Farms Questions Part 1

I want a farm. I want to be able to raise chickens and cows and grow enough vegetables and fruits to almost sustain us. So my question is what is the right size for a farm to be able to do that? Should it be 10 acres? 20? 30? I have no experience with this sort of thing but I know it is something I want very much. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Gas Prices and Gardening

Yesterday, Noah and I spent part of the day wandering around the local garden center dreaming of a huge garden. I'm really impressed with his love of plants. He asked if he could grow cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons and marigolds in the garden. I told him sure and we shelled out $4.50 for some more plants. He was very excited. He REALLY wanted to buy his Daddy an apple tree and surprise him by planting it, but I told him that he and his Daddy would have to take on that project.

This morning the news is reporting gas at $3.29 a gallon (they may as well say $3.30). I told the Cableman it was a good thing school is almost over and that we were homeschooling next year. It will be much less expensive on gas, not driving the kids back and forth to school everyday. And, it is a good thing we are putting in a garden since fresh fruit and vegetable prices are bound to go up!!

A Mother's Day Planting Extravaganza

Today being Mother's Day my husband decided to give me something I haven't had in 8 years. Vegetable plants and a Rose bush. I'm so touched. Yesterday, he took me to Home Depot and let me pick any rose bush I wanted, I picked Blue Girl, I can't wait to Miracle Grow and love on it until it's HUGE!! Then last night when we came home he made me steak, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, and a HUGE salad. I am the luckiest woman in the world.

Just look at what we planted.

Spearmint just for fun. I wanted to plant it beside the house on the little strip between the driveway and the house just like I remember having as a child, but our wonderful neighbor weed eats that spot for us and I didn't want to tell him to stop, so for now I'll just put it in this cute fairy pot I got at a yard sale last year for $3.

The cableman wanted Strawberries, I've never container grown Strawberries before I think they need a bigger pot.

I thought I had bought some Better Boys and Sweet 100's but when I got home all I had were Sweet 100's, oh well, hope they like cherry tomatoes.

Here is my attempt at an heirloom tomato. A Mister Stripey.

Here's the Cableman's Patio Tomato plant, we'll see, I'm a bit dubious.

And. . . Drumroll please. . .

My Blue Girl Rosebush. I'm so excited.