DIY Farm Ingenuity

Recycle, Reclaim, and Self-Sustain

Twelve years ago, we began our journey to live off the land and become as self-sufficient as possible. We are two people with day jobs, so going “big” with large acre farming or commercial scale equipment was never part of the plan. However, we have expanded well beyond our backyard gardening days of city living.

We now have more than 40 raised beds, a crop field (regenerative agriculture), and a pond on less than a quarter acre of land we call the “food forest.” Our gardens and young orchard are yielding fantastic harvests as we farm the land based on permaculture ethics and principles. We move a lot of dirt and firewood. Although the physical work is great for our health, it takes a considerable amount of time during our short growing season. We are building our own tools and farming equipment to be more efficient in our do-it-yourself and low-impact lifestyle. Our electric Yard Mule was built outside (we don’t have a garage) in roughly two months using basic tools and many reused parts. The electric drive system is quiet, inexpensive to operate, low maintenance, and capable of performing towing and hauling duties.

Pre-yard mule, we moved six dump truck loads of soil by hand in wheelbarrows. That equates to 1,400 trips back and forth from the dirt pile to the food forest garden! Using the Yard Mule’s dump box, we can move the same amount of dirt in only 150 trips, saving many days’ worth of time. We also heat buildings with wood harvested on the land. Once again, our trusty electric mule comes to the rescue by saving time and energy. The Yard Mule is a huge asset on our farmstead.

Our home-built electric tractor is quiet and powered by the sun thanks to its solar charging base, which keeps the batteries charged and ready. This energy-efficient vehicle works hard all day out here, and it’s fueled by the same sun that our plants need to thrive.

Another homemade multi-use project on this farm is the movable PortaPen poultry tractor. Our flock of chickens provides us with eggs daily, and nutrient-rich fertilizer for our food forest. In return, they enjoy treats from the harvest, including squash, corn, kale, and cabbage. To keep poultry healthy and safe from predators, we designed a 300-square-foot poultry tractor that’s movable by one person. The birds graze on fresh pasture daily, feasting on worms, and insects. They scratch up weeds and seeds. We raised a dozen Orlopp Bronze turkeys in the PortaPen a few summers ago, and up to 35 Red Ranger chickens last year.

We built the PortaPen using basic tools and parts, including bicycle components, fence tubing, and hog panels. Retractable landing wheels made from used bicycle parts lift the frame off the ground when it’s time to move the structure. When parked, the frame sits directly on the ground with hog panel antidig guards that unfold around the structure’s perimeter. This versatile structure also doubles as a mini-greenhouse and shade house to harden off young plants. We cover it with clear poly sheeting for an instant greenhouse to get a head start on the growing season. It’s truly a multi-purpose structure.

Since one person can move the PortaPen, we don’t need an ATV or tractor, which aligns with our low-impact, self-sustaining DIY lifestyle. As Plato said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

We will continue to “recycle, reclaim, and selfsustain” and enjoy our farmsteading lifestyle.