As the year draws to a close and the cold settles over Huckleberry Farms, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and set intentions for the journey ahead. Homesteading is not just about tending to animals and crops—it’s a lifestyle that teaches resilience, creativity, and growth. It asks us to adapt to challenges, celebrate small victories, and find beauty in the simplest moments. At Huckleberry Farms, we’re excited to embrace 2025 with renewed energy and clear goals that will guide us toward a more productive, sustainable, and thriving farm.
Here’s a look at some of our intentions for 2025, along with strategies for turning these aspirations into reality. We encourage you to reflect on your own homesteading journey and set intentions for 2025 along with us.
Lessons from 2024
2024 threw us some unexpected curveballs—a storm that took down our shade trees, a summer drought that claimed most of the garden and rabbits, and the complexities of a surprise pregnancy. But those challenges revealed areas for improvement and new opportunities. Each challenge from 2024—whether it was recovering from the storm or learning how to delegate—has helped us refine our vision for the coming year.
1. Converting Our Garage Back into a General Store
One of the most exciting projects for 2025 is transforming our garage back into the General Store it originally was.
- Customer Convenience: The store will offer two ways to shop—through a self-serve stand placed out front or by coming inside the store for a full shopping experience.
- Hiring or Volunteer Opportunities: We hope to hire a local teen, retiree, or someone needing part-time work to help run the store. Alternatively, we may collaborate with local recovery homes to provide volunteer opportunities or service work.
- Giving Back to the Community: The General Store will not only support our farm’s business goals but also provide an opportunity to engage with and give back to the local community. Our hope is that the store will not only be a hub for customers but also a place where conversations, connections, and community can grow.
Action Step for Readers: If you want to launch a farm store, start small. Consider a roadside stand or pop-up market days to gauge local interest before expanding into a larger setup.
2. Enhancing Poultry Operations
Our poultry are the heart of the farm, providing eggs, meat, and companionship. This coming year, we’re focusing on refining our poultry systems even further.
- Sorting Chickens by Purpose and Age: To improve management, we’ll divide the birds into designated pens: meat birds, new layers/non-breeders, breeders, and stew hens (2 yrs and older) . This will help us monitor productivity, simplify care, and create a more efficient system. We hope that by organizing our chickens into specialized pens, we can better meet their needs and reduce stress, leading to healthier birds and more consistent egg production.
- Expanding Duck Operations: With 5 ducks (4 Blue Swedish and 1 Khaki Campbell), our goal is to generate $345 in duck egg sales for the year. Ducks tend to lay more frequently in spring and early summer, so our strategies will focus on optimizing sales during those peak months. Meeting this goal will require thoughtful planning, creative marketing, and careful tracking of production during peak laying months.
- Chicken Egg Sales: We’re aiming to average $250+ per month in chicken egg sales—a steady source of income that will help sustain the farm. This means nurturing the health of our layers and maintaining high standards for egg quality as well as building strong customer relationships will be essential to meeting this goal.
Action Step for Readers: If you keep poultry, consider tracking egg production throughout the year and setting sales targets based on your birds’ laying patterns.
3. Fine-Tuning Rabbit Operations
Rabbits are a valuable asset on our farm, providing not just meat but also pelts, show animals, and fertilizer. In 2025, we’re getting serious about breeding only the best of the best.
- Selective Breeding for Quad-Purpose Rabbits: We’ll focus on refining our lines of Rex and New Zealand rabbits to achieve top-tier rabbits that excel in four areas: meat, pelts, show quality, and fertilizer production. This means being more intentional with culling to ensure we’re only keeping the highest-quality stock.
- Serious Culling: To maintain quality, we’ll be stricter with culling. This ensures only top animals remain in the breeding program. Qualities that we will be focusing on include ARBA-accepted colors in each breed, confirmation, fur quality, weight gain/growth, personality, etc.
- Efficient Rabbit Management: We’ll rework our breeding schedule to maximize productivity while ensuring the health and well-being of the rabbits, creating a sustainable and profitable system.
Action Step for Readers: When setting breeding goals, track each animal’s performance and set benchmarks for culling to maintain high-quality stock.
4. Hosting Farm Events
One of our biggest goals for 2025 is to host at least three events on the farm, inviting the community to experience life at Huckleberry Farms. These events might include farm tours, workshops on sustainability, and family-friendly days where people can meet the animals and learn about regenerative practices.
Farm events allow us to connect with the community, teach what we’ve learned, and generate additional income while sharing the joy of farm life with others.
Action Step for Readers: If you’re looking to host farm events, start small—invite friends or local groups for an informal tour. Build from there as you gain experience.
5. A Productive Garden and Launching CSA Boxes
After the struggles of 2024’s garden season, 2025 is going to be the year we turn things around.
