• limited amount of space
• prevailing climate
• GOALS
• type of agriculture
• time commitment

One can micro farm on something as small as a city lot, although not practical for livestock. I would suggest a one acre minimum here in the Pacific NW. On one acre, a couple rotational pasture plots can be created for one or two Lowline Angus. However, you would still need to supplement with hay. And you can still have room for a small kitchen garden and a couple hens or whatever your vision of the perfect little homestead is. Be sure to check for neighborhood covenants and zoning restrictions before starting your project!

The climate in the coastal area is wet. The summers are beautiful, but the winters can be MUDDY. Mud management is high priority. In other areas dust, drought, severe cold may be the highest on your list.

What are YOUR goals? Do you want to produce some natural food for your family? Do you want to have a couple pets and lawn mowers to give your estate some pastoral ambiance? Would you like to have a petting zoo for the kids? Would you like your kids to have the educational experience of being involved in 4H? Would you like to have something cute and useful? (Like Lowline Angus!)

Type of agriculture naturally follows your goals and personal interests. If you are reading this, I would guess that livestock is of interest to you. The new wave of mini sized livestock is wonderful for the small estate owner. There are miniscule varieties of almost all species. I believe that many people have become tired of "super-sizing" everything and the "bigger is better" mind-set.

Time commitment. This is something to be looked at seriously. With proper design and management we can enjoy our micro farm with as little as a half hour of daily work. There is always maintenance to consider, which any homeowner has to contend with. If you already have family pets, you are very aware that animals require a 24/7 commitment. If we want to go out of town for any length of time we need a "farm sitter." This is most easily accomplished by training a neighborhood 4H age youth. It is good to have more than one available, just in case. There are many kids who would love to have the opportunity to care for animals on a temporary basis. Another option is a retired neighbor who gets a kick out of your "pets." Perhaps you have a like-minded friend or neighbor that you can exchange chores with. Keep in mind that the easier and more streamlined your caretaking actvities are, the more willing your helpers will be.

Most importantly of all....ENJOY your little ranch!