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Life on small acreages

CALS Extension Senior Produce Program's Well Connected Communities grant project for Seniors 60 years and older. Seniors can take part in the program by visiting the weekly booth at Caldwell’s Farm to Fork Market.
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Life on small acreages

Are you new to Idaho? Are you a landowner? Do you need to learn the basics of

  • Soil
  • Water and water rights
  • Livestock
  • Weeds
  • Wildfire

In many parts of Idaho, people are enjoying rural life just past the edges of metropolitan city centers. But life on a small acreage is not all great views and beautiful sunsets. Whether your goals for your small acreage property are to raise a few livestock animals, create a productive hobby farm or just sit back and appreciate the wide-open spaces, land management issues can bring you back to reality in a hurry.  

Our Extension small acreage programs include in-depth courses, workshops, tours and consultations that empower small acreage landowners to solve their issues. Participants in our programs gain knowledge, implement best management practices, become more effective land stewards and successfully manage their natural resources.

Living on the land

This course consists of a series of classes designed to meet the needs of participants in the region where it is offered. Topics include:

  • Choosing farm equipment
  • What to do about weeds
  • Market and organic gardening
  • Pasture establishment and renovation
  • Caring for animals
  • Water quality
  • Feeds and feeding
  • Your living soil
  • Grazing management

This course varies based on your county, but a typical format has

  • Weekly meetings for eight to 12 weeks
  • 2-3 hours in the evening for each meeting
  • Tours and individual site visits/consulting
  • Costs often less than $250 for two people
  • Soil and water tests, textbook, course notebook all included

If you are an interested landowner, resident or potential cosponsor, contact a nearby Extension educator to ask about holding a course in your county.

Related resources:

  • Pasture principles for smaller acreages (BUL 849)  
  • Buying locally raised meat for custom processing (CIS 1222)
  • Meadow voles and pocket gophers: management in lawns, gardens and croplands (PNW 627)  
  • Idaho's noxious weeds (BUL 816)

Small farms

  • Community food
  • Farm to school
  • Farming
  • Food safety
  • Living

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Small farms

  • Community food
  • Farm to school
  • Farming
  • Food safety
  • Living

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