Brian
When I was younger, I never would have guessed how much of an influence my father’s hobby farming would have on me. His urban hobby farm in Rochester, NY was not exactly my idea of a good time. For me it meant chores: weeding the garden, picking up the fruit that had fallen off the trees in the orchard, and taking care of the chickens and rabbits he would bring home from time to time. So I certainly didn’t see a similar path in my future.
As I grew older, I began to miss the fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as the cute animals. But traveling all the time and never knowing when we would be moving was part of life in the Air Force…not helpful if you want to be a hobby farmer! So, when I retired from that part of my life, I decided to make sure to include some of what I remembered my dad teaching me in my early days.
My wife and I currently have a small hobby farm in East Idaho with gardens, fruit trees, chickens, beehives, and a duck pond I’ve been constructing for years! I only know a fraction of what he did…but I still feel a bit of a connection to him every time I’m out doing my “chores.”
Eric
Growing up in the “Potato Capital of the World” meant farming was a large part of the community. I have many memories as a young child heading a few miles into the country to visit my Grandparent’s farm. There I learned some great life lessons…never get in the pen next to the barn with the big mean bull, electric fences pack quite a punch, and that an old barn is more fun than any jungle gym one could find at a city park.
Even my childhood home in town had a small irrigation ditch next to it, a large apple tree in the back yard, and a field where my mom was determined to grow a large garden. I spent many hours splashing in the ditch, picking apples from the tree (and off the ground), and helping water and weed the garden.
As a kid, I didn’t appreciate how great my situation was, but now I look back with fondness and realize how amazing my situation had been. Whether raising goats, planting strawberries, or just dreaming of the hobby farming things I'd like to do; I’ve tried to have an aspect of agriculture in my life no matter how large or small. I hope you do too.
Steve
If you knew I grew up in Brigham City, Utah, you probably wouldn’t be surprised that hobby farming is a big part of my life. After all, agricultural businesses were all around me. Though I did always maintain an interest in agriculture, I decided big business was the path for me.
So, after college I worked in the finance world for several years. Eventually, my wife and I began to miss the small-town life and the opportunity to hobby farm, so I quit my job and we bought a house on 10 acres of land in East Idaho. We now operate a hobby farm on that land and dream of making the leap from part time hobby farmer with day job, to full time homesteaders/farm business operators. For now, we and our two children are busy building infrastructure and learning what works and what doesn’t.
Although we grow a variety of crops and raise a variety of animals, the business plan centers around heritage breed pigs and turkeys, honeybees, medicinal herbs (not THAT medicinal herb!) and hydroponic lettuce and tomato crops. And of course – growing Hobby Farm Guys into a successful YouTube channel and education/ learning center.
