If it's something that I can't keep in most of the 'burbs as a pet ... it's Farm Life.

If it's about rural living ... it's Farm Life.

If it's about living in areas where the sheriff is the closest law ... it's Farm Life.

There is nothing wrong with this site, or the name. It has evolved the way it has because of the members, and the vulnerability as a public forum.

I feel obligated to say that there are topics that are open for attack and are not safe to talk about here because of some of the members. Some farm topics should be safe - like slaughtering and protecting our animals - yet it isn't okay to do so here. This forum is set up so that in order to stop a "bad" post, the entire thread must be pulled. Sadly, there have been some very good, educational threads that imploded because of one single posters opinion. All the information is gone, because of one member. That is sad.....I wish that the powers that be here, could eliminate single posts, or members who desire to cause trouble.

But now there is a safer place...;)

Tracy

It is not proper or improper, per se. It is just that all the posts seem to be birds, except the daily journal. Some things seem to be seasonal, new spring, brings gardens, new birds. Fall is harvest, field successes or preparation for winter. Weather is always a discussion factor.

I am just not seeing much about actual farming, larger livestock, field work any more. Mostly farmette stuff, smaller issues, pet chickens and ducks. However without those posts, we wouldn't have much to talk about. I don't have to go read what looks less interesting to me, not a requirement. I read the Journal mostly, the other topics are usually less interesting to me. I am reading more in other groups of the Garden Web, diversifying myself.
Again, seasonal stuff has most larger acreage farmers out working all day, too tired to post, maybe even to read. I don't think anyone would want to read that I mowed and changed fields the horses are in, AGAIN. There is a lot of repetition in daily farm living.
Just without the others contributions, the list is pretty flat, seems less variety of topics is introduced.

Proper? I love this forum for the very reason that it is populated by individuals who report their day-to-day battles with this way of life. I am not a farmer but would have loved to be, having come from a rural background. Living in a city as I do, and disliking every minute of it without any option of moving elsewhere, when I get up in the morning and log on to Farm Life I get a major boost that will carry me through the day. I feel that your criticisms are not well directed.

If you eliminate too much stuff, you won't any longer have a forum. You don't have to read every post, you know. If you aren't interested in small animals, don't read -- same for large livestock, crops, etc. I hope the forum will stay as it is. People who have problems with it can go elsewhere and probably already have. "Farm Life" to me means not living an urban life.

If you read the heading of this forum, it reads---Farm Life- Not "I make my living being a farmer" Not "Pro-Farmer" Just 'Farm Life'. Now I am by no means a farmer, however I do have acerage, I have livestock (horses) I raise vegetables, I have a tractor that I use to cultivate, fertilize my pasture with, so I guess you could say I have 'farm type issues',which is why I'm assuming most people come to this forum. Is there a lot of chicken talk on this forum?:) yes. So? Ya don't want to read about chickens scroll on by. Not interested in sheep, goats or cattle...scroll on by. I'm sure there were a lot of people that could give a rat's rectum about me getting a Border Collie for sheep herding:) I don't care. I know there are a few folks on the board who like dogs and use them on their farms, they're the one's who read and respond to the posts. There is room for everybody on this board. We don't need any forum police, or anyone 'riding herd' on us. Ceresone, I'm just sorry you've gotten to the point that you're afraid to post about something if it's not about 'running a farm' Post away Girl!!!!! If there are folks on here who get their knickers in a wad because you post about chickens LOL too bad. I mean really, if their topics are so mcuh more relevent and interesting and farm like, why aren't they posting away? Develope some thick skin like me LOL, if you've got chicken pics you want to share, fire away, puppies, lambs goats, calves, I want to see them, and let the un-happy campers/farmers go to their Pro-Farm site. Wfhoooo! Now flame on folks.

i don't have chickens (although i wish i had the time to devote to them!), so i don't read too many of the posts that have chickens for the subject.

