Oasis. Farm. Poop zone.
I don’t know if you can call our property a “farm.” We do have an acre of land in Arizona. We do provide a lot of our own food and we do have lots of poop. Er, animal poop that is. I guess that pretty much qualifies as a farm, wouldn’t you agree?
How many animals do we have on our farm?
Right now we have five goats. We have 2 Nubian goats (that are in milk) and 1 Nigerian goat (also in milk), as well as 2 adorable/annoying as heck baby Nubian doelings (females). You think adult goats are mischievous? Try raising baby goats, then come talk to me. Their adorable-ness almost makes up for it.
I said almost.
We also have fine laying chickens (5 others were killed this week by an owl—I’m so sad!) and 3 little goslings that are also pretty adorbs. They who should grow into some fierce protectors for the chickens.
On top of that, we have a big garden and fruit and nut trees. Other times of the year we usually are raising an animal for meat. We either raise lambs or meat chickens. Right now we are looking for some spring lambs to raise, but we haven’t found the right one yet.
How much does it cost to run a small farm?
Lucky for you, I just tallied up the amount we spent last year on animal food/supplies/watering. The total came to… drumroll please…
$1786.68 That’s right. For an entire year of farming/gardening/homesteading, it cost our family $148.89 per month.
But wait!!
We also sold some baby goats in 2013 and made some moola. How much, exactly?
- Through a trade we received 2 baby doelings, we sold them for $300 together.
- Our goat, Lacey, had 4 babies, and we sold all of them, the total being $675.
- We sold one of our adult does, Polly, for $250.
- We sold a horned goat (that ended up being a bad purchase on our part) for $50. We affectionately referred to her as “the horny goat.”
The total we made this year from selling baby goats was: 1275
So how much did it REALLY cost us to run our small farm last year?
$511.68
That’s $42.64 per month to provide all of our own milk and eggs, about 50% of our meat, and about 30% of our fruits and veggies.
This year, we’re hoping to increase our home-raised meat as well as our fruit and veggie production.
You can run a farm, too!
If money is holding you back, don’t let it! Raising your own animals and obtaining your own food is one of the most rewarding things in the world. Yesterday I made fresh mozzarella, and ate it with fresh basil and tomatoes from the garden. Last weekend we juiced the rest of our citrus and froze it for future slushies. On Easter weekend, I made a carrot cake with carrots from our garden and fresh pecans from our tree.
There really is nothing better than eating fresh, real food.
Since the beginning of this blog, it’s been my purpose to empower others to get back to backyard farming. And whether you have a small apartment or a large homestead, you can do a certain level of gardening or farming. It just takes some planning and a good dose of perseverance.
So, get out there, start farming, and enjoy life the way it was meant to be enjoyed: Surrounded by goats.
If you’re looking to get started in farming, I recommend the following books:
Now go start farming!
I am confused. I have been doing research for a while now, and my total came to nearly 20k annually. But here is a farmer saying it only costs2k (Canadian) annually for approximately the same amount of the same type of animals that I plan to own. I was only accounting for the price to keep animals for this 20k estimate, not including land or anything, so i am just super confused about the annual price of farming. is it really that cheap to have goats and chickens?
Hi Esther-
It depends on where you live, how many animals you have, and if you are including start-up costs such as fencing, housing, equipment and animal purchases, etc., and if you need to purchase hay or are running pasture. I am not sure what costs $20,000/year, unless you are running a large operation or including large start-up purchases, or the costs of electricity, taxes, etc. If you are then yes it can add up.
This is a breakdown on what DaNelle spends on her goats for feed and supplements (not including the purchase of the animal, fencing, etc.): https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-much-does-a-goat-cost/
But when you add in housing or fencing it can be more expensive. This is how much DaNelle used to build her goat barn: https://www.weedemandreap.com/our-custom-goat-barn/
If you have broken down all the expenses for your planned farm and it comes up to $20,000/year and you think you have your items and costs correct then that is what you should plan for. You may want to contact your local ag extension agent because they can often help with these types of things.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Well… Real farmer here. Off gridder. 32 acres for pasture, hay, forest for maple syrup and firewood. Raised purebred cattle, animal rescue maple syrup. Fuel and reairs are the worst. I’m very frugal.. It cost us $500. 00 per week at our peak to maintain the farm. By retirement this was impossible. Luckily I had planned. The animals had passed on from old age or illness. Amish hayed for us and kept the hay. Fuel and repairs were just the worst. Getting older made this really difficult. My husband a lifelong farmer.
I PURSUADED MY MUM TO GET NIGERIANS!!!!!!!! SO EXITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m very surprised that you don’t raise turkeys. I have raised them for a number of years and use them mainly for my ground meat, as I don’t eat beef. Plus I will slice some of the breast into steaks and they are awesome. If you raise the brood breasted whites you butcher in no more five months and get a turkey that won’t fit in your oven. It gives you a broader choice of meats and makes great breakfast sausage to.
Hi Cindi-
Turkey is delicious! Thanks for the great info! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I also cook most of my dinners using turkey meat. I’m also a fan of this meat and really makes food tastier
I thoroughly enjoyed your article. I also run a small 10 acre farm where I keep three dairy goats and a buck. I also have laying hens, ducks, geese, Guinea fowl and peafowl. And an old horse. And about 17 pet chickens : ) I have a garden and fruit trees as well. It’s an awful lot of work for one person who also works a full time job. But it is all worth it.
Hi Mary-
Sounds like a great farm! And yes, a lot of work, but definitely worth it in the end! Thanks for reading and posting -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hey there! This was an incredibly insightful article. I’m very interested in starting my own small farm, but I’m concerned about startup costs. How much did it cost you in the beginning, for equipment, certifications, etc.? Thanks so much!
Hi Veronica-
That’s great that you want to start up a farm! The cost of farming varies widely based on what type of farm you have, states and counties of where you live, and your actual piece of property. I have included some links that DaNelle has on different aspects of the cost of different parts of her farm.
https://www.weedemandreap.com/urban-farming-getting-started/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/raising-meat-chickens-cost/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-supplies-raising-milking-kidding/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/buying-milking-goats/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-to-raise-grass-fed-lamb-like-a-boss/
As for certifications, I am not sure all you need. This is also based on what you plan to raise on your farm, if you are selling it, and where you live. I included the USDA links to one of their certification sites.
