Why we chose to homestead...
Getting to know where your food comes from is important to me. It builds a deeper appreciation and understanding for the life given to sustain us. People have been disconnected from nature for far too long. With the availability of meat and produce on shelves in grocery stores and super markets, most people have lost their tie to the earth. I would rather know what goes into my food and know that the animals used to provide my next meal were treated kindly and humanely. I feel the only way for me to feel completely certain of this is to make sure of it myself. To do this is called homesteading. I'm not talking off-the-grid homesteading, but a more urban homesteading method. I will raise my own meat, eggs, milk, and produce as much as is possible for me, without going beyond what I absolutely have to do. I have decided that raising some chickens and a few good goats will be sufficient for the family I will eventually raise.
I have experience with the animals I intend to have from my childhood, though milking goats will be a new adventure for me. I always loved being able to go into the chicken coop and being surprised by the blue and green eggs my americauna hens laid. The few goats I've had were a joy to watch, with exception to the grumpy pygmy buck we originally named Buck. After watching a pair of ducks trash my yard, I quickly decided that though they were cute, sloshing through mud in my adult life was not appeasing. I've also tried out meat rabbits, but decided that I'd had enough when the does refused to get and stay pregnant for months, and feeding extra animals without any product was useless. They quickly left the picture. I look forward to the day that I can pick my own vegetables, grab my own eggs, and drink 'farm' fresh milk with the satisfaction of knowing my hard work has paid off.
I have experience with the animals I intend to have from my childhood, though milking goats will be a new adventure for me. I always loved being able to go into the chicken coop and being surprised by the blue and green eggs my americauna hens laid. The few goats I've had were a joy to watch, with exception to the grumpy pygmy buck we originally named Buck. After watching a pair of ducks trash my yard, I quickly decided that though they were cute, sloshing through mud in my adult life was not appeasing. I've also tried out meat rabbits, but decided that I'd had enough when the does refused to get and stay pregnant for months, and feeding extra animals without any product was useless. They quickly left the picture. I look forward to the day that I can pick my own vegetables, grab my own eggs, and drink 'farm' fresh milk with the satisfaction of knowing my hard work has paid off.