our farm

Welcome to the blog for La Petite Ferme, a thriving little homestead at the edge of town. La Petite Ferme (The Little Farm) is an actual place. In fact it’s a suburban homestead at the edge of a town – population 35,000 or so. It got its name while I was on a trip to France. I was traveling by train to Giverney. All along the route were small houses on fairly large lots. I began to notice that each one had a garden, a few chickens running around, a small vineyard and a garden shed. As I watched them pass I thought “how cool”, they’re like little farms - hence the name.

Today I raise chickens for eggs and meat, a few rabbits and several sheep, which are shown by my daughter or put in the freezer. I also tend a few stubborn gardens, a small orchard, berry patch, grapevines and flower gardens.

I live with my daughter, two feisty spaniels named "Dakota" and "Dutch". They are true farm dogs, chasing squirrels, keeping the birds off ripening berries and guarding our home. My goal in pursuing a simpler life in mid-sized city is to achieve greater self-sufficiency and self-reliance in a world that seems only too happy to turn those characteristics over to someone or something else.

On this blog I will host all kinds of farm related posts from my personal experiences-homestead living and local farm events, like county fairs, livestock shows and ag related festivals can all be found on this site. Readers of SububanHomesteading.com, will see a few double posts between the two blogs. Thank you for taking the time to check up on us and if we don’t come a runn’ng, it’s cuz we’re in the barn, so check back often.