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/becoming-certified
These folks (actually your local NRCS office) can tell you more about that. Also check with you local county extension office and your state’s department of agriculture, they can help you with needed certifications too.
I hope this helps! Best of luck and Happy Farming! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Please read Morher Earth News and Countryside. You also need to contact your county assessor and soil and water. Don’t believe these articles. Everyone has different ideas. Land is expensive. Machinery costs a bundle. Animal housing , fencing. Feed. The list is endless. It costs ALOT!.
Just stumbled across your site (which looks awesome) as hubby and I are considering a move from the city to about 10 acres. My concern is we have a pretty cruisy city life and the adjustment to country work may be quite a shock especially as hubby would have to still commute to the city and we are also adjust to new parenthood.
What would your typical day be?
I look forward to reading your blog and maybe making the dream a reality!
Hi Hayley-
How exciting that you are thinking about jumping into the farming and homesteading life! This video DaNelle created gives a glimpse of what goes on at her farm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkbkzANR_S0&index=192&list=PLbNNUM043aIB4h54hLGdZHNfllG9dEMiI
If you want to see more of what DaNelle does check out her YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/DaNelleWeedemandReap
I hope this helps. Best of luck! Thanks – Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hello! I’m having fun snooping around your blog and I could use some direction. In about three years, I plan to quit my job and move to five acres of family property in southern New Mexico. There is a two room house (needs work but at least it’s functional), a well but I know water is still an issue in the desert, and once I sell my house I plan to use the money I make to invest in solar panels and a wind generator so I can get this thing off the grid. I have some gardening experience, have raised chickens in the past, and I’m super curious about goats, sheep, and/or alpacas. I have heard fencing can be an issue with goats and I worry that my property is close to the main road. Thoughts? Where do I begin? THANKS!
Hi Stacy-
It sounds like you have some fantastic future plans!
Goats and fencing can be issues and something you need to plan for. So glad you are looking into it now! Here are a few articles DaNelle’s has written on amount of space and fencing needed, pasture rotation, and goat supplies in general. I also tacked on a video DaNelle made about working with fence contractors and other fencing issues.
https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-much-space-need-raise-goats/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-fencing-breaking-out/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/efficient-pasture-rotation-goats/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-supplies-raising-milking-kidding/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vQr_nW0h8Y
I hope all this helps! Best of luck and Happy Goating! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
It may be somewhere else on your site, but do you have a rough outline of how much it cost you to get started with goats? I’m trying to save up money I’m making from freelance writing, and I’m pretty sure I’ll have enough by summer next year…. I love your site, you’re my spirit animal <3
Hi Ruthie-
That’s so great you are thinking about getting goats! And yes, DaNelle would be a great spirit animal! 🙂
DaNelle does have a great article about raising goats that includes some costs and prices. https://www.weedemandreap.com/raising-goats-milking-goats/
Also, here is a link to her article on buying goats: https://www.weedemandreap.com/buying-milking-goats/
There are some additional links in both articles that go into much needed goat info that I think you will find useful.
Good luck with everything and Happy Goating! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hey I’m looking into buying about an acre and a half of land and I wanted to know how much man power it takes to run a small farm. How many hours or days a week do you have to dedicate to the maintenance?
Hi Brie-
Well I am going have to say that the answer to your question really depends on what is on your farm. When I had 10 acres, 1 large outbuilding, 3 shelters, 3 pastures, and a whole lot of fence, it took me, both my girls, and 2 great neighbors (intermittently) to help us out. As for maintenance, this was mostly a late spring to early fall job, unless a heater went down in the winter, or some speeding teenager drove through the fence at 11pm on a Saturday night, nearly letting out several calves (fun times). So for what I had, during the warmer months, I spent on average 1-3 days each week clearing brush, mending fence, fixing damage done by animals (mostly one horse in particular and 2 escape artist Boer goats), etc. The more animals I had the more work was created, but reaped more rewards.
So the short answer is, the more you have, the more it takes, but the more you get. You get what you put into. I hope this helps and I wish you the Best of luck! -Bobbi
We live in Kansas and want to start farming. We have 4 kids ranging from 17-6. We both know animals and I’m good and gardening. The only problem is finding the money to get the house to start it all. Would you have any suggestions. After I get it going I want to be able to have kids and adults with mental disorders and people who need the comfort of animals and wildlife to be able to visit. My kids have adhd and I know our cats and the 2 dogs we have help them tremendously. I have worked most of my life with special needs children in school districts and also with adults in group homes. I know animals are the one thing that are common ground for everyone. As I said the one thing holding us back is the money to get the house and get started. I love your blog it’s full of a lot of good information.
Doesn’t help me much but I did learn a lot
I was so excited by the title Since I’m currently doing the feasibility study and business plan to start a small farm. To me farms are commercial endeavors however size does not matter. I am looking at 5 acres to raise vicuna but will definitely be reading your blog for my homesteading needs. I love to garden and have been thinking about having chickens and bees once I get property. I have my own company that i run from home so I can’t wait to get started.
HI there I’m not very good with technology so I’m not sure how I ended up on this Website but I love it! I live in Edinburgh Scotland so I’m not sure how relavent your info is to me given the obvious difference in climate but I read on anyway, trying to glean any relevant information. I am hoping to start my bucolic life when I retire but am interested to hear your views on this ĺifestyle in later life. I guess I am anxious that by the time I am in a position to take up this lifestyle it will be too arduous for me. How physically fit do you need to be to look after your animals? In the meantime I’m concentrating on growing veg in my employers greenhouse. Can’t tell you how excited I am by my few crops. Any thoughts great fully received.
Hi Elaine!
I’m so glad the internet brought you to me! I would say start small, like with chickens, and then go from there. This life is definitely bucolic!
I live in Houston, and I keep thinking that I would love to have a farm. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Maria,
You might like to get started with this one! https://www.weedemandreap.com/backyard-farm-designs/
i have 2 goats
Love your post.
We live rurally in New Zealand in a 90m2 house and 1/4 acre section.
We’ve just bought the 2 sections next door to us and will be planting fruit trees on them.
Even though we’re small, my partner’s done the hard work by prepping the soil with lots of sheep poo, paper compost (from our business) and other material.
