BACKYARD FARMING

Your Guide to Building the Ultimate Self Sustainable Backyard Mini Farm

Sanford Evans

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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What Is Backyard Farming?

Preparing The Backyard Garden

Creating Your Vegetable Garden

Not Just For Vegetables

Not Just For Plants

Challenges In Creating A Backyard Farm

Why Backyard Farming – The Advantages

A Preview to “Salt”

Thank You

What is backyard farming?

Have you heard of backyard farming? A backyard farm is a farm, which is established in your backyard or in your balcony. Many centuries ago, when the settlers started to find land for settling down, they picked up places which are apt and suitable for farming with fertile land, proximity to water and flat terrain. Their basic concern was to produce food, for a living. Today, we choose our place of settlement based on the cost factor, distance to work, availability of resources and other factors, which have nothing to do with farming, unless you are a farmer.

Thus, our backyard is not the perfect place for farming. However, this does not mean that one cannot start a modern homesteading on one’s backyard. There are a lot of different names for backyard farming like, urban farming, modern homesteading, micro farming and hobby farming. Basically, backyard farming helps to create a sustained environment in which one can grow fruits, vegetables and herbs, which are required for daily usage, without using pesticides and other chemicals.

How should it be done?

There is no fixed method of doing it. No two backyard farms would look the same and no two farmers would have used the same method. You need to develop your own ideas, space and resources. This book would help you to look at the big picture and help you find the right opportunities and possibilities available for you, when it comes to backyard farming.

The backyard garden can be formed with a few pots, with specific crops which would be enough to feed the family, all through the year. Thus, you need to have plants of all seasons. You can get organic seeds from shops and plant them in the soil. A little sun, adequate water and homemade or organic compost would be enough to start the backyard farming. Of course, the most important element to the success of backyard farming is interest in gardening.

Who needs a messy backyard farm?

Who said that the vegetable patches or the pots have to make the place, ugly or messy? You can arrange the pots, add stones, plant flowers and other decorative plants and make the place, more aesthetic. For instance, a row of tomatoes and bright colored squashes can be bordered with small lilies or roses. Small patches of grass can be added to absorb the excess water to make the place, less messy. If you are able to create a good design for your farm, it would add more aesthetic appeal to your yard and your family. Think of a tea time with your family, amidst the pineapples and sunflowers.

Think of designed pots with marigold and tomatoes with the pots, filled with small grasses to absorb the water. The stones can be added to the pot, to make it look, less messy. A few hanging pots and colorful vegetation can increase the aesthetic value of the place and not decrease it.

Is it just for vegetables?

You can also grow apples. However, you have to be patient enough to tend the plant for long, before it starts flowering. Mushrooms, edible flowers, nuts, grains and many others can be grown in your backyard, provided you have space for it. You will learn about how to optimized your space and create a better backyard farm, later in this book. You can also plant hops, for making beer.

Does backyard farming involved only plants? No, you can grow your own livestock in your backyard. These livestock will help to create a sustained environment by providing manure. Adding animals would increase the fun part too. They consume bugs and weeds and provide items, like milk. However, remember that adding animals is equivalent to adding more work and you would need more space, time and resources.

What does this book do for you?

Will this book make you an expert in backyard farming? The answer is no. As a matter of fact, there is no book in the world which could make you a master without you trying out, practically. This book is a guide which would help you to start a basic backyard farm and it is up to you and your interest to take a basic farm, to the next level. This book explains in detail about the basic elements and considerations of backyard farming.

One last pointer, before you jump into the book. Do consider the amount of free space, you have, before you plan. If you are in an apartment, you can afford to have a few vegetable pots and berry bushes and not big trees and cannot breed sheep or cows. Plan the space, time and other resources and keep in mind that your work on your backyard farm does not end, the moment you set up the farm. It actually begins there.

Preparing the backyard garden

It is not as simple as buying the seed, planting it and watering till it grows into a strong and healthy plant. It is better to start small and develop it as you learn from your mistakes and kill a few plants. You need to observe, what would work and what would not. The preparation or planning is very essential. You should know what you would be growing, how you would be doing it and the resources needed. This chapter would explain in detail about all the elements which have to be considered, in the preparation stage.

Site selection

Your whole backyard can be converted into a farm, but for the initial stage, you need to choose a spot for your garden.  There are a few criteria for choosing the right spot.

•The spot should be such that there is a lot of sunlight. The spot should receive 6 hours of sunlight, per day. If such a spot does not exist in your place, choose the spot with maximum sunlight. If you live in an area which receives very low sunlight, choose the crops which do not need  a lot of sunlight. You need to choose plants, as per conditions prevailing in your region.

•Keep the location of the backyard farm as much as near to the water, as possible. This would help to reduce the time and also check whether you can drive a wheel barrow to your spot.

•Pick a spot which can be viewed from your room window or your kitchen. This way, you can scare away the birds or other pests and you would know whether the plants need water or not. It will help you remember that you have a farm in your backyard and that you need to take care of it. It also helps to have a great view, after the farm is fully developed.

