How We Raise A Year's Worth of Meat & Never Buy Meat from the Grocery Store Again

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  • čas přidán 9. 02. 2021
  • One of our greatest joys is providing our own meat for our family (and some family members) from our own land. We know exactly what goes into our meat, how the animals are treated and are blessed by the cycle of it all.
    But it all takes planning and not every space will work for every type of livestock (or every person, there's a reason I don't have goats currently).
    Here's how we plan out our livestock for the year. This information is extremely helpful now, OR if you're looking at property in the future.
    For more information, visit the blog post here: melissaknorris.com/planning-y...
    Check out my other video on how we store a year's worth of meat here: • How to Store a Year's ...
    **********************
    Links:
    Raising Meat Chickens for a Year: • Raising Meat Chickens ...
    How to Butcher a Whole Pig: • Pioneering Today-How t...
    How Much to Plant Per Person - Growing a Year's Worth of Food: melissaknorris.com/podcast/ho...
    **********************
    Listen in to the top #10 rated Pioneering Today Podcast for Home & Garden for Simple Modern Homesteading Tips melissaknorris.com/podcast-2/
    **********************
    My Books:
    The Family Garden Planner: melissaknorris.com/planner
    The Family Garden Plan: melissaknorris.com/family-gar...
    Hand Made 100+ From Scratch Recipes: melissaknorris.com/handmade-book
    The Made-from-Scratch Life: melissaknorris.com/made-from-...
    **********************
    Howdy! I'm so glad you're here. I'm Melissa from Pioneering Today and a 5th generation homesteader where I'm doing my best to hold onto the old traditions in a modern world and share them with others.
    Click any of the below links for FREE resources and training to help you on your homestead!
    Homemade Sourdough Starter Series melissaknorris.com/learnsourd...
    How to Pressure Can Series melissaknorris.com/pressureca...
    Beginners Home Canning Safety melissaknorris.com/canningclass
    For raising, cooking, and preserving your own food, come hang out with me on Instagram / melissaknorris
    and Facebook / melissaknorris
    **********
    #meatchickens #raisingmeat #pigs #cows
  • Jak na to + styl

Komentáře • 1,9K

  • @seofutbol
    @seofutbol Před 3 lety +1776

    We had five pigs at any given time growing up. They got out one day. We chased them for hours. My dad threw his hands in the air, yelled “screw it!” and went to bed for the night. The next morning they were at the trough waiting for breakfast 🤷‍♂️

    • @fireemblemaddict128
      @fireemblemaddict128 Před 3 lety +278

      That's kind of sad. They just wanted a taste of freedom, but in the end they knew they couldn't survive outside the system they were born into. Kind of like us huh?

    • @Erreul
      @Erreul Před 3 lety +71

      That's hilarious.

    • @nagi6736
      @nagi6736 Před 3 lety +8

      😂😂

    • @Pirokh
      @Pirokh Před 3 lety +248

      @@fireemblemaddict128 You're not being deep.

    • @princetchalla2441
      @princetchalla2441 Před 3 lety +118

      @@fireemblemaddict128 Domestic pigs can actually grow tusks after a generation or two being reintroduced into the wild, and there have been a few times where feral hogs and pigs have crossbred. I guess they were just looking for an easy meal after their night going hog wild. Make no mistake, they’re no pushovers. But I wouldn’t be surprised if they preferred the easier meal rather than foraging for grubs.

  • @GuyMcLaren
    @GuyMcLaren Před 3 lety +1581

    To test if a fence is goat proof, take a bucket of water and throw it at the fence, if the water gets through the goats will escape.

  • @sehajpreetsingh4177
    @sehajpreetsingh4177 Před 3 lety +610

    Imagine working from home for a company, and being able to live on a farm. That's the life I want to live. Thanks for sharing.

    • @sehajpreetsingh4177
      @sehajpreetsingh4177 Před 3 lety +25

      @@ertfgghhhh My dad is more of a farmer than I am and he is retiring this year. Dad spent his earlier years working in fields in a village; later he transitioned to a city for work.
      Back in India, we do have small plots of land on which my dad still works. He enjoys doing that. I used to help him when I lived there.
      I guess it is not a bad idea to buy some land here in Canada, build a small house, buy some hens, and a dog or two. There are plenty of employers in the software field that offer remote work. The life would be slow but very fulfilling.

