Farm Visit
Recently I started a homesteader's resource group on Facebook for homesteaders in my area. It is a way for us to connect with each other without having to meet in person. We can ask each other questions, ask for help with something (I have a ton of cucumbers. What do I do?), see if someone has something we need (I need a little red wagon. Anyone have one to trade, sell, or give for free?), and everything in between. Through those various questions I've met some really great folks. I gave away some cake pans that I'm not using nor anticipate using. I met a lady who lives just up the road from me and has a great homestead. I needed eggs. I met a lady who lives about 2 miles directly behind me (as the crow flies). She invited me over to her homestead for a visit (bring your boots when you come pick up eggs and I'll give you a tour. Umm...okay. You don't have to ask me twice. Not going to pass up that opportunity!). I showed up right at goat milking time!! I got to see the mama goats being milked and watched (and took pics) while the babies were getting fed. Then she fed the baby cows. I thought it was super cute and funny that they suckle each other's ears. If you look closely in the pics above you can see them doing it. It was so sweet. At one point there was a chain of cows suckling the next cow's ear!
Then we took a ride up to the sheep and chicken barns. Oh boy. I was in heaven! I was almost late for dinner that night (we had plans to go out with friends). I could spend all day, every day on the homestead. Which I pretty much do--my own! It's not as involved as some others, but it works for me. I'm working on each area one area at a time. I want to put my focus into one specific area and make sure I have it as complete as possible before moving one to the next project. Our big project this year is the garden. I have everything in the ground (or the raised beds, as the case may be), but that's all I have done. I still need to clear the area a bit, get the containers off the ground (the Mister is going to build me some benches to put the pots on). I just planted the pumpkin seeds. I'll transplant them in a couple of weeks. There's a huge grape vine (I'm not sure what the technical name for it is...it's a bunch of grape vines intertwined on the fence) and I want to make some sort of arbor for them to grow over and then put a setting area underneath. I should probably finish fencing in everything. I'm trying to do this all this year and with little money as possible. Which is what makes the homesteading group a good resource. I can ask if someone has something and then we can trade or barter. For example, I just asked if someone wanted a bag of pine shavings I have left over from when we had chickens. I'm trading them for the little red wagon I want!
Sometimes it can feel overwhelming or that you don't see people for a few days (although this time of year we see a lot of people since it's fishing season, but you get my point), but then you remember you group. And then you ask a question or mention something and you get all kinds of responses. And then you realize that you've found your tribe. Your people who understand what it's like to spend hours clearing a spot for the garden and how proud of that work you've just done. And in turn I'm happy to share a glimpse of that with you!