i don't have pigs, so i don't read about pigs.

i have a horse, goat, llamas, dogs. i read everything posted about such critters.

just because one person isn't interested in a certain aspect of farm life (and chickens certainly fall under the category), does not mean that there shouldn't be posts about them.

in fact, it seems that more people than not who post here DO have chickens. more power to ya!

if you aren't interested in a particular subject, skip the post. how much simpler can it be? nina:)

lazygardens said it better than I can. :)

I'm with everyone else--it's Farm Life and it's interests, whether you have an 800 acre farm, a smallholding, live in suburbia and are carrying on the good fight for livestock and backyard gardens there, or simply WISH you had the space to farm. I fall into the suburban catagory but grew up on a small farm where we raised and slaughtered our own poultry and grew our own food. I have two sisters who do the full-on self-supporting farm thing now and I know how hard they work at it. I greatly admire the people that still do this, no matter where in the world they are. I love reading all the different posts, even the ones on how the hay crop is and the problems facing dairy cattle this year. :) You should try to learn something new every day to keep your eyes and mind open. It's a learning experience you can't get anywhere else.

The only thing I'd change about this forum is to have more people across the world post their experiences with farming in all it's facets. I think most of us here are US based and it might scare some people from other countries off, in the mistaken belief that this is a US forum. :)

Velvet

Really, no "criticisms" were meant to be read into my post. i sincerely wanted to know what the majority of the posters wanted to hear about.few years ago, before we sold our cattle, i could have talked about them, before we downsized, i could've discussed acreage, now, we're down to horses, chickens, guineas, cats and dogs.and while i like to read about such, i know there have been complaints. myself, i read about all the posts, i love hearing about harry's wood cutting, and everyday life, about neighbor jamies new house building, velvet's chickens, the 4 legged duck, in short--its everything that people go thru, if you live in the country, or even hope to.we can envy those who are getting too much rain, commiserate with those who arent (us)-and i love knowing that computers are making the world smaller-problems are the same in washington state as they are in missouri, or maine--or in belgium! no--no criticisms were ever intended.

I post on chickens and rabbits a lot. That is because I have both and even though I have read what I could find about these animals, I still have problems that aren't talked about in what I read. I have learned a ton of information reading Velvet's page on chickens. I read a lot of different posts about a lot of different things. I love reading about llamas, alpacas, horses etc. even though I will never have any of these animals. It is interesting to read about other people's lives. (At least I find it interesting)

Also, I read about the hay problems, any dairy or beef cattle posts because all this will affect me when I go to the grocery store. If the dairy farmers have a bad year, I will pay more for any milk that I buy; the same goes with beef cattle. Bad years mean my hamburger will cost more. So in essence, each person on here depends on each other to get the food that we need, whether we live in rural areas, urban areas or downtown N.Y. City. (Just my thinking)

I appreciate everyone of you that is willing to share your knowledge with us newbies that have just started raising animals for whatever reason: food, pets, to sell for food or pets, etc. Thank you all for sharing.

My chickens & I have nowhere else to go.
Not that I thought it was the best place for us anyway.
We looked at "Homesteading" forum but it's mostly about jellies, honey & cheesecloth.
All the chicken chatter is here.

Post away. Them that don't like can feel free to leave. This is a free country, we all make our own choices. - Ellen

You ought to feel free to post on here anything related to farming, livestock, crop production, or farm type matters. That includes chickens, rabbits, hay, problems with the well, chicken tractors, etc. People that don't want to read something, don't have to. Chickens aren't my first love, or even second, (I know that is really difficult for some of you chicken-lovers to believe), but if I don't want to read it, I scroll on by. I read some of them anyway just so I won't be completely ignorant. I read the one the other day about the ... gosh, what were they called??? They were the buff colored helmet heads (LOL). They were unique looking birds! Anyway, post whatever you want. I think people just need to be kind and respect other people's freedom to have a different opinion (even if they are wrong! Smile).

