My Custom Homestead: Steps 19 & 21

chickens in m'kitchen Image found on Pinterest

I'm down to the last steps in Jill Winger's Your Custom Homestead (www.theprairiehomestead.com): 19. Take the animal plunge and 21. Set aside a day of rest. (See previous posts for step 20. and all other steps.)  Even if you do not plan to use animals for meat, animals are a natural part of the ecosystem of a homestead.  They can be put to work preparing the land for growing food, provide a source of natural fibers, and even contribute milk for drinking, making cheese, and producing soap. A couple of great books on these topics are Homegrown &  Handmade and Plowing with Pigs.  

Yarn Image found on Pinterest

Personally, I plan to start with a farm table garden, our silly dog, and add a barn cat or two (once we have a garden and barn of course...).  If I can find a local beekeeper, I will gladly offer a spot in the garden to host a hive in exchange for a small portion of the honey and wax harvest.  The next season I will add chickens for eggs and insect control.  I can't make up my mind whether I want to raise chickens for meat or not.  If we do decide to put our chickens on the dinner table, I will need to barter with someone else for their "processing".  But I think I won't be able to make that decision until they are scampering around our garden.  The following year, it will be sheep and goat time!  I will never be able to eat their meat, but I am soooo looking forward to making clothing from their wool.  I can't wait to have a hat and a scarf made from the fiber of animals we call by name.  :)  And lastly, I will consider keeping animals for milk.  I can't yet imagine myself as a midwife (mainly because of the thought that I might have to put on elbow length gloves for any reason other than a formal party), so milk might be another resource that I barter for with neighboring homesteaders.

And lastly, Jill offers more sage advice: "If you are waiting for all of your projects to be finished before you allow yourself to take a break, then you are going to be waiting for a very long time" (p. 68).  I think she is speaking directly to me here, because I am definitely the kind of person who likes to get her work done before the pleasure of resting or playing.

Image found on Pinterest 

Thank you Jill, for your guidance that help me put my vision a little more into focus with this eBook!  I encourage all my readers to purchase her book for more details, advice, and tips to getting your homesteading dreams up and running, and to keep them running smoothly.  I follow The Prairie Homestead on Pinterest for TONS of great info and recipes.