Small Farm Sunday: How to Build Your Farm Infrastructure Without Going Into Debt

Welcome to Small Farm Sunday! Building farm infrastructure without going into debt can seem impossible for a small farmer just starting out. But that's just what we did, and I'll show you how. We built / purchased our fences, barns, and equipment with "cash in hand," starting with the bare minimum of what we needed, and bootstrapping future infrastructure costs using the profits of our farm. In this video I'll show easy and profitable ways to build your first farm infrastructure, and hopefully can alleviate some of the stress beginning farmers feel at the thought of building their farm from a blank slate.
Do you have topic ideas for future small farm Sunday videos? Please leave your ideas in the comments section!
Note:
-We do not offer farm tours
-We do not ship our farm's products
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[@grantguy8933]

One of the most underrated channels. God bless.

[@samking8338]

Agreed

[@zadokmotorfreight2423]

💯

[@kylanve]

Agreed!!

[@Salty_TaterTodd]

Absolutely spot on 🤌🏼🤌🏼. The time that this man takes to explain things simply is UNMATCHED ANYWHERE ON THE TUBE 🚇

[@bandabanderos]

In a day where debt is promoted, this video is gold

[@davidbarnes7064]

A lot of good advice here. Thanks for being here Pete!

[@charlieallen7266]

Love the video. I started with 1 cow and borrowed 10,000 dollars to buy a baler, rakes, and a old international 1066 tractor 3 years ago. I have since payed off the equipment loan and upgraded to a Ford 8630 to pull the baler and a Ford 5610 to move bales and pull the rakes, I also bought a 12 foot Kuhn disk mower. I still currently work full time and custom hay full time in the summer. I have also grown to 12 cows and have 3 steers to butcher. Thank you for all the instruction Pete

[@prekeujkaj1625]

Hi Pete! I’m join your video are very great and your doing good job. I have questions, how many acres you have upstate new work ,also how many acres are pasture ! I’m interested to know as soon I have plan to purchase my farm Thanks

[@BlueNinjaX11]

How many acres did you start out with? I'm considering starting small as well. Thanks!

[@BlueNinjaX11]

@@prekeujkaj1625 Pete started with 45 acres on his family owned farm

[@joseph.2790]

☑️ Coffe ☑️ Pete ☑️ small farm Sunday 🚜😃Perfect!

[@pixaxeprepper384]

Very good channel. After retired from the Army in many combat zones and then civil service to deploy with soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan with 3 tours each. I am now fully retired. When in Iraq and Afghanistan, everything is BROWN. Sand and buildings. Only in a few areas are green from springs or rivers. I can tell you that viewers appreciate the videos because there in nothing better than good old green farms. I learn a lot from your knowledge of farming and mechanics. I am a helicopter mechanic, inspector and crew member. Now, I live in Virginia on 7 acres. Started a garden and planted chestnut trees since the wife loves them. We were married in S. Korea in 1974 while I served there. BTW, like your jokes. Here is 1, some months have 30 days, some months have 31. How many have 28 days? Answer: All of them.

[@larrymoore6640]

Pete congratulations on making 100k. Great down to earth video about building a farm keeping the costs down learning mistakes at startup.

[@Jaycalsun]

In an industry that gets opinionated and sensationalized quickly, I greatly appreciate your approach and delivery. It is encouraging and comforting. Not to sound trite, but a lot like a dad wanting to see the best for his kids. And again, I love that each video is a tour of your farm.

[@annmiller154]

Thank you for being real ! No sugar coat ! One Honest Farmer you are!

[@johnvanstone5336]

Well done on achieving the milestone of 100k subscribers, fully deserved ✌️🇬🇧

[@lionnelhaywood6459]

The way you do the things you do, makes you unique. Which keeps us coming back for more.

[@jareds7708]

Do you process your own pigs or just the chickens? Great content!

[@bokosdieselgarage]

Church and small farm Sunday, sounds like a good Sunday to me!