•The backyard farm should have proper drainage. If the ground is soggy, it is not the ideal destination. This would cause the roots to decay and the plants would die. If your whole site is soggy, then you can consider using pots or raised beds for growing the plants.

The site selection totally depends upon the type of plant, you are planning to grow. The soil, sun, water are the basic elements, which will help the plants, sustain themselves. The soil should suit the plant. The plant should be able to get an adequate amount of water and sun. The place should be easy to maintain.

If you are in a windy zone like a hilltop or an open plain, you should be able to choose a spot which has protection from the wind, so that it would not damage the crop. When you are planning to put a wall or a fence to reduce the speed of the wind, make sure it is strong enough. The wind would push the fence or the wall over the crops and this would damage and flatten the vegetation.

Preparing the site

After picking up the right site, most of the time, the place would not be conducive to starting the garden immediately. You need to perform a few more tasks, to bring it to that condition.

•Remove the stones, litter, sticks and general trash. Make sure there is no plastic waste.

•Remove weeds or dead plants, if any. If there are any plants which are growing rapidly and you do not need them, remove them.

•If the soil is very dry, plow it and water it till it becomes, fit for cultivation. If it is not working out, add soil from other fertile areas and add a layer of organic manure. Rotten manure, leaves, grass clipping and compost can be added to the soil.

•Use rock, stick or stake to mark the corners of your site. Dig the land and till it or run a tiller over the plot. This would break up all the chunks of the earth.

•Using a rake, remove the unbreakable chunks.

Plant selection

The selection of the plants totally depends upon you. Make a list of vegetables you want to grow and choose the ones, which would grow in your soil. You should also determine, the space required. Just because you love apples, does not mean that you can grow an apple tree in your apartment balcony. There are hundreds of fruits and vegetables to choose from and each type has many varieties in it. The plant selection depends on many criteria.

They should be easy to grow. Tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, lettuce, basil, sage and thyme are the easiest vegetables and herbs to grow. The success rate of these plants is high. Little maintenance is required for a good harvest.

If you are planning to grow rabbits in your farm, avoid planting carrots. You can plant a few carrots for their food, but remember that they would feed on all of them and you won’t be able to make use of those carrots.

Plant the vegetables and fruits which you consume. If no one in your house likes cucumber, there is no point in growing it, just because it is easy to do so.

Plants which provide fast output would increase motivation. If a crop takes just a month to flower and give fruits, vegetables or berries, it would motivate you a lot. If a crop takes more than a month to just sprout, you may be bored.

The soil, sun, shade, wind and other elements are very essential to choose the plant. Arrowroot would thrive only in a warm climate and day lilies would grow faster in dry soil. Thus, the soil and the other features of the spot should also be taken into consideration.

Soil and compost

Choosing the plant based on the soil, is a good start. However, what if your soil is very dry that it can be used only for a very few types of plants or what if your soil is ridiculously infertile? You can enrich it by adding more soil or compost. You need to add a new layer of soil and compost, every year. If you are buying manure, buy the ones, which are aged and which are not green. The green ones would kill the plants.

If you are planning to create your own compost, you can do it by using a small worm bin. This would help you avoid the pungent smell and would help keep away animals or other insects. The worm bin is the best choice, especially in areas, with low space. While creating a compost system,

•Keep the bin as close as possible; otherwise, you would forget that such a bin exists.

•Add the green and brown material in 2:1 ratio

•Cover the food scraps with grass clippings to keep the animals away. You can also use the leaves to cover it.

•Keep it aerated, warm and damp.

Once you have completed all these steps, you would have the perfect land layout for your gardening or required pots, water source, soil and required seeds. Now, it is time to get your green thumb, dirty.

Creating your vegetable garden

Each vegetable is different. If you want to grow a combination of different vegetables, you ought to take advantage of the environment, to suit the needs of those plants. For instance, Watercress grows in damp soil and carrots needs a lot of sun. The carrot should be planted in the spring and the fall. The soil should be deeply tilled for carrots and other tubers. Cucumbers thrive in almost all the types of soil and require 6-8 hours of sun. Different vegetables require different climatic conditions, to grow. Even, the different varieties of the same vegetable need different handling methodology, environmental elements and care. Thus, it is not possible to create an e-book which talks about all the vegetables and its varieties and the methods of growing them effectively. This chapter talks about the basic ideas and rules to be followed to successfully grow healthy vegetables in the backyard.

Test the soil

To know whether the nature of your soil suits a particular vegetable, you can test the soil and get to know what type of vegetables, would grow in them. You can use hanging pots or normal pots and fill them with the desired soil, to increase the production of other crops. If you are ready to spend some money, carry out a simple soil test and find its soil type and pH. Soil with low pH or acidic soil is the best for cabbage, avocado, cucumber, potato, radish and others. Some vegetable grow well in both acidic and alkaline soils like peppers, yam, okra, onions and many others.

