- agricultural activities to grow and harvest raw ingredients (crops, livestock, etc.). This includes activities like: - Field/garden preparation - Planting/animal husbandry - Irrigation - Pest management - Harvesting - Initial post-harvest handling ### Inputs #### Security ##### Birds of Prey | Bird Type | Active Time | Primary Targets | Benefit to Farm |Nest Box Height | Placement Location | Notes | | -------------------- | ----------- | ----------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |----------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | | Barn Owls 🦉 | Night | Rodents, small birds | Controls mice, rats, voles |10-15 ft | 100 ft away from poultry area on trees or poles | Prefer quiet, open hunting areas | | Great Horned Owls 🦉 | Night | Rodents, rabbits, larger birds | Deterrent for pest birds & predators like raccoons |15-20 ft | Edges of the forested area | Can deter raccoons & ground predators | | Red-Tailed Hawks 🦅 | Day | Starlings, pigeons, crows | Keeps nuisance birds from landing |25-30 ft | On tall poles or open-field platforms | Need wide hunting views, don’t nest near livestock | | Cooper’s Hawks 🦅 | Day | Mid-sized birds (blackbirds, doves) | Controls flocks that compete with poultry |20-30 ft | Edge of grazing area near trees | Ambush predators, need some cover | | American Kestrels 🏹 | Day | Grasshoppers, mice, sparrows | Helps with small bird & insect control |12-15 ft | Orchards, fence posts, or barns | Small but highly effective against pests | | Peregrine Falcons ⚡ | Day | High-speed hunting of pest birds | Excellent deterrent for large bird flocks |Cliff-like structures, 50+ ft | Tall farm buildings, silo roofs | Used for falconry-based bird deterrence | #### Financial Inputs ##### Summary Total Initial Investment: $4.2M Total Annual Operating: $685,000 Per Person Costs: Initial: $4,200 (amortized over 10-20 years = $250-300/year) Annual Operating: $685/person/year Total Annual Cost Per Person: ~$1000 ##### Forest Garden (100 acres) | Cost Category | Per Acre Initial | Per Acre Annual | Total Initial (100ac) | Total Annual | Notes | | ---------------- | ---------------- | --------------- | --------------------- | ------------ | --------------------------------------- | | Site Prep | $2,000 | - | $200,000 | - | Soil work, amendments, water management | | Plants/Seeds | $5,000 | $200 | $500,000 | $20,000 | Trees, shrubs, perennials, ground cover | | Irrigation | $3,000 | $100 | $300,000 | $10,000 | Drip system, controls | | Tools/Equipment | $500 | $100 | $50,000 | $10,000 | Hand tools, pruning equipment | | Infrastructure | $1,000 | $200 | $100,000 | $20,000 | Storage, processing areas | | Soil Amendments | - | $300 | - | $30,000 | Compost, minerals | | **System Total** | **$11,500** | **$900** | **$1,150,000** | **$90,000** | Amortize initial over 20 years | ###### Animal Impact & Predator Integration | **Animal** | **Benefits** | **Harms** | **Net Benefit Score** | | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------- | --------------------- | | **Chickens** | Pest control, soil aeration, fertilization | Can damage young plants, require rotation | **9** | | **Ducks** | Pest control, soil aeration, fertilization, slug reduction | Can trample young plants, need water source | **8** | | **Geese** | Weed control, fertilization, guard animal | Can be aggressive, trampling risk | **6** | | **Turkeys** | Pest control, fertilization, large meat yield | Require more space, can eat young plants | **5** | | **Pigs (Small Breeds)** | Soil tilling, weed control, fertilization, nut dispersal | Can damage root systems, over-tilling | **6** | | **Sheep** | Weed suppression, low impact, fertilization | Overgrazing if not managed, need rotation | **7** | | **Goats** | Weed suppression, fertilization | Can strip tree bark, aggressive eaters | **5** | | **Mini Cattle** | Grazing management, fertilization, sapling protection | Can compact soil if not rotated properly | **6** | | **Bees** | Pollination, biodiversity boost | Can outcompete native pollinators | **10** | | **Earthworms** | Soil health, nutrient cycling, pest suppression | Require organic matter, sensitive to toxins | **10** | | **Owls/Hawks** | Rodent control, small mammal balance | No direct