[@mrblackblacks9567]

Your doing a excellent job so don't worry about who's watching ,

[@anthonyhengst2908]

Absolutely how we started too. Right down to the garbage cans. We still feed our 50 cows with galvanized garbage cans. About 10 years ago we made a big improvement, we bought a 2 wheel dolly cart to move the can with rather than carry it. Silage was carried in garbage cans too until we got a couple of wheel barrows. Been doing it that way going on 40 years. It still is effective. All our equipment at first came from auctions and cows from people retiring. All the infrastructure concrete my parents built themselves with materials on hand. Stanchion were built out of the wood staves from a silo that fell. I think the first "big" investment my Dad made was the chainsaw that cut firewood in the winter and fenceposts in the summer. Great video and congratulations on 100k. You have the best channel Pete, I enjoy it very much.

[@365hillclimb]

I feel like I'm following in your footsteps here. I bought a house with a barn and some land, and finally committed to a half dozen laying hens today!

[@petedg255]

Huge Congrats on 100K Milestone!!!! Been watching from almost the beginning and have enjoyed every segment. Thank you for taking your time to educate and entertain. Keep up the great work. Having grown up on a Dairy Farm in Warwick, NY; this has been a constant walk back in time and always brings back great memories.

[@Mike-is8qc]

Congratulations on 100k. You make great videos and it's much deserved. I really enjoy watching your videos and seeing your prospective compared to my background in a large scale family grain farm in Canada.

[@TheNakidGardeners]

Great video, Pete.i was just telling another content creator that's a homesteader to do a different entity with their chickens, turkey, beef, dairy, etc now I can share this video with Thomas validation. Great job once again

[@MGBDCM]

I watch it every day....Brings back old memories and a desire to go back... But, a little late..

[@zodszoo]

Congratulations on the 100K! Sunday videos are great, very much appreciated!

[@MetaMorphea]

Always be happy for what you have and work towards greater things. Today's spending spree and materialistic thinking is very destructive. You will never be happy if you are always striving to get the newest things as soon as possible. And that goes for everything in life.

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Some good truth there!

[@robreesor5011]

Exactly right...todays world is all about that new Iphone or newest samsung phone. Instant gratification with small things and never looking at the big picture.

[@deckyBWFC91]

October: 27acres, 24acres of rushes and thistles. Flooded, overgrowth of 60/70 years of brambles ditches etc. No barns, no fences no house. No tractor, no mowers, just hand tools. June: hand dug drains, no more floods in 10acres. 75 sheets of galvanized sheets and 100 wooden pallets. All sourced for free local scrapyard. But I had to hand pick them out. So built a few shelters for the price of a box of screws. Also found chicken wire. Got chickens, selling fresh eggs. Bought sheep wire and fences, waited for flash sales. Painted the fence posts with old motor oil to last longer. Now I've 3 acres permanently fenced but also bought Gallagher electric fence (that was expensive) but as it's mobile I can now get livestock to more acres around my base permanent fence 3 acres. Also livestock I chose was goats. They eat the thistles, brambles and rushes. Saved money on tractors cutting back, and herbicides being spread.

[@paulkoontz6095]

Your doing it the right way. I watch cole the cornstar and the just spend so much money that there is no profit. Of course I'm your age and hate debt, cole and his family deal differently but there cannot be profit this I don't understand. Have a good day. Thanks for the videos brings back good memories from growing up on a small farm

[@douglasjewell9324]

Also love all your video's, I trying to watch them all to see where I can save a buck, and try to do things myself.

[@gregorygwiazda3139]

We purchased 25 acres of old farm land the my Great grandfather owned. Your videos are one of my favorite things to watch. Lot of good info ..... thanks

[@TheImperfectGardeners]

We love all your videos, and the way you care for all of your animals. My lady and i are starting small on 3 acres, and we had our first huge hail storm and it completely wiped all our hard work out. so our veggie crop really hurt us. We also have 25 road island red hens that are a month out to start laying and honestly animals bring us so much joy especially on those sad day. Thank you for the insight and positive outlook and advice. you are a great man.

[@patrickmccafferty984]

Not a farmer but a great Sunday talk. Applies to any business really. You are a great presenter. Hope you keep the Sunday talks going.

[@danielfawcett5107]

Small Farm Sunday is great. There are some farms I watch for entertainment. Some I watch for educational purposes. You are a great educator. A wealth of knowledge. And the odd dad joke is never a bad thing. Thanks. Dan.

