Homesteading: A Woman's Journey

Abundant Blessings

Joe and I have been wanting to get our homestead up and running ever since I left the trucking industry in the fall of 2005.  During the first year, I was going through the last trimester of my pregnancy, then had chronic pain issues that prevented me from going forward with our plans.

This year though, with the great improvement in my health I am able to get busy here.  Still, the idea of having livestock was a dream for next year.  At the earliest, we would be getting a few animals maybe in the fall.  Mostly, finances were the issue delaying our plans.

The Lord, however, has His own plans for our lives.  When Joe left to go back out on the truck 3 weeks ago, we had no livestock.  When he returns later this month, he will be coming home to a running farm!

It started a couple of weeks ago when I spoke to a neighbor at the volunteer fire dept.  In our conversation, he mentioned that he had an extra ewe that hadn't yet gone to market.  If I wanted her, I could buy her at a big discount over the regular price he gets for his lambs.  "Angel" is about 2 1/2 months old.  She is a Hampshire, both parents being registered.  Needless to say, I told him that I would like to buy her and he held onto her until I could pay him and also have time to put up an enclosure for her.  She will be delivered tomorrow (Monday).  Next spring, when she is old enough to breed, he will take her back to his pasture to spend some "quality time" with one of his Hampshire rams.

A few days later, I was contacted by a woman who lives 1.5 hours drive from here.  She had heard about my needing goat milk for Abbie.  She offered to me a breeding pair of Nubian goats.  The doe is 6 months old and the buck is a 3 week old bottle baby.  On Wednesday, I will be driving up to her home to pick them up.  We don't have a livestock trailer, so since they are small I will be bringing them home in the backseat of our car.

A few days after I was offered the goats, I saw a sign in a feed store window advertising baby chicks & guineas.  I went inside just to take a look at them.  I ended up coming home with 8 Barred Rock pullets (3 roosters & 5 hens) and 4 Pearl Guinea (straight run) pullets. 

The next day, the feed store got their shipment of Broad breasted Bronze turkeys.  They are about 1 week old, so were sold as "straight run".  I bought 6 of them.  The first night, they dumped their water dish and 2 of hte turkeys got too cold and died.  They other 4 are thriving though.  They are old enough now that they are starting to develop tail feathers.  I believe at the moment that I have 3 tom turkeys and 1 hen.

This all happened within the span of 2 weeks.  Joe's parents have been coming down to our house and helping to build enclosures and put up a small corral for the animals.  The chickens and guineas are in a chicken tractor made from wood pallets and poultry fencing.  The turkeys are in a small brooder in my kitchen until they have feathered out better.

All the poultry will be ready to start laying eggs in the fall.  I am planning to let the hens hatch out the eggs they lay until next spring.  If necessary, I will set up the brooder in the kitchen to keep the new chicks warm until they are feathered out enough to be outdoors in the coop.  This will quickly build up our flock.  In the spring, I can start using eggs.  By the following fall, when the new chicks have grown enough to start laying, I will be able to sell the eggs.  Depending on how many roosters are hatched out, we could also be selling the meat.

All of our animals and produce are going to be organic.  Mainly to allow me to be able to eat them, but it will also open up a whole area of customer base.  There is such a demand for organic foods.  Even my organically raised herbs are being asked for.

When my gardens are ending their season, I will be harvesting the seeds for planting next year.  If I have surplus seed, that can be another sale-able item.

I am so grateful to the Lord for all these animals.  Joe and I would not have been able to gain them on our own.  It is only with the Lord's help that these animals have come to us.  I am also grateful for Him giving me the help and the energy that I need, both in my own health and in the generousity of Joe's parents in helping me.  I have 3 gardens this year.  One has all root crops, one has all other vegetables, and the third is my herbs.  Again, without the Lord's help, I wouldn't be getting all these done.

This is an exciting time for us.  A major goal that Joe and I have is to get past medical and other debts paid off and get the homestead running.  Once this happens, Joe will be able to leave OTR trucking and be home every night.  If possible, we are wanting to find a way to be earning our income from the homestead itself.  The ideas are there, but we are having to take it a step at a time.

Our dreams of becoming self-sufficient are starting to become a reality.  My gardens are growing, the livestock are arriving and thriving.  The Lord is being so good to us.  I am so humbled by His generosity and blessings.  We never imagined so much would happen so quickly.  Each day is exciting as I see the changes happening on a daily basis.  The days are long & busy, but also are very satifying.

Abbie loves the poultry.  She already, at 15 months old, helps me to toss the scratch on the ground for the chickens & guineas.  She giggles and tries to talk to them.  I am already referring to them as Abbie's chickies.  I will be taking pictures soon to post.

Animals

11:22, Sunday, June 10, 2007 .. Posted by maa

It is soo exciting that the Lord has provided all of the livestock so quickly for you. I know all about medical bills and how they can take control. I hope you get them taken care of so you won' t have that burden.
maa's mom

Your new farm!

07:44, Monday, June 11, 2007 .. Posted by Anna

You are blessed! Make sure you have proper fencing and that the sheep will not be alone. Herd animals alone either get into trouble or become ill.

Let us know how it goes!

~Anna

http://veiledglory.wordpress.com