Reflecting on a Year of Homesteading: The Triumphs and Trials in 2024
The age-old saying, "the days last forever but the years fly by," resonates profoundly with those engaged in the rigorous lifestyle of homesteading. As we enter 2024, it’s time to reflect on our diverse experiences gathered over the past year—a year filled with remarkable achievements, daunting challenges, and invaluable lessons learned on our homestead.
This adventure sprouted last December when we whimsically decided to rear ducks. As many will realize, homesteading doesn’t come with a one-size-fits-all manual. Our decision was largely influenced by the unique climate in Texas, which allows for poultry farming even during the colder months. Armed with the knowledge that cute Pekin ducks would soon become part of our family, we welcomed these little creatures with open arms.
As we grew more familiar with our farm animals, a stark reality hit us—compound-sized animals demand significantly more attention and care than their smaller counterparts. Enter Goldie, our hardworking milk cow, who required quite the maintenance. Despite the challenges she posed, Goldie played an essential role in our milk production. After losing her calf to pneumonia, she continued to provide us with nearly four gallons of milk daily—a number that is both thrilling and daunting.
Despite her challenges, Goldie turned out to be quite the nurse, ready to adopt any calf that needed her care. However, not all calves are created equal. This realization was especially true when we attempted to integrate a Brahma calf, affectionately dubbed "Chupacabra," who provided her own set of hurdles for us to navigate.
Navigating the Seasons: Preparing for Drought and Renovating Gardens
The unpredictability of Texas weather remained a constant theme throughout the year. Battling the harsh summer heat, we embarked on a garden renovation early on, excitedly building 10 new garden beds and implementing irrigation systems. Our efforts bore fruit—a flourishing garden bursting with produce that we hadn't dared to dream possible before. This year truly showcased the potent potential of homesteading, proving that commitment to the land can yield extraordinary results.
Exploring the Hardships of Butchering: Lessons Learned
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.
Sisterhood and Community: A Tapestry of Shared Experiences
One of the unexpected heartwarming elements throughout the year was the community of women I engaged with, whom I fondly call the "Southern Sisterhood." These interactions filled me with a deep sense of belonging, and the inspirational coverage during our weekends together laid the groundwork for launching a new cooking channel, Better Together Eats. This initiative was born out of a desire to share wholesome meals that connect families, something I was eager to develop further.
The Rollercoaster of Water Management and Sustainability
Through our efforts to maximize rainfall and manage our land wisely, we laid out strategic swales and berms—an endeavor resulting in the satisfaction of witnessing our pond fill with rainwater. However, as fall approached, we faced the harsh reality of drought once more. A lack of rainfall tested our patience and adaptability, pushing us to find innovative solutions for our water management.
Our perspective on livestock took a shift this year. We learned valuable lessons about managing our pig population, realizing the necessity to dial back the number of animals we raised. This decision culminated in bringing home feeder pigs while aiming to process a larger number of meat birds for our family and community. Teaching others through workshops about butchering chickens empowered us while also filling our freezers for the year ahead.
As the year draws to a close, it’s crucial to assess the highs and lows we encountered. From the joy of bountiful harvests to the sobering realities of livestock management and community engagement, every experience contributed to our growth as homesteaders. Amidst the challenges and chaos, we strive for rest and reflection, always seeking to improve and make the upcoming year even more productive.
In focusing on the positives, we acknowledge the richness of the experience granted to us by the land. It's a continuous journey, filled with both joy and hardship, reminding us that every effort, every sweat, every triumph, and every failure is a step toward a sustainable lifestyle. As we venture into 2025, we carry with us a wealth of knowledge, resilience, and hope for new discoveries that lie ahead.
We urge fellow homesteaders and those inspired by this lifestyle to share their experiences and encouragement, fostering a community where we uplift one another as we grow together. Your thoughts, lessons learned, and achievements are what will help us carry this enthusiasm into the new year.