We have about 20+ chickens for eggs. We won’t need to raise our own animals for meat cos we plan to swap eggs, vegies and fruit from the garden for that. However, we’ve discovered another great service we can provide in exchange for meat – graphic design service 😀
So far, we’ve done a couple of invitations, and graphics for an event and our chest freezer is full.
It helps that we’re surrounded by farmers 😀
Nice! That sounds amazing!
That is amazing! You have just about exactly what I am trying to get. 😉 I’d be in heaven if I had my own garden, some chickens, and a few goats, or cows. Our main goal is to become as close to self sustaining as possible. I was raised on a farm, so I’m not a stranger, just have to get the land. Hopefully by the end of the year. Great post, love your blog!
Hi, I am a nurse but in my heart I am a farmer. I have read everything and planned for a long time to get out of Dodge and have a small farm. Our big problem that has held us back is the question of where. We live in California and never really considered going more than about 100 miles from where we are now -Stockton, about the cetera of the state. Our daughter is at ASU. We enjoyed the trip and before we came home she was talking about us moving to AZ because she does’that plan on leaving. If we moved to AZ and wanted a small farm and we’re on a so fixed income, we’re would you suggest we look? Could use all the advice we can get. Thanks- Deb the farmless
Oh how exciting! We love Arizona!
There are some beautiful neighborhoods in Phoenix, but I’m partial to the Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa cities. These are the group of cities that are about 20 minutes east of Phoenix and a short drive to ASU area.
If you are looking for land, make sure it’s irrigated because it will save you SO MUCH money in water, and also, your plants will do much better.
If you’re looking for a small lot of 1/3-1/2 acre, Mesa & Tempe have some pretty areas. If you want a really big area like an acre or more, I’d go for Chandler or even Gilbert or Queen Creek.
You live my dream!
My husband grew up in the jungles of Burma, living off the land. Everything they ate was grown, raised, hunted, or gathered. All resources were natural. They bathed in the river, slept under the stars, and had no electricity. That sounds amazing for a while, but maybe a little too Tarzan for me.
I grew up in a small farm town in the middle of nowhere, SD. I hated it because we were not close to cities or stores or entertainment. We had to drive at least 30 miles just to find a stoplight or even a Walmart. I loved it because we were in the middle of nature on the Great Plains. The 6 month harsh, snowy winters eventually got to me, and I moved down south shortly after graduating high school.
We met and currently live in the middle of the city in northern CO. We have what our friends/family call a “zoo” in our tiny apartment– 3 dogs, a cat, two bearded dragons, and a ferret. And this is limiting ourselves. We love them all very dearly and take such care for each of them. Of course, none of our animals have the ability to produce us any food or profit, they are simply companions.
In July, we are expecting our first baby. Our due date is literally the same day our lease ends. We have no idea where we want to go! I want a yard. What I dream of is the perfect little plot of land- a small house and a big yard with free-range animals. A place to let our dogs run around. Space that belongs to them. I keep this dream of a little farm in my head. If we buy a house in the city, we severely limit our chances to completing my dream.
Another apartment feels like another year of wasted wages.
We are young, in our early 20s. Our credit is new, and we have slim chances of getting a decent mortgage in the area we currently live. I already checked it out. We would have better chances away from the city.
We want to start fresh somewhere. I do not want to raise our baby and future kids in the city. I think it would be nearly impossible to convince my husband to move to another state. But it would be so worth it! For us to reach this dream, we must relocate. We cannot figure out where or how. All we know is that we have until July to make a decision. How do you move to a random state where you have no connections?
SD is a cheaper place to live, and my family is there, but the weather kills. The growing season is not very long. The summer nights still frost and kill vegetables. Greenhouses would be necessary. Heated lamps and water are also necessary for all animals. We crossed that off our list. We would lose so much in electricity costs. We need to stay down central or even go more south to find a better climate to raise animals and crops.
What do you like and dislike about Arizona?
I imagine if my husband saw your little farm and how perfect it would be for us, he would pack up everything in an instance and start shooting for that goal.
Hi Lychee, I lived in SD also, went to CO then down to TX then back to CO, now renting in the country and wishing I could afford to buy a house here but the costs have gone up quite a bit in last 3 years. I don’t think CO is affordable anymore to buy a small farm. Texas is more affordable but with high property tax, and of course lots of heat so things you would grow in CO cannot grow there. But with that said, there are a lot of farms in TX so something to consider. Also UT might be good. Other than that anything in midwest is much more affordable and has a very good growing season. How does one move to a place with no connections or family, easy, I have done it many times. Find a place and then get involved in local community through meetups and chamber of commerce. Good luck!
Hello,
Move to North Carolina east of Charlotte. The weather here is mild and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Green, Green, Green. We moved from San Diego California a year ago bought a home and now looking to buy a small parcel of land to have goats and chickens. There is plenty of land and reasonable we think. We are excited and a little scared but having a hobby farm is our dream and we will do our best. Good luck and God Bless.
Good luck!
DaNelle,
Do your figures reflect what you also would have PAID for the items you listed? For instance you list the cost to raise and feed, and the monies taken back in from sales, but, what about how much organic raw milk and the eggs and meat would cost at a store? Is that included in your $500ish tally for the year? Also – I feel certain that your costs were once higher, back in your learning-as-you-go days, right?
Just curious because we are setting our goals these days, and we JUST were talking about what the reality of cost is for maintaining all the little lives. We aren’t zoned for livestock of any kind where I am, and we have to move to do this. Obvs, planning is a necessity.
Also. I adore your precious personality. You make every blog post a joy to read.
Oh and – how could you sell Polly the Drama Queen Fainter? I haz a sad.
My husband and I have plans to move out to NH (from MA) to start a small homestead. This blog/website has become my bible. Your articles are so informative and fun to read. Keep them coming!
That is the kindest thing to say, Erika! I have many more blog posts that I’ve planned to bring out in 2016 as well!
So excited that I came across your blog.
Very helpful! A hobby farm is my dream one day. Also I’m a sucker for puns and love the name weedemandreap
I love chickens u all are fake none of u farm so stop lieing no one wants to here any of this
🙂
no u don’t
🙂
We have started raising meat rabbits its so easy and they are great for small areas and make no noise and we have started raising meat chickens as well
Thank you SO much for posting this! I literally, JUST finished discussing this with my husband. We are looking at getting land and building a ‘not-so-tiny’ home on it and having a small farm, like you describe. We wondering about the cost and the production of such a thing, just for our family, not as a business. Though if we had a good crop, we might go to a Farmer’s Market or something. Again, thank you so much. This was very, very helpful!
