Why do you homestead?

[Sabz]

yeah, it is so helpful to get someone who really knows what he's doing, or go to a place where they are doing it and let them teach you...it is hard on the first one...you feel like your doing a terrible job.

Additionally, Nayeli, if you find someone willing to show you how to do it, maybe you can buy one of his animals.
Butchering a rooster that you don't know and never seen before will be easier for you

But again, having eggs and a garden is already a good start and provides the proteins you need, so.. if you don't want to kill, you don't have to!

I am also struggling with this decision. I am OK with ducks and chickens but.. I am missing the sweet taste of brown meat. I almost never have beef anymore. I thought of raising goats for the milk, and also for the dark meat that probably satisfy my "dark meat" taste.

But a goat is so CUTE!!!!!!! And so fun.. and so close looking to a dog. I tried to imagine killing one, with the little calling sound they make... arg. I don't think I can.
I wish I could though.. If I could make my milk and cheese and would almost NEVER go to the grocery store in summer and autumn..

 

[nayeli]

Additionally, Nayeli, if you find someone willing to show you how to do it, maybe you can buy one of his animals.
Butchering a rooster that you don't know and never seen before will be easier for you

But again, having eggs and a garden is already a good start and provides the proteins you need, so.. if you don't want to kill, you don't have to!

I am also struggling with this decision. I am OK with ducks and chickens but.. I am missing the sweet taste of brown meat. I almost never have beef anymore. I thought of raising goats for the milk, and also for the dark meat that probably satisfy my "dark meat" taste.

But a goat is so CUTE!!!!!!! And so fun.. and so close looking to a dog. I tried to imagine killing one, with the little calling sound they make... arg. I don't think I can.
I wish I could though.. If I could make my milk and cheese and would almost NEVER go to the grocery store in summer and autumn..

I would LOVE for my husband to be able to kill things. If he can kill the rooster than I'll expand into meat chickens, and maybe back into ducks in time (when I can get an area fenced off for it).

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

Additionally, Nayeli, if you find someone willing to show you how to do it, maybe you can buy one of his animals.
Butchering a rooster that you don't know and never seen before will be easier for you

But again, having eggs and a garden is already a good start and provides the proteins you need, so.. if you don't want to kill, you don't have to!

I am also struggling with this decision. I am OK with ducks and chickens but.. I am missing the sweet taste of brown meat. I almost never have beef anymore. I thought of raising goats for the milk, and also for the dark meat that probably satisfy my "dark meat" taste.

But a goat is so CUTE!!!!!!! And so fun.. and so close looking to a dog. I tried to imagine killing one, with the little calling sound they make... arg. I don't think I can.
I wish I could though.. If I could make my milk and cheese and would almost NEVER go to the grocery store in summer and autumn..

yeah, goats would be hard...with their fun personality's and everything I wonder if there are any places where they will butcher a goat...it would be so hard to kill a little baby you raise yourself

 

[RichnSteph]

Sabz have you looked to see if there is a butcher near you that will process a goat or perhaps sheep? It'd make it much easier on you I'm sure if you could find a professional to do those things for you. Once we have our sheep I'll probably look into taking it somewhere to get processed. It's not that I can't do it myself but more that I fear that I won't be able to do it well and have all the cuts of meat come out like they look in the store. I process my own deer but we grind all of the meat into hamburger.

 

[Sabz]

Yes, finding a butcher to do it for me would be best! Except here, where I live, we don't see much of "grow your own meat". It wouldn't kill me to ask around, all I risk is a weird look

That's a good point. Thanks all. It's probably the little kick in the butt I needed to continue my research and thinking about goats! I would sooooo love to make my own cheese! And eat meat other than chicken. Miam. It's my first winter with farm animals (chickens) and it is going well so far, even though we had -30C for many days already. It's easier than I thought and I don't mind going outside to tend for them many times a day. So I guess a few goats would fit well in my routine

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

Yes, finding a butcher to do it for me would be best! Except here, where I live, we don't see much of "grow your own meat". It wouldn't kill me to ask around, all I risk is a weird look

That's a good point. Thanks all. It's probably the little kick in the butt I needed to continue my research and thinking about goats! I would sooooo love to make my own cheese! And eat meat other than chicken. Miam. It's my first winter with farm animals (chickens) and it is going well so far, even though we had -30C for many days already. It's easier than I thought and I don't mind going outside to tend for them many times a day. So I guess a few goats would fit well in my routine

lol, goats always seem to have a way of fitting in They are really fun animals!

 

[alldembirds]

It should be easy to find somebody, years ago I remember my aunt using an amish butcher, We have a lot of amish and mennonite here in SW MO and they like making honest money, some will butcher on trade.



My family was among the first in kentucky. I feel like homesteading is a calling, it's in my blood. I guess I will never feel truly safe until I can be completely self sufficient

 

[nayeli]

It just hit me today when I was trying to clean up my house (which is a disaster zone due to all the projects we have going on atm). My husband and I have what would be considered by some a good amount of savings ( a couple thousand)... but really we DEPEND fully on one of us having a full time job to live! If my husband lost his job we would only have enough money to survive a couple month without a job. The bank owns our house, not us. One of our vehicles is paid off but the other we owe money on.

Homesteading is important to many because they want to be self-sufficient. Most homesteaders are also smart with their money, and DIYers!

 

[LordStark]

Is anyone here into permaculture? I'm starting a course in it next week. After that going to do one in aquaponics, very exciting.

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

Is anyone here into permaculture? I'm starting a course in it next week. After that going to do one in aquaponics, very exciting.

i'm doing a permaculture class for school...very good stuff...totally worth it

Aquaponics!! I am currently planning an gathering supplies to build a system. Can't wait! I already love fish (to keep and eat lol) and grow plants so it will be so fun!!!

God luck one your classes!!