Farm Share Program -- update

 Hi All!

Seems my post was somewhat confusing, so I’m writing this to simplify and clarify the Farm Share Program.

We are looking for assistance in funding The Farm at The Garden.

4 Goats, 25 Chickens, 10 Ducks, 2 Rabbits and 3 Bee Hives will come under our care this Spring.    Each of these creatures requires food, equipment, shelter and fencing to keep them cared for and protected.  Our biggest expense, at this point, is fencing.  We must use electric fencing, not just to keep them in, but primarily to keep other critters out!  (Coyotes, bears, mountain lions, bobcats, foxes, weasels, fischers, raccoons, hawks and many others would love to have some of our creatures for a wonderful snack!)   For the amount of space these animals and insects need to be comfortably maintained, we need a minimum of 3, 164’ electric fences at approximately $200 each and two energizers at $150 each -- so approximately $900 for fencing.  For the barn we will mainly be using materials readily available here on the land, will will need some additional lumber, hardware and a pond liner for the roof AND we may need to hire someone with a backhoe to level the area and move some stone etc.  We will need wood for the bee hives.  We will be building Warre top bar hives, with observation windows, most natural way to keep bees.  We need to build a duck house & rabbit hutches.  In the Fall or early next Spring we will need to build a milking area and have a milking stand for the goats.  You get the picture, as with any venture, there’s always an initial outlay of money, time and energy that gets returned later.

Ok, so here’s how it works... To fund the Farm at The Garden you contribute a $ amount (any amount is great, and it would be helpful to start at $100, for bookkeeping purposes).  You get get paid back from the bounty that The Farm produces, including but not limited to:  Eggs, Milk, Cheese, Rabbit, Honey, Mushrooms, Vegetables, Fruit, Flowers, Herbs and Herbal Products (medicinal teas, tinctures, syrups and other potions... culinary vinegars, oils, horseradish and more)

Some of the bounty available from The Farm at The Garden:

Spring -- chives, rhubarb, asparagus, thyme, peas, lettuce (next spring milk & cheese!)

Summer -- all kinds of veggies, fruits (strawberries, currents, gooseberries, bush cherries, blueberries, raspberries), tons of herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage, chives, egyptian onions, tarragon, mint, lemon balm and much more), flowers, bug repellent

Fall -- eggs, honey, potatoes, garlic, jerusalem artichokes, veggies, apples, herbs, flowers, horseradish, teas, tinctures, tonics

Winter -- eggs, honey, potatoes, garlic, squash, teas, tinctures, tonics, syrups, soap

So in other words, we are asking you to prepay an amount toward future food so that we have the starting capital to fund this expansion toward greater self sustainability.


Here’s what we have:
We have the rabbits & their temporary cages
We have the chickens paid for
We have 2 hives paid for
We have 4 goats in process of being paid for
Honey extractor
Sink for the barn
Windows for the barn
Duck Fencing for the lake
Meal worms for the Chicken
Red Worms for the Chickens & Garden


What The Garden needs:
Electric Fence and Energizers
1 more hive (approx $200)
Ducks paid for (approx $75)
Feeders & Waterers for Goats, Chickens & Ducks
Fence stakes
Hardware
Lumber
Rustic Door
Pond bubbler for ducks
Beekeeping equipment
Pond liner for barn living roof

What we need to build:
Bee hives
Duck house
Rabbit hutches
Barn (to house goats, rabbits and chickens, also storage)


ALSO -- Please NOTE!

We will be building our barn in April using ancient (now considered alternative) building methods.  Using all materials from our land here we will create a log structure with wattle and daub walls and a living roof!  We will be working on the barn the last two weekends in April -- April 23-25 and April 30-May 2 and the week in between. Overnite accommodations and food provided.  We’d love to have your help!

PS  Oh, and did I tell you that we’ve been “Certified Naturally Grown”?  It’s a self-policing organization that gives certification to those growing organically (without the high fees and paperwork).  CNG has 700 farms nationwide and is rapidly growing.

So looking forward to this community creation — can’t do it without you!  Love & Blessings...  Rachel

Farm Share - Phase I

Farm Share at The Garden
Invest in a small farm enterprise and get paid back in FOOD! 

Beginning this Winter/Spring 2010 we are expanding our self-sustainability dreams into reality by starting a farm here at The Garden!  As you may well know, we have extensive flower, herb, vegetable and small fruit gardens already established here in Rensselaerville and we have been guided to add small livestock to our expansion.  Your share will allow us to get the stock, barn supplies and fencing needed to get things off the ground.  In return you get paid back through the food we produce. This will allow us to help people, like yourself, find, learn about and consume good, clean food, and if you desire, learn how to do it for yourself!  After the Farm has been established and everyone paid back, we will be using the production from the farm for our guests and workshop attendees here at The Garden and creating a multi-farm CSA.  

We begin with American Chinchilla Rabbits, a rare, heritage breed rabbit.  We’ve been lucky to get a breeding pair that are unrelated (hard to do in the rare animal world).

Buff Orpington Chickens and Khaki Campbell Ducks will be here at the end of April --  both are known for their eggs laying and meat production.

Goats in mid-May (as long as the barn is done -- see below) will be bred in the Fall for kids next Spring.  So next year, milk and cheese!

Bees will be coming at the end of May and honey will be harvested in the Fall.

Farm Share
$100 and up
Return in milk, cheese, eggs (chicken & duck), rabbit and honey

Animal Share
Chickens -- $25 -- return 7 dozen eggs
Ducks -- $36 -- return 6 dozen eggs
(duck eggs are twice the size of chicken eggs!)
Rabbits -- $100 -- return in meat, pelts or pets
Goats -- $150 -- return in milk and/or cheese
Bees -- $200 -- return in honey

About your contribution: 

        *  You can donate and get a tax write off
        *  You can buy a farm/animal share and be paid back as funds permit       
        *  You can buy a farm/animal share and be paid back with the fruits of our labors (at fmv)

Call or email me for a Contract!  (518) 797-3373   rachel@gardenofone.com
Thank you & Blessings...  Rachel
(We can take cash, checks or credit cards for your Farm/Animal Share)

ALSO -- Please NOTE!

We will be building our barn in April using ancient (now considered alternative) building methods.  Using all materials from our land here we will create a log structure with wattle and daub walls and a living roof!  We will be working on the barn the last two weekends in April -- April 23-25 and April 30-May 2 and the week inbetween. Overnite accommodations and food provided.  We’d love to have your help! 

PS  Oh, and did I tell you that we’ve been “Certified Naturally Grown”?  It’s a self-policing organization that gives certification to those growing organically (without the high fees and paperwork).  CNG has 700 farms nationwide and is rapidly growing.