    • @sehajpreetsingh4177
      @sehajpreetsingh4177 Před 3 lety +5

      @Muslimcel lol, what!? I don't care for Khalistan.

    • @sehajpreetsingh4177
      @sehajpreetsingh4177 Před 3 lety +12

      @Muslimcel there is a vocal minority that demands it, most people don't care for it.

    • @devi722
      @devi722 Před 3 lety +4

      Go for it, man.. Good luck!

    • @natashaalfred2645
      @natashaalfred2645 Před 3 lety +1

      @@sehajpreetsingh4177 what is Khalistan?

  • @ericcake5075
    @ericcake5075 Před 3 lety +576

    If your pig pen is stationary, you might consider planting a few oak trees (or other nut baring trees) and apple trees just outside the fence. It’s a great way to get free food for them and provide shade in the summer

    • @possumrides8448
      @possumrides8448 Před 2 lety +67

      Planting Oaks... great idea... but it takes 20 years for an Oak to mature enough to produce Nuts. Apple trees better! But be ready to possibly deal with drunk Pigs.

    • @wtice4632
      @wtice4632 Před 2 lety +33

      @@possumrides8448 scrub oak will take only 5

    • @cherylcook1942
      @cherylcook1942 Před 2 lety +2

      Get to it.

    • @tykiajerry
      @tykiajerry Před 2 lety +1

      @@possumrides8448 what would make the pigs drunk?

    • @issaceash7500
      @issaceash7500 Před 2 lety +6

      @@tykiajerry fermented apples maybe?

  • @pfe3883
    @pfe3883 Před 3 lety +877

    I have goats. My theory is that when a new prison is built they should put goats inside the fence for a couple months before the convicts arrive. If it can hold the goats in it can hold the prisoners in.

    • @robinlillian9471
      @robinlillian9471 Před 3 lety +6

      But humans could figure out how to short out the electricity & climb out, which is not something goats could do.

    • @skeetorretard
      @skeetorretard Před 3 lety +142

      @@robinlillian9471 goats will lean against an electric fence and stare you in the eye while getting burned because they just DGAF

    • @TRINITY-ks6nw
      @TRINITY-ks6nw Před 3 lety

      Amen

    • @heyikindalikeyou
      @heyikindalikeyou Před 3 lety +4

      @@skeetorretard 🤣🤣🤣

    • @American_Liberty
      @American_Liberty Před 3 lety +3

      Lol! I have 6, I agree 100%!

  • @otpyrcralphpierre1742
    @otpyrcralphpierre1742 Před 3 lety +315

    My Dad developed a "trick" electric fence. We had one horse, and she liked to break through the barb-wire fence. Dad got an electric fence, but couldn't string it around the whole 4 acres, so he just put it in the places that the horse liked to break through. He didn't want the grandkids to get shocked, so he put that bright yellow "Caution" tape everywhere the electric fence ran. The horse learned pretty quick that the Caution tape knocked her socks off. As a matter of fact, she learned so well that Dad would walk the horse to the un-fenced front yard, lay some Caution tape in a 20 foot circle, and the horse never crossed it while she grazed all day long. He had to pick up the tape in order to take the horse back to the barn in the evening. He also wrapped the feed-bins with it. It was Very reliable.

  • @rickjamesb.
    @rickjamesb. Před 3 lety +174

    Most people would love to live this life. Great video. What I found most impressive is how natural it came to her explaining and talking about it all. I don't think there was a single cut in this entire video, at least it didn't feel like it.

    • @maenad1231
      @maenad1231 Před 3 lety +8

      Born and raised in the NY metropolitan area and even I could appreciate each summer I spent with my relatives down south on our family farms.
      The lifestyle is a world apart from what I’m used to but I always quickly adapted to the change because it felt so natural in a way.
      More intensive farming, (inter)national food transportation & supermarkets are wonderful things in some ways; without them we couldn’t ensure global food security. However I think that over-relying on these things is somewhat unnatural and slowly killing our self sufficiency. More people should be open to adopting this way of life and even more people should be open to supporting small/medium local family farms.

