The Vegetarian Homesteader

WOW... I was in tears reading your post about the ...

2012-04-18T20:41:02.297-04:00

WOW... I was in tears reading your post about the auction.. I wish I had the means to own horses right now because I would save as many as I could...

Great points! As you probably already know, indisc...

2012-01-20T09:24:21.228-05:00

Great points! As you probably already know, indiscriminate breeding has already contributed to the major problems we have in the horse industry. Beautiful hen btw :)

Nichole @ http://modernhomestead-nichole.blogspot.com/

good blog post!

2012-01-15T15:40:27.381-05:00

good blog post!

My father grew up on a dairy farm in upstate NY. ...

2011-12-30T16:06:34.806-05:00

My father grew up on a dairy farm in upstate NY. It was a very difficult life with few, if any, luxuries. There was no eating out, not after-school activities; just work. Day in, day out. A hard scrabble existence. He left the farm at 18 and never looked back. For some reason, I loved to be there, and at my aunts dairy farm.
I too am unsure what category we fit into. I suppose we are what we are; just farmers. No modifier needed. Like your elders, my father think my farm dream is just crazy. I try to explain why we have the type animals we have and why we want to be organic. Monkey business, he says! Maybe I'm a monkey business farmer. The grass IS always greener...especially when it's not trampled by cows, pigs, chickens and goats. ;)
~Mark @ Brooks Mountain Farm

Very nice!! I have to say I must be mad too! In my...

2011-12-29T12:04:31.405-05:00

Very nice!! I have to say I must be mad too! In my dream world I would never have to leave my farm.. I could spend all my time outside getting filthy and doing what I love... the ties I have to this modern world are hated ones! Although a much harder life... its a more satisfying life! Im with you... I will stay mad and keep at this!

On a trip out to Wyoming last year we passed by ma...

2011-12-06T16:42:47.462-05:00

On a trip out to Wyoming last year we passed by many stockyards. It was the first time I've ever seen them, even though I knew they existed. It was awful. Nothing but mud and cattle squashed up in corners trying to avoid standing in it. And I don't even want to look at battery hens or hoop house broilers- that just makes me cry.

I am a meat eater though, and while I would prefer to raise my own animal proteins, I must admit that it scares me. Just this morning I was contemplating ordering some rock crosses to raise for food this spring...but I am afraid I just wouldn't be able to kill them myself. Not because I would treat them as feathered-kids like I do my layers, but because I just have a hard time taking a life. I don't even like seeing a mouse in a trap even though I know I'd rather it be there than in my cabinet.

Alas, maybe one day I will get the guts to venture out and really be the farmer that my Grandpa was, but until then, I guess I will continue to eat what I am able to buy. :(

Those pics of factory raised animals are definitel...

2011-09-07T21:35:43.796-04:00

Those pics of factory raised animals are definitely hard to look at. Yes, I'm a meat eater and I prefer to raise my own - I even name them. I want to know who to thank for their sacrifice when I bless my food. Over the years I've had many people ask how I could eat something I know. I respond with asking how they can participate in the practice of raising animals caged, filthy, diseased and drugged. And they do participate in it as long as they buy the products from those factories. Thanks for this post.

Thank you for your candid thoughts on the subject!...

2011-08-28T20:44:40.617-04:00

Thank you for your candid thoughts on the subject! We swore off factory meat several years ago and have no desire to ever go back. We eat way less meat overall and raise some ourselves and get the rest from local sources. You've made a noble choice for your family and I'm sure it will be difficult when the time comes to actually. . .but bravo to you!

We are in the same situation where we fancy a move...

2011-08-24T00:41:02.805-04:00

We are in the same situation where we fancy a move but we keep finding it is costing us too much to go to just the right place (fortunately for us, this does not involve pasture land for foraging, but it needs set up just right for the rescue.) So here we remain, stuck with projects that need doing because we've put them off for too long.

Your animals look happy and beautiful, I don't envy you the repairs or the hard work managing your land in rotation to keep it in good shape for them, but it seems you do a great job. Keep up the great work setting a good example for all. :)

Good posts on dairy animals in general, and goats ...

