This time of
year is often highly anticipated for those of us that live on acreage in rural
Nova Scotia. The cold winter months are behind us, and the water buckets have
thawed. These are days that you have planned and prepared for. Baby animals are
arriving! Hens are sitting on hidden eggs and emerging with chicks. Lambs are
being born in the sunshine in the middle of a green field. Birds are collecting
nesting material. The seeds you started are sprouting.
I didn’t
grow up on a farm. When I moved to the country and decided to start raising
animals, I read many wonderful books on backyard homesteading. It was a
fascinating learning about different types of fencing, housing and nutrition
prior to bringing animals home. There are so
many varieties of chickens, but
which one would best suit your needs? Are you raising animals for food? Where
do you buy your first calf? Do you want to make cheese? Maybe you would like to
learn to spin wool produced by your sheep!
The Annapolis Valley Regional Library has many wonderful books to help
you get started. You can browse our
online catalogue and place holds on items of interest, or visit your local
branch and talk to our staff about what you are looking for.
Raising your
own animals can be very rewarding. My family has enjoyed eating homegrown meat
and eggs. I learned the joy of making cheese and yogurt, and spin wool and knit
with the yarn produced by my sheep. Over the years we have raised pigs, calves,
chickens, ducks, geese, goats and sheep. There is nothing more exciting than
opening the barn door in the morning and finding a new and healthy baby. In the
beginning we all make mistakes. I learned which animals are best suited for my
farm and lifestyle, and that proper fencing really is important. Start by
reading about your farming adventure. Talk to friends and neighbors who do
farm.
Then roll up your sleeves, put on your rubber boots and get some hands-on
experience. You can do it!
Wendy
Kearnes
Outreach
Services Manager
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