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FRENCHIE FARM

Modern Homesteading & Sustainable Farming

in Homesteading Tips

Homestead layout planning tips

Considering starting a homestead, but have no idea how to design it? Whether you’re on 1 acre or 100 acres, these homestead layout planning tips will set your homestead up for success.

  • Frenchie Farm blog
  • Frenchie Farm blog

Homestead layout planning tips

When we started our homestead, Ben and I had absolutely no idea what we were doing. We spent countless hours researching best practices while also teaching ourselves along the way. Through our own personal experiences (and mistakes), we’ve implemented some homestead layout planning tips to simplify homesteading. Between setting up housing, fencing, and learning about appropriate care to ensure the health and safety of your animals, starting a homesteading can feel overwhelming and daunting. But it doesn’t need to be.

When starting a homestead, one of the most important aspects is efficiency. If you create a homestead that runs efficiently from day one, then you’ll increase your satisfaction and success. Homesteaders are busy – whether it’s caring for kids, working off-farm jobs, or simply wanting to have a normal social life – you’re busy. You probably don’t have the time to spent countless hours per day maintaining your homestead. Spending multiple hours per day completing chores will likely lead to burnout, which is the exact opposite of what you’re probably trying to achieve. Homesteading is a lifestyle choice, but it doesn’t need to consume your entire life either. When it comes to homestead efficiency, planning is key. My homestead layout planning tips below will help your homestead run smoothly from the beginning.

  • Frenchie Farm blog homestead layout planning tips
  • Frenchie Farm blog

Consider your space

Homestead layout planning tips are obviously contingent on the specifications of your current space. Are you homesteading on a small property? Do you have more land than you could ever utilize? Or do you fall somewhere in between?

If you’re homesteading on a small property, then every single inch of space needs to be accounted for. If you have more land, then you have a bit more wiggle room with designing, but you still need to plan accordingly. When considering your space, be sure to ask yourself the following questions:

Questions:

  • How much land do we have?
  • How much of that land is usable land?
  • What are your specific homesteading goals?
  • What animals do you plan to raise?
  • How many animals can your space safely and happily accommodate?
  • What are the costs associated with startup and monthly maintenance?
  • Which type of housing will you use? What type of predators do you have?
  • Does your housing and space allow expansion?
  • What type of fencing will keep your animals safe?
  • How will you implement pasture rotation?
  • Will you be producing your own food? (Garden, dairy, eggs, meat, etc)

The above questions are nowhere near exhaustive, but they provide a framework to consider when determining how these homestead layout planning tips apply specifically to your goals.

  • Frenchie Farm blog homestead layout planning tips
  • Frenchie Farm blog homestead layout planning tips

Use what you have

Starting a homestead can be expensive! It’s easy to fall into the slippery slope of spending far too much money during startup. To reduce cost and labor, utilize what you already have. Whether that’s converting an old building into animal housing, restoring old raised beds for your garden, or repairing existing fencing. Get creative and use what you have NOW. You can always upgrade later when the time is right.

Plan appropriate housing

All animals require different types of shelter. Be sure to research the specific needs of each animal to ensure that the housing provides safety from predators while also providing your animals with a clean and comfortable space. If you live in an area with extreme hot or cold temperatures, then you will also need to consider those factors when planning housing.

When possible, plan your housing to be larger than what you currently need. For example- if you start with 5 chickens and your coop cannot accommodate more than 5 chickens, then you will need to completely replace your coop if you ever decide to expand your flock. That sounds not only expensive, but like a complete waste of housing.

And trust me. If your space allows you the opportunity to expand, then you’ll probably want to expand. Which is exactly how my original 10 chickens turned into 34 chickens within less than 2 years. Chicken math is real, friends.

  • Frenchie Farm homestead layout planning tips
  • Frenchie Farm blog homestead layout planning tips


Determine your pasture rotation system

When determining your specific homestead layout plans, be sure to consider pasture rotation. If you want happy and healthy animals, then pasture rotation should be a priority. For example, failing to rotate pastures frequently enough can lead to parasite issues in goats. Parasite resistance can ultimately be fatal, so planning your pastures appropriately is extremely important.

To make pasture rotation as easy as possible, we use electric poultry netting and moveable animal housing. Your pasture rotation set up may look different depending on your current space. When implemented appropriately, rotating pastures frequently can also reduce feed costs. Chickens happily forage for bugs and consume less feed, while goats eat long grasses and less hay. Happy animals = happy homesteaders. It’s a win-win.

Buy in bulk

If you have the space to store items in bulk, then do it! When we were homesteading on a small property, we were unable to buy in bulk due to our lack of additional storage space. Far too many times we would run out of hay or feed, which led to late night trips to the feed store. If you are able to buy larger quantities of hay, straw, minerals, feed, and other homesteading necessities, then do it. Not only is it more cost efficient, but you’ll save yourself the hassle of frantically running to the feed store before they close.

Because let’s be honest. Your time is much better spent enjoying your homestead, not stressing out about it. Right?

Right.