Assessing climate

The season affects the plant. Some areas have a long frost season and little sun. Some areas have a long rainy season and a few months of sun and the variations go on. The cool season crops like cabbage, peas and lettuce have to be matured and removed to be consumed or sold off, before the weather gets warm. Peppers, cucumber and melons are few examples of warm season crops, which cannot tolerate frosts. Sun loving crops like tomatoes, turnips, radish, beets and carrot need at least six hours of sunlight, every day.

•All root vegetables need a lot of sun and the leafy vegetables need shade.

•Very hard vegetables can tolerate frost, whereas the tender vegetables have to be harvested in the warm weather.

•Carrots get sweeter, as the temperature gets colder. Broccoli, spinach and cabbage grow well in cold climates.

•Hard and semi-hard vegetables should be planted in the early spring and tender vegetables have to be planted, at the beginning of the summer.

How to identify whether the vegetable is hard or semi hard or tender? If the vegetables are hard enough to take time to frost, then they are hard vegetables. The vegetables which are juicy and soft need a lot of sun.

Some of the hard vegetables are

•Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage

•Kale and other spinach types

•Collards

•English peas

•Leeks

•Radish, turnip and the other hard tubers.

Some of the semi hard vegetables are

•Carrots

•Beets

•Lettuce, cabbage and other salad greens

•Swiss chard

•Potato

•Celery

•Cauliflower

Some of the tender and soft vegetables are

•Ladies finger

•Pumpkin

•Gourds

•Cucumber

•Beans

•Corn

•Peppers

•Peas

•Squash

•Sweet potato

•Tomatoes

Obviously, this is not the complete list. You can surf the internet or ask people with experience, in order to know which type of vegetables is suited for a particular climate.

Crop positioning

You need to position the crop in such a way that all the crops get ample amount of sunlight. Each crop grows to different heights. Corn reaches 7 feet, tomatoes reach 6 feet and peppers can grow up to 3 feet. There are a few plants like cucumbers, which grow along the ground. When they are fully grown, the corn plants would create shade for the tomatoes and the tomatoes would do the same on the peppers and cucumber. Thus, when you plan to have a set of plants, rank them according to their height. Place the shortest one first, on the path of the sun.

Watering the plants

You can use hose pipes, buckets and mugs, normal pipes, sprinklers or automatic watering system, to water the plants. The way you water your crops, does not matter. All that matters is you should remember to water them. The most commonly used method is the drip irrigation where the pipes are lined at the roots of the plants and the water oozes out, drop by drop. Thus, the plant is watered all day, without wasting and the soil never gets dry.

Weeding the backyard farm

Most of the time in the backyard farm is spent for weeding. An area which does not have plants in your backyard, may attract weeds. Every inch of your farm is filled with weed seeds. Only the seeds in the top two or three inches get enough sun to grow. Thus, whenever you dig or till the soil, there are chances for new weeds to pop out. Do not dig the soil, unless it is very essential. The weed seeds can be dormant for a long time, before they sprout out.

Mulch helps to keep the soil moist and cool and at the same time, does not allow the light to fall on the weed seed. Moreover, mulch becomes a habitat for carabid beetles and crickets, which feed on the weed seeds.

You can either start with a single vegetable and move on with more types as you gain experience, or start with more plants, at the same time. Crowding the crops, not taking care of the weeds and forgetting to water the plant are a few ways to make a backyard garden look messy and dirty.

Not just for vegetables

The backyard farm is not just for your vegetables. You can grow fruits, nuts, flowers, herbs etc. At the same time, all the plants in your garden need not be edible. You can plant ornamental flowers that would increase the aesthetic value of the place. The procedure and the ways to plant the fruits and other plants are the same as that of the vegetables, which are explained in detail, in the last two chapters.

Growing fruits

Do not just think of the tall fruit trees, when it comes to fruits. You can add fruit bushes and shrubs too. Most of the fruit plants take more than a year, to produce fruits. Thus, you need to be a little more patient with fruits than with the vegetables. Once it starts producing, you would be gaining your reward, every year. Just like the vegetables, choose the right place, position the crops and take care of them.

When it comes to fruits, most of them are perennial and thus, changing the soil becomes difficult. Thus, till the soil perfectly, before you start planting. Moreover, unlike the vegetables, the fruit plants tend to grow large in size and height. Plan the full grown size, when positioning the plants. Here are a few tips for growing fruits in your backyard.

•Do not start immediately with big trees. Start with brambles or strawberries. They would produce fruits, in just one year.

•Select the trees and bushes, which are suitable for your place, climate and space.

•You can also plant dwarf trees, if you are in short of space.

•If you are planting just one tree, you ought to know whether or not, it need pollination, to produce the fruits. Planting only one apple tree would not produce any fruits.

•Elderberry, kiwi, currants and quince are some of the commonly planted fruits.

Growing your herbs

The easiest and the fastest plants to grow are the herbs. Usually, the herbs would be dried, when you buy then from the stores. However, you can pluck them from the pot, whenever you need. Basil, parsley, mint, rosemary are some of the herbs, we use, on a daily basis. You need not tend it too much, like other plants. All you need to do is find a sunny spot for it and water it daily.