Part 1/11:
Reflecting on a Year of Homesteading: The Triumphs and Trials in 2024
The age-old saying, "the days last forever but the years fly by," resonates profoundly with those engaged in the rigorous lifestyle of homesteading. As we enter 2024, it’s time to reflect on our diverse experiences gathered over the past year—a year filled with remarkable achievements, daunting challenges, and invaluable lessons learned on our homestead.
A Journey Begins with Ducks in December
Part 2/11:
This adventure sprouted last December when we whimsically decided to rear ducks. As many will realize, homesteading doesn’t come with a one-size-fits-all manual. Our decision was largely influenced by the unique climate in Texas, which allows for poultry farming even during the colder months. Armed with the knowledge that cute Pekin ducks would soon become part of our family, we welcomed these little creatures with open arms.
The Reality of Farm Animals: The Case of Goldie
Part 3/11:
As we grew more familiar with our farm animals, a stark reality hit us—compound-sized animals demand significantly more attention and care than their smaller counterparts. Enter Goldie, our hardworking milk cow, who required quite the maintenance. Despite the challenges she posed, Goldie played an essential role in our milk production. After losing her calf to pneumonia, she continued to provide us with nearly four gallons of milk daily—a number that is both thrilling and daunting.
Part 4/11:
Despite her challenges, Goldie turned out to be quite the nurse, ready to adopt any calf that needed her care. However, not all calves are created equal. This realization was especially true when we attempted to integrate a Brahma calf, affectionately dubbed "Chupacabra," who provided her own set of hurdles for us to navigate.
Navigating the Seasons: Preparing for Drought and Renovating Gardens
Part 5/11:
The unpredictability of Texas weather remained a constant theme throughout the year. Battling the harsh summer heat, we embarked on a garden renovation early on, excitedly building 10 new garden beds and implementing irrigation systems. Our efforts bore fruit—a flourishing garden bursting with produce that we hadn't dared to dream possible before. This year truly showcased the potent potential of homesteading, proving that commitment to the land can yield extraordinary results.
Exploring the Hardships of Butchering: Lessons Learned
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.
Sisterhood and Community: A Tapestry of Shared Experiences
Part 7/11:
One of the unexpected heartwarming elements throughout the year was the community of women I engaged with, whom I fondly call the "Southern Sisterhood." These interactions filled me with a deep sense of belonging, and the inspirational coverage during our weekends together laid the groundwork for launching a new cooking channel, Better Together Eats. This initiative was born out of a desire to share wholesome meals that connect families, something I was eager to develop further.
The Rollercoaster of Water Management and Sustainability
Part 8/11:
Through our efforts to maximize rainfall and manage our land wisely, we laid out strategic swales and berms—an endeavor resulting in the satisfaction of witnessing our pond fill with rainwater. However, as fall approached, we faced the harsh reality of drought once more. A lack of rainfall tested our patience and adaptability, pushing us to find innovative solutions for our water management.
A Year of Change: From Pigs to Poultry
Part 9/11:
Our perspective on livestock took a shift this year. We learned valuable lessons about managing our pig population, realizing the necessity to dial back the number of animals we raised. This decision culminated in bringing home feeder pigs while aiming to process a larger number of meat birds for our family and community. Teaching others through workshops about butchering chickens empowered us while also filling our freezers for the year ahead.
Reflection and Looking to the Future
Part 10/11:
As the year draws to a close, it’s crucial to assess the highs and lows we encountered. From the joy of bountiful harvests to the sobering realities of livestock management and community engagement, every experience contributed to our growth as homesteaders. Amidst the challenges and chaos, we strive for rest and reflection, always seeking to improve and make the upcoming year even more productive.
Part 11/11:
In focusing on the positives, we acknowledge the richness of the experience granted to us by the land. It's a continuous journey, filled with both joy and hardship, reminding us that every effort, every sweat, every triumph, and every failure is a step toward a sustainable lifestyle. As we venture into 2025, we carry with us a wealth of knowledge, resilience, and hope for new discoveries that lie ahead.
We urge fellow homesteaders and those inspired by this lifestyle to share their experiences and encouragement, fostering a community where we uplift one another as we grow together. Your thoughts, lessons learned, and achievements are what will help us carry this enthusiasm into the new year.