I read everything posted on this site. Thank you for all your comments! It’s a very positive and realistic one.
I’ve been thinking about moving my family to a farm. We live in Silicon Valley and I think the change of pace and lifestyle would do our family good. But we don’t know a thing about farming. I don’t want to romanticize the life style and really want to know what the realities are. We have 7 children who are homeschooled. Two with special needs, one with CP and developmental delays (he can walk around and loves the outdoors), and one with heart issues.
I’m thinking some sheep, olive trees, and some vegetables to start.
I’m worried about parasites getting into the children and causing more health issues. I’ve been reading about worms that the animals can give us. Anyone with young kids? How do you do it?
I don’t have a farm right now, but I grew up on an acreage and my first jobs were working the animal operations around us.
For the most part it’s really not a concern 🙂 The everyday stuff really doesn’t transfer to humans, and it is EXTREMELY unlikely the ones that can be *will be* transferred if you just cook your food properly and do regular hand washing and don’t let the kids eat things that aren’t rinsed off. My biggest concern has always been ticks because of Lyme Disease (which people can get anyways just from being outdoors under trees lots) just check the kids’ heads lots, as if there’s lice in the school.
Thanks Iryssa,
Lyme Disease is scary, my best friend and his wife, and an acquaintance have it. I’m worried about that too, but I guess I was/am more concerned about the parasites because they are unknown to me. Reading about tapeworms, pin worms, and barber poll worms,etc…and watching youtube…YIKES! I am happy that I have made hand washing automatic with the older ones…although the one with CP and the one and a half year old still will have to get it into their routine.
My husband and I were out yesterday looking at some possible locations. Still a two or maybe three year plan, depending on finances, which is good because the more I learn, the more there is to know. It might take us that long (or even longer) to learn about all the ins and outs of farm life and farm life with children.
I will surely be checking their heads as if there is a school lice outbreak. I never thought of that, thank you for your invaluable advice! When we go for walks in the wood, I usually only check their clothing, and any exposed parts (we walk with pants tucked in socks and long sleeves). I never thought to check their heads. The wisdom of experience!
If you think of anything else please post. I need all the wisdom you can share!
If you’re willing to share:
What were your duties at what age?
What animals did you have?
Was it a good experience for you? The younger kids are excited. The three older ones, two who will be off to college and one close to going by the time we make the move, look like we’ve just delivered death sentences! Which I completely understand being a suburb kid myself and not knowing the joys of farm living. I would greatly appreciate any “life experience story” from someone who lived on a farm as a child and teenager and loved it. All my sources so far have been books and a few sites I do not post on, whose comments about animal husbandry I read.
Cheers,
Christine
Sorry…tapeworm, pinworm and barber pole worm.
After my last battle with cancer last year, we were able to buy our dream farm last fall. We have started small because of my health, but each month it gets better. So far, start-up costs are well above savings, but even so, my son was happy to inform me last night that our savings in eggs far exceeds our chicken’s feed and hay costs. Farming is a long term project, and costs should decrease as benefits increase. So far, my entire family is happier right now, which is priceless. My chickens, honeybees and fruit and nut trees should produce more as the years progress, and next year we start with the goats (more start-up costs, but looking forward to the milk!) I appreciate blogs like yours that encourage others of the joys of growing your own. It’s what got me dreaming of doing it myself, and 10 years later, I’m living that dream!
I am so glad to have somehow stumbled onto this discussion! I too live in Arizona! I have recently purchased almost 4 acres of land! I am in the infant stages of my new adventure! I plan on having goats chickens and a couple of llamas. I will be growing several fruit trees and so very many vegetable. My goal is to sustain my life with my little plot of land.
I have always gardened and raised chickens. After having been without land and a garden I am very excited to see so many people doing what I can’t wait to do.
I look forward to reading more of your tips and ideas!
Can’t wait to get started!
To Rusty Trail,
Yes, small farming is a hobby. Danelle specifically said her property is small and she only has a few animals. That is who this article was directed to, small farmers. I love raising my goats. Going out to the backyard to feed, clean pens, take them out for excercise or just sit and watch their antics is my favorite way to de stress after a long day at my real job. Many people take a profession that other people do for a living and scale it down to a hobby. My Grandfather worked on the railroad for a good part of his adult life. He worked on huge Diesel engines, trains that traveled thousands of miles. It was his profession. My mom took her love of the trains she grew up around and turned it in to a hobby. She would volunteer her time at a small railroad in our city park that gave rides to children, a small steam engine that ran a 1/4 mile loop. It was still a train, but on a much smaller scale. My farm is similar. I would love nothing better to be able to quit my job, buy 100 acres and live off my farm. But, that is not realistic. So, my small farm is a hobby. Please do not put down us small farmers. We love what we do.
1 acre and a few animals is not a farm. Would people please realize this. Farms are many acres. Farming is not a hobby.
Yeah, I’m still gonna call it a farm.
Haha! Yes. Best response. Self-sustenance through agriculture and livestock isn’t gardening, now is it? I love your small farm. I hope to have my own some day.
I had a friend on Cape Cod she owned and operated an Herb Farm the acreage was maybe two acres all together and she made a living off that farm a nice living. No, acreage does not make a farm. I had a twenty-two acre farm and raised goats, calves, chickens and ducks, cut hay four times a year and planted a huge garden. That was my farm because I said so. Loved driving my tractor cutting and baling hay, harvesting from my garden and in general living the good life. So did my neighbors whose farms were larger some smaller. We were all farmers who loved farming.
“Farm” means different things to different people. For some “farm” means a place where you raise the bulk of the food you eat, for others it means what you do on the land is your primary source of income. In North America is IS more rare for a farm to be a single acre, but it’s actually not unusual in areas where the population is MUCH more dense. Let’s remember that the large-scale operations we know today are actually relatively recent inventions in a world that has depended on agriculture for centuries upon centuries, but that hasn’t always had big equipment.
