Homestead Update!

Hi everyone!  I am excited that things are progressing well on our homestead, and I am loving it so much!

It's been almost a year since we received our two (free) female goats.  I have been praying since then for a free buck, or at least a remotely affordable one.  As most of you know our financial situation, you probably know that "affordable" for us would be a very, very small amount.  But we've been hanging in there....waiting, praying.  We've been wanting to breed our does so we could have goat milk.

And then...Saturday night I looked on craigslist and there was an ad for two free bucks, that were actually intact (this had been the hardest part of finding a buck), at a location just an hour away.  The ad had only been up for about 30 minutes, so I replied right away, and was thrilled to find out that they were still available.  So yesterday morning, we loaded up the trailer with straw and set out to pick up our bucks!  We hadn't planned on getting two, but they are brothers that are very attached, and the owner would only give them away togethter.  They are the sweetest things!  I've heard so many stories about problems with bucks, but these two were bottle fed and are extremely friendly.  We already love them a lot.  I haven't taken pictures yet, but will post them soon after I take some.

I have a lot to learn about breeding, and milking etc, but I have a good book and I'm excited to learn.  I'll also need to buy some equipment.  That is on my list of items to buy for our homestead.  But next up, a few more hens for our flock, and some ducks.  I am excited to sell duck eggs to bring in some money.  I've been selling chicken eggs, but duck eggs sell for twice as much.

Our garden is coming along great!  I took a trip to the store today, and came back with: a blueberry plant, a tomato plant, a catnip plant (AnnaMarie's project--for the kitty, of course!), onion starts, and seeds: beet, carrot, beans, zucchini, and yellow squash.  The onion starts went right into the ground; the seeds will go in soon.  Tomorrow....I plant peas!

As you can probably tell, I am excited about all of this. I LOVE homesteading!  I am also excited to find ways to bring in some income from home.  Selling eggs, and making items to sell from goat's milk: cheese, soap, etc...these are ways that I can make some income but still be at home where I belong.

As I mentioned previously, through these extremely difficult financial times, when my husband has had no work, I have periodically gone through crises of faith.  I can't tell you how many times I've gone on craigslist and looked for work for me.  (Shhhh....don't tell anyone...I'm embarrassed to admit it!)  Nothing ever became of it, of course, and I'm sure God's hand was in that!  But as I was telling my pastor recently, when people look in on us and our situation, I'm sure there are many who think that it does not make any sense that I haven't gone to work.  But I have been standing firm on faith, believing that I am doing what God has called me to do, and that I am going to obey Him no matter what, and TRUST that He will provide.  And He always does!  I certainly don't have everything I want, but we always have what we need!

Things have been looking up some in the financial department also.  My husband got some help with his resume, and his mom helped him get re-licensed, bonded, and insured, which will help a ton with getting work.  He is currently on a job, and has another one after.  Now if he could get some medical help, THAT would be great!

Anyway, back to homesteading...I also was able to acquire a couple more items from my list.  For my birthday, I got a pressure canner, and the hand cranked coffee grinder I really wanted.  Yay!  More reasons to be excited!

God bless you all!

This post is linked up at:

Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways
Simply Living Wednesday Link-Up