Gardening and Self-sufficiency
Animals are an integral part of any homestead, from livestock to hunting to pets. Read posts about every aspect of animals on the farm including:
Animals we have here on our homestead include: pigs, chickens, dogs, rabbits and wild deer. We focus on raising animals to become more self-reliant and supply our all of our own meat.
Livestock have many other benefits aside from just stocking the freezer. They can also be used as tools to perform useful jobs around the farm, especially when integrated with other systems.
We got started raising pigs in 2014 and absolutely fell in love with these amazing creatures. We will never go back to buying pork from the grocery store again. The meat is far superior in flavor and we find it very fulfilling to be self sufficient by growing and raising our own food.
If you have decided to raise pigs, you will need to consider how to fence them in, what type of shelter they will have and supplies for feeding, watering and simple veterinary care. With this guide, you will learn the benefits and drawbacks of different containment solutions so you can decide what will work best on your property.
When you’re a beginner in the hog industry, the lingo can be quite daunting. Educate yourself on these commonly used terms and hold your own when speaking with experienced farmers.
When you’re first starting out with homestead pigs, one of the first decisions you will have to make is which breed is right for you. Learn why breed selection is important and how to choose with this overview.
One of my family’s true passions is livestock! With several years of experience under my belt, I am hoping to share some wisdom with anyone just getting started with homestead pigs. Check out this 6 part series!
So you're considering raising pigs, but you're not quite sure if they're for you? It would be nice to hear some stories from someone who has actually done it before and knows the ups and downs. Well here you go, I have been keeping pigs in my backyard and raising them for meat since 2014 and I would love to share some of the wisdom I have gleaned from my experience.
Permaculture principles can decrease your work load, make your garden more productive, make your animals healthier, and generally improve all the systems on your farm or homestead.
Looking for ideas on how to get started homesteading? Here are a few simple first steps to get you moving toward a more self-reliant lifestyle.
This is the story of how I went from a normal, everyday housewife to a crazy, obsessive self-sufficiency advocate and homesteading junkie. (And this was just year one!)
Here it is, a comprehensive list of homesteading skills to inspire both newbie homesteaders and masters of their craft improve and expand their knowledge.