Rosemary needs a lot of sunshine and water. Thyme needs sunshine, but can be grown indoors. If you have a spot which gets eight hours of sunlight every day, you can grow lavender. Basil grows almost everywhere and it requires watering, every day. Parsley is the best herb to grow, if you are lazy. It does not need any maintenance. However, it would grow, at a slow rate. Sage, on the other hand is a high maintenance crop. Each herb has a different need. Overall, herbs are easy to grow that any other plants.

Grow your own grains

If you do not have enough space in your garden, grains are not conducive for your farm. A few pots and a few patches cannot be turned into a grain farm. If you have abundant space, then you can grow grains for baking purpose or for feeding the livestock. Remember that a lot of pests and bird feed on the grains. You may need a scarecrow. One can grow wheat, oats, barley, corn, flax and rye, to start with. If you want to use them for baking, you should cure, thresh and grind them. Growing your own grains will give you a sense of fulfillment which is rare, to get, these days, owing to our stressful lifestyle. It will allow us to be self sustainable and allow us to grow our own food.

Growing your own flowers

Flowers are as beautiful as a baby’s smile, they say. Growing flowers or simply, even looking at them, gives joy to the heart. Flowers can both be edible and ornamental. Dandelions, pansies, violets and nasturtium are a few examples of edible flowers. Daisies, lilies and orchids are a few examples of non-edible flowers. Some flowers may be medicinal and a few may be poisonous. If you pick up flowers from roadside or from a polluted area, ensure that you do not to consume them. You can also buy seeds and grow them yourself.

Sunflowers can be used as both ornamental and edible flowers. The seeds can be roasted and consumed. Sunflowers grow very fast and tall. They also would act as a wind barrier, to an extent. African violets can be easily grown. It is easy to grow a new African Violet. Just cut of a leaf and the root and place it in moist soil. Peace lily, African violet, marigold, begonia and flowering varieties of the cactus are the few flowering plants, which can be grown, in a very small space.

Growing your own nuts

Cashew, almonds, hazelnut, filberts and chinquapins are a few commonly grown nuts. They may not be suitable for your area. Research and find which nuts would adapt to your climate. Almond trees can be dwarfed and can fit into your backyard. The fruit of the almond tree is not edible. You can grow Filberts on your fence too. Hazelnut grows in a bush and this makes it ideal for your farm. It grows only up to 10 feet. Chinquapins grows in very low bushes and can go up to 40 feet. On an average, it would take up 15 feet. The trunk would grow into a massive shape. If you have space for trees, you can grow an ample number of nuts like walnut, shell bark hickories, pecans and many others.

Grow your own mushroom

You can grow mushrooms, even in your apartment balcony. Purchase a mushroom kit and start your own colony. If you try to grow mushrooms from the beginning, it is very complicated. The kit makes it easier. Oyster mushroom, shiitake, lion’s mane, brown cap and white cap are a few types of edible mushrooms. You can also grow colorful mushrooms as ornamental fungus. However, do not consume any bright colored mushroom. Mushrooms are available, all around the year. Logs of oak, beech, hazel, willow and birch which are cut during the dormant season (between the autumn and the spring) can be used for growing mushrooms in big backyards. The log should not be more than 6 weeks old.

There are other crops which do not fall into any of the above said category and can be grown in your backyard. Hops, hemps, sprouts and even cotton can be cultivated. If your space is limited, you can plant in boxes, raised beds, hanging pots and even on the window stills.

Not just for plants

Backyard farming is a bit more than a garden plot. You can add animals to increase the enjoyment and also to produce eggs, milk and meat. Some animals consume weeds and bugs too. Remember that raising animals is not like adding another crop to your farm. If you think that your farm is very small, yet, you want to have a few animals, you can choose the livestock, which takes up very less space.

Chicken

Chicken is the first choice for the people who want to add livestock to their farm. It only needs a limited space and can be placed in compact homes. Chicken provides eggs and meat and also helps to control the bugs.

•They lay eggs, which are healthier and tastier than the store bought ones

•They provide manure for the farm

•They eat the garden scraps and thus, help in composting

•You need to provide them shelter, food and water.

•They live in a group of 3 or more.

•The chicks should be kept warm and away from predators.

•They can be noisy

•They might expose you to avian flu and other health concerns.

•While searching for the bugs, it would scratch the seedlings and destroy small plants. Add fence to the seedlings, till they grow into small plants.

• Cocks can fight with each other and destroy a few plants.

•Can be smelly, if not maintained.

Turkey

Like the chicken, the turkey is also raised for eggs and meat. The turkey which you obtain from the store would be filled with saline, to increase the size. It might not be able to reproduce. Choose home bred ones. The meat of the home bred ones is tastier than the store bought ones.  However, the size would be less than the ones bought from the stores.

•They serve as pest control

•They provide manure

•They can be aggressive, at times

•They are noisy and can create a foul smell, if not maintained.

