This Week in Homesteading

This week on our farmstead…

It’s been a great week! On Sunday, we brought home our very first dairy goats. (More on them in a post early next week!) I’m getting used to a whole new sleep schedule now, being that dairy animals, unlike chickens and rabbits, don’t like it when I want to sleep in.

Mid-week the weather took a turn from unseasonably gorgeous to lake effect snow and single-digit temperatures. It is February, after all — but YUCK! Thankfully I don’t think we got nearly as much snow as they were predicting.

We cooked (and enjoyed!) our first homestead-raised-and-butchered rabbit. I used this slow cooker recipe from YouTube, and I highly recommend it!

Speaking of YouTube, I started filming some videos in hopes we could start putting more content on our channel — and promptly LOST the video camera. I’m certain it’s safe and just misplaced somewhere, but I’m disappointed because it was loaded with video of our new goats to show you! Hopefully it will turn up very soon.

You keep up with the goings-on around the Little Red Farmstead throughout the week by following us on Instagram or by liking our Facebook page!

From my favorite homesteading blogs this week:

• Making 2016’s Seed Starting & Planting Schedule (with Downloadable Template) from Better Hens & Gardens
• A good back-to-basics reminder of how to compost from Farming in my Backyard
• Learn what the color of your chicken’s comb can tell you (via Fresh Eggs Daily)
• So you want a small-scale goat? Learn what suits your needs. Nigerian vs. Pygmy Goats from Weed ’em and Reap

On YouTube this week:

• Aust from Homesteady shared some basics on tapping trees for maple syrup. (It’s that time of year!)
• Justin from Abundant Permaculture continues to post fun videos of he and his family on their farm in North Carolina. I can’t pick one that’s my favorite this week! Trust me, just subscribe to their channel.
• The Fewell Homestead talked about the importance of sterilizing jars, lids, and rings when you’re canning.
• I am LOVING Dirtpatcheaven and Road To The Farm‘s new combined YouTube “show”, Braid Girls.
• Patara of Appalachia’s Homestead showed off her divided coop and talked about its versatility.