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Modoc Country Living Hobby FarmA hobby farm is defined by Webster's as a small farm operated by someone who works elsewhere for income. In the literal sense though, this type of farm can be just about any small agriculture operation. However, please be careful in using Webster's definition in the strictest sense. Not all farms or ranches operated by someone who works elsewhere for income are hobby farms. The economic state of family-owned farms and ranches in America today is not exactly stable. It’s not uncommon for a farmer or rancher to take employment elsewhere just to make ends meet. These are not hobby farms. Your hobby farm operation can be anything from a home garden to share with friends and neighbors to a small chicken farm for your own eggs. This kind of farm can also make agriculture a part of your life in much the same way as a large commercially oriented farming or ranching operation. The big difference is pursuing it on a smaller parcel of land and not necessarily for profit.
Hobby farmers come in many shapes, sizes and colors and from many walks of life. Some have experience with farm life and others just a desire to live down on the farm. Their common thread though, is a desire to experience country living and farm life. My guess would be that the majority are people who have some roots in the agricultural world. Some were raised on a working ranch or farm and migrated to metropolitan areas where education, jobs and careers awaited. After a while, these folks often decide to live a more peaceful way of life, move closer to the country and try their hand at farming while still employed in the city. Some folks born and raised in cities and suburbs become fascinated with life on a farm, and decide to give it a try. Still others, myself included, have roots on a hobby farm. I was raised around animals, chickens, rabbits and an annual garden, but my dad worked a full time job in the nearby city. In fact, the pictures on this page are of that farm in the city, now inhabited by my son and his family and still a viable hobby farm. Of course, when I was a kid, we didn't think of it as a hobby farm, it was just home.
A hobby farm is a great place to enjoy gardening, either produce or flowers. Unlike metropolitan areas the size of your garden here is usually limited only by budget and ambition. If you're new to serious gardening, conduct research and do some reading on your locale for best techniques and garden varieties to use. One technique that is proven, and one that I have personal experience with, is companion gardening. Companion gardening is a component of organic growing and actually aids in plant development based simply on what plants are nearby. Examples of companion gardening are planting leeks and carrots near one another for mutual pest control; plant garlic near roses or tomatoes to ward off aphids and other insects. Certain plant’s properties actually compliment one another with respect to soil nutrients.
Because of their rural locations and relatively larger property size, these small farms can also support limited quantities of larger livestock. As an example, for livestock population, one acre of irrigated pasture will normally support 2-3 beef cattle, with less density for dairy cattle. The numbers can naturally be adjusted depending on how much irrigation is used and whether you use supplemental feed or not. You’ll also need to allow room for a barn or shelter for the animals and feed. It’s also a good idea to have a water supply near the animals for drinking. Horses, llamas, goats, sheep or alpacas are also naturals for a small farm operation. If your passion is chickens or other poultry, they can be raised on these farms as well.
While anyone can pursue an agriculturally oriented hobby on a small scale just about anywhere, suburbs included, more rural areas are usually preferred. Rural areas will support larger operations and present less restrictions on type of farming or ranching. A hobby farm can be from a one or two acre farm in an urban-rural interface area to a 20-acre (or larger) ranch in the country. Modoc County, California is a prime location for such a place. It is rural enough and adequately agriculturally oriented to support about any type of country living hobby farm. Whether your enjoyment is raising fresh organic vegetables in a home garden or gathering your own eggs on a small chicken farm, a hobby farm might fit into your country life plans. Please visit other areas of our site for more information on country living and ideas for a hobby farm. More Modoc Country Living…
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