harm, but needs habitat support | **8** | | **Foxes** | Rodent control, ecosystem balance | May prey on poultry, need habitat balance | **6** | | **Snakes** | Rodent control, ecosystem balance | May scare some people, but mostly neutral | **5** | | **Squirrels** | Seed dispersal, soil aeration (minor) | Bark stripping, fruit theft, nut hoarding | **-3** | | **Deer** | None (in a food forest setting) | Eats saplings, overbrowsing, spreads ticks | **-5** | | **Rats/Mice** | None (mostly damaging) | Eats seeds and fruits, spreads disease | **-6** | | **Coyotes** | Rodent control (only slight benefit) | Preys on poultry, disrupts balance if unchecked | **-4** | | **Barn Owls** 🦉 | Rodent control, small bird deterrent, nocturnal balance | None (but should not be placed too close to poultry) | **10** | | **Great Horned Owls** 🦉 | Rodent control, deters raccoons and large birds, ecosystem balance | Can target young poultry if unprotected | **8** | | **Red-Tailed Hawks** 🦅 | Controls starlings, pigeons, and crows, keeps nuisance birds away | None (does not target livestock) | **9** | | **Cooper’s Hawks** 🦅 | Controls mid-sized birds (blackbirds, doves), reduces competition for poultry | None (prefers wild birds over poultry) | **9** | | **American Kestrels** 🏹 | Controls grasshoppers, mice, and sparrows, insect suppression | None (targets small birds and insects only) | **9** | | **Peregrine Falcons** ⚡ | High-speed aerial deterrent for large pest bird flocks, very effective in open areas | None (but requires high perches to be effective) | **8** | ##### Fish Ponds (100 acres) | Cost Category | Per Acre Initial | Per Acre Annual | Total Initial (100ac) | Total Annual | Notes | | ----------------- | ---------------- | --------------- | --------------------- | ------------ | ------------------------------ | | Pond Construction | $10,000 | - | $1,000,000 | - | Excavation, lining, plumbing | | Fish Stock | - | $1,000 | - | $100,000 | Fingerlings, breeding stock | | Aeration System | $2,000 | $200 | $200,000 | $20,000 | Pumps, diffusers | | Water Management | $3,000 | $300 | $300,000 | $30,000 | Filtration, monitoring | | Equipment | $1,000 | $200 | $100,000 | $20,000 | Nets, harvesting gear | | Feed | - | $800 | - | $80,000 | Supplemental feed | | **System Total** | **$16,000** | **$2,500** | **$1,600,000** | **$250,000** | Amortize initial over 20 years | ##### Orchards (50 acres) | Cost Category | Per Acre Initial | Per Acre Annual | Total Initial (50ac) | Total Annual | Notes | |---------------|------------------|-----------------|---------------------|--------------|--------| | Site Prep | $3,000 | - | $150,000 | - | Grading, soil work | | Trees | $4,000 | $200 | $200,000 | $10,000 | Replacement trees | | Irrigation | $2,500 | $200 | $125,000 | $10,000 | Drip/sprinkler system | | Equipment | $2,000 | $400 | $100,000 | $20,000 | Pruning, harvest equipment | | Infrastructure | $1,500 | $300 | $75,000 | $15,000 | Storage, processing | | Amendments | - | $400 | - | $20,000 | Fertilizer, mulch | | **System Total** | **$13,000** | **$1,500** | **$650,000** | **$75,000** | Amortize initial over 20 years | ##### Annual Crops (50 acres) | Cost Category | Per Acre Initial | Per Acre Annual | Total Initial (50ac) | Total Annual | Notes | |---------------|------------------|-----------------|---------------------|--------------|--------| | Equipment | $4,000 | $500 | $200,000 | $25,000 | Tractors, implements | | Irrigation | $2,000 | $200 | $100,000 | $10,000 | Sprinkler systems | | Infrastructure | $2,000 | $300 | $100,000 | $15,000 | Storage, processing | | Seeds | - | $400 | - | $20,000 | Annual seed stock | | Amendments | - | $500 | - | $25,000 | Fertilizer, soil additions | | **System Total** | **$8,000** | **$1,900** | **$400,000** | **$95,000** | Amortize initial over 10 years | ##### Chicken System (50 coops) | Cost Category | Per Coop Initial | Per Coop Annual | Total Initial (50) | Total Annual | Notes | | ----------------- | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------ | ------------ | ------------------------------ | | Coop Construction | $5,000 | - | $250,000 | - | Mobile coops | | Equipment | $2,000 | $300 | $100,000 | $15,000 | Feeders, waterers | | Birds | - | $1,000 | - | $50,000 | Replacement stock | | Feed | - | $2,000 | - | $100,000 | Supplemental feed | | Infrastructure | $1,000 | $200 | $50,000 | $10,000 | Processing, storage | | **System Total** | **$8,000** | **$3,500** | **$400,000** | **$175,000** | Amortize initial over 10 years | #### Labor Inputs ##### Summary Total Annual Hours: 29,000 Hours Per Person Per Year: 29 Labor Distribution: - Forest Garden: 52% (highest but most diverse yield) - Fish Ponds: 17% (efficient protein production) - Chicken System: 17% (daily attention needed) - Orchards: 10% (seasonal peaks) - Annual Crops: 4% (most mechanized) ##### Forest Garden (15,000 hours/year - 100 acres) | Task Category | Hours/Year | % of Total | Peak Seasons | Critical Timing | Notes | |---------------|------------|------------|--------------|-----------------|--------| | Canopy Management | 1,500 | 10% | Winter | No | Pruning, training | | Ground Layer | 2,000 | 13% | Spring/Fall | Partial | Cover crops, mulching | | Harvesting | 4,500 | 30% | Summer/Fall | Yes | Fruits, nuts, herbs | | System Monitoring | 1,000 | 7% | All Year | No | Health checks, planning | | Path Maintenance | 800 | 5% | Spring/Fall | No | Access management | | Fertility Management | 700 | 5% | Spring | No | Compost, amendments | | Pest Management | 1,500 | 10% | Spring-Fall | Partial | IPM, controls | | Irrigation | 1,500 | 10% | Summer | Yes | Watering, maintenance | | Processing/Storage | 1,500 | 10% | Summer/Fall | Yes | Post-harvest handling | | **Total** | **15,000** | **100%** | - | - | 150 hrs/acre/year | ##### Fish Ponds (5,000 hours/year - 100 acres) | Task Category | Hours/Year | % of Total | Peak Seasons | Critical Timing | Notes | |---------------|------------|------------|--------------|-----------------|--------| | Feeding | 1,500 | 30% | All Year | Yes | Daily management | | Water Quality | 1,000 | 20% | All Year | Yes | Testing, adjustment | | Harvesting | 800 | 16% | Seasonal | Yes | Scheduled catches | | System Maintenance | 600 | 12% | Spring/Fall | No | Equipment, repairs | | Stock Management | 500 | 10% | Spring | Yes | Breeding, restocking | | Processing | 600 | 12% | Harvest periods | Yes | Cleaning, storage | | **Total** | **5,000** | **100%** | - | - | 50 hrs/acre/year | ##### Orchards (3,000 hours/year - 50 acres) | Task Category | Hours/Year | % of Total | Peak Seasons | Critical Timing | Notes | |---------------|------------|------------|--------------|-----------------|--------| | Pruning | 600 | 20% | Winter | No | Structure management | | Pest Management | 450 | 15% | Spring-Fall | Partial | Monitoring, control | | Harvesting | 900 | 30% | Summer/Fall | Yes | Fruit collection | | Ground Management | 300 | 10% | Spring/Fall | No | Mowing, mulching | | Irrigation | 450 | 15% | Summer | Yes | Water management | | Processing/Storage | 300 | 10% | Harvest | Yes | Post-harvest handling | | **Total** | **3,000** | **100%** | - | - | 60 hrs/acre/year | ##### Annual Crops (1,000 hours/year - 50 acres) | Task Category | Hours/Year | % of Total | Peak Seasons | Critical Timing | Notes | |---------------|------------|------------|--------------|-----------------|--------| | Bed Preparation | 200 | 20% | Spring | Yes | Tilling, amendments | | Planting | 150 | 15% | Spring | Yes | Seeding, transplants | | Cultivation | 200 | 20% | Growing Season | Partial | Weeding, thinning | | Irrigation | 150 | 15% | Summer | Yes | Water management | | Harvesting | 200 | 20% | Summer/Fall | Yes | Crop collection | | Processing | 100 | 10% | Harvest | Yes | Post-harvest handling | | **Total** | **1,000** | **100%** | - | - | 20 hrs/acre/year | ##### Chicken System (5,000 hours/year - 50 coops) | Task Category | Hours/Year | % of Total | Peak Seasons | Critical Timing | Notes | | ----------------- | ---------- | ---------- | -------------- | --------------- | ---------------------- | | Daily Care | 1,800 | 36% | All Year | Yes | Feeding, water, checks | | Coop Movement | 600 | 12% | Growing Season | No | Pasture rotation | | Egg Collection | 1,000 | 20% | All Year | Yes | Multiple daily rounds | | Health Management | 400 | 8% | All Year | Partial | Monitoring, care | | Processing | 700 | 14% | As Needed | Yes | Meat birds | | Maintenance | 500 | 10% | Spring/Fall | No | Equipment, repairs | | **Total** | **5,000** | **100%** | - | - | 100 hrs/coop/year | ### Outputs #### Summary Total Annual Production: - Calories: ~730 million (2,000/person/day) - Protein: ~36,500 kg (100g/person/day) - Carbohydrates: ~91,250 kg (250g/person/day) - Fats: ~36,500 kg (100g/person/day) Distribution by System: - Forest Garden: 35% of calories, 25% of protein - Fish Ponds: 5% of calories, 30% of protein - Orchards: 20% of calories, 5% of protein - Annual Crops: 35% of calories, 25% of protein - Chicken System: 5% of calories, 15% of protein #### Forest Garden (100 acres) | Product Category | Annual Yield (lbs) | Cal/lb | Annual Calories | Protein (kg) | Notes | | -------------------- | ------------------ | ------ | --------------- | ------------ | -------------------------------- | | Tree Nuts | 50,000 | 2,800 | 140M | 2,750 | Walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts | | Fruits | 100,000 | 250 | 25M | 450 | Multiple species, varied harvest | | Berries | 40,000 | 200 | 8M | 180 | Both canopy and understory | | Perennial Vegetables | 60,000 | 200 | 12M | 600 | Multiple layers | | Mushrooms | 20,000 | 150 | 3M | 900 | Shade-grown varieties | | Herbs/Specialty | 10,000 | 200 | 2M | 120 | Medicinal and culinary | | **System Total** | **280,000** | - | **190M** | **5,000** | Multi-layered yield | #### Fish Ponds (100 acres) | Product Category | Annual Yield (lbs) | Cal/lb | Annual Calories | Protein (kg) | Notes | | ---------------- | ------------------ | ------ | --------------- | ------------ | ---------------------- | | Primary Fish | 50,000 | 650 | 32.5M | 5,500 | Main stock | | Secondary Fish | 15,000 | 500 | 7.5M | 1,500 | Complementary species | | Aquatic Plants | 20,000 | 100 | 2M | 200 | Edible vegetation | | **System Total** | **85,000** | - | **42M** | **7,200** | Integrated aquaculture | #### Orchards (50 acres) | Product Category | Annual Yield (lbs) | Cal/lb | Annual Calories | Protein (kg) | Notes | |-----------------|-------------------|---------|-----------------|--------------|--------| | Tree Fruits | 200,000 | 250 | 50M | 900 | Multiple varieties | | Ground Crops | 50,000 | 200 | 10M | 450 | Understory production | | Forage/Feed | 100,000 | 150 | 15M | 750 | Animal support | | **System Total** | **350,000** | - | **75M** | **2,100** | Stacked production | #### Annual Crops (50 acres) | Product Category | Annual Yield (lbs) | Cal/lb | Annual Calories | Protein (kg) | Notes | |-----------------|-------------------|---------|-----------------|--------------|--------| | Grains | 100,000 | 1,600 | 160M | 4,500 | Primary staples | | Legumes | 40,000 | 1,500 | 60M | 4,000 | Protein crops | | Root Crops | 60,000 | 400 | 24M | 600 | Storage crops | | Vegetables | 80,000 | 200 | 16M | 800 | Fresh produce | | **System Total** | **280,000** | - | **260M** | **9,900** | Intensive rotation | #### Chicken System (50 coops) | Product Category | Annual Yield (lbs) | Cal/lb | Annual Calories | Protein (kg) | Notes | | ---------------- | ------------------ | ------ | --------------- | ------------ | --------------------- | | Eggs | 75,000 | 750 | 56M | 4,500 | Year-round production | | Meat | 25,000 | 650 | 16M | 2,800 | Scheduled processing | | **System Total** | **100,000** | - | **72M** | **7,300** | Dual-purpose system | #### Nutrient Analysis | Nutrient Type | Primary Sources | % of Needs Met | Notes | | ------------- | --------------------- | -------------- | -------------------- | | Protein | Fish, eggs, legumes | 120% | Diverse sources | | Iron | Leafy greens, legumes | 150% | High bioavailability | | Calcium | Fish, leafy greens | 110% | Multiple sources | | Vitamin A | Fruits, vegetables | 200% | Abundant in produce | | Vitamin C | Berries, vegetables | 300% | Year-round sources | | Omega-3 | Fish, nuts | 150% | Quality sources | #### Storage/Processing Requirements | Category | Annual Volume | Storage Type | Processing Needs | |----------|---------------|--------------|------------------| | Fresh Produce | 300,000 lbs | Cold storage | Minimal | | Grains | 100,000 lbs | Dry storage | Milling | | Nuts | 50,000 lbs | Dry storage | Shelling, drying | | Animal Products | 125,000 lbs | Cold storage | Immediate | | Root Crops | 60,000 lbs | Cool storage | Cleaning |