•They attract some pests and rodents.

•They need constant access to water and food.

•They need shelter, at night.

•They need more space than chickens

•They should be bought, when they are at least 18 weeks old.

Ducks and geese

Ducks are more often picked over geese as the geese can be aggressive. Aggressive birds can cause damage to the crops and sometimes, to humans too. They provide meat and eggs. They do not require a large pond or water source. They just need water to swim.

•Both geese and ducks provide eggs and meat

•They can increase the aesthetic element of the farm.

•They eat bugs and do not destroy seedlings, like chicken.

•Their waste can be used, as manure.

•Some breeds like Muscovy ducks are quieter.

•They need to be protected.

•They can be messy and cause a foul smell.

•They should be raised in a group of 2 or more.

•You need not provide them water to swim. They just need water to get their heads wet.

•They prefer to sleep on the ground

•They take up more space than chicken.

Peacock, Guinea fowl and quail

These are some of the uncommon birds that are raised in the backyard.

•Quail is raised for its meat and egg.

•The peacock is raised for its feathers and it also increases the aesthetic value of the place.

•Guinea fowl eats bugs and provides eggs.

•They require less space than the above said common farm birds.

•They are raised mostly for ornamental reasons.

•Guinea fowl and quail can be noisy.

•They are timid, but can be aggressive with other birds.

•The chances of peacock flying out of your backyard are very high.

Rabbits

Rabbits can be raised as pets, for meat and also for their soft fiber. They are apt for someone who has a very limited space.

•Rabbits have more meat to the size ratio than any other farm animal or bird.

•The chances of them dying in the hot climate are very high.

•Angora bunnies produce fiber.

•They are quiet and can be kept in a small place.

•Rabbit meat is not very popular as most people see rabbits as adorable pets.

•They need access to hay and water.

•If you grow carrots, the chances of them destroying the plants are very high.

Goats

Goats are one of the earliest domesticated animals. You need a large space for breeding goats and they provide you milk, fiber, meat and manure.

•Goat milk attracts only a niche of the market

•Using the milk to produce milk based products like cheese; yogurt and others would increase the revenue.

•They clear off the bushes and at the same time, your vegetable patches too. Fencing is very essential, if you are planning to let your animals roam free.

•Can be smelly and attracts flies.

•They can destroy the plants, by stomping or eating.

•Some breeds are quiet and some are not.

•They are high maintenance animals.

•They need dry shelter and do not thrive in a rainy climate.

•They need hay, water and other supplement constantly, if you are trying to contain them to one place.

Sheep

While most of the people think of goats and sheep are being the same, they are not. Sheep eat low grasses and are easy to contain. Limited space is a big disadvantage, when it comes to sheep. They need a big space, like a pasture.

•They produce wool, milk and meat.

•They mow the lawn and do not destroy your bushes.

•They can be noisy and smelly

•They attract flies.

•Should be raised in pairs.

•They need hay and root vegetables along with grass.

Pigs

They are raised for meat and to fertilize the land. They prefer to be kept clean.

•They eat scraps, but the feeding amount and upkeep cost are high

•They do not need a mud pond.

•Boars can be aggressive

•Can tear up the bushes and are difficult to handle, once they become adults.

•To keep the pigs contained, one might need electric fencing, which may not be safe for other farm animals.

Cows

The term ‘milk’ means cow’s milk for most of the human population. With a cow, you can ensure a steady supply of milk.

•They provide meat.

•Male calves can be kept for meat or can be sold. Female calves are raised for the milk.

•Creates manure.

•Need more space.

•The barn has to be cleaned regularly.

•Need to be milked regularly.

•You need not worry about extra milk as it can be converted into other products like cheese, or yogurt.

Fish

Growing fish increases the sustainability of your backyard. Fish farming helps to provide a good protein diet. You can grow fish in a large tank or in a backyard pond. Carp, salmon, tilapia and catfish are some of the fish, which can be grown in the backyard. You can sell the fish and generate profits. If you are growing ducks, you can use the same pond. Goats can drink from it, but make sure that the pond does not get dirty.

You need to create a pond by digging out soil out of a low lying area. The depth should be 8-12 feet. Make sure that the pond is surrounded by plants and grasses. The pond should be at least 5 feet in the center and not less than that. Fill the hole with the mason’s sand. This will make the surface smooth. Cover the surface with Geo textile fabric. Place a rubber liner to cover the whole pit and fill it with water. Place stones as stairs from the bottom of the pond to the path. You can create a waterfall at the side of the pond, with the help of pump and hose. Predatory fish like bass or perch need more space. Pumpkinseed and bluegills are very flexible and grow very fast.

Bees

Keeping bees is ideal for those who do not have a lot of space. The bees help to pollinate the plants and also to produce honey. Unlike wasps and yellow jackets, the bees are very calm.

Honey can be sold and also be used for your needs.

People pay a premium for buying natural honey.

They do not need daily care and need not be fed.

You need a hive and should know about the facts of harvesting them.

