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Hello
About how much land is required to grow enough fruits and veggies, chickens and rabbits to feed a couple of people? A rough estimate or a link to information on the subject would be much appreciated. Thanks
About 4-6 apple trees, a few blueberry bushes, raspberry bushes, a couple of nut trees, pear tree and yard of 20 by 40 for about 20 to 50 chickens along with a coup of 12 by 10. A small building for rabbits.
Three acres is plenty-nough for a "couple of people".
A half acre of veggies will fill your cupboards. A dozen hens will over run you with eggs and chickens with a small incubator. For the hens and lucky rooster I would have two pens of grass and rotate them frequently. Maybe you will find something to help guide you here:
American Small Farm Magazine Home Page (http://www.smallfarm.com/home.htm - broken link)
I am with Nomadicus on this one. I am surprised there are people who think you need 2 or 3 acres. A dozen chickens is plenty for 2 people and will provide enough eggs for family and friends, too. You don't need a rooster to have plenty of eggs. You only need a rooster if you want to raise some chicks to keep the flock growing.
A half dozen dozen rabbits is plenty - two bucks and four does are all you need to get started. Keep them in hutches on the shady side of your garage and that should be plenty of room for suitable meat production for two people. Rabbit manure is an excellent additive to add to your garden and it doesn't have to age like most other manures. Chicken manure is also excellent in the garden, but does need to age in a compost pile first.
You can grow plenty of veggies in a standard size suburbia back yard and a small greenhouse. Learn to can your fruits and veggies to maximize what you grow. You'll find it doesn't take much to stay on top of the game. Grapes are easy to grow and can be used for jelly, jams, wine, juicing, dehydrating and freezing.
There are all manner of books on the subject. Take a look at this one: www.your (broken link)backyardfarmer.com/
You need less room than you think - less than an acre. You can have a house, garage, driveway, toolshed, 100 x 100' garden (about 1/4 acre), chicken coop, and rabbit hutches all on 3/4 acre.
The only reason I know this is that my wife's landlord at work lives downstairs from her office, and 'farms' out in the backyard. He has about 3/4 acre. Last summer, he fed 2 beef calves to a good size, on the same land! They also have a pig, rabbits, and more chickens/geese than she can count!
The key to it is they have good land. If you have any swampy spots, subtract that from the total. Good luck!
Put that in the recipe section of the food and drink forum. Don't gross everyone out on this forum.
Quite frankly, AliceT, your post surprises me. If the OP is asking how many rabbits he needs to be self-sufficient, just what do you think he is going to do with them? I hope you are not one of those mis-guided souls who thinks meat comes from the supermarket. There are lots of 'gross' things on a farm and lots of 'gross' things about being self-sufficient. Surely as a gardner, you already know that.
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