Saturday, December 1, 2012

A Look Back at 2012

2012 Goals and Accomplishments:

As I sat down earlier in the week to get down in writing what we want to accomplish for next year (and the one after), I began to get a little overwhelmed. There seemed like SO MUCH to plan, purchase, construct, and make work to make this small family homestead move from a hobby that pays for itself (mostly) to a small family FARM that realizes a modest income.

Eventually, the ultimate goal is for Sonja to work here at home (within a few years), for her to have the time to devote to home-schooling our teenage girls through the rest of their high school years, to be able to offer our family the best nutrition for our bodies, to be more self-sustaining- living closer to the land as a family, and to possibly prayerfully add a new child to our family in the years to come. To get THERE, we have so much to do HERE.

How will we ever be able to get this all done? As I started the list and my head began swimming, it suddenly dawned on me to look back on this year to see all that we had accomplished working together. As I reviewed all we had done, the thoughts of what we had coming changed from a worried, "Can we do this?" to a litany of "I think we can. I think we can." And, I do. I think we can.

There is so much to do to make this farming venture profitable. You can see our goals for the years ahead HERE. But, based on the hard work we put in this past year and our determination that our family will be better for it, I am growing confident our goal is attainable. Here is the list of what we have accomplished thus far in 2012 and some blog posts about them:

Build new 1st floor 20x30 Barn
Part One April 2012
Part Two April 2012
Part Three October 2012
Part Four October 2012
Part Five November 2012

March 2012
Add Vietnamese Pot Belly Pigs to Farm

April 2012
Add Ellie's Kids to Lally Broch Farm

May 2012
Build New Chicken Coop Nesting Boxes
Add New Ducks to Flock Via Incubation
Add Chinese Buff Geese to our Flock
Add Guard Llama to Farm
Add New Ducks to Flock Via Incubation
Add Chinese Buff Geese to our Flock
Add Guard Llama to Farm
Expand Goat Pasture

June 2012
Build Chicken Tractors
Add New Hens to Flock Via Incubation
Learn How to Milk Goats

July 2012
Plant & Harvest: Tomatoes, Peppers, Watermelon, Cukes, Herbs
Learn How to Make Cheese

August 2012
Learn How to Make Soap
Increase Chicken Coop Yard
Repair Horse Pasture

September 2012
Plant Garlic for 2013
Install Wood stove in Kitchen

October 2012
Add Registered Oberhausli Does to Herd

November 2012
Build New Duck/Goose House
Add Hay Mangers to Fields

Additionally, Daddy Dale and Momma Twombly helped us power wash the homestead, repair the soffets, level the stairways, paint the trim, replaced some doors, installed cat and dog doors, install an electric water heater, and stained the deck over the summer.  I think it's a good idea to actually write this sort of thing down, just so we can really appreciate how full and busy this year has been.  It's the encouragement we need to look ahead to the promise of a new year, waiting right around the bend.

How do you remember all your accomplishments? What goals do you have for 2013?


Thanks for visiting tonight, friends. We're glad you came.
Sean and Sonja ♥

Also shared at: Farm Chick Chit Chat


5 comments:

  1. Seany Sean is a very good carpenter, maybe he could also build chicken tractors and bat boxes and such to help with fundage when you cut back or stop working. Also, was there a bee hive in your future? I am so excited about the possibility of being an Auntie again to your offspring!!!!!

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    1. Those are great ideas, Kimmy.

      Sean was talking about keeping bees at some point in the future, but I don't know when that would be. :)

      You are an amazing Auntie. I can't wait until you get a new little one to practice on. ♥

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  2. Wow, you have accomplished a lot in the past year! I love your goal of being able to stay home and care for your children (with possibly a new one!). I'd love to be able to do that someday when we have kids. With the hard work you guys put in on the farm, I know you'll reach your goals :)

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  3. You have inspired me to look at our progress this same way. It is always so easy to feel discouraged when there is so much to do just to stay afloat. But we, like you, have made improvements this year and overcome obstacles too. So thanks for the inspiration! May God continue to Bless you all.
    - janet- http://timbercreekfarm.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks, Janet. I have really enjoyed your blog, too. Thanks for the words of encouragement!

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