2011-07-27T13:35:27.853-04:00

Good posts on dairy animals in general, and goats in particular. I agree that for most families 1 or 2 goats makes more sense than a cow. With 2 goats you can also stagger breeding so that you always have milk available, and with many Saanens you can milk through and breed every 2 years. Also, goat milk is easier to digest and many believe it's actually much healthier than cow milk. My personal favorite is the very personable, although loud, Nubian. It's all a matter of preference.

Oh my gosh I just read this whole page. How entert...

2011-06-08T19:25:57.087-04:00

Oh my gosh I just read this whole page. How entertaining and enlightening. I do wish I were younger, and richer and had more land. I would love to do some gardening, but I have the original "black" thumb. I have just started growing some herbs, well basil.. that is about as far as my garden grows.
Keep up the good work, and I am also following you on Facebook. Ice packs,shipping and poop !! how funny.. Keep up the good work.

Thank you!

2011-05-29T10:33:28.682-04:00

Thank you!

Oh! You'd be able to to make soap - you'd ...

2011-05-29T10:32:44.557-04:00

Oh! You'd be able to to make soap - you'd have the coolest soap ever because of your crafty nature - haa haa - look up goat's milk soap on ESTY.COM to see some homemade soap there - it looks pretty awesome. . .and the feta cheese the man who I'm getting the Saanen doelings from tomorrow - it blew my mind.

The goat milking interests me more and more. I do...

2011-05-29T09:46:38.523-04:00

The goat milking interests me more and more. I don't know if it just impulse to copy you or that I am really digging this stuff.

i'm so sorry about lady ann tinia she was (is)...

2011-05-19T12:14:59.301-04:00

i'm so sorry about lady ann tinia she was (is) a gorgeous horse and obviously adored. i can't imagine the heart break, however dior is incredible! what a beautiful thing you do for these animals i know it sounds ridiculous but i'm sure you understand when i say that you do what i dream of everyday as i sit in my office. my girls and i are willing to help out anyway possible

Absolutely TRUE and gloriously so. Blessings to yo...

2011-05-18T16:59:18.483-04:00

Absolutely TRUE and gloriously so. Blessings to you all.
Because He lives!!!!
Jill

I had an incubator of eggs get the plug pulled for...

2011-03-03T22:09:57.396-05:00

I had an incubator of eggs get the plug pulled for about 12 hours. It was about a week into the incubation or maybe even a little longer, but I decided to plug back in and keep going and we wound up with a decent hatch. I wasn't sure what was going to happen with it, but figured I couldn't lose anything by keeping it going. I didn't have anything to candle them with so I didn't know until they started pipping if they survived or not. Hopefully yours will come along as well.
~Jenny~

oh, how sad :(

2011-02-28T22:51:04.261-05:00

oh, how sad :(

One is better than none. I kept telling myself th...

2011-02-25T10:49:24.468-05:00

One is better than none. I kept telling myself that on the drive home with Sadie after we'd bought her at the Sugarcreek auction. Well done, good job. She's a cutie. :)

I could never go to an auction house. You're s...

2011-02-24T16:52:42.720-05:00

I could never go to an auction house. You're strong to do it. Just passing by a double decker makes me sick. Can't wait for updates on your pretty little mare.

I was there for a little while last night but coul...

2011-02-24T15:22:15.105-05:00

I was there for a little while last night but couldn't stand the look in their eyes or those xxxx people that seem to always be there. I saved my horse Apache from that place over 4 yrs ago now and would kill someone over him. He follows me around like a puppy dog in a horse's body. I've never understood how that people can condemn such a magnificent, yet kind and gentle creature to such a fate. Wish I had known you, we could have ganged up on buyer and the Mckays and probably saved a couple of more.

You ripped me up here, Tinia. God blessed the worl...

2011-02-24T06:00:09.834-05:00

You ripped me up here, Tinia. God blessed the world when you were born. Love you, Juli

Congrats!! What a special surprise!

2011-02-20T09:42:37.919-05:00

Congrats!! What a special surprise!

Amazing miracles!

2011-02-20T08:48:26.828-05:00

Amazing miracles!

Why do they always want to sleep in the feed bowls...

2011-02-20T07:31:04.239-05:00

Why do they always want to sleep in the feed bowls? She is adorable.