A BYPRODUCT OF OUR CHOSEN LIFESTYLE
Though this was not the specific goal, it is an amazing byproduct!
I've been thinking about a lot of different aspects of our lives recently, especially after a recent visit from some relatives and a phone conversation with @humanearl. I'll be sharing more about the life that we live and the reason(s) why, but I thought that this would make a good post, because it has been blessing us a lot lately.
HOMESTEADING & FOOD
Though homesteading is the lifestyle that we are choosing to try to live out, it is ultimately not our complete goal. I'll be sharing more about that later. Within the reasons that we homestead is that we desire to live a more self-sufficient life in order to decrease our cost of living. Along with that goal comes providing more of our own food.
Though not everyone makes the same dietary choices that we do, we personally choose to eat both meat and vegetables, both animals and plants. In order to eat meat, animals must die. This does not particularly bother me, because all animals die anyway. If an animal has a great life, and then is killed to provide food for a family, I am okay with that.
Our animals all have their own purposes, but each one has a role to play in our food supply as well. The chickens provide eggs and meat. The ducks provide eggs and meat. The guinea fowl provide eggs and meat, plus do a great job at eating ticks! The rabbits produce fertilizer (manure) and provide meat. The pigs clear land for us and provide meat.
As you can see, a common theme is that many of these animals will be killed and eaten. However, it is not all death around here, it is also life.
LIFE
Since each kind of animal reproduces after its own kind, we can have a lot more of a certain kind of animal if we start off with at least two, a male and a female. We have already seen this happen with our rabbits, pigs, ducks, and chickens. Hopefully, one day our guinea fowl will be doing the same.
The reason that we breed our animals is so there will be more animals, and we can have some to eat and others to provide the next generation. Rather than having a pet rabbit that we never breed who dies of old age one day, we would rather get to meet a bunch of baby bunnies for the next few years. Everyone in my family is comfortable with this right now. Perhaps one day we will change our minds, but for now this is our life.
OPTIONS
Since we do eat meat, we have two basic options. Either we will raise our own or we will buy someone else's. In these peculiar times, I think that it is better if we have more control over our own food supplies and provide ourselves with fresh and trustworthy food. This is important with both plants and animals.
So, we could just buy some bacon and have that be it, or we could raise our own pigs and enjoy them from piglets all the way up! We could just purchase some drumsticks and eggs at the store, or we could have fun and enjoy our own chickens, collect our own eggs, and hatch our own chicks. Likewise, we could buy some meat from somewhere else, or we could have a constant supply of newborn bunnies to play with and enjoy.
If you have ever seen little children with newborn animals, you know how cute and entertaining it is. Sadly, many children around the world will never experience what my @little-peppers are.
A BLESSED BYPRODUCT
Having baby animals for the children to enjoy was never our goal, but it is a blessed byproduct of the lifestyle that we are choosing. Just like a child who plants a seed, weeds and waters a garden, helps in the harvest, and learns to can that food will have a respect and appreciation for that same food when they eat it, children who raise their own animals will have a connection to their meat too.
Far too many have become far too disconnected from reality and the real world, especially when it comes to what they eat. Remember people, what we eat actually enters our body and ends up being inside of us. This can be dangerous. I want my children to have a real understanding of the world around them, and where things like meat or vegetables come from... or at least where they are supposed to come from.
If one day they conclude that killing animals for meat is wrong, then they can choose to do so and eat all the pink slime that they want. If one day they decide that uprooting plants or picking their fruit is wrong, then they can purchase the chemical concoctions lining the shelves at the grocery store like everyone else. For now though, we will continue growing and raising what food we can, and enjoying the amazing benefits of that lifestyle.
One of my favorite parts is that when an animal grows up and is ready to eat, there are always much smaller, cuter ones that we still get to enjoy. As a parent, it is a huge blessing to be able to look at photos like this and contemplate the blessings of the lifestyle that we are choosing.
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-a-byproduct-of-our-lifestyle
Until next time…
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We have always loved what you are doing, and even though it is not something we can do anymore we love watching you grow your farm.