You would need to buy a lot of accessories like bee suits, smokers and other gadgets. You can get the return on the investment, very soon.

Challenges in creating a backyard farm

The main aim of the book is to involve as many people as possible in backyard farming. However, you would see a lot of backyards empty or a few ones, filled with trampolines. Why don’t more people get involved into backyard farming, when it is so fun and profitable? There are a few challenges, when it comes to creating and maintaining the backyard farm, practically. The more urban your place is, the more, the difficult it becomes for you, to create a backyard farm. It is not that you cannot create a farm, but, it would take a lot of responsibilities and a few hurdles on your path to jump over. This chapter aims at letting you know about the basic challenges that most of the people face, when they try to create or maintain a farm. If you know these challenges, it would be easier for you to equip yourself to face them.

Resources

The backyard farming might look easy to start. However, it has a lot of start-up costs associated with it. You should know whether to cut the expenses and where to be generous. You cannot cut the cost of feeding the animals by feeding them less, but can supplement food with a few things, we throw away and which can be edible. The start-up costs include

Gardening tools like broad fork, swan neck hoe, collinear hoe, trapezoid hoe, stirrup hoe, scoop or shovel, pocket gardening tool, clips, row cover, pot holder, sprinkler system, pollinators and many others. You might also need a tool rack to place all the equipments. Though you might not need all at once, you have to spend a considerable amount of money and time in buying the tools.

Apart from tools, other accessories like gloves, cart, buckets, pipes and others are required.

Soil, compost, manure and other organic fertilizers. If you are planning to create a compost system, it would be an inexpensive method.

Buying seeds, mushroom kit, small plants, pots and other holders.

Wood and other materials for building coops, barns and other shelters.

Fencing and other protection. Water and power related equipments.

Feeds, cost of buying animals and fish.

The backyard farming might or might not be able to return all the investments. However, if you could pay heed to  the farm, you can make a profit out of it.

Finding the resources

Spending money on resources is one of the challenges and the second is the time and energy used in searching for the resources. You might be able to find all the resources in one place. You can save on time and energy if you buy accessories online. However, you should be able to choose the right store or site. You need to read the reviews, consider the advice from fellow farmers and choose the right place to buy them. The time you take in reading this book and knowing about the backyard farming is being utilized well.

Time for the farm

You should not spend a lot of time to find the resources. You need to change your lifestyle and spend more time in creating the farm. Tilling the soil, planting the seedlings, creating a shelter for the animals, creating the backyard pond need a lot of time and energy.

Once the farm is built, you would be required to spend even more time on it. Your schedule would involve

Waking up early in the morning to feed the animals

Watering the plants and providing water to the animals.

Tending the plants and cleaning the shelters

Weeding the garden and harvesting the fruits, vegetables, milk and eggs, if any.

Storing them in the right condition.

Cleaning the animals

Adding manure and adding the waste to the compost pit.

Feeding and watering, in the evening

Making all the animals return to their shelter, in the evening.

Checking whether the animals have created any damage to the plants and tending to it.

Vacations would be out of your schedule. You can go out occasionally but cannot spend a lot of time away from your house, without anyone looking after the plants and animals. You need to have like-minded neighbors to farm-sit your backyard, while you go out. Creating interest of backyard farming in children can help you save time, as they would tend to simple chores in the garden. Name a plant or animal after each of your children and make them responsible for it. This would help you gain more time.

Space

What is the standard size of a backyard? It can be as small as 5 feet or a as big as a large tract of land. You might be living in an apartment where all that you have would be your balcony and terrace. You cannot grow ducks and bees in your apartment. Your backyard might not get enough sunlight or your balcony might be facing the west. Before you start your backyard farm, make sure that you have space for everything, you have planned. If your space is limited, all you can do is buy a few pots and grow one vegetable in each. When it comes to animals, you can opt for rabbits.

Laws

Some state laws prohibit you to grow certain animals and birds in your house. You need to check with the neighbors about any allergies. You must also be concerned about the association members when you are living in an apartment. No matter how big your balcony is, you cannot keep cows in it.

Environmental elements

Your backyard might not get enough sun or might not be the right place to grow certain plants. Sometimes, the heavy wind might blow down the trees on your animals and plants. In case of adverse environment, restrict your backyard garden to a few flowering plants and herbs on the window stills. Improving the environment elements like adding fertile soil, wind barriers and fencing might create a hole in your wallet. The plants which grow in your soil might not be the ones which your family consumes. In such cases, you need to create your garden with pots and fertile soil or manure.

Angry neighbors

If your neighbor does not like you, even your rabbits can disturb them. For ensuring the success of your backyard farm, you would need supporting neighbors. There are chances that your birds and animals may fly or walk into your neighbor’s house and make a mess or destroy things. If the neighbors are not co-operative, it might lead to lawsuits, being filed against you.

No buyers

What if no one in your locality wants to buy the duck egg? You cannot use all the eggs from the chicken, duck and geese for a house of 4. You need to have a standard storage system for all your products or else your work would be wasted.