    • @israelnemitz8323
      @israelnemitz8323 Před rokem

      I noticed that too.

  • @livingcountry
    @livingcountry Před 2 lety +56

    I haven’t bought meat in years. On 17 acres I run six cows, ten nanny goats, and two sows. I am able to sell enough offspring to buy hay and feed and still provide meat for my wife and I and our grown children. The best thing is that we love our animals. Loved your video.

    • @JunkJordan
      @JunkJordan Před 2 lety +1

      What method do you use to kill your animals?

    • @livingcountry
      @livingcountry Před 2 lety +4

      @@JunkJordan I take the cattle to the butcher and large pigs. I just cut the chickens throat. Other’s a shot in the brain with a 9mm sorry for the graphic truth. My livestock still gets the best life possible.

    • @atlantic_love
      @atlantic_love Před 2 lety +5

      @@livingcountry You sure "love" your animals, don't you? You're not fooling anyone.

    • @livingcountry
      @livingcountry Před 2 lety +12

      @@atlantic_love yes I do thank you.

    • @JunkJordan
      @JunkJordan Před 2 lety +2

      @@livingcountry Do you think the animals would have the preference to live out their life if they were given the choice?

  • @wickedquailandpork537
    @wickedquailandpork537 Před 3 lety +348

    We actually trained cattle dogs (Australian shepherds) to be pig dogs. We haven't put a single pig back in the fence ourselves for 3 years.

    • @amandacollins518
      @amandacollins518 Před 3 lety +5

      I wish I knew how to train dogs.

    • @bellw5834
      @bellw5834 Před 3 lety +6

      @@amandacollins518 teas easy. Watch upstate canine academy. They are a good balance trainer.

    • @delishme2
      @delishme2 Před 3 lety +18

      I'm Australian from a farming family and i have to say Mareemas are amazing too. We always had sheep dogs for all livestock, but 20 years ago, we got a Marama. Apart from the fact they are big beautiful white dogs, they keep livestock safe from predators. Traditionally in Italy, they kept goats safe from wolves etc, walking them up the mountains, watching them all night, and bringing them down in the morning... I think of them as big ar## nanny dog.
      In Australia we are using them in all sorts of places now, not only on farms but also for protection of native wildlife. From scaring off our Dingo's and feral dogs, to keeping foxes out of the hen house, to protecting penguins on Phillip Island. Wonderful breed of dog for farm life.

    • @fate3071
      @fate3071 Před 3 lety +1

      @@delishme2 my dad and I used to have a pair of border collies to help keep coyotes away from the chicken pen and also keep the chickens in the vicinity if they managed to get out

    • @MrDoomroom
      @MrDoomroom Před 3 lety +6

      If you have opportunity try get Croatian sheppard IMHO best dogs for any type of animals. I saw one trained as chicken sheppard from hawks, he's actually watching the sky.

  • @ffksummers
    @ffksummers Před 3 lety +273

    I’ve heard it said that if you have goats, so does your neighbor.

    • @CelticRootsFarm
      @CelticRootsFarm Před 3 lety +29

      LOL! Love it! In regards to fencing for goats... I heard that the way to tell if your fence is goat proof or not is to just throw a bucket of water at it... if the water goes through, so will the goats. 👍

    • @reneerueppel7370
      @reneerueppel7370 Před 3 lety +5

      We have Nigerian goats and we had problems keeping them in at first. Now we have learned that panels and hot wire just like with pigs will keep them in.

    • @CelticRootsFarm
      @CelticRootsFarm Před 3 lety +3

      @@reneerueppel7370 Good tip... thanks! 👍

    • @reneerueppel7370
      @reneerueppel7370 Před 3 lety

      @@CelticRootsFarm welcome

    • @keenanbailey3949
      @keenanbailey3949 Před 3 lety +3

      @@CelticRootsFarm Heard the same thing from an employee at the farm store...."If it ain't water tight, it ain't goat tight!"