We still have that donation for a milk goat from you and @smailer to take care of too. Between traveling and business, I just haven't gotten it yet, but don't worry, it's on the way!
Great look forward to seeing your milk production. :-)
do you also have to slaughter the animals yourself or do you use an abattoir? growing up, my father was a butcher and we had our own butchers shop, so i appreciate the sentiment of this post. i never buy meat from the big chain stores, i prefer local butchers shops. its not quite rearing my own food, but a step closer. one day I hope to be blessed enough to own or rent a smallholding so I too can raise and grow my own food 😊
I'm learning to do it myself, so far with chickens, rabbits, and deer. Plus, I did use a reciprocating saw to make porkchops with some of my neighbors.
There are bandsaws that make butchering much quicker and easier. I had one, and they're not even that expensive. Have a search, but I found a pretty good source for a lot of things at Harbor Freight, and the like.
Edit: also, try freezing the meat first. it's easier to cut a solid than wet meat.
Good points! Noted!
A meat bandsaw is just a bandsaw made out of stainless steel so it can be washed down.
Having one for yourself I would consider a waste of space. Unless you start processing more than just for your family.
Also, ... finding a better blade for your sawzall may be the way to go. The correct blade would look like a bumpy serrated (not toothed) blade. Maybe try a electric carving blade in your saw.
Cool, I'll look into it. I was just helping the neighbors and learning a few things, but I'm always down for learning more and improving!
:)
Haha ! I love pork chops !! My last post was on BBQ pork chops ! Yummy , love your proof of pork chop pic !! Haha !👍👍👍🐖
What's wrong with pink slime @papa-pepper?
I was a little disappointed that there were not snakes on your family diet.
I've grown up hunting, skinning and preparing my own meats and our plan is to one day also raise it. I never really thought the little ones would be cool with it but damn if the little peppers don't look excited. Thanks for sharing and I'll catch you next time.
Technically, it is mostly illegal to kill snakes in Arkansas, so we will have to eat them somewhere else!
I didn't think about that, we all know about the pink slime but how many know about meat glue to rebuild steaks in the big chain supermarkets. I've been reduced to a fresh meat butcher that I befriended for our meats now.
I'd rather pay more than eat glued together by-products passed off as steaks.
I just learned about the Carbon Monoxide used to preserve color too.
I heard about that too, really makes you wonder what else they do to our foods. We grew up on the stuff but as parents it's very hard to feel like a good parent knowing this and feeding it to our own creations. Makes me sick what they get away with, keep fighting the good fight papa-pepper.
How absolutely darling!!!! What an amazing family .. the knowledge your children are going to have when they get older .. they have more knowledge now than I will ever have about homesteading .. YOU ROCK!!!! SUNSHINE247
Thank you! I'm glad that they can learn these things now rather than when they are my age. Then, if they ever want to continue on where I leave off, they will be more than equipped.
Great foundation!!! And look at those sweet little faces .. I notice your oldest loves to wear dresses even when she is out there with the animals - I think that is so cool .. darling family!!!! Have a GREAT start to your week .. looking forward to what your posts this week .. SUNSHINE247
thats a great post
I am Grateful that when I was 11 years old back in 1969 that I got to live in Springfield, Missouri for a year of my life and have friends that had a 640 Acre Farm where I got to work and help in driving the tractor and feeding the cattle in the fields when the Snow was on the Ground. I got the opportunity to also collect fresh eggs from the hens and bottle feed the baby calves. Yes I also got to slop the pigs. Yes feeding the horses and rabbits too. It was a time in my life that gave me respect for what it takes for those that work very hard to put food on the table. City Kids will never know what we know PaPa !!!!
Glad to hear about it, and that all these years later that memory is still precious to you!
Too cute.
This is lovely, the children are going to grow up with great morals and respect for the world around them. Well done on doing such a fantastic job. It is a shame that there isn't much we can do but respect for spreading the word.
so cute babe.
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