We live on 7.5 acres that are zoned agricultural, and every other year I raise an Angus steer for meat, and every year (sometimes every other year) we raise a hog. The cattle are free ranging, the hogs are too, but we supplement them with table scraps. One of my best friends is a meat cutter with a local grocery chain, and has his own equipment. He comes to my place for a couple days every winter and butchers the livestock. He charges me in meat, so it benefits us both. I've had to buy another freezer though.
We also raise about a dozen laying hens for eggs, and after about two years (when their laying falls off) they become stewers. We raise a couple dozen fryers too. All of the birds are free range.
We also have two Nubian goats that we milk daily. Goat milk is better for you than cow's milk since goats are not succeptible to the diseases that can taint milk and cause it to go bad. We think it tastes better too. We also make our own butter, it takes alittle longer than with cow's milk, but it has a smoother texture and is sweeter.
I raise about a dozen rabbits every year too, they are self replacing and their droppings are about the best thing for the vegetable garden.
Speaking of the garden, I usually plant 1/4 acre of sweet corn, and large patches of beans, winter and summer squash, cantaloupes, peas, lettuce, cabbage, onions, garlic, carrots, turnips, radishes, and assorted herbs. I also take a deer or two from my garden every year (a side benefit), and also get an occasional wild turkey. Canada geese mob my fields and I get a few of them every year too.
My wife buys grain in bulk and mills her own flour for bread, cakes, etc... That is a LOT better for you than the stuff that passes for bread or flour in the stores (that has about 90% of the nutrients removed). I also use some of the grain to make my own beer. I put in some grapevines about three years ago, and should be able to start making our own wine next year.
There are only three of us at home; my wife, my 5yr old son, and me, and I have a day job as well. This is purely subsistence farming, and since the homeschool group that we are a part of has several kids involved in 4-H we have ample volunteers to care for the animals when we want to go somewhere. I guess you could say that we are pretty self sufficient. Granted not everyone can do this, but with a little planning and prioritizing it is very rewarding, but it is hard work. Something that is lost on a lot of Americans.
After all of this you might think that we live in a rural area, but we are only 15 minutes from downtown Richmond, VA.
Now if I could only strike oil on my property.....
There must be another Richmond here in Virginia.
WOW........
Diana - here is a man after our own hearts!!!!
I’m so embarrassed that I think I’ll head outside and do some more planting....LOL!
Very cool story! One of my daydreams...straight out of Tasha Tudor.