Self-sufficiency

Last night we had OUR beef for the first time. There were a mixture of feelings involved for the kids and us. Eating something we raised, cared for, and loved on for months. On our plates. But in the irony of a mom who doesn’t eat beef, cooking our beef was something different. It came from our farm. It was something we produced and provided for ourselves. There was a sense of accomplishment involved in that – knowing what I am feeding my family was straight from our fields. Everything he ate was supported by our land and nothing more.

Part of having this farm is to learn how to become more self-sufficient. As in the wise words of our 12-year-old, “Mom, if we grow a garden this year, we could actually NOT have to go to the grocery store!” It was some kind of epiphany, and I smiled when she realized, yes, we could actually have a place that could provide for us year-round. Quite a lofty thought, especially in the dead of winter. But possible; to grow enough during the warmer months to provide most of our staples during the colder ones. Along with planning out our animals, their growth, and butchering time, we would have a complete diet met without setting foot in the grocery store.

My thoughts are to take it slow; most of what this next year will provide will be much trial and error. What grows well in our fields and what does not. What we have to add to our soil, through testing, to lend to a more productive crop. How our meat tastes; is there anything more we can feed our steers (grasses) or any future animals to encourage tastier outcomes. The eggs our chickens produce; what feed, mash or crumble, works best for them. Looking into ways to produce our own mash for our ladies and lads leading to more sustainable methods in the care of our livestock. And finally my bees, will they live? The first year for the hive is always the hardest – our Fall was dry and already more experienced bee keepers have lost hives in the area due to starvation.

A friend recently gifted me The Resilient Farm and Homestead, by Ben Falk.  It has a wealth of information – likely more than I can possibly digest in a year. But many of the ideas are doable and would be great to implement over the years. I feel through people, our experiences, and education (books, extension courses), we are on our way in becoming the vision we had when we bought this place: a place to benefit others as well as our family.