Chickens and God

If you want to start a homestead or just start living more self-sustainably, a great place to start is by keeping some chickens.  They are the easiest livestock to care for and are relatively inexpensive.  Just feed and water them and you will be entertained for hours!  Our chickens are free-range, meaning they are allowed to roam freely on the property.  Chickens won't stray.  They stay close by and go right back into their coop on their own when it gets dark.  I believe that free-range chickens are the healthiest.  They were made to scratch in the dirt and peck at leaves and bugs.  We had one rooster that ate a frog and another that ate a mouse!

We have butchered three roosters so far.  It was the best tasting meat we ever had!  I felt some guilt over having them killed, but I try to remember that we are maintaining a working mini-farm, not a zoo.  It can be hard though, but I try not to get too attached.  Some of the egg layers we know will be around as long as they are laying eggs.  They lay eggs regularly for about two years.  Once they stop, some may end up in the freezer.  After two years they are probably only good for soup.  A few of the hens will live their entire life here even after their egg-laying years are over.  I have a few favourites. 

This Spring we acquired a funny little chicken.  She appeared to be a cross between a cochin and a Polish crested.  She was low on the pecking order and was often picked on by the older hens.  For this reason, I kind of took her under my wing, so to speak.  I gave her the name Fifi.  She had a fluff ball on top of her head which reminded me of a poodle, so I thought she should have a poodle name.  Because I carried her around a lot, she got quite used to me and would let me pick her up whenever I wanted. 

One day last week I went out in the yard and discovered Fifi's little body laying limply next to the new dog.  This was the eighth chicken the dog killed.  I felt bad about the first seven, but cried and mourned for this one.  "Why Fifi?!", I yelled to God.  There were 23 other chickens the dog could have got.  Why my beautiful Fifi?  The Lord knew that little chicken was special to me, and I couldn't help but think that He could have intervened and kept her out of the dog's reach. 

Throughout my spiritual journey, this thought has always haunted me.  Why do sad things that can be prevented have to happen?  Why doesn't He stop it from happening?  It has always seemed mean to me when He has the power to do anything. 

I know I must be growing because I didn't stay angry and question God for days like I would have in the past.  He simply says to trust Him.  I believe when He takes something or withholds something, he will give us something back.  Maybe something better.  Something that will help our hearts to heal.  I don't know just what He's goint to do, or when, but I do know He's going to give me a special gift to help replace the loss I feel regarding Fifi.  Isn't God good?

A Button Jar

I remember my mother always having a jar full of buttons.  Actually it was a coffee can which she had decorated.  I can still see it in my mind's eye.  For some reason I loved that jar and all the many different shapes, sizes, and colors of the buttons in it.  As an adult, I have always saved buttons.  Sometimes an article of clothing comes with an extra button in case you lose one.  I always kept those and put them in my jewelry box.  Recently I decided that I needed a button jar of my own.  I had bought a set of glass canisters at a thrift shop last winter.  I needed them to hold mixes for cookies in a jar that I was giving as gifts.  I kept a couple of the canisters for myself and decided that the smallest one would be perfect to use as my button jar.  I don't know why I feel the need for one.  Maybe as a connection to my childhood.  Maybe to continue a tradition; something from a simpler time.  I like the way it looks on my dresser.  Aren't the buttons pretty in their jar?

Simple Country Pleasures

A garden           

A Crick

  Flowers

Clotheslines

Simple living should include having a clothesline.  When was the last time you saw clothes flapping in the breeze on the line?  When was the last time you hung clothes on a line?  I know of neighborhoods that do not allow clotheslines for one reason or another.  Oh my goodness.  They don't know what they're missing.  There is nothing quite like the smell of air-dried sheets on a warm summer night. 

Clotheslines should also be a part of self-sustaining living because of how much money they save.  Last summer I started using a clothesline again after many years without one.  We saved over $30 on our electric bill each month I used the clothesline.  Winter came,  and I went back to the dryer.  At a friend's suggestion, I hung a clothesrack in my bedroom to hang the heaviest towels and clothes on.  Again, I noticed a tremendous difference in the electric bill.  I don't know about you, but I am tired of giving my money to utility companies.

Do yourself a favour and hang a load of wash out on the line.  You will be glad you did!

What we've done so far

Well, I have entered the world of  blogging.  This will mostly be about our life on a mini-farm and what we are doing toward self-sustainability.  We moved out here to the woods almost three years ago.  We began our homesteading adventure in May of 2010.  So far we have planted about 15 raspberry bushes and  3 blueberry bushes.  We are blessed to have many, many wild blackberries on the property.  Our garden this summer includes tomato plants, peppers, green beans, carrots, and onions. 

Last May we got 12 chickens and have added more this past Spring for a total of 24.  Keeping chickens is a great way to start toward self-sustainability.  They are easy to keep and to care for.  This past June we added two dairy goats into the mix.  We will be breeding them to get milk.  Then we can stop buying milk and cheese at the store.  And I want to be able to make and sell goat's milk soap. 

So, I guess this is a good start to life on a mini-farm.