Today we’d like to introduce you to Clare Waterstradt.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Farm life was the furthest thing I ever thought I would be involved in. I grew up in Northville, attended Catholic school K-12 and finished my Masters in 2015. During this time I was with my boyfriend who would become my husband in 2016, Dan Waterstradt. Two beautiful children later, we decided to build our dream home in 2020. Little did we think that this dream would take 26 months to build. Eventually in June 2023, our house was ready and we moved in, excited for the next chapter. Then six weeks later, my husband tragically and unexpectedly passed away. Left absolutely devasted, I had two small children counting on me to keep life as “normal” as possible and adjust to this tragic change the best I could. Even though our home was brand new, I decided to put the house up for sale 8 months later and move out to the country to start a new life – Dexter, MI. Dexter, a town full of agriculture and farms, was totally new for me. As a mental health therapist myself, attending therapy to cope with the grief of losing Dan wasn’t working. So, I decided to reach out to my cousins who owned cattle and chickens and started inquiring about this lifestyle. They were gracious enough to give me their chicken coop free of charge and thus, my journey began. Never stepping foot in a Tractor Supply before, I picked up my first five chickens and started “winging” it, reading farm and chicken books and getting to know “farm influencers” on social media. I also wanted to teach my children the importance of taking care of a living thing that truly depend on us. Then three ducks came along, and more chickens, fencing and then – two miniature donkeys! Flash forward to now, my chicken eggs have become a hot commodity, two baby donkeys are on the way and 6 acres of land in Pinckney will become our new home in a few short months. Some days I think, “Clare, what are you doing??” But I would not have it any other way with given the journey that has brought me here and I know one thing – Dan would be proud.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We had a few bumps in the road. We lost one of our donkeys when she ate a whole bucket of chicken feed, which was very upsetting to all of us. I also had no idea how much chicken feed and hay would cost and how much the animals would go through it, I have gotten used to the frequent trips to Tractor Supply and the local mills.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a licensed Mental Health Counselor but for now, I am enjoying growing my farm and building my farm stand business.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Be patient! Don’t buy chickens just for the eggs. For most breeds, it takes 4-6 months for a chicken to lay its first egg. Chickens still need to be cared for, fed and kept warm in the colder months. Hobby farms may look very fun on social media, but they are a responsibility and investment. Before you buy livestock, do your research on what will suite your family best. They, too, are relying on you to give them a good life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourtimefarm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourtimefarmmi
