My wife and I are finally getting started on making our small piece of land work for us instead of us putting in all the work and getting nothing in return.  Although it is only five acres it still takes a great deal of time to keep up when you have a full time job.  I wouldn't say that we are rookies by no means but we still have a lot to learn.  We've had few chickens off and on, planted a small garden every once in a while and even tried our hand at pigs once.  Most of the time I would buy an animal on a whim then I would be out past dark trying to prepare a place for it to stay, and most of the time after that I would spend wandering if they would escape or if something would get in.  I finally told myself to slow down and think things through.  So I've started a little slower this time by ordering 20 hens and having a good place for them to stay.  This is just the beginning we already have a 1 acre garden plot laid out and plan on putting up fence to keep in goats, pigs and possibly a Jersey cow and hopefully making the garden an acre larger. I know its going to take time doing a little here and there.