You bought a place. Maybe 5 acres, maybe 50. There's a barn, a couple of pastures, a coop in various states of repair, and a list of "I'll get to it" projects that's longer than your weekend.
Here's the starter kit we've watched work for new hobby farm owners — the stuff you actually need before you start spending on the projects you really want.
Tools (about $280 total)
You need fewer than you'd think. The kit we'd buy if we were starting over:
- Fencing pliers. Even if you don't have fence, you'll use them. ~$30.
- T-post driver, knurled. For when you eventually do have fence. ~$45.
- Heavy-duty wheelbarrow. Every project on a small acreage involves moving something. ~$105.
- Backpack sprayer (2-gallon). Pasture weeds, fence-line, garden — one tool for all of it. ~$55.
- Rechargeable LED headlamp. You'll be in the barn or coop after dark more than you expect. ~$45.
That's a $280 baseline kit that handles 80% of weekend chores.
Livestock-adjacent gear (when you're ready)
Whether you're planning chickens, goats, sheep, or eventually cattle, here's what we recommend:
- Rope halter + 12-foot lead combo. Even if you don't have a horse yet, useful for training any large animal. ~$20.
- Hoof trimming kit. If you're going to have any hooved animal, you'll need this. ~$55.
- Galvanized stock tank. 100-gallon size is right for a small herd or for water collection. ~$175 (ships freight).
- Stock tank heater (1500W). Winter prep. Tanks freeze fast in even mild winters. ~$55.
That's about $300 in basics for a hobby farm with livestock.
Fencing (when you build it)
If you're putting up your first fence:
- T-posts (6-foot). Plan ~1 post every 10 feet for woven wire, every 12 feet for barbed.
- Cattle panels (16-ft × 50"). Surprisingly versatile — perimeter for chickens, mini-pens for sheep or goats, temporary corral. ~$30 each (ships freight).
- Solar electric fence charger (10-mile). For rotational grazing or any future expansion. ~$135.
- Polywire (1/4 mile). For temporary fencing or paddock divisions. ~$30.
Gloves, knives, and the small stuff
The accessories you'll lose, ruin, and replace:
- Goatskin work gloves (3-pack). Buy multiples. ~$30.
- Buck folding knife. For everything. ~$45.
What we'd skip at the start
Things hobby farm owners often buy that they don't actually need yet:
- A tractor. Rent one for big jobs until you're sure you'll use one regularly.
- A pickup with a flatbed. Most weekend places can run with an SUV and a small trailer.
- A big shop. A 10x12 shed beats a 30x40 shop for most starting setups.
- High-end tack. If you don't yet have animals, don't pre-buy the gear.
How to think about your first $500 in supplies
If you've got $500 to spend on hobby-farm supplies before you start any project, here's where we'd put it:
- $280 — basic tool kit (above)
- $50 — gloves, headlamp, knife
- $170 — supplies for whatever animal/project you're starting with
The rest comes as you go. Buying everything at once usually means buying things you don't end up using.
Where we can help
If you've got specific questions about what to buy for your specific situation — what fence works for goats, what kind of pasture management works on 10 acres, whether you actually need a stock tank — email us. We've walked a lot of new owners through these decisions.