So we have collectively come to the conclusion, that the grocery store just has to go. We are making a friendly seperation from its hold on us. We are in search of local and fresh ingredients, until the time when our gardens start to produce their bounty. Our animals are ready to slaughter and the root cellar is filled. Don't get me wrong, I can most definately see myself sneaking in, totally incognito of course, to grab limes ( my whiskey just isn't the same without one ) and lemons, and a few other ingredients I may or may not find at the health food stores. My growing frustration with the grocery bill has forced us to make a drastic change. One that I am actually really excited about. Cooking, and putting away food, is a totally relaxing task for me. I have on occasion talked about how I love to go out and watch the little green sprouts of spinach or lettuce break through the dark, rich soil. Its a cathartic experience, one I enjoy so much...I am actually getting a little antsy about it, because I know its still months away. I will get a small fix, starting some seedlings in the living room windows though...be not afraid. We will be putting in a very large garden, to produce enough food this summer for our root cellar in the fall. We will purchase things like apples, and berries from local producers for the freezers. Frank is a big fan of blueberry pancakes...any time of year. In our decision to change our eating habits, its made us look at our goals for the farm in terms of animals as well. Last spring was our first kidding season, and since the first kid dropped I was stressed about where the little bundles of cuteness would go. After you get up in the middle of the night to make bottles for 15 goat babies, you tend to be a little territorial about where they go to live out there adult lives. So to releave this stress, we will raise the babies and butcher them for meat for our freezer. This will be our red meat in the freezers. Our friend Aimee, is going to raise us a bunch of rabbits for meat, and we will be raising meat chickens for the freezer as well. Now if I can just get someone to raise me some trout and salmon that would be great. We will have fresh raw goats milk in a month, and cheese and ice cream. I will be learning how to make yogurt, and have developed a connection for raw cow milk, so I can make our own butter. Its such an exciting time for me and food. I will know where 99% of our food is coming from, most of it right out of our own garden. I really can't stop smiling about it, I am so excited. This is one of the steps toward our long term goals for the farm...and everytime I look at the seed cataloge or look at a homesteading website I get really giddy...and when you are giddy about working your ass off, its a good thing...
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Best Wishes from your Friendly Female Farmer