Where I live I wouldn't call a farm.

I've posted ? on

-Dog behaviors
-Sediment in well water
-soil improvement
-rascaly raccoons
-animal containment

and the responses I get are always first rate.

Although I don't live on a farm (I have about 1 acre).

By the following (my) definitions I live in the country.

-Utilities (esp. phone service) suck.
-No pizza is delivered out here.
-Cable TV is not offered.
-Long walk to meet the school bus. (over 1 mile).

I love this forum, if something doesn't strike me as appropriate, I don't read it.

Well, if it isn't proper I am sure someone will let you know, you may find out when everyone gets a little nuts. You will quickly find out what sets poeple off. I would say if there is anyway it could be contriversial or subjective, you might need something to hide behind. I think some people say things and might have a "false" reaction, (perhaps exagerate some of their personal feelings, just to inflame others.) Make blanket statements and just sit back and watch the fireworks. It is a shame that some that could be really good and productive threads, turn into "hornets nests". Instead of just stating in a romantic description what one believes, picking people out and telling them why they are wrong. That never goes off well no matter the actual topic.

Brian, you may have something in your definition! Sure was how it was for me for many years. Unfortunately, things are builidng up around me so quick we now have pizza delivery, our utilities are good, there are bus stops every where up and down the road (we even have two schools within a mile of us!), and cable is everywhere. I guess you know for sure you are no longer in the country when they plow/salt your roads when it snows and the city/county picks up your garbage.

I wonder if the real problem is repeat posts about the exact same chicken question that have been gone over a million times. Maybe, when people ask- they should be guided to the search.
This said I'm about to post a duck question.

I think you should be able to post anything you want...as long as it in some way relates to the forum heading.

I don't live on a farm, or even in the country..so I don't feel it is appropriate to post very often, but I do occasionally. I like to read everyday though. Someday I would like to own a hobby farm. I will never own, nor do I want to, a large commercial enterprise. And would fall in the category of animals for pets/entertainment. I don't have anything against owning cattle, etc. I eat steaks and burgers, but know myself well enough to know I couldn't handle butchering, as hypocritical as that may seem.

I love hearing about chickens and horses, and llamas and pigs. I might not ever own or be around some of these critters...but I am another suburbanite learning every day from you nice folks.

Ignore the occasional trouble maker and keep us updated on your lives and experiences!

Duane

These answers are what i hoped for when i posted. To me too, any aspects of farm life are interesting-if we dont run into that particular problem today, we may need the information stored away for tomorrow--even if we dont think right now, that we'll ever need it. I usually skip the posts that dont apply to me--but, sometimes not. you never know when we may "get off track"and provide just the lift that someone needs that day.
i love hearing from other states--and other countries. it did bother me that someone read a criticism into the post that wasnt intended, but, perhaps it was just a bad day on the farm.
i love this forum just as it is--warts and all! thanks again

I want to add my twopennyworth. I live in a tiny bungalow in England, my land is in feet not acre's and I only have 2
hens! Yet I chose this Forum to hang out in, because it's where I feel at home. I have been neglecting housekeeping to read about your lives and have been enthralled for days. I read about Buffalo! But am never likely to own one, Please carry on just as you are, a window into another way of life that many of us dream of. Knowlege is never wasted, even if it's about the unsuitability of Buffalo as pets...and the sweet nature of Highland cattle. In fact I want to run away and live with Velvet Sparrow! I think it's the idea of driving to the feed store.lol.

Oh, our lives so humdrum compared to the romance of the thought of living in England!! Oh to live in an English cottage! I guess the grass always seems greaner on the other side! LOL Well now you should make sure to post Passing cloud! We need to hear about jolly ol' England and hear about how things are done there. I know everyone enjoys Strudel1820's posts. She lives in Belgium. I don't care what you have to post about Just post it! LOL hope to see more of them.