The name Fluffy Bottom comes from the animals at the homestead, Farming at Fluffy Bottom is about food and hobby farming. It got started at the beginning of retirement around 2005. A few laying hens lead down the path to a larger flock of exhibition and breeding bantam Cochins chickens. As a retired biologist, the Cochins provide an outlet for research, breeding to a standard, and the preservation of rare color varieties. Of course, the laying hen flock are still had at work providing composted manure and a supply of eggs.
In addition to the chickens, a small group of medium sized rabbits enjoy a home at Fluffy Bottom. These are a few variations of the Palomino and Rex type rabbits whose main jon is to add rich manure ready to use in the gardens and orchard. The progonal Palomino rabbits were a rich honey brown fur with lighter bellies. And the Rex rabbits have a fine, soft rich fur.
Neither of the animals are directly used for food, although they could be should the future require it. Their main jobs on the homestead are providing manure to enrich the poor soils and to provide an outlet for curiousity and learning.
Animals require housing and although many of the chickens free range during the day, the Farm has a number of outbuildings specifically for the animals, There are three houses for the Cochins and one for the laying hens along with a number of temporary breeding pens. Under the lean-to roof of the laying hen coop are where the rabiits are housed in smaller hutches.
No farm would be complete without a barn so a new pole building was recently added to the homestead. at 24×40 it provides work and storage space for tools, equipment and off season storage. The small tractor and antique farm truck are at home there.
The garden space on the homestead consists of an ever expanding group of raised beds totaling over 1000 square feet, an apple orchard, a soft fruit orchard and a few miscellaneous fruit trees. Gardens provide a quick source of food, but the orchards are a work in progress and will continue to develop over time. Not only do the gardens provide food for the homestead, but there’s always a surplus to provide a little extra income.
The farming at Fluffy Bottom is far from complete and bits and pieces will continue to develop and add to the resilency that may be necessary in the future!