- Garden Expansion and CSA Boxes: The dream is to have a successful garden that produces enough to offer CSA boxes weekly, filled with vegetables, eggs, and meat. We’ll also explore how to diversify the CSA offerings by incorporating small-batch preserves, herbs, or foraged finds. This means planning the garden carefully, being more proactive in plant care, and ensuring a steady supply throughout the season.
- Learning from Last Year’s Drought: We’ll relocate the garden to a better spot, where it will have access to more shade and water. We’ll focus on improving soil health, installing better irrigation, and keeping the garden protected from poultry. The goal is not just to grow food for ourselves but to provide a bounty for our customers and community through the CSA. Relocating the garden during the winter months will give us a head start on planting and ensure that it’s ready to thrive come spring.
Action Step for Readers: Use the winter months to sketch your ideal garden layout. Research local market demands and align your crops with companion planting and seasonal production strategies to maximize yields.”
6. Operating the Farm Like a Business
One of the biggest shifts we’ll make in 2025 is moving the farm from a hobby mindset to a more structured business model.
- Creating Policies and Procedures: To run smoothly and efficiently, we’ll draft clear policies and procedures that outline everything from animal care routines to customer interactions. These documents will also provide consistency and streamline operations as the farm grows.
- Forming an LLC: As part of our long-term vision, we plan to officially form an LLC for Huckleberry Farms. This step will allow us to manage finances more effectively, protect personal assets, and open doors for new opportunities and partnerships.
Action Step for Readers: Think about where you want your homestead to go. Writing down your vision helps clarify your goals and can motivate you to take concrete steps toward making them a reality.
Tips for Setting Intentions for Your Homestead
Whether you’re running a farm, planning a garden, or simply setting personal goals for the year ahead, the act of intention-setting brings clarity and focus. Take the time to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what brings you joy. Then, write down your goals and take small steps toward them each day.
1. Craft a Vision for the Future
Think about where you want your homestead to be in the next few years. What are your long-term goals? Write down your vision and use it as a guiding light when setting specific goals.
2. Set SMART Goals
SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of saying, “I want to improve my garden,” try, “I will plant five new vegetable varieties by May and track their progress throughout the season.”
3. Balance Sustainability, Productivity, and Self-Care
Homesteading can be demanding, so it’s essential to prioritize well-being. While setting ambitious goals, we’re also mindful of the need to maintain balance—between productivity, sustainability, and personal growth. Make time for family, hobbies, and rest alongside your farm projects to avoid burnout.
- Focusing on Sustainability: Every decision we make is guided by our commitment to regenerative practices. Whether it’s rotational grazing or using rabbit manure as fertilizer, we aim to give back to the land and reduce waste wherever possible.
- Personal Growth and Delegation: Running a farm is a team effort. In 2025, we’ll continue to involve the kids in farm work, delegating responsibilities based on their strengths and interests. We’ve found that involving the kids not only eases the workload but also teaches them responsibility, teamwork, and a deep connection to the farm’s success. Learning to let go of certain tasks has been a valuable lesson this year, and it’s one we’ll carry forward.
4. Break Goals into Actionable Steps
Divide big goals into smaller, manageable tasks. This makes progress feel attainable and helps you stay on track. For example, if your goal is to start a CSA program, your action steps might include ordering seeds, planning crops, and marketing your program to the community.
5. Track Your Progress
Use a journal or planner to monitor your progress. Reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and adjust your goals as needed throughout the year.
Looking Ahead to a Bright Future
As we set these goals for 2025, we do so with a sense of optimism and gratitude. Each challenge we’ve faced has been a stepping stone toward growth, and every success has been a reminder of why we chose this path. Homesteading isn’t always easy, but it’s a life rich with meaning, purpose, and connection—to the land, the animals, and each other. Though the challenges of 2024 tested our resolve, they’ve also filled us with a new sense of purpose. With each hurdle, we grew stronger—and with every loss, we learned to appreciate the beauty of what remains.
With a clear vision for the future, we’re excited to embark on this new chapter. The goals we’ve outlined aren’t just about productivity—they’re about building a life that reflects our values and supports a sustainable, thriving farm. 2025 is shaping up to be a transformative year for Huckleberry Farms. We’re ready to face it head-on—with renewed purpose, sustainable practices, and a deep appreciation for the simple, meaningful life we’ve built. Here’s to a new year filled with resilience, reflection, and all the joys of homesteading—embracing both the challenges and beauty of the path ahead, one season at a time.
What are your goals for the new year? Whether you’re planning a new garden, starting a farm business, or simply looking to slow down and enjoy the seasons, setting clear intentions will help you stay focused and inspired. We’d love to hear what you’re planning—share your ideas with us in the comments!