  • @chriskringle1298
    @chriskringle1298 Před 3 lety +87

    She isn’t kidding about about the pigs when I was a kid we had run of around 20 Russian boars I came home from school to the volunteer fire department my parents volunteered at, chasing about 15 of the boars. Muddy and bloody it took another hour for them to contain them. I grew up in a prepping environment before prepping was a thing and took for granted a lot of it. 20 or so years later I’m finding myself obsessed with it.

  • @docgmoney1790
    @docgmoney1790 Před 3 lety +20

    Our pig got arrested while the wife was outa town!!!! HAHAHA they found him blocks away eating the neighbors flowers. They are such funny animals! Thank you for all the information this was a great video. Will be checking out more content!

    • @priestesslucy3299
      @priestesslucy3299 Před 3 lety +4

      That doesn't make any sense.
      The pigs never arrest eachother

  • @AJ-ox8xy
    @AJ-ox8xy Před 3 lety +208

    I'm trying to do the same thing. I used to be a farm sitter and fell in love with farm life. Unfortunately there's a lot of money I need to make before I can just buy/rent land inorder to afford anything I want to build. I'm working on it in small steps though. If everything works out in about 6 years when I turn 30 I'll be able to start something.

    • @leoscheibelhut940
      @leoscheibelhut940 Před 3 lety +7

      Check out Greg Judy's videos and Joel Salatin's. Good luck from a former dairy farmer.

    • @AJ-ox8xy
      @AJ-ox8xy Před 3 lety +12

      @@68Tboy I have thanks. As much as it's an excellent lower cost way to get started, it still requires a level of networking and put front cost that I just don't have. I'm already on a good path as is. In a few years I should have enough to buy some land and then work my way up to purchasing animals along with building a house.

    • @angelisa368
      @angelisa368 Před 3 lety +2

      How do you become a farm sitter?!

    • @AJ-ox8xy
      @AJ-ox8xy Před 3 lety +41

      @@angelisa368 I started volunteering at farms and eventually acquired skills needed to take care of them. I then advertised my self through mostly word of mouth and social media within my area and around the US. Eventually I was able to find a group of farmers that are either getting older and their children refuse to participate in the farm or those that want to take vacations from the farming life every year for a few weeks. So far its a very good job. I learn and gain experience from various parts of the country in how they farm, while making a small living where I am basically off the grid. It will never make me rich, but it will make me a farmer one day.

    • @Wakeywhodat
      @Wakeywhodat Před 3 lety +6

      @@AJ-ox8xy Good for you!

  • @OAlison
    @OAlison Před 3 lety +830

    the dog is the only thing not being eaten and he looks happy as a clam.

    • @garethmccarthy2990
      @garethmccarthy2990 Před 3 lety +75

      I've never understood why eating some animals is good but others not, why not eat the dog?

    • @Gokusaiyan.
      @Gokusaiyan. Před 3 lety +17

      @@garethmccarthy2990 exactly, but in china dog aren't safe either in india if you eat beef youd be choped by religious group

    • @jackmion
      @jackmion Před 3 lety +54

      @@garethmccarthy2990 because they have other abilities.

    • @fate3071
      @fate3071 Před 3 lety +148

      Well having lived on a farm we don't eat our dogs and cats because their purpose is to catch and kill pests like mice, rats, and other larger rodents. The dogs also aid in hunting so they pay for themselves with the food they help bring to the table

    • @OAlison
      @OAlison Před 3 lety +23

      @@fate3071 That really is the best answer

  • @richardstrick
    @richardstrick Před 3 lety +461

    She mentioned how many when you are “Planning”. Problem after a week the wife and kids have named them so they never make it to the table.

    • @MbisonBalrog
      @MbisonBalrog Před 3 lety +40

      I could never slaughter those cute pigs 🐷

    • @harolddenton6031
      @harolddenton6031 Před 3 lety +81

      @@MbisonBalrog if you can't afford to go buy pork at a local store then you will quickly learn not to get attached to the pigs,chickens or cows.

