Farming does not make very much money. It feeds us. But makes very little cash unless I actually sell animals. 
I am doing the sums. And they do not look good. It is hard and near impossible to create security from a little farm unless you grow your own grain. And feed is expensive now. I need to cut down to hay eating animals for the winter. (and a few mother and father pigs). And Sheila. And Tima and Tane of course. Time to start selling. (And you know how I hate that.) And because I am not an Illinois native I have no network for the selling. Everyone here knows someone. Except me. I am, by nature, much too shy. I can grow wonderful animals.
But I think there are too many of them this year!
I hope you day is lovely.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
54 responses to “Tightening the Belt”
They are beautiful little piglets, but there will be more 🙂
There are so many tough day to day decisions that have to be made. I know you will decide well and wisely.
morning, in my area on facebook there is a group that covers about a three hour range around me that is a local livestock selling site and there is a second group that connects buyers with local farmers. both of them are outstanding, one from the stock end and the other from the farmgate sale end.
It would be well worth looking into if something like this is all ready set up in your area as well
I hear you on the belt tightening, I am there myself and its amazing how much food those healthy piglets go though, can you offer CSA pork? so that the buyer pays x amount upfront for feed costs, I have never done that but others due
I did advertise with the local fB group and got interest then disappearances, I got piglets ready for people who did not turn up, etc. Very disappointing. There are just so FEW little farms around here.
I would give ANYTHING if you were closer. We struggle every year trying to find weaned piglets to feed out. We drove over 260 miles to get them this year and they turned out to be not so good — think a lot of inbreeding went on. You have to be very fast to get the ones closer that are listed on facebook — one gal had 15 for sale and they were gone in 15 minutes with a waiting list.
Gosh – yes I wish you were closer! c
ps, speaking of the feed store, do they have a bullentin board like mine do, mine will let you put up ads on it, weaner piglets, rabbits, chicks and more for no cost and then when someone like myself that was new to the area said, where do I get weaner piglet, they had a number an name to give me, win-win for them, they help the farmer and we buy the supplies from the feed store
yup – on the board too – no bites yet – the feed store owner sells her piglets too but no help there – i think it is the wrong season.. c
True, it is the wrong season but none the less the wee ones need homes an soon
Yup!
I remember you saying that your boots were falling apart. Earlier this yeat l bought snow boots from Finland ready for my holiday and then a week later l bought another pair that l saw. So the first pair have no owner and i wondered if i could send them to you. They are size uk 6/7. And fur lined and are thermo…what you think?
Lovely – but too small for me sadly – thank you for the thought tho – I recently bought a pair on sale – I think they will be fine.. c
Can the Fellowship help with contacts? If I lived in the same state, I’d order a pig for the freezer, I do it already. But I’m the other side of the world… Have you considered crowd funding? There are so many different kinds. This one specialises in farming/health/organic type projects:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robindschatz/2016/02/13/crowdfunding-site-barnraiser-weaves-a-growing-tapestry-of-stories-from-the-good-food-community/#4bef6a0992c0
That is the problem really – to grow a piglet for your freezer I have to buy the feed first – 6 months of feed.. feeding 13 piglets is a LOT of feed – just too much I am afraid.
It’s tough, as a farmer’s daughter I grew up with this, but on a large farm they don’t become friends, they are just part of the flock or herd. I can imagine as a smallholder just how difficult it must be, but as Mad Dog said , there will be more piglets.
It s not difficult to part with them – they have been grown to sell after all – just finding the buyers at the moment is the tough bit.. c
Gosh, do I know what you mean Celi. We are cutting back on our pig breeding, and are considering not raising pigs, although my John has not decided for sure. It is so hard to let them go. As you know, he loves the pigs! And also after the goats have their kids next year, we will sell half of them. Being small farmers can be difficult, and costly. And taking them all through the winter, super costly. Good luck with the sellling of the animals. We have a ‘Trading Post’ around here that advertises online and on the radio each day at noon. Also some facebook sites as was suggested above. Hopefully you have options like these in your neck of the woods. xoxoxo
Yes. I don’t find it hard emotionally to sell them at all – just the sheer numbers this year.. is making finding buyers hard.. c
Oh how I battle with the hard days C. Thinking of you.
🙂 Mandy xoxo
Wow the piggies have doubled in size in the last week or two – amazing and I can see your impending problem. Is there a 4-H programme in your area or is this litter too early? Poppy’s upcoming litter may be better timed for spring and the kids. Also are these piggies big enough for the freezer yet? Good luck with your decision making. Laura
Not big enough for the freezers.. and 4H want piglets they can show – these are not show pigs.. I am happy to sell them that is fine.. this is what I grew them for after all..
But selling animals is part of the farming business. Molly’s 11 piglets I know has been a BIG strain. While she raised them – 11 OH MY! And you do have quite a few bovine too. Just part of the circle and cycle.
exactly Pat – yes! c
Maybe ask a local butcher shop /slaughter house? They seem to know everyone.
Good luck with the tough decisions. Living surrounded by small farmers, I feel your pain.
t is not painful – I have raised them for sale
I’m with you, Celi. I’m am not native to Oregon, only moved here a few years ago. Trying to network my little homestead…get the good deals on grain, hay, and straw….know that farmer who will drive their tractor down the road and come bail your hay in barter or a few bucks, are just not known to me. It is very hard to break into those tight knit groups. I end up paying way too much for things I need or when we need an extra pair of hands to complete a project. I am shy by nature too….it is not natural for me to ask people for help, especially to reach out to someone I don’t know well. Take care.
Ah yes – you understand me completely plus I am not an American and this makes it twice as hard i think.. c
Yes, you are probably right. Although, I do feel that I have landed on a different planet sometimes moving from the SF Bay Area to a little country town. LOL
When someone mentioned that you had been a drama teacher for 11 years, I got the idea that you might approach selling your piglets in the same vein as directing a play. You have wonderful piglets to sell. Your commodity is terrific and people would be lucky to get your little piglets. So direct the play and get it done. As for me I am one of the best sales persons that I know. I have sales in my blood . But can I sell my own beautiful jewelry? Hah! much you know what from you know who.
You’ve done a great job raising them and people have lots of good ideas. I know everything will work out It would be nice if you could pay bills with livestock. Facebook, kijiji, your blog are all ways of reaching a large number of people. Best of luck. I guess selling t shirts and calendars won’t raise enough to feed those little plonkers for long. We will keep brainstorming. The solution is coming.