*it is, not is is
Phone keyboards :-S
Love reading about small farming….as I may get a few acres here in Las Vegas next year. I grew up on a farm in Wisconsin with dairy cattle, chickens, few lambs etc. Once a farmer….it stays with you!!!
I want my son to raise a few beef organically for profit. He is on disabillity and needs something to add to income. I think organic beef would be good. We have property in Southern Arizona and it has some wild grass. We need fence etc tho and need someone to tell the son that he needs fence. I am an old farm lady and he will not listen to me. Please help? Jean
You need to contact the Cooperative Extension Agent in your county. You might even be able to work with the 4-H program in your county.
Hi,
I have a question, does that cost that was listed does it include the water bill, any extra electrical cost? I have thought of have a small farm as I love the food that I grow. I have a friend in Canada where I go to experience the farm life. I live in California so the weather there isnt like in Canada where I would need to have tons of heat in the winter. Does that cost also include the cost of feed? Please let me know as I have been seriously thinking about it.
Our electricity & water bills are pretty much the same whether we have animals or not:) We live in Arizona so during our winters our bills are low, but during the summer our bills are high:)
hi can u plz help me guys i wana start up my own farm of fruits nd vegetables but the thing is i dnt knw whre to start can u plz help me plz.i have already already drawn up a business plan but i dnt knw if maybe its ok fpr me to go to the bank and apply for a bank loan
Where abouts in AZ do you homestead?? I am a native and grew up in Kingman. I will be living in Williams though soon and plan to begin raising animals when we get a house. I think the area will be great for homesteading, great weather!
Hi Jacque,
We’re in the East Valley:)
What is your opinion on the CDT vaccine for milk does? It seems to me it would end up in the milk. This can’t be safe.
Rachel
I know some people really stand by the CDT vaccine, but we choose to not vaccinate our animals at all. It’s a personal choice, but we’ve always been fine over here!
I think one thing you are forgetting is that not everyone can raise animals. It takes time and education to learn what animals need. Many people try to raise farm animals as part of a hobby farm or as pets and they end up neglecting the animals by accident or surrender the animals because they realize they can’t handle an animal. Animals poop. Animals get sick. Animals pee. Animals have behavior issues that can only be fixed with daily interaction. Many people don’t even know how to raise children let alone a goat.
I also wonder what your yearly cost would be if you lived in Wisconsin where we have to buy hay to suppliment the lack of suitable grass 5-6 months out of the year and warm bedding or heating to prevent frostbite and death during a bad winter.
I commend you on raising your own animals and food in a sustainable way but I think you also need to be more realistic and honest in your blog posts. Running a farm, even a 1 acre farm, is a hard job.
No dip, farming is hard. She is encouraging people to start where they can. She is not saying to drop everything and buy ten animals and keep them under the deck and in your sheds. For instance, I started with an indoor bunny this year. Why? Because her poop is excellent nitrogen for composting. Start with what you have, do what you can.
My dream is to have a farm with an animal rescue, because working with animals is my passion. I train them, and I speak to them. I wouldn’t dare try raising a child in this world.
Just because she is writing simple, easy to read blog posts does not mean she is being unrealistic and dishonest. Shame on you.
Hi there 🙂 First of all I LOVE your blog. I’m a busy high schooler with dreams of homesteading when I get out into “life”, but right now I spend all my free time reading blogs like yours. I plan to save what I can during high school and college (it might ton be $100,000 but it’d at least be something) and I was wondering about how much your homestead cost to start up? Minus the cost of land, of course. Just what was your initial investment on goats, chickens, living spaces for those animals, seeds, etc. Also, random question, do you save your own seeds?
Hi Camille! I would say our initial investment was about $1000-$2000, but we definitely just started small and built on what we had. Our first purchase was 2 goats and about 6 chickens. We had to pay for fencing and shelter for them, which was the bulk of the start up costs. After that it was pretty easy to build on!
I live in Alaska.
Hay for goats is 30-40.00 a BALE!
Lol
Not so “cheap” up here.
Straw for bedding is even 15.00 a bale!
I had to get rid of my goats because of it.
I need to get ones closer to production (old enough to kid) to make it worth it!
🙂
I love reading about you “lower 48” hobby farmers.
Wow, that’s insane! Our goats do love pine trees, you’ve got a lot of those, right? 🙂
I want to start a garden but we live in a tiny apartment and have cats so we can’t have plants inside (unless somebody has some cat proof ideas) and our balcony is almost constantly in the shade due to a “privacy bush” that is between us and the street. I don’t want to invest in all the stuff for a garden just for it to all die due to lack of sunlight 🙁
Our farm has not been quite so successful. We live in Washington State, so our growing season is much shorter. Animals cost about the same here, I suppose. We have chickens and they pretty much pay for themselves in eggs. We do get some great fertilizer from them. The fruit trees produce a little….blackberries, blueberries, pears, and apples, and 3 varieties of plums (and I don’t even like plums so much.) The best part is the barter system with friends. We trade eggs for the things we don’t have on our farm. Still, it would be better if we had more resources. Some day.
one big factor, in determining cost which was not disclosed in the cost… Water……. farmers pay on an average 30 cents per acre foot.. I have an acre, I am on a meter. for me to to do 1 acre foot would cost me thousands of dollars. after doing the crunching of numbers, it is far cheaper to buy local than to grow. my trees are dying off because it costs too much money to water them.. the California American Water Company nonstop Asks for rate increases using the same lame excuses and the PUC gives it to them since they took over my bill has went up 150% while I cut back…. the EPA is fining people for catching rain water and storing it for garden use….. if I grow vegtables they have to be be of minimal water usage something grown and used in arrid conditions..
True! We only pay about $150/year for water here in Arizona because we use the local irrigation system.
Thank you so much for this information, it was just what I was looking for. I’m not really curious about how much it costs to run a farm as a full-time occupation, I was looking for info. on homesteading, which to me in part is providing a portion of my family’s food supply through working our own land. We have yet to make a home with land purchase, and I am researching and asking questions, and your post answered those questions very well.
So if I understand you correctly, once you have the property, and the house is built, the outbuildings are all built, fences installed…it only costs about $1800.00 per year to run a small farm(depending on what part of the country you live in)?
Am I understanding you correctly?
