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Springtime Flurry
It’s the springtime flurry! Activity everywhere and non-stop. I start my days early and fall asleep by 9 most days, completely and blissfully exhausted. It’s been a very busy May, but it feels so good to be active after this past winter and the slow start I had to spring! I’ve been able to walk regularly the last few weeks, and what a difference it makes! Sure, I do get tired some days from all the activity between the gardens, house, and walks, but I can feel my strength and energy returning. The saying “You don’t know what you’ve got until you lose it,” is so true. I don’t enjoy…
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May Days
Well, it’s May! The time has suddenly gone from a slow crawl to the speed of the start of a race. I can only imagine that it will get much more intense in the coming weeks and months. Once again, I’ve tried writing many times, only to end up with nothing published. I start a post, but then need to update it, only to be interrupted partway through. So, I’ll do my best to keep this brief. First, we’re getting rid of the internet. We unplugged over the weekend, and I’m only going to be using it maybe once a week when I head into town and have access to…
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Plans for 2022
I’ve been thinking a lot about our plans for 2022. It’s been a little bit difficult to come up with something I feel is fairly solid, because we have a couple of variables that are, to some extent, unknown. But I’m doing my best to try to map out a plan for the year so we know what steps to take and when. Every year, there are several factors we take into consideration when coming up with a list of goals for the year. Finances and time commitments, as well as our desire to reach a goal are all things we need to think about when making our plans. If…
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Review: First Time Raising Pigs
It’s been a few weeks now since we butchered our pigs, and I’d like to do a review of our first time raising pigs. We added two things to our homestead this year that were complete game-changers for us: a new tractor with a loader bucket… and pigs. I love all of the animals we’ve raised up until now, but pigs were on a whole other level. They were no more difficult to raise than chickens, they didn’t require lots of extra time or materials. Granted, we added meat pigs to the homestead, and not breeding stock. But meat pigs? So simple, and the best thing we could have done…
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Butchering Season
Harvest and canning season wrapped up just in time for butchering season. I’m really happy with the way we timed everything this year, as it kept us from getting too overwhelmed, and allowed me to focus on things other than butchering or canning. We’re finally getting back to where I want with the house, we’re on task for school, and things are progressing in the yard as they should before the snow arrives. *Warning: This post contains some graphic images.* Two weeks ago, we butchered the chickens and turkeys we raised for meat. We had help from my mom, my sister-in-law, and a good friend, which really helped keep things…
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Animal Update
Eighty-five. I think that’s the number of animals we have on the homestead right now. That might sound like a lot, but we’ve had more than that in chickens alone in past years. Yet it’s the most diverse group of animals we’ve ever had. Since June is done and gone, I’m about due for an animal update. On June 23rd, the last of the animals we intend to add to the homestead for the year arrived. Our Cornish cross. Thirty birds that eat through feed like no chicks’ business. These little cuties will get big and ugly in no time flat. They outpace the rate of feather growth around the…
