanks Lisa, it’s been such a fun journey to share. What kind of chickens do you have? We have yet to lose any to predators (knock on wood) but are always keeping an eye out! Glad someone else out there is learning with me too 🙂
Hey what’s wrong with goats??? 🙂 Hope to meet up with you guys sometime!
Nothing is wrong with goats! I just really want some and Clay is against it… Too much trouble lol!! Let’s get together soon as I’d love to meet you 🙂
Always amazing and thoughtful. Love these!
mom
GOATS, GOATS, GOATS!!
Laura, you have to convince Clay as I’m already all for it lol