Part 6/11:
A major milestone for us was the experience of butchering our first pig—a task that came laden with anxiety and uncertainty. Despite following guidelines from YouTube and leaning on friends for guidance, we quickly realized that, like homesteading itself, the process is fraught with difficult lessons. Though we scored a flat “C minus” on our first attempt, it became more about the journey than the final product. The reality of the hard work that comes with raising and processing animals is something I cannot underscore enough.