Category: Farm Plans

Intro to a Dream… The Agricultural Adventure

Solace Farm in Winter Greenhouse in the North

This Agricultural Adventure Series will be focusing on the steps to turn your dream of living an agricultural life into a reality.  I will share the steps my husband and I took to go from newlyweds with nothing but our determination, to successful farmers. 

I hope to save others some time by showing our mistakes as well as our successes.  I have also written down the wisdom and experiences of mentors and friends on their own Agricultural Adventure in the hopes of passing it on to the next generation. Some of these things will prove invaluable to many of you but some will also not apply at all.  Feel free to pick and choose what works for you on this journey.

I hope that you will try out the concepts and be willing to share your experience with other subscribers on the Solace Farm Facebook Page so we can grow and rejoice in each small success.

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Winter Lambing/Kidding Tipi

We have these in our lambing jugs during January and February lambing:

Even on the coldest night it can be up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in these with two or three lambs snuggled up tight.

A wooden triangular shelter made from oriented strand board (OSB), partially open, resting on hay in a barn.

Materials List

*I sheet of 3/8 or ½ inch plywood

* 4 8 foot long 2×2

*75 1 ½ inch deck screws

* 2 lightweight 1 ½ inch hinges with screws

* 10 3 to 4 inch deck screws

Assembly

A diagram illustrating a cutting pattern for a 4x8 sheet of plywood or wafer board, detailing specific measurements in inches for sections measuring 18", 12", 36", 12", and 6" on the top, and 16" and 19" on the side.

Always remember to put the screws in from the plywood side through to the 2×2 framing.

1. Measure the long sides of the two triangles and cut 4 pieces of 2×2 to fit that length. Screw the 2×2 in place flush with the edges of the plywood pieces.

2. Measure the length between these 2x2s along the bottom and top edge of the plywood. Cut 2×2 to fit those spaces and screw into place.

3. Place the “front sections” on the floor right side up and attach the access door at the center seam with the two hinges.

4. Hold the solid back section and the two sides sections up in place and measure the distance between the framing at the top and again at the bottom. Cut 2 pieces of 2×2 to fit each space. Center one piece that you just cut at the top and another at the bottom back and secure the extra set to your front section.

5. Secure the “Back” wall to the side walls by screwing plywood to the framing of the side walls. At this point you have a 32 sided structure. Place the front section in place and screw to the framing as you did the back. Take one long deck screw and screw into the framing at top and bottom at each joint. Your Lamb Tipi is complete.

6. You can place a safety heat lamb on the top of the tipi to provide extra warmth on those cold winters, early spring nights.  

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