base in Ontario , De and Greg Gillies run a hobby farmstead they callGilly Farm , name in honor of the original pig Gilly that kickstarted the venture . Situated over four land , the steadily growing enterprise has expanded to include a cast of Sus scrofa , sheep , Equus asinus and chickens , many of which were deliver from inauspicious situations and can now be find out living happily via the farm’sInstagramaccount .
“ Working on a shoe string budget can be a challenge at clock time , but it ’s also a huge blessing , ” enunciate De Gillies of their labour of sexual love . “ It keeps us practical and mindful of what and how we pass our money . ”
We spoke to De Gillies about the roots of her hobby farm and the challenges of operate Gilly Farm during the nippy Canadian winter months . We also dug into the joy of feeding a local community with home - grown green goods .
Overcoming Fencing Issues
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When it come to take up a by-line farm , Gillies says that one of the biggest issues is what she calls “ our F - word here on the farm — fencing . ” She says it ’s been a seven - yr process of build and moving fencing material . “ We are currently expanding and putting in more fencing but it never quit .
“ It ’s not so much of an obstacle as a task to check that it works for all the different sizes of beast we have , ” she add together . “ I can still be found trying to track a chicken out of the vegetable garden because they can sack up a six - fundament fencing ! ”
Click here to learn about the fundamentals of farm fencing .
Say Hello to Bubba
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When necessitate which of Gilly Farm ’s nonmigratory beast has the most outgoing personality , Gillies say her married man forthwith suggest a squealer named Bubba ( who also go by the alias Princess Horge ) .
“ Bubba is my perfect example of anthropomorphism , ” she state . “ Bubba is bossy , pushy , independent and only thinks of herself . If she could snap her fingers at me , I ’m sure she would . But she also make love snuggling , swallowing adust goods whole while dog it with a litre of water and randomly running and birl around the yard because she cognise spring is come . ”
Gillies adds that as the only distaff pig on the farm , “ I believe she has earned her right hand to be a prima donna . ”
The Power of Produce
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“ Most of our seasonal dinners come from only foot away from where we grew them , ” says gillie , talking about her committedness to growing produce to feed their family and immediate community .
“ We also sell some of our green goods locally and are very reward with the power to deal in effect food with people who appreciate it . I ’m a strong advocator for the food - is - practice of medicine byword , so if I have the power to feed and heal my kin and animals with intellectual nourishment , then perhaps there is nothing more significant than that . ”
The Hobby Farm Workout
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During the moth-eaten Canadian wintertime months , Gillies enjoin that maintain the farm winds up being a strong-arm challenge . “ Clearing snow around the barn for the critter can be a challenge , but that ’s my physical exertion for the daytime , ” she suppose . “ We do not have water in the barn , so double a day I take two five - gallon buckets full of hot water to the b to ensure they invariably have unobjectionable and quick urine . ”
Gillies add that the day - to - day running of a farm always seems to take longer during winter conditions — although “ nothing teaches longanimity like winter on a farm ! ”
Get Motivated to Start Your Own Hobby Farm
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“ We need more small , sustainable hobby farm in this world , ” articulate Gillies . “ These farm will be our salve grace in the time to come . It takes a certain mindset of wanting to rise and watch and even make merry in the art of failure sometimes .
“ live a unproblematic life on a homestead is come-at-able on a small budget . come out with a garden , then maybe bring some chicken and see what happens . If you comfort into it and grow alongside your farm , it will pay back your efforts . ”
