Farm Gear …. helpful books and tools for hobby farming. Some of our most helpful gear and finds, so far, can be on this page… Interested in your own Hobby Farm? Check out our Hobby Farm workbook here.

Visit our Etsy shop & RedBubble Shop with lots of Curmudgeon Photo Art & Farm Wearables.

*Mud , rain, snow… messy pastures and fields. Best boots for Hobby Farm work - find them here… or Here. For Mens boots, we found these to be durable , workable and easy to wear. Ariat also makes some beautiful boots for women - on and off the farm! :)

*Foraging has become fun for our family, and our herd accompanies us too sometimes.. It’s a lot easier to forage with the right tools. These help - a good foraging bag like this one is super helpful for quick trips or longer hikes. This Foraging Kit is a great way to start too! And if you want to learn more, this is our favorite beginner foraging book.

*Nature is one of our best classrooms. These two books are great for the family and include some beautiful artwork and interesting information about our surroundings.

*While I didn’t think it was a must, I was wrong… Overalls are amazing farm tools. Pockets are such a necessity! you will get dirty and animals like to jump - yes, overalls have become a new wardrobe staple for all of our hobby farm work!. These are a favorite because they are sturdy , and comfortable. I’ve also become picky about jeans too, they need to be sturdier and comfortable, practical and functionable ….So, of course, I have some new favorites. These are amazing for just about every job, and even wearing out for casual work days. And I’m loving these for making farm visits !

*Hobby Farming was most appealing as it’s more manageable, especially as we just started out a few years ago. I spent a lot of time visiting other farms and reading - a lot of reading. There are tons of good reads, find what you like and read away!

All Things Eggs & Raising Chicken…

Our flock started with about a dozen chicken. We researched coops, care and Feeds for months. We made sure our little chicks had heat lamps then set them up in their coop when they were ready to explore the pasture. After that, we did just about everything wrong, and we learned quickly . Luckily we had some knowledgeable friends and a great vet too! We did lots more reading and while we still make errors, we’re loving raising chicken. We’ve brought about 20 more chicken to our flock and have about 10 different breeds at our farm. The hens made some beautiful eggs and we sell them at local markets . We also have some GREAT breakfasts! It’s important to keep eggs stored properly once you collect them. There are a number of ways to store them, but we like the trays you can display on the countertop.

Raising chicken can be a chore, and I wasn’t sure if “chicken mom” was a title I was ready for either -but I LOVE being a chicken mom! Our happy hens are smart and funny, and they make great eggs! I’ve loved the learning process and I know I have LOTS more learning to do, but it comes with the territory.

All about Fiber…. We love our little herd of sheep, they not just beautiful but they have amazing personalities too :) Shearing is a chore, and you should invest in quality tools and shears if you plan on shearing your own herd. Of course, they also produce some gorgeous fiber - this book is SO helpful if you’re just starting out with sheep, or just need to learn more. If you’re a fiber artist, sheep may be your best friend! Learning how to clean and process your fiber. Visit farms or local shops that may offer classes about wool processing. If you’re not interested in fiber arts, you may want to consider selling or using sheep fiber for other projects around your farm/home. Some easy wool projects include making dryer balls for laundry, nesting balls for outdoor birds, felting projects for crafts and cleaning tools.

Choosing the right breed of sheep is a personal choice… consider the personality , fiber and type of climate / pasture you have to house them. Sheep LOVE to graze , lots of greens are their thing! The books linked here are helpful for better understanding these questions and considerations. Of course, visits to sheep farms and fiber shops are also very helpful experiences when considering adding sheep to your farm. For questions, or a visit to our farm and Sheep visit at Curmudgeon - contact us to schedule a visit! our little herd would love to meet you! Visit our Wool site - Wheels & Wool -for fiber ideas , classes and resources too.