    • @bigbossadidoss8678
      @bigbossadidoss8678 Před 3 lety +83

      It’s a simple matter. Tell them not to name them, and if they do it anyway slaughter them and they’ll never name the next ones

    • @richardhawkins2248
      @richardhawkins2248 Před 3 lety +40

      @@bigbossadidoss8678 My wife stills names them. I learned to name the dinner in turn.

    • @olgreg94
      @olgreg94 Před 3 lety +40

      Grow up. The kids aren't the problem you are. If you eat meat and can't kill it yourself you are a hypocrite...

  • @jamiebrandon4256
    @jamiebrandon4256 Před 3 lety +18

    I leave my guinea hogs in the pasture to graze with my cows. They never try to get out. The grass makes the meat taste awesome

  • @Laggy2000
    @Laggy2000 Před 3 lety +530

    the cows in the background like, this lady is talking about eating us.

  • @OurLANDingCrew8
    @OurLANDingCrew8 Před 2 lety +27

    First channel that I feel is actually about homesteading! I have been looking everywhere LOL

  • @dmorris9268
    @dmorris9268 Před 3 lety +9

    If something really bad happens in this country , all those questions why people homestead will answer themselves! Good job as always

  • @frequentlycynical642
    @frequentlycynical642 Před 2 lety +2

    She's so articulate, which I SO appreciate. I passed this video on to a friend who just bought 6 acres here in south central Texas.

  • @paulfadden8834
    @paulfadden8834 Před 3 lety +39

    13:00 For long term fencing, I thought growing Hazel trees would be good. They grow fast, they are hard wood, which is great for burning, the produce a crop and if you cut them you can push them down, secure them on the verticle and they will root, you can then weave them into a living fence. A lot of work, long term project, but low cost and has other benefits.

  • @Honeybeemom3
    @Honeybeemom3 Před 3 lety +49

    The mountains in the background are stunning.

  • @modernrider1398
    @modernrider1398 Před 2 lety +1

    It’s so refreshing to hear someone talk about eating meat. I’m a geek when it comes to health and living as “homo sapiens” is really good.

  • @fraserhardmetal7143
    @fraserhardmetal7143 Před 3 lety +33

    Wow - all delivered without a script and very well said -you know your stuff.

  • @brocknspectre1221
    @brocknspectre1221 Před 3 lety +83

    This is such a great video! Tons of solid info given clearly, quickly and briefly. Normally I’d have to watch six or seven videos and wade through multiple well meaning music montages before I could get half that much information! Well done and thank you!

  • @rainriderpnw6259
    @rainriderpnw6259 Před 2 lety +20

    What a great sense of humor about the pig adventure, and what common sense operation she has. Great practical advice on what to expect as far as maintenance and yield. Thanks

  • @faithandfarrahforever
    @faithandfarrahforever Před 3 lety +68

    This is one of my dreams. Hoping one day, my husband and I will be able to maintain this type of lifestyle.

  • @coeja73
    @coeja73 Před 3 lety +2

    I appreciate how honest you are

  • @Skinnymarks
    @Skinnymarks Před 3 lety +34

    I was wondering where she lived cause it looks like a lovely place. Then she said "Fraser river valley in Canada" and realized she's basically my neighbor. Lol.

    • @dragonrider1467
      @dragonrider1467 Před 3 lety +1

      That definitely explains the nuisance blackberry vines

    • @kerryaggen6346
      @kerryaggen6346 Před 2 lety

      No - I've watched a number of her videos - she's in the American Pacific Northwest, in Washington State.

