This is the site of a back yard, micro-homesteader in Minnesota. When my husband, my daughter and I moved into our home, we were happy that it had a large, fenced back yard for our dogs. A large, mostly empty back yard, except for a black walnut tree, another tree that was soon to fall over, and some patchy, weedy lawn.
Over time, my daughter and I planted flowers, raspberries and blueberries, a cherry tree and apple trees. We put in grapes and a small arbor to support them. Yes, grapes grow in Minnesota. Shout out to Stacy’s Nursery, in Willmar, for their excellent vines, trees and advice. I’ve built several raised garden beds, a shed, and a cattle panel greenhouse. I keep bees in homemade Warre style beehives. And I’ve made lye soap for quite a few years.
Our city doesn’t allow chickens. Everything seems to happen for a reason. What a joy it is to raise quail! They have so much character!
We built a good-sized shed for the quail, and I built some hutches to hold up to twelve coveys. We used to have outdoor runs and an aviary made from pallets, but bird flu being in the area made that a bit scary. The quail still live on sand, pine, and timothy hay – not wire.
We grow veggies up, here, instead of out, and we choose what to raise with efficiency and space in mind. Our goal is to eat healthy, have a bit more food security, and know exactly how that food is grown.
Our front yard is native pollinator habitat. We only have to mow the boulevard. There isn’t too much maintenance. Tying up some fallen stems, plucking out an invasive here or there. We enjoy watching all of the bees, butterflies, birds and other garden visitors.