Year One Goals

Written By Tiffany Davis

April 25th 2026 - April 24th 2027

Last week I reflected on our first partial year at the farm, Year Zero.

We also already shared our overarching goals for the future of the farm, which has ironically changed considerably in just the few months since we created it.

But I wanted to take a moment to share our task list for Year One. As a planner, especially with a project as large as a 7-acre farm, it’s important to me to break tasks into smaller pieces. This helps me schedule and stay on track, monitor progress, remind myself of how far I’ve come, and adjust expectations in the future so that I can plan even better next time around.

The big goals for this year are to 1) build the small animal house & pasture, 2) start the vegetable garden, 3) set up our recreational space, and 4) fully settle in/unpack. Some things we’ve already begun work on. I’ve added teaser pictures of these, but more posts will come as we complete things.

Year One task list includes:

  • Chickens and Rabbits

    • Pasture enclosed and predator proofed

    • Garden shed converted to chicken house

    • Enrichment

    • Food & water management

  • Vegetable Garden

    • Place small (existing) greenhouse

    • Prep garden beds (4- 30”x50’ rows)

    • Vegetable garden - 20ish varieties, plant, tend, harvest, preserve

  • Start food forest 

    • Use existing orchard and add next layers

      • Berries, horseradish, perennial vegetables

    • Plant new trees towards front pasture

  • Plant canopy & border trees

  • Memorial/Pollinator Garden

    • Define full garden space

    • Recreational section - (this began with the idea of recreating my grandmother’s arbor swing but conversation has shifted to include a fire pit, pergola, and picnic table - we’ll see.)

    • Memorial Plaque and stones

    • Clean up Pond

    • Toad haven

    • Reinvigorate Rock Garden

    • Birdhouses & feeders

    • Pollinator plants

  • Finish various house projects/tasks leftover from last year:

    • Bathroom closet shelves and doors

    • Finish caulking bathroom

    • Find solution for bathroom vanity caulking (it keeps cracking and peeling due to the room’s flexing)

    • Paint remaining doors and trim (interior)

    • Reinstall bookshelf trim in front room

    • Finish trimming out bedroom closet/bookshelves

    • Finish installing & caulking baseboard and window trim

    • Finish going through things left behind in barn and garage

  • New house projects/tasks

    • Ceiling planks installed/painted

    • Remove wooden shelving in basement

    • Use barn wood to build coat rack & a table/magazine rack for bathroom

    • Well/Septic/Electric updates

  • Recreation

    • Zipline

    • Playground tower

    • Pool

  • Farmstand built and opened - this first year the goal is to sell seedlings, eggs, soap, candles, bread, and excess veggies

  • Farm Sign constructed

  • Basic rain water collection (storage barrels for existing gutters - house and garage)

  • Barn

    • Tear out ceiling and wall coverings

    • Remove chicken coop

    • Barn workshop

      • cabinets/counter for soap & candle making

      • Lumber rack for storing wood boards and sheets

  • Update farm plans, tree map, etc. based on changes made throughout the season

Wish us luck! I think we’re going to need it!

Tiffany Davis
Next

Year Zero