Pretty much:) It can go up and down a little depending on what happens in that year, but it’s fairly steady, we’ve found:)
I don’t want to sound negative, but there are a lot of costs involved that aren’t mentioned here. I currently manage a 22 acre organic farm. We have 10 adult goats, 9 kid goats, 4 rabbits, 60 chickens, 3 horses and an acre of outside gardens and two large greenhouses. We also have orchards, hayfields, a large pond and woodlands.
Our major financial outlays include feed, livestock equipment, veterinary supplies, permits and licenses, electricity, fuel, water, various repairs and maintenance, building materials and labor for various tasks we do not have the skills or time for.
I do like that your article is encouraging to folks who may not have an intimate knowledge of what it takes to run a farm, but I also believe that other than having a few animals in your backyard, there is much more to the endeavor if you actually want to make a living as opposed to a hobby of it.
you know how city people are? it is do simple and easy.
We consider ours a “small farm” at only 1 acre. I would say yours is a large farm, for sure. Also, we only farm to feed our family, not to feed others. I think what your doing is the next level:)
Our family could be the modern day remake of ‘Green Acres’. We bought 11 acres in rural North Carolina and relocated our city kids from Orlando to “the farm”. Since March 2014, we have thrown 12 chicks and 3 baby goats on it. Last weekend we planted 14 rows of vegetables and sprayed 5 fruit trees (organic bug catchers weren’t protecting the fruit). We really thought our kids would miss the city, but our family is closer than ever working the land and caring for our animal babies. I can’t say we have only spent $1700, because we have invested probably 10x that amount in a new coop & run, barn, pasture fencing, seed/fertilizer, goat supplies and tons of straw, hay & feed! We can’t wait to eat healthy home grown food. My husband and I have both lost weight from the exercise, my tri-glycerides have improve 113 points and overall, we are a lot less stressed. I can’t say we are saving money (yet), but the memories we are making and the health benefits we will reap – are priceless!
Love this!
I love this so much. I grew up surrounded with dogs and chickens and alpacas and pigs and horses and rabbits, (as well as any pets we chose to have, my mom is fantastic), and a decent garden. I recently moved 6 hours from home, and I miss the farm more than I thought possible… Especially the chickens. My husband and I look forward to owning a house in the next few years so that I can have chickens and a full garden again. Meanwhile, I read about homesteading daily. =]
Hope you can get your homestead ASAP!
My feed bill for 13 Nigerian Dwarf goats (3 bucks, 10 does) is $ 3500 yearly, includes mineral, BOSS, other supplements for pregnant & nursing does, weanlings, plus 8 chickens & a rooster, & 6 rabbits. My hay runs around an additional $700 a year & straw for bedding $250. I, too, do my own dehorning, shots,de- worming ( herbal ), castrating, & hoof trimming. I also do my own fecals. In the over 8 years I have yet to turn a profit. But do profit from the joy of my animals & the cheese, milk, kefir, yogurt,milk , eggs , meat that they provide us.
So far we have spent over $300 on plants & seed for our 2 -1/2 acre gardens. We do everything organically as possible too, so another benefit is the manure & bedding that goes into the compost & worm beds.
I have found scrimping on feed is not an option here, our healthy, well conditioned animals have rarely seen a vet, except for annual blood testing. We also have few birthing problems. So good nutrition is key. The vet says most goats around my area are under conditioned. I don’t buy the highest priced feed but the best balanced & then supplement. I am very frugal, & look for ways to cut back but never if it jeprodises quality of care for our entire farm because it is our life.
There are many more farm related – too many to list.
Sounds like you have a pretty efficient set up!
Why not just mix goat & cow milk…Then everyone wins! 🙂
Perfect! HAHA
What do you feed your hens? We use an organic, non-gmo, soy-free feed and it costs us more per month for just their feed than your whole operation… We also raise rabbits and and are about to get a few goats. I just wonder how you do it!?
We feed an organic, non-gmo, soy-free feed as well. We do a local bulk purchase, so it costs us about $23 for a 40 lb. bag. And we only have about 10 laying hens at a time. The rest are usually babies.
What do you feed the critters?
Do you mean the chickens? We feed our chickens a soy-free, non-gmo, organic feed. It costs us about $23 for a 40 lb. bag of feed.
I hurried to your article, excited about the “small farm” info…thinking we are a small farm…guess not 🙂 We are in it for our living with 100 sheep, chickens and garden. Many do consider us small.
I enjoyed your message and was kind of dismayed to see the feedback about “inaccuracies” . One person mentioned something about not factoring in your time, as a farmer, I get that. You also cannot factor in the health benefits or the emotional rewards
I think the take away should be the self sufficiency and health of your food and therefore the health of your family are worth every cent. If folks just started a small garden or added a few chickens the payoff is huge. I wonder if most folks realize the huge difference in vitamins from a farm fresh egg vs store bought?
Food costs are going to continue to rise.
I thank you for sharing this. If one person takes a step toward raising even some small portion of their families food the rewards for their families and their communities are immense…I think
Haha, I guess we are a mini farm:) Wow, you do have a lot of animals!
And I agree, the health and wellness we receive is priceless!
We also have dairy goats and chickens. Our costs are a little higher than yours. We spend about $325/month on feed and hay and that’s just for our goats. We also spend around $25/month on organic chicken feed but since it’s spring now I think they will get most of their food from foraging. We sell milk and get about $250/month for that, so that offsets our costs a good bit. Plus we get all the milk we want to drink. This year and last year we got nothing but bucklings from our does so we didn’t get much profit from selling them.
That’s a great idea to sell the milk!
Love the article, I’ve just secured my second farm for free, making building and land costs nil….. I provide security and maintainance and in return get my own farm, long term! Now I am looking to offer the first farm that I still have to similar minded people who want to change there lifestyle, of course, it will be free to rent and we share the workload….. have to say that since changing my pace of life it is so much more fun 🙂
Wow! Where are you and how did you find these places??
Excellent article! I also can’t discount the “mental health” aspect of caring for my animals. I have 2 doe goats, 1 wether, 1 billy, 4 piglets, 8 hens, 1 rooster, 1 jersey heifer, 3 jersey bottle-baby bulls, and one obnoxious bull who will be visiting the butcher soon.
I’m providing farm-fresh meat, eggs and milk for my 6 kids. Last year, we paid our “land lease” by providing the owner with several lambs and a load of firewood. This year, I hope to be able to purchase our own land. We also supply eggs to a friend who has an auto-immune disorder who tries to avoid flare-ups by eating the hormone-free meat and eggs.