[@larryiowatexasrooster9317]

👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🗽🙏🏻 really good info! Grew up on an Iowa farm in the 50's, Dad had a small dairy that gave him a weekly income. We raised hogs and a few beef cattle. Grew all our own grain and hay for the livestock. I learned all about working, plumbing, electric, carpentry and how to use bailing wire! I can’t thank my Mom and Dad enough for the chance to grow up on a farm and all I learned and didn’t appreciate at the time. Enjoy your videos (including humor) and the advice you share with your audience. I get to relive my childhood on the farm….I was driving a tractor, little Oliver 60, at the age of six. Have mowed a lot of hay with a sickle mower, in fact my Grandfather had a horse drawn sickle mower he used and I remember riding on top of the hay rack of loose hay loaded by pitchfork and pulled by a team of horses. The good Ole days! Again thanks for the memories I recall in watching your videos 👍

[@andrem1238]

This guy is a wealth of knowledge. As a young man just starting out on a small farm I can appreciate the advice this man has to offer.

[@AngeliqueKaga]

Pete, you do a great job of explaining things so that a non farmer can understand.

[@crookedrowfarm6100]

Small Farm Sunday, I love it!!! Thank you Pete for the advice an willingness to teach. We are in the infancy stages of building our farm. We currently raise layers, pastured meat chickens and rabbits. We have personally cash flowed for 2 yrs. This year we are starting to see a profit and it is exciting to say the least. Cattle is our next "enterprise", which will involve building fences. We currently purchase sides of beef and pork from a local farmer that has repeatedly ask me "why don't you grow your own" and my answer has always been Infrastructure. This year we will begin to start selling produce and "meat" directly from our farm. Thank you once again for your encouragement and knowledge. Miles

[@klazyy641]

Good common sense approach which worked well for my grandparents' farm for years. Was sort of standard thinking back in the early 1900's for small farmers/ranchers. You eased into any enterprise, just didn't jump in whole hog and end up with massive debts that you'd never get out from under. Thanks for the video. I don't have a farm/ranch, but I feel comforted by the realism that you provide. Go figure, eh?

[@mountainblockmoments]

Congratulations on the 100,000 subscribers. Doesn’t happen by itself you have made a really good down to earth channel.

[@benevolentblue]

I love this Small Farm Sunday edition! ☕ cheers

[@terryhenderson3304]

Terry H. ,Morning, back in the 60's my uncle had a small farm in Illinois. His tractor power was a F20, H , SUPER M and MD. When he was putting a wagon in the barn he would turn the tractor around and hitch the wagon to the front steering on the tractor. That way you are facing the wagon ,much easier on the back and neck. Spent many summers on the farm , my cousin was a year younger than me , so he and I spent a lot of time on the F20 and the (H) moving wagon , your site has a lot of good TIME for me. thank you

[@reillystover3618]

Thank you. My life’s dream is to raise my kids on a small farm. This is amazing advice and I know exactly where to start.

[@kennethwilliams5711]

I am a born and raised small farm man the sixth of six and know the work their is on a small farm but really enjoy watching your life story’s

[@stephanecome4234]

Congratulations Pete! Well deserved milestone. One of the best channel and I’m always looking forward to the next video. Startling a small farm ourselves, I don’t know how you get so much done and then edit videos as well, but I’m thankful for it.

[@jcwatson8649]

You are one of the greatest examples of integrity,honesty and sharing that i know of. I’m not sure but guessing that you homered and learned from your parents.

[@theresakelly3747]

Thank you Pete! You are so easy to follow and you make it easy to understand. If I had listen to my heart 40 years ago. I would have been on a farm . Instead I have a half acre home in a city. Where I am growing my own vegetables and starting an apple orchard . You can't raise livestock (chickens) or anything in this city. But I have you to live my dream through the video. Plus I'm single so hence in todays economy I do what I can to make the farmer in me happy.. Thanks again for your videos. Keep living the best life. You are blessed.

[@garybratton7250]

Pete, we just retired from our first retirement….8 years on a sailboat…to 70 acres in Wisconsin. I am a little older than you, but I think we could enjoy sharing a meal or two. We enjoy the videos, and watch them a lot. We are doing Lowline rather than Dexters, but I like listening to them eat too! Look forward to the day we can share a story or two in person, and keep up the good work.