  • @danielethier2015
    @danielethier2015 Před 3 lety +10

    Great content and well executed explaining all necessary measures and requirements.
    Love the colors of those chickens you displayed from your freezer...also no bleaching...oops, I didn't say that!
    Got to love the farm life!!
    Thanks for sharing
    A special thanks to those who have showed respect by not leaving negative comments....as a hunter, boy I do get my fair share of bumps in the head even though I do harvest out of respect.
    Peace to all

  • @chasbo25
    @chasbo25 Před 11 měsíci +2

    That is one very happy dog😎 I love watching these videos for the memories. We had a 120 acre family farm for 40 years in SE Wisconsin. We lived about 45 minutes away, but I spent a big portion of my life on the farm. We had 4 ponds with great fishing and the hunting was incredible. Our deer were corn fed because we leased out the land to a neighbor and he planted corn and beans. My mom's garden was huge and was always organic; we were spoiled with great veggies. She did a lot of canning too. We had horses and some years raised a couple of cows.

  • @alextodd6828
    @alextodd6828 Před 2 lety +2

    Very practical! Thanks for sharing. We're just starting up with our homestead and have two small breed pigs, two milking goats and 10 ducks. It's definitely work but we're loving that connection to the animals that goes along with caring for them. And the benifits of raising your own meat is definitely worth it. Thanks again. Best, Alex - NetZero Homestead

  • @lovechallanges1608
    @lovechallanges1608 Před 3 lety +14

    Your video is extremely helpful for me. In about 6 months or so my boyfriend and kids will be moving to a place where we will have to hunt for our food. That is extremely excited about. So any info is very helpful for people like us who have NEVER done this before.

  • @cathodion
    @cathodion Před 3 lety +8

    This video opened my eyes to the possibilities of being self-sufficient with meat too. Thanks!

  • @mokshalani8414
    @mokshalani8414 Před 2 lety

    I love how you put all the tangibles in clear methodical perspective

  • @MattHalpain
    @MattHalpain Před 3 lety

    My landlord has chickens and we live in a suburb. Very exciting and entertaining to see all your hard work with the livestock on your property and how you use them for food for your family for a year at a time.

  • @tashasmith1743
    @tashasmith1743 Před 3 lety +9

    I live near you, so it's always nice to see what you do (as far as climate and growing season). We are getting dairy goats this spring. Hoping it goes well!!

  • @keepcalmprepon
    @keepcalmprepon Před 3 lety +3

    Fantastic information, thank you! We're looking at starting with chickens this spring, probably egg layers first, through summer, then in the fall (maybe) a few meat birds to see how that goes. We don't have the acreage for larger livestock, so we order from a local rancher each year for our beef, then our CSA offers hog shares each spring and fall, our chicken currently comes from another local farmer, so it works out nicely that we have what we need that is pastured, and we get to support local farmers and ranchers!

    • @natashaalfred2645
      @natashaalfred2645 Před 3 lety

      Excellent! Not everyone can raise and butcher animals. Those who cannot do these things could support the other farmers by buying their meat, produce, vegetables, butter and cheese etc.

  • @SAINT-ANTONIO
    @SAINT-ANTONIO Před 2 lety

    Thank you Melissa K. Norris for your splendid introductive information!
    Good to know

  • @sheilapurvis6467
    @sheilapurvis6467 Před 2 lety

    I love it that you talk about protection from the weather for the livestock.

  • @DylanKurbel
    @DylanKurbel Před 2 lety +4

    Really appreciate the video. I switched to virtual work this year, and my fiancé and I have talked about homesteading for a while. We want to find a place to make a homestead in northern Wisconsin. Your advice is great help!

  • @tedduke1699
    @tedduke1699 Před 3 lety +3

    Melissa,
    I love your videos. Enjoy them all. I had to laugh at your comment about pigs getting out. I helped a neighbor and her children chase twenty pigs for a day when her husband wasn't home. That was the last year they raised pigs.
    I garden some and raise Angus cross which I sell to individuals for beef. Have five cows now, and a heifer (#6), expanding up to 10. New heifer born yesterday (that will make 7), neighbors bull visited last year.
    My experience is that a WELL-constructed hi-tensile ELECTRIC fence (110v box, not solar) will keep cattle and bulls in and a barbwire fence won't keep the neighbors bull out. He's an Angus which is what I raise so he makes good calve, but it does upset any schedule I try to maintain.
    Once cattle get used to electric they will respect the fence for short periods even if it's off. My fence along the highway is five-strand hi-tensile and no cattle have gone through it in thirty years. (25 years- solar charger until I changed due to buying a bull and less than ideal fencing in another area.
    No lobster here in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Our loss.