How to overcome these challenges?

These are not dead-end problems, at least not all. There are a few ways to overcome these challenges.

You need not buy all the equipments, at the same time. You can buy used ones or share the equipments with other farmers.

If your neighbor has a backyard farm, add animals which he does not have and exchange the products.

There are a lot of people around you who wants to start backyard farming but could not do it for various reasons. You can share the work, money and the products with them. This would help you to take a vacation or reduce the work burden.

Do not add animals, at the beginning.

Use drip irrigation, if you have just plants and want to go out on a vacation.

Grow the animals and birds which produce products which the local people buy. If they like salmon, grow a lot of salmon. If they do not eat duck meat or eggs, do not grow them in a large number.

Involve your children in the backyard.

If you have a very large backyard and want to ensure that it is inspected all the time, have a farm dog.

Plant vegetables and fruits which are costly, in the market. This would increase your profit.

Once you become an expert, you can write about your experience and tips on backyard farming, with the pictures of your farm. This would help to increase your revenue. You can also start a yard sale on the products. When it comes to making money, there is always one way or the other. With more money, you can buy more gadgets and with more gadgets, your work load would be reduced.

Why backyard farming – the advantages

Why is this chapter, at the end? You need to know the advantages and the need of going through all the steps and pains you have learnt, in the previous chapters. The advantages of having a backyard farm are numerous. Just because it is not easy, does not make it worthless. Here are some distinct advantages, when it comes to growing your own food.

A small farm with a few patches or pots can be easily managed. You may not need to toil too much, but you would be able to eat fresh vegetables.

You can get fresh vegetables and other products, with are not treated with chemicals, pesticides and other hormones.

Are you following the Paleo diet or planning to go gluten free or GMO free or organic? The first fear is the cost of organic food. With the help of the backyard farming, it becomes easier to get organic food.

Prolonged exposure to pesticides can cause problems in intestine, stomach and also in the digestive system. Some pesticides also increases weight.

The store bought meat has estrogen injected into it, to increase the size of the animal. This would cause weight gain and will also problems in the reproductive systems.

Are you depressed? Walk along the rows of tomatoes or daffodils you created or play with your bunny and you would no longer need an antidepressant.

It helps to keep the air fresh and the place green. If you have an herb garden, it would give you more benefits, in terms of medicines.

In warm climates, having plants in your balcony or backyard, would help insulate the house, to a certain extent.

With the tightened economy, it would be profitable to grow your own vegetables, as it would incur only the startup cost and you would have the products all through the year and if it is perennial, you can have the products, for even longer.

Are you obese or want to reduce your weight? The easiest way to stay fit and healthy is to practice backyard farming. You would toil on the farm, which would help you to reduce your weight and you will be able to eat fresh and organic foods.

Want to make your children eat Brussels sprouts? Name the pots and give the responsibility of each pot to each child and let them take care of it and harvest it. They would be happy to consume something that they grew.

You can see that your grocery bill would have reduced considerably.

You can reduce your carbon footprint with the help of backyard farming.

Your backyard fruits, vegetables and meat would taste better, than the store bought ones. Nothing can beat the happiness and pride, when you see a ripe tomato or the first apple.

It would be a wonderful and healthy hobby for your children.

You can grow vegetables and fruits, which are not readily or freshly available, in the market. It would increase the aesthetic value and also the land value.

If you want to attract visitors, this is the best choice.

With your farm eggs, you get more Vitamin E, D and A, beta carotene and also omega 3 fats, than the store bought ones. Your eggs would have less cholesterol than the store bought ones.

You can reduce the risk of salmonella infection in the egg.It is a good way of entertainment and education.For retirees, this would help to reduce their bills and also provides a hobby to keep them active.

The yolk of the store bought would be pale and the shell would be very soft. However, your eggs would have a hard shell and dark yolk. This increases the flavor and other nutrients.Though the fruit trees take years to harvest, you would get fruits every year more than you would consume and thus, you can sell a few to the neighbors or if they have an animal farm, exchange those fruits for milk or cheese from their farm.

There are a lot of people who are ready to spend a premium for raw and pure honey as opposed the store bought ones. Those who are using honey for medicines can be your profitable customers.

Are you someone who meditates? Ask those with a backyard farm and they would confirm that working with plants would increase the inner peace, more than meditation does. It would help you to take your mind off your problems. For instance, if you are coming back home after a heavy and busy day and see two rabbits fighting over a small carrot, you would be feeling free and de-stressed instantly.

These are a very few advantages, when it comes to backyard farming. As you start and develop your farm, you will be able to understand and experience many more advantages, which would help nullify all the problems associated with backyard farm. This book will not make you an expert in backyard farming. This is just a guide for those who do not know what to do with their backyard or balcony. This book contains the basic guidelines for growing animals and plants in your backyard. Remember that the backyard farming is not for all and it might not give you return on investment, if not maintained or developed properly.