[@donsuepowers924]

Don’t even own a small or large farm but the wisdom you share and how you share gives good advice to us all!😊😃🥰🎉🤩❤️🙏🏻

[@I_like_pears]

I loved hearing about how you started out! That is some sage advice.

[@LanceMcCormick]

Way to go on 100k! You do a great job!

[@wac74]

PETE is so honest, well done pete on a great channel

[@katieandkevinsears7724]

Chickens are the gateway drug of livestock. We started with them in 2012. When we got out mortgage paid off in 2017, we started into larger stuff like Dexters and goats.

[@lorianderson2910]

While you were talking to Doc all was right with the world. Thank you!

[@Daveco82]

the less you spend the less you need to make! one of your best videos!

[@MGBDCM]

Pete, Sundays find us in church. Fellowshipping and worshipping God Some of the BEST medicine ever.... It is just like family...

[@JamesWilliams-xk8st]

I have enjoyed all of your videos. But for someone who is just starting out with their own small farm, I'm really enjoying the new Sunday videos. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.

[@allenmeinhold7038]

What a great person you are to share all that with me, Thank you Sir! Butch Ashland Ohio

[@dbigatti]

I recently found your channel as I contemplate whether or not to quit my job and start a farm (from scratch). The information you provide has been incredible and I really can’t thank you enough for you sharing your story. Very Inspirational… THANK YOU!!!

[@charlesweeks2912]

Good Morning Pete!! Congratulations on 100k👍 I like the new Sunday mornings, deep breath relaxing lol Thanks for all the help!!! Have a Great day

[@nicholasruiz4464]

Small farm Sunday is a great idea!

[@unclefester771]

Really enjoy your video's! My sister and brother inlaw have a small farm by Newfield. I grew up on a farm in SW Minnesota. Moved back to the area and bought an acreage when we retired. The old memories of being on a farm you never forget. I spent many hours on a C, H and MTA as a young boy.

[@bobbailey4954]

Your thought process is sound and applies to most business rational thinking. I started a small printing company very much like you did with farming. Bought know production older equipment paid cash as we went sometimes upgraded and sold some of the original equipment. And grew from there started with me and my wife doing all the printing and bindery work hired employees as we got busy and continued to grow in to larger buildings finally we handled just the sales sold all the equipment to the employees and now the 20 plus employees are on there own. And we just handle the cream of the printing crop (sales). Couldn’t be any happier and the employees have something to work for besides just us. Never in the now forty plus years did we have a bank loan and we have seen many printing companies come and go.

[@todphillips3935]

Thank you for your encouragement. I’ve been very discouraged, because my step children want nothing to do with it. Just sitting here in the truck for hours listening to you speak about building a farm business while all these thoughts are going through my head about what I need to be doing. Thank you.

[@michaelsomerville672]

Thank you...

[@JohnnyUmphress]

Very good advice. Debt kills more small farmers than anything else. No everyone has bottomless pockets like Wranglestar.

[@ronhoffman632]

Great presentation Pete. I was a bank loan officer for many years. I always appreciated having customers with the same philosophy you have.

[@tlh001]

Great video, Pete. Another way to think about infrastructure upgrades/improvements is: do your customers care about the your investment enough to pay you more for your product? If the answer is no, then build it as cheaply as possible. Otherwise, you are spending your resources for yourself, not for your customers. And that can be ok too. Just know who you are making the improvements for and who is paying for it. Looking forward to seeing the MD run!

[@covecove5978]

Just like the old adage: How do you eat an Elephant? One bite at a time!!

[@geehah3256]

I appreciate that you keep your videos fairly straight forward, not all filled with pop up images, words, ect , like some other channels, you can tell when they are making more money from youtube then they are from farming, its all flash and no real substance. The jokes are good, dont ever stop doing those! The wife will be moving to our new property at the end of the month. 28 acres (95% trees) So lots of work to keep us busy as we move towards our goal of a small farm and farm animal rescue. SO PLEASE keep the videos coming as I dont know squat about farming !

