The Learning Homestead

For those familiar with our family, we have a terminally ill child. Within months of his diagnosis, this man Jimmy Kron had spearheaded a HUGE benefit for Kiernan and our family. All you fellow homesteaders PLESE dig deep and help our friend he suffered a very serious injury in a fall. Words cannot express how generous and self sacrificing this man is!

Help Jimmy Kron, organized by Heather Murrell Well as most know by know our sweet friend Jimmy Kron has suffered a terrible accident. He is the fi… Heather Murrell needs your support for Help Jimmy Kron

Do you know about rabbit tractors? They can be a good solution for growing out young rabbits until harvest time. This one is 6’x2’ and 18” high. They’re light weight and easy to move. Please excuse the rough metal top. I will be getting tin snips in the coming days to clean that up considerably.
These rabbits (and another which will be moved in, in the next couple of days) spent their first six weeks with their mom. They will be processed in the next 4-6 weeks.

Another indication that spring is her! We have meat rabbits on the ground.

Spring is coming on! We were a couple of weeks late getting started but we’re back!

Well, we’re about 2-ish weeks late, but we’ve finally got things underway! 💪🏼💚🧑🏼‍🌾

Our doe has FINALLY had a successful, if small, kindle! She only threw four, and one died after just a couple of days. We still have three left though! ❤️🐰😋

When your hens are in overdrive, and you have a huge amount of eggs, how do you use them creatively? If you have a smoker, maybe you make smoked or smoke-boiled eggs. This was our first attempt. 2 hours at 225°. The verdict: VERY good! Boiled eggs with a moderate amount of smoke. We’re considering doing smoked deviled eggs topped with finely chopped Benton’s bacon 🥓 😋🤤.

Another indication of spring. Hopefully, this one is a success! This doe has NEVER had a successful kindle. Our replacement does are already on property.

Finally got it properly tilled. Or neighbor had used his PTO tiller to do the initial turn after two years fallow. I then dressed it with rabbit manure, then used the Yardmaxx to get it all finely tilled. The next step is layout and planting. It felt good get in the soil and start growing things again! 🌱👩‍🌾 💪🏼 !

We have decided that two years is enough time licking our wounds and adjusting to our new normal! 2022 is our year to start producing again.
For those who don’t know our story, in June 2020, our youngest son was diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome (MPS 3B). This is a terminal genetic disorder that’s often called Alzheimer’s for children. We were crushed and everything nonessential came to a crashing halt.
Now we’ve adapted to our new life and are ready to begin gearing up once more! Follow along for our wacky journey!

Well, we have ANOTHER new addition to the homestead in addition to the four chicks we got a few days ago! 🤣🤣🤷🏻‍♂️

We had to switch our flock to All Stock feed in the winter because of our goats sharing the same pasture and feed areas. Apparently the chickens REALLY like All Stock! This is what we have remaining after selling or giving away about 9 dozen in the past couple of weeks! Today our flock of 14 somehow provided 25 eggs! Unless our oldest son is correct and some are goat eggs 🤣🤣