A little start is enough to get you excited about backyard farming. Just start with a small pot with beans or spinach and see them growing into a small sapling and produce the vegetable. This would motivate you to add tomatoes or other crops to the patch and soon your pots would turn into a backyard farm. Use fountains, stones and other decorative items to make your farm look beautiful and less messy.

A Preview to: Salt - The Miracle Mineral! Learn How Salt Can Help You Lose Weight, Defeat Depression, Halt Heart Disease, and More

Dispelling Common Myths

There are far too many myths about salt being bad for us, and it just isn’t true. Salt is needed in the human diet. It’s table salt that is unneeded, as after it’s processed it holds little to no significance health wise, and it is actually considered to be counterproductive and unhealthy. Listed below you’ll find some common salt myths and the lack of truth behind them. When salt was once considered to be precious and healthy for the body, it’s amazing how many people believe the myths listed below, when salt in fact is a helpful part of any diet.

Common Myths:

Salt is Bad for You:

Salt isn’t bad for you at all, and natural salt is actually good for you. Table salt is not good for you at all because it is not natural. Sea salts and other forms of natural salt need to be incorporated into your diet, and there are many illnesses related to a lack of salt. Sodium is important to our body’s health. Without salt we would not be able to keep the right balance of fluids in our body, resulting in illness. Salt also helps the muscles and nerves function properly, and has many more uses that are essential to keeping our body running.

Salt Causes High Blood Pressure:

Salt does not cause high blood pressure, and actually a lack of sodium can affect blood pressure poorly. An increased risk of high blood pressure often relates back to poor nutrition and too much table salt. Table salt is not natural salt and should not be categorized the same. Table salt may be linked to bad blood pressure, but natural salts such as sea salts are essential to keep the body running.

Sodium Isn’t Healthy:

Sodium is healthy, but salt does not consist solely of sodium or sodium chloride, not unless you’re talking about table salt. Again, table salt is not considered good for you. Sodium helps to regulate your blood, your fluids in general, helps your muscles, helps your nerves, and helps with mucus. Sodium is actually very healthy for you in the right amounts, but it is not everything that you need from salt, and you don’t need as much sodium as is found in everyday table salt.

Your Body Doesn’t Need Salt Every Day:

This is not true. Your body actually does need salt every day. Your body needs at least 200 mg of salt a day to stay healthy, and this is referring to natural salts. You can use anything from flake salt to Hawaiian sea salt, and it’ll be healthy for you to add it to your food. So long as you are ingesting natural salts, your body will run smoothly, as salt is needed in your diet.

Sodium-Free & Salt-Free Means No Salt:

Even in products that are labeled sodium-free or salt-free there are traces of salt. There are traces of salt in a lot of products in the grocery store, and you need to watch out, as it’s not the type of salt that is considered to have a lot of health benefits. This is the type of salt that needs to be regulated. A product can be labeled sodium-free or salt-free if it has less than five milligrams of salt in it.

Table Salt is Good For You:

Table salt is terrible for you because it has been too highly processed, and it is not necessary to have in your diet. Switching to sea salt can actually help you to become a healthier person, and incorporating natural salts into your diet is considered a healthy idea. Table salt is not natural, and it was actually only created in recent times.

Sea Salt and Table Salt are Nearly the Same:

Table salt has been processed a lot more than sea salt, making them very different. Sea salt is considered to be a natural salt, and therefore healthy for you, but table salt is not. Table salt consists mostly of sodium chloride, when sea salt has many trace minerals that are healthy and needed in your body.

Table Salt is Natural Salt:

Table salt is not considered a natural salt because of the way it has been processed. Natural salt still contains its trace minerals, and table salt has been completely stripped of them and then further refined. Table salt is even sometimes sprayed with iodine to add some nutritional value back. Table salt is not able to be broken down by the body in the amounts that it is consumed because its structure has been changed and the minerals needed are no longer there.

Salt and Sodium are the Same:

Salt and sodium are not the same thing. Sodium is an important part of salt, but salt consists of more than just sodium. Even table salt still has chloride in it. Sodium is found in other places besides salt as well, and that is the reason that sodium can be in your food without salt being there.

Sodium and Salt Mostly Come from Cooking:

Salt doesn’t mostly come from cooking, not in the way that people think. Many people think that the salt we add is the majority of the salt that we intake, but this isn’t true. Even most medications have a significant sodium content. However, as discussed, sodium is not exactly salt, but it is still not healthy for you. Natural salts are still considered to be much healthier. Processed foods and restaurant foods are high in sodium, and this can be from adding salt before it’s cooked.

Is Salt Bad?

The simplest answer to this question is no. Salt is not bad for you, only processed salt such as table salt is. Natural salts are important to keeping the human body functioning properly, so salt and sodium should not be cut out of our diets completely. We should strive to incorporate more natural salts into our diets instead of table salt. Salt isn’t bad for you, and the trace minerals found within salt will actually help keep you healthy.

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Salt - The Miracle Mineral

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Thank You

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Thanks a million for reading this book all the way to very end!

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