Really. It did.
Back in 2008 when we purchased our homestead, we had no intentions of growing as many vegetables as possible, milking goats, or attempting to raise free-range eggs.
Heck, at that point, we were still eating Cool Whip and “Pasteurized Processed Cheese Product”….
We were just thrilled to find this reasonably priced old farmhouse. It had plenty of outbuildings and 67 acres for our horses to graze.
But then the crazy thoughts started coming…
Well, I guess they didn’t start out too crazy. I was just thinking one day of how we could dispose of our horse manure. I knew it would pile up and we didn’t have a tractor.
Light bulb moment! Why not start a compost pile? Compost is easier to dispose of than manure, right?
So, I lovingly nagged asked my skeptical, yet willing, husband to build me some compost bins. (I can’t continue without mentioning that this venture would not have been possible without him! The guy can build anything and everything.)
And then in the process of researching composting methods, I came across some chicken websites.
And then in the process of researching chickens, I came across a whole lot of blogs talking about the health benefits of free-range eggs and raw milk.
Eh, raw milk?
And then in the process of researching raw milk, I found out that it’s illegal to buy in most states, which prompted us to purchase 2 pregnant Nubian goats in April of 2010. (Not to mention that I was 9 months pregnant at the time, but that’s a story for another day…)
And then I became more and more immersed in the world of traditional, real foods. Fortunately, I’ve discovered that real food cooking and homesteading complement each other quite nicely.
I guess you could say that composting was my “gateway drug” into a lifestyle of homesteading. And here we are four years later– doing all sorts of “weird” things that I never thought we would… Milking a cow, butchering our own meat, raising hogs, canning everything in sight, and putting in a big garden every year.
I can’t say that this is the path I intended to take, but now that I’m here, I’m absolutely in love.
If following a path similar to ours piques your interest, start here.
We started with a small garden, grew a bunch, added in a ton more garden space, started making more and more at home and now we have our own little farm in the middle of nowhere with 16 chickens and a jersey cow. Changing how we thought changed everything.
Yes, it really IS about a thought-process change, isn’t it? 🙂 Sounds like you have a wonderful place.
I was laughing as I read this post.! I love how the thought processes took place for you and am so glad it did. I am in a constant mode of “homesteading” our new home in a residential neighborhood in Colorado. Fortunately I just found out we can keep up to 4 chickens! REAL baby chics for Easter will be a treat for my 2 toddler boys! Next year I will transform some our our lawn space into a garden. Having been a real food enthusist for years and always loved to keep life simple in our home I gladly relish the title of being a homesteader! It is so true when you say “real food cooking and homesteading complement each other quite nicely.” Thanks for being an inspiration, I just bought your book!
Your horses are beautiful, simply beautiful. Is that a little merle border peeking out of the grass?
Thank you Mishikall! Yes, that is Powder, our Blue Heeler/Border Collie mix. He *think* he is the Great Horse Herder. 😉
As you apply said in another page but so visually described here . . . it’s the journey not the destination . . .
tks for the excitment
That is eerily similar to how I discovered homesteading. It really is a slippery slope (but in the best possible way!) I may have to write my story too 🙂
You should write it down for sure!
Hey Jill!
I just came to your blog via Vine Living. I have a question about your Nubian goats and milk. We have tossed the idea of having goats back and forth, up and down, and round. I honestly don’t know that my kids would drink it. We have cut back dramatically on our milk consumption and we only purchase organic now.
Can you tell me if you noticed a difference between the goat and cow milk? If so, what is it? We tried store bought, pasteurized goat milk to try. The younger kids didn’t know the difference and it wasn’t all that bad. BUT, we don’t want to buy it.
If it doesn’t smell/taste like a buck, then what is it you do differently to prevent it from happening?
Here’s an older post that I think will help you out! 🙂 https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2013/07/goat-101-but-isnt-goats-milk-disgusting.html
Goats milk is sweeter then cows milk in my opinion.
Hi Jill,
Do you have a post on how best to start a compost pile? I’m interested in starting one for my patio garden this year.
Any tips would be helpful!
Thanks.
Mine started with rendering lard.
I am trying to decide between goats and a small jersey cow. Could I cross the jersey with an angus since angus tend to throw small calves??? I have had goats before but have never had cows. I know how hard goats can be to keep confined, but they are soooo sweet. Any suggestions?
You could look into Dexter Cows. They are smaller and will throw off same amount of milk. heres a link with some info http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/small-farm-cows-dexter-cattle-zmaz01djzgoe.aspx#axzz2xC94RTVA
Angus do not throw a smaller calf. we used a Jersey bull with our first calf heifers.
Hi Jill, just wanted to say its nice to know there is someone out there sharing knowledge about a better way of living.
Thanks Mark!
Hello Jill,
i have just farming a few year back we live on 28 acres and love every min. of it.. but i must say it is alot of work and my husband and i both work 2 jobs also…. we had goats i did love them but i really didnt have a good place for them and they got in more trouble then they needed to. they were wonderful to watch and i do miss them dearly… we still have 4 horse,2 cows holsten and getting ready to calf and bull, all of which i raised on a bottle… and love it… our bull is a jersey,augus mix. he is also who we used to get are girl in a motherly way… the thing i wish to say to everyone thinking about this way of life it is amazing and i love it and so very very sorry i didnt started it earlier in life as im 53 years old with a down syndrome child who loves the cows,horses,goats and not sorry me and husband choice to play in farming,… please if you are thinking about this way of life please please dont think long… you will never be sorry… the love for life and the experience is wonderful for all…
I’m on the step before your step. I have a large chunk of undeveloped land that i am trying to work my way onto. I want to be living/farming/homesteading there by 2019 at the latest (the plan is to have broken ground on our house and other building by this time next year) I cant wait. I’m ready to get my kids out of the city.
I have a garden in the city and I have abandoned mulch because of the snails. I have a garden in a nearby community garden where snail are not an issue and we use wood chips very successfully. We also use a lot of cardboard. IMO the mulch doesn’t have to be so thick if you put down cardboard first. Most of us have amazon boxes to recycle. They are perfect in the garden if snails/slugs are not an issue.
thank you for the homemade bbq sauce recipes..im allergic to ketchup and so glad i found your page…Thank you!!