[@roygilmore2968]

Congrats on 100k. By far, you and our Wyoming life are my favorite channels on YT. Two great families in different locations and different circumstances. I’ve really enjoyed the farmall work you’ve done. My grandfather used his cub for 50 years. I’m hoping to restore that one day.

[@thomasreto2997]

Great advice! Not only for farming enterprises but life in general. Themes. Start small....simply....realistic goals.....honesty about what you really know about a subject...reality of curve balls...etc...thank you...😃🌈🤙

[@myforeverhomestead6152]

Love the small farm sunday series!!

[@johnnyhighwoods1780]

Congrats on the 100k milestone! You folks worked hard and it payed off! always, farmer john

[@johnd.4385]

Great video! These are classic principles that apply to almost any business venture. VERY sound advice ! Keep up the good work !

[@mrk3farms407]

You’re a very wise man really enjoy hearing your perspective on things

[@joeyfiola3852]

Congratulations on the 100k. You earned it. Looking back one of my larger mistake was to over capitalize. For the most part I did grow my farm debt free aside from some land purchase. Thanks for you input. Look forward to next Sunday.

[@wendyhumphreystebbutt5782]

Great video, Pete! I'm not a farmer - but I love dreaming about my hubbie and I becoming self-sustaining...maybe a couple of dexter cows, some chickens, and a few pigs (we looooove pork!). I also love planning, so your Small Farm Sunday videos are definitely going to be on my list of what to watch with a nice cup of tea :-). Yours in Gratitude

[@greeroutdoors8678]

Love the vid

[@Bruiser38]

Love the new show, looking forward to it every Sunday. How about 30 seconds of “sights and sounds” of your farm animals at the end ? Cheers.

[@willowriverranch7965]

Thank you for making these videos! We started with feed bags and trash cans and have moved on to barrels and buying by the tote. We split a tote with another farmer. Three barrels hold half a tote, or a ton of chicken feed. The trash cans have moved on to storing things like rabbit feed and sheep minerals….

[@ikonseesmrno7300]

Great video, Pete! One of the big things that keeps me watching you channel is the fact that you don't spend a ton to earn a pound. That in itself speaks volumes. You're also not a BTO or supposed homesteader that is nothing more than a product showcase. Though they are our ag brothers & sisters, I just don't approve of most of it. But.... that kind of goes with having brothers & sisters. Can't always get along & not all views & ideas are the same. So, they get my love & will have to earn my respect. Regards & enjoy your Sunday coffee. AND congrat's on your 100K!!!!!!

[@JustaFewAcresFarm]

Thanks Ikon, that means a lot to me!

[@richardbohlingsr3490]

I like your business information, it's well thought out and grounded on debt free concepts. Unlike corporate farms that want to use other peoples money and if they fail, start again under another corporate name. Maybe this time it will be very profitable. It boils down to, do you care if you hurt somebody else, as long as you made your money - so what. Greed is king. I'm with you, stay as debt free as you can, be your own banker and keep your own profit, so others don't profit from your labor. I'm sure you would love to have a separate hay barn so you don't have to share space with your equipment. But how man chickens, do you have to raise and sell to pay for it. Life is about choices and all we can do is hope we make more right choices - than wrong ones.

[@boomergrown]

Good stuff to know. I'm not a farmer yet but I learn something from your channel every day.

[@littleaussiecottage]

So many great tips. My wife and have recently (3 years ago) built our tiny home on our dream small farm lot, 4.3acres in Western Australia. I'm learningxo much from these videos. The business side is real interesting, I'll be taking some tips from when I ran my own business. One Life, One Search, Shane

[@adamspioneerfarmflorida8802]

Pete I am amazed at your way of teaching us all… I have been standing overlooking my land that we just moved into scratching my head of how am I going to ever be able to get this place up and running… measuring future fence lines and and trying estimate post, fence,etc… Well you Sir once again give me hope to go off my plan and build it slowly… It’s so hard not get caught up in wanting to go big to soon… THANKS again for all of your time making the videos and helping us stay motivated.

[@allanulen3809]

really giving words of wisdom. for the most part that's how we built our little (5acre) farm.

[@treborkeeper5052]

this is a great idea, I'm not a farmer , but I love farms and tractors.I love the way you do things ,keeping away from debt.and happy with it.. looking forward to the next small farm video, and thanks for making these videos..