I’m trying to instill work ethic and knowledge in my kids. We’ve also built a greenhouse. We’re hoping to be much more self-sufficient.
Yes, mental health is a huge bonus!
Good article! We live on one acre in Maine. We have 13 goats ( mix of dairy & boers) a bunch of chickens and ducks, we raise broilers & have all intentions of adding meat rabbits this spring! We also garden & try so very hard to provide most of our own food. I think what’s missing from the costs is the start ups and then maintaining everything… I haven’t actually added up the cost of our farming endeavors for a year… ( that’s too scary LOL) but we have had to replace soooo much fencing from the goats destroying it / the never ending battle of adding MORE fencing. But the pay off of having the goats, chickens, ducks, the garden … Having our own food source & the comfort and joy of knowing we don’t have to ” rely” on the grocery store ( and questionable food ) is huge and worth whatever the cost of farming ends up being for us. My kids understand the cycle of life, where milk meat & eggs come from. They understand the work it takes to plant vegetables and harvest they know how to take care of an apple tree. And that alone is priceless. 🙂
Love it!
Good article! We are in the same boat, just starting out our farm, we have less than an acre in California and we are raising 25 meat chickens, we will be butchering them to eat and sell on May 17, 2014. We also have 13 laying hens and one rooster, we sell a few dozen eggs a week. We also have a goo size garden which we are looking foward to this summer!!
Allen Lee
Agape Farm
‘The Farm of Faith, Hope & Love’
Although I found this article interesting, you forgot to mention veterinarian costs -> vaccinations, wormings, medicine, etc. What are those costs?
Our cost for this on our five goats is minimal. One bottle of CDT vaccine was about 8 dollars at the feed store and will last years for our small herd. Similarly, a tube of horse de-wormer was $12 and they get a pea sized amount. We haven’t had a vet out yet, (even for kidding there was no need) and had a friend help with banding our buckling and teaching us to dehorn the kids. Learning how to care for our animals and administer shots and such is an important cost element for us!
I agree with Kelly. We’ve never had to use a vet. We are saving that for emergencies. We don’t vaccinate and we only deworm herbally, so those costs are very low.
Thks for the article, but we are paying off a mortgage for our farm, raising kids and the cost of labour is not taken into account. Wld love to go into more discussion on this to help me make decisions and do my farm planning. Off farm income also means less time on the farm…
My son always gets depressed when he figures out the labor costs on his goat and lamb 4-H projects!! When he realizes how many hours he puts in to feeding, cleaning pens, excercising and training he only makes a few cents an hour! He sometimes grumbles that he would be making a lot more money working at a fast food joint, but he knows he’d much rather spend his time working on the farm!
We live on .7 acre in the foothills of the cascades we have 2 goats, 5 adult chickens( 1 roo), 6 pullets, 2 rabbits, and 7 dogs and between feeding scraps, free ranging chickens and a whole hillside for brows we spend about 1200 a year on feeding this should be a lot less this year however do to finding local hay for 5 dollars a bail rather than 14 at the local co op.
That’s a great deal on hay!
This is a great analysis of what it costs to “run” the farm…but no start-up costs were included here. It cost money to buy the goats…that then have babies and provide milk, meat, etc. Goats are a great way to go, though, since they can eat the weeds and grass that you have around the property. Cows would be a completely different ball-game! Thinking I need to get a goat or two just for weed control!
Debi,
Just a note in response. If you are moving to Arizona, please be sure to check zoning issues. I wish that I had done so before I chose a home. There is a group of us that are working had to get zoning issues relaxed and headed back to allowing backyard livestock once again. We just lost the state battle for backyard chickens in SB1151. Though there are some cities that currently allow livestock; the powers that be are pushing back. Gilbert is coming down hard on local farmers with the noise issues. Chandler will not allow chickens unless you have 30,000 sq feet. Phoenix is pretty relaxed if you are on 1/4 acre, but that is also being targeted. Best of luck to you and please let us all know when you arrive. We are a friendly bunch.
We have an acre on the southwest side of Tucson. All around us are people with horses and I can hear a rooster crow every morning when we are there. So, I’m hoping there won’t be any problem with goats or chickens. My husband is already there and we will be joining him as soon as school gets out. Everybody we have met has been super friendly. We are really looking forward to living in AZ!
Good point Donna!
I just found your website. We are moving to Arizona fron California in July. We plan to raise goats, too!! I’m trying to talk my husband in to chickens. Right now we have two goats: a pregnant boer doe and an adorable boer buckling who is about 2 months old. I’m glad to hear your encouragement that this new endeavor won’t break the bank. I’m looking forward to learning to garden in a new environment.
You’ll love Arizona! Except for a few months of blistering heat, the rest is wonderful!
I’m not looking forward to the heat. However, our house is at 3500′ elevation so we are a bit cooler than down in the valleys! I’ve always lived within 20 miles of the ocean, so that’s what I will miss most! But, I also love having some property and being out of the city. Can’t afford that in California anymore…
The average cost for my small farm – goats and chickens – is around $1400 a year. That is for seven dwarf/pygmy breed goats of different needs and 13 laying chickens. This is including my monthly budget of herbal remedies, minerals, and such. I have no return because my teens eat a LOT of eggs (so no selling any) and my goats are on the tail-end of a repair year. We are now leading into a surplus year…IF I can find a stud buck to impregnate my milking doe. I put a LOT of effort into finding the perfect match for my needs and budget with my herd’s buck – only to discover my target doe hates him :'(
Oh, that’s the worst! Stinkin’ doe haha! Sounds like you have about the same budget as us!
Hey Danelle! Thanks for this post! So, I live in an area where goats are not allowed unless you live on agricultural land…. but a few of my friends and I are thinking about trying to find some nearby agricultural land we could “rent” to keep goats on, and then we could each contribute to the feeding/milking etc. I have a few questions, and since you are the worldwide expert on all things goat I thought I’d ask you! 😀
First- we would probably start out with 3-5 goats and go from there. We probably want miniatures so the kids could help with them more easily. I’ve heard Dwarf Nigerian have great tasting milk… any thoughts/suggestions?