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Colleen 🐐🐓🐶
Well, despite my denial, I suppose that it’s off Well, despite my denial, I suppose that it’s officially fall 🍁 I tend to hold onto summer time as long as possible, especially because the bitter cold winter months are brutal in Chicago. With that being said, I’m learning to appreciate all of the seasonal changes that naturally occur on the farm, even if they aren’t my favorite 😉 Early morning chores are filled with brisk air while fog covers the rising sun. It’s beautiful in its own unique way, and maybe one day I’ll love the changing seasons as much as I love the summer heat. Or maybe I’ll move somewhere warmer in another life, who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️
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Do you prefer the heat or cold fall days?
After such an emotional weekend, I woke up feel ex After such an emotional weekend, I woke up feel extra drained today. I wanted to press snooze when my alarm went off, but I decided to get up early for a quick workout and chores instead. And gosh, isn’t it crazy how those simple decisions turn your day around right from the start? Plus, seeing these boys run toward me every morning is simply the best.
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What are some things that energize you after a rough few days?
Today was hard. . . Today was processing day for o Today was hard.
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Today was processing day for our first round of meat chickens, and I’ve spent much of the last 24 hours crying. I said my good byes this morning, and I feel grateful for Ben taking care of the logistics. Does it get easier? Is it supposed to? I don’t know.
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I usually share the fun, light hearted parts of homesteading. This part just feels hard. And sad. And I feel a lot of guilt. I feel comforted by the life we gave to our birds, but also guilty that we’re the ones who took it away. 
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Homesteading is just really hard.
Tomorrow is the day that I’ve been dreading for Tomorrow is the day that I’ve been dreading for quite some time - processing day for our first ever round of meat chickens. As a previous vegan, I’m struggling. I’d be lying if I said that I’m not tearing up typing this, or that I didn’t tear up while walking by their pasture during chores tonight. This part is really hard.
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But here’s the thing - I don’t think “hard” is a bad thing. Actually, it’s a good thing. Because if we don’t have a level of guilt and appreciation for animals, then there’s something seriously wrong ... and that’s exactly what’s wrong with our current food supply system. 
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So I’ll continue to feel guilty, because I SHOULD. And I’ll continue to feel grateful, because I SHOULD. And I’ll continue to feel really sad knowing that I’m responsible for loss, because I SHOULD.
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And the second I lose sight of that guilt and gratitude? Well, that won’t happen. Trust me ❤️
Nope, that’s not my incredible white farmhouse, Nope, that’s not my incredible white farmhouse,  but maybe one day ours will looks similar! 🙌🏼 Have you met my friend Maddy over at @addisonfarmssc? We’ve been friends on these little squares for quite some time, and holy moly, she’s definitely #onetofollow ! 
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From her perfectly beautiful farmhouse to her darling farm with a major swoon worthy garden and beautiful horses, I’m just in love. Plus she’s the sweetest, so you should head over to her account and give her a follow! ❤️ Happy Friday, friends!
The face your LGD makes when the bucks try to flir The face your LGD makes when the bucks try to flirt and blubber at them 🤣 MOM?! HELP ME!
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Swipe to see the progression 🤣 These sweet boys are simply the most patient, yet ferocious pups around! What are your LGD’s like?
The moment you realize that you literally have the The moment you realize that you literally have the most handsome buck ever 🙌🏼 Chester is a rather refined buck - he prefers to stand majestically while the other two crazy boys do all sorts of weird things, including but not limited to, flaring their lips, blubbering, flirting, and drinking pee 🤢 What kind of questionable things do your bucks do?
Tomorrow marks our first (official) day of homesch Tomorrow marks our first (official) day of homeschool preschool, but when you live on a farm, aren’t you always “schooling” one way or the other anyway?
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Well before COVID, I started thinking about homeschooling our kids. I didn’t understand the reason for being drawn toward homeschooling, but now it all makes sense and feels like the perfect decision for our family. I’m loving how sweet and cozy this homeschool room feels, and I hope our little ones grow to love learning here too ❤️ I know some of you are homeschooling pros, so I would love to hear any tips!
When the new @beekman1802 Bloom Cream is incredibl When the new @beekman1802 Bloom Cream is incredibly moisturizing, formulated with goat milk, AND packed with probiotics, the goats can’t help but check it out! #ad 🐐 I’ve been using the newest Bloom Cream moisturizer for the past few weeks and I’ve been LOVING it! It’s an incredible mix of super hydrating, gentle, and light weight all mixed into one. Perfect way to re-hydrate after long days on the farm.
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@beekman1802 also recently launched at @ultabeauty, so it couldn’t be any more convenient to try out a few new clinically kind goat milk skincare products! Shop in store or online - you’ll thank me later 😉 What are some of your favorite skincare products? @beekman1802 @ultabeauty #beekmanblooms
Eggs, eggs, eggs! Between beautiful duck eggs and Eggs, eggs, eggs! Between beautiful duck eggs and rainbow chicken eggs - give me all the eggs 🙌🏼 We’re drowning in eggs, which means we have more than enough to share with our farm class friends during their final week of class. 
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So much to be grateful for, and so many scrambled eggs, frittatas, egg bakes, paleo pancakes, etc! What are some of your favorite ways to use up extra eggs?
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