[@douglasjewell9324]

I just had a house and barn built on 25 acres, 2yrs ago and I didn't know that there is no help for the small farmer and how expensive it can be to get what u need to get a good start, we have 3 head of cattle, 1 mini donkey, 9 pygmy goats, 6 dogs and 3 cats and 3kittens

[@j.b.6855]

I love your video's. The passion you have for what you do shines through. I will likely never have a farm, or start one. I am in my late 50's and I am happy where I live. But the advice to start small and build out is sound for lots of things. Putting out a lot of money while you are still learning is a fools move. I applied the slow build out plan to my garden. First year was container gardening (sip planters) on the patio. Second year was taking a 15x70 section of my large backyard and wood chipping it (free chip drop) for more sip containers totes and some cattle panel trellises. This year I rearranged the space and filled up the area with sip's. I do things on the cheap, rescuing most of my totes and other things from the trash. Next year I will expand the area another 30x20 and wood chip it. So far the money I have put out has come back in the form of produce we eat and I have learned what works for me.

[@class8garage308]

Infrastructure is a high tech word for small farm, sounds like a city councel meeting, lets keep it simple like stuff needed to break even and keep lights on.

[@steveeab2364]

He was an architect by trade so it's language he is accustomed to

[@tractorhyatt7044]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with us! 🇺🇸🚜👍

[@CliffsideStables]

Small Farm Sunday after church! Tim in northern TN

[@ottocarr3688]

I imagine that overtime, finding topics will become more difficult. More videos explaining how to repair everything on the farm would be good. A video about the dedicated mechanic and welding shop you will have someday. The drain in it’s floor that dumps into an oil separator. The rolling chain falls that reaches every part of the shop. Welders, a torch, plasma cutter, etc. There are probably dozens of other items that you will need. Hey! A paint booth!

[@zachwiz4709]

The videos are always informative Pete. As well I think you should do a Sunday farm talk video with Hillary. Maybe you guys answer gyrations that viewers ask together. Just an idea!🙂

[@KettleCamping]

Very helpful! Thanks for being willing to share your experiences and advice. Really enjoy watching your channel!

[@benjohnson1082]

Pete and Family - congrats on 100k!!

[@dan-pu1gd]

Yes 100K! Congratulations Pete, so glad to see you reach this milestone!

[@anthonydolezal6627]

Thanks Pete. Good stuff. Keep Smilin!

[@nickjacobsen8733]

Again, thanks Pete. I appreciate your wisdom.

[@natehigh1334]

Small farm Sunday better then church after all only one way to heaven you gotta have an H and a shop lol good work Pete

[@tylerwells6988]

Very inspiring! Me my wife and three kids are starting a small farm. We have 10 Dexter's on of which we are currently milking. We are having a blast and God is showing us how he can bless our family through farming and eating what we raise and grow. Loved your video!

[@Kristian_Saile]

First off, love the small farm Sunday theme. Secondly I think to be a successful small farmer, especially one starting out, being a total cheapskate, thrifty miser is the common theme. 😆 love it, and that’s basically been the way we have been starting, free stuff, recycling materials to build infrastructure, started with chickens, etc. it’s amazing how much you can save being thrifty, using ingenuity, and creativity and honestly, that’s apart of what makes it all fun.

[@edwardsfamilyfarmstead4225]

Hello, new subscriber here and we are just starting out. We appreciate your videos and advice. It's definitely nice to have a community that's willing to share from experience and help others. Have a blessed day!

[@pamelamercado6902]

I totally agree with you. I don't borrow money and I always say I don't need pretty I just need everything to be stable and work. I see to many who what everything to look perfect and they've went in to debt doing so

[@lejpimackon1233]

Hi Pete! Great video, just like all the others. It really makes my day when you post a video. We also have a small family farm and we sell products directly to consumers. I can't imagine living anywhere else than on a farm. It became a part of me. Your videos are really inspiring and fun to watch. Keep 'em coming. Also congrats on 100k!

[@truenorthhaven7676]

Congrats on 100k! Your valuable experience and information is really helping our family move from a functioning homestead to a part time farm that wants to be profitable, thanks for everything you do!