Second- I know we’ll need good fencing to keep them in, but as far as shelter, how fancy are we talkin’? Is it basically just an area where they can have cover from weather and be milked? Does it need to be heated in the Winter?
Third- will the goats do ok with two visits a day for feeding/milking? Or do they require more attention than that? Thanks! 🙂
Here’s my two cents Jenny. I have Alpines. Full sized dairy goats, but great producers. With a well adjusted, tame goat, kids should be able to be around them without a problem. You will need at least two to start to keep each other company. WIth a full size goat that produced more, you probably wouldn’t need more than 2 (mine produces over 2 gallons a day–one goat), depending on how many people you have than need milk. And yes, very good fencing. Shelters can be small and of the run-in type to keep them from getting wet and keep them out of the wind. I don’t know where you are, but I’m in WY and my goats live in an unheated barn in the winter. The only thing you’ll need to consider is if you breed and have kids. Kids will need to be kept warm if they are born in early spring (not necessarily in a heated barn, but if it is too cold you may need the capabilities to get a heat lamp plugged in). My milking stand is outside at the moment. I’ve milked in a few snowstorms already this year (my kdis were born in March–still winter here) neither the goat or I particularly liked this experience but we managed. I just moved to a new house and had to leave the goats where they were for a while until I get them new shelter and fences built. I only got twice a day for milking and feeding, sometimes stop in more over the weekends. They are fine. Mine love attention and would like it if I were there more to pet them and give them treats, but overall they are fine, as long as they have a buddy or buddies. Honestly, it is hard for me to have them far away from me right now (I miss their presence at my property–it seems incomplete without my critters). You may get to that situation too at some point, but if you can only stop by twice a day , they should be fine. Just my opinion, others might say otherwise.
Thank you so much for the info! Very helpful 🙂
I’m not zoned for goats either but I talk to my neighbors I only have one on each side so two neighbors and they were okay with that so now I have goats!
My issue is the hay. It’s running me $40-$60 a month 🙁 more than I spend on cheese/yogurt from the store. Also, still having issues successfully making cheese and yogurt.
If you live in a part of Az. that has easy access to stone I would look into building a cave/vault.
I agree regarding the hay! Our local suppliers are devoting more land to tracking wells and are also able to get upwards of $10 a bale of straw from landscapers who buy the entire harvest. Added together, I struggle to get just 30 or 40 bales each of straw and hay every year.
Cheese and yogurt can be tricky, but I can consistently get 14 oz of mozzarella and 12 oz of ricotta from just 1 gallon of raw milk. Jen, if you want some help or just to compare notes, email me from my page. I am at thestoverhomestead.com
The cheese problem is probably the pan type you are using, only use good steel pans.
there are many other things you can do with the goats milk to like make lotions it only takes a regular blender to make it and it is so easy plus saves a lot of money, you will never want to buy the stores lotions nor soaps after you have made your own.
Then you have all the yummy food you can make from the goats milk google it once in the image section.
Hay is a issue but it helps adding grains to their diets every day if you can it will cut down the cost on the hay then you can also make your own grain mix that’s even cheaper and most of the time healthier for your does goats to.
I love owning our dairy goat girls
Hi Jenny,
I agree with Amanda, while I do love Nigerians, the only drawback is that it’s hard to get enough milk from them, unless you have 3-5 like you said. And the only drawback with having so many milking goats is that every year you have to breed them, so you will have quite a few baby goats to sell each year.
I think an Alpine or Nubian would be great because like Amanda said, you only need 2, they produce great tasting milk, and they are fairly easy to handle. I hope that helps!
Thanks everybody for sharing your advice!
This may be an odd question in America but in many other countries goat is eaten for meat as well as milking… so could you raise some of the kids for producing milk later as need and sell some but raise one or two for meat? We eat lamb, it is one of my children’s favorites, and I have heard that goat taste similar, I have only had it once in Jamaica though. Any thoughts on that…raising the kids for meat animals to increase your self-sustainability?
Yes, people here typically raise the females for milk and the males for meat:) I think goat meat is delicious!
Cost is a good analysis but it’s also artificial. I like that you are showing people that it is easy and inexpensive to do but we have to get away from the thinking that we only do things if it’s cheap or inexpensive. Meaning, the cheapest avenue is not always the best. My 2 cents…get it?
Concerned Citizen
I agree with this. Good post though.
I think she is just trying to show people that farming doesn’t necessarily mean “expensive,” because some people may not think they have the money to have their own little farm. I don’t see how this is being portrayed as the cheapest avenue. You don’t just buy animals or crops and put them on your land. You have to work very hard to enjoy any of the benefits. The cheapest avenue would be to go to Walmart and buy a box of 50 cent macaroni and cheese (cheap food, no work, etc.). Farming is anything but cheap.. your time is definitely worth a whole lot but the reward is priceless.
Right, I agree and if you re read what I said i never implied that she was suggesting it was the cheapest avenue. I think there is a misconception that farming will save you money because you grow it yourself. We raise chickens, pigs, cows, goats, garden etc, it isn’t cheaper but it isnt a whole lot more expensive. The analysis of cost is needed but also has to be couched in a context of where true value is placed and that is in a better lifestyle of health, happiness, family and reality. Everyone that asks me about the food I raise here on the compound comments on how much money I must save which is why I was motivated to make the original comment. In my experience, there is a misconception that ‘growing your own’ equals ‘cheap’. Not true and I know Danelle wasn’t implying that but when talking about costs it’s important to understand the value of what your are creating. Maybe what I’m tying to say is ‘you get what you pay for’ in both cost and sweat equity.
Thanks for this Jasmine!
You are wrong, she does have it right but to add in the cost of all their total care, health.
Goats are one of the easiest to care for of course I do agree on the youngens boy they get into every thing.
You can make so much stuff with goats milk.
My favorite is of course the cheeses then I love the condensed milk we make from our goats milk, then you have your body soaps, lotions you can make to.
Do you like whip cream on that ice cream? Yep I really do not know of a milk product that is better and better for your health to.
There is really nothing like eating food that you grew yourself. We have chickens and ducks (and hopefully, in two weeks, turkey poults!) and a garden and we’re on about 1/10th of an acre. It can be done! We have 1/2 a hog in the freezer (Okay I myself ate probably a 1/4 of it already) from a friend who raises pigs and does pork shares.
Love it!