  • @markbrandt504
    @markbrandt504 Před 3 lety +2

    Waking up everyday to a mountain view like!!! 😍

  • @EricaD61
    @EricaD61 Před 3 lety +9

    Awesome! Thanks. I was very interested in this. I have seen large families but not average. All the animals I want. Now I know I won't need as many as I first thought.

  • @proudcanadian67
    @proudcanadian67 Před 3 lety +9

    beautiful property! good animal care :) and cost analysis. Thanks

  • @TheHandymanQld
    @TheHandymanQld Před 2 lety

    What a great spread. Love the view of the snow capped mountain.

  • @designaddict101
    @designaddict101 Před 2 lety

    Lovely tour of your amazing property and great info! Thanks

  • @guineahogbooks4715
    @guineahogbooks4715 Před 3 lety +4

    This is such an important topic, Melissa! I agree with the easily-managed temperament of the Guinea Hogs. I hope you enjoy the meat. This breed only requires a gallon of feed a day per pig. So you will care for them twice as long, but the feed requirement will be the same or less than more traditional breeds.

  • @mjollnir9075
    @mjollnir9075 Před 2 lety +19

    I grew up living subsistence like this. WE grew or raised everything we ate. Our family also went to the beach at least once or twice a year to get lots of clams and oysters. ATM, I am living in Alaska for work, and my ears perked up when you mentioned crabbing and salmon. Down in the PNW, we had salmon runs too, but crabbing, not so much. Not that we had access to, at least. Where do you live, if you do not mind saying? When I retire in a few months, I am going BACK to that lifestyle myself and taking along the family. Adding salmon to our plentiful supply of steelhead, trout, pike, and walleye is something I had planned on anyway. But, adding some fresh crab too is an attractive idea too. IF it is reasonable to do down in the PNW.

    • @slee7991
      @slee7991 Před 2 lety

      Where did you end up moving to/region?

  • @johnnylost9321
    @johnnylost9321 Před 2 lety

    So blessed to be able to have this

  • @poseidum157
    @poseidum157 Před 3 lety

    Thank you for doing this. It's a great to help visualize.

  • @sarahpyke307
    @sarahpyke307 Před 3 lety +7

    I discovered your channel a few days ago. Thanks for the great videos. I too live in western Washington. Instead of chickens, my husband and I raise Ancona ducks for eggs. They do great laying year! Thanks again!

    • @sarahpyke307
      @sarahpyke307 Před 3 lety

      @@richardfrank9317 No I haven't tried Appleyard ducks, I will look them up. I'm always interested in diversifying and trying new things!

  • @dracoarawn4002
    @dracoarawn4002 Před 3 lety +19

    Need to totally do this, sustainable living looks like an amazing lifestyle!

  • @springhollerfarm8668
    @springhollerfarm8668 Před 2 lety

    Good advice. Thank you. I will be keeping it in mind the next few months as we establish our new farm.

  • @Candy-ji1sr
    @Candy-ji1sr Před 2 lety

    Yes, be blessed by the cycle of it all when we all wake up one morning and find we are on the menu. Blessed be us.....do unto others....don't cry........you got it coming

  • @FleetwoodPatch
    @FleetwoodPatch Před 3 lety +9

    We are investing in more chickens this year. I think they are a perfect starter livestock. A lot of people won’t use them for meat, but you still get food from them for 3 to 4 years.

  • @christiancowboy352
    @christiancowboy352 Před 3 lety +8

    I grew up on a ranch, and already knew all these things. I watched to hear what she had to say, and am pretty impressed with her knowledge.

  • @ciolocaphoto
    @ciolocaphoto Před rokem

    This is beautiful beyond description.

  • @haleylister3041
    @haleylister3041 Před 3 lety

    This was so informative. Exactly what I’ve been looking for, Thankyou!

  • @justpatty7328
    @justpatty7328 Před 3 lety +3

    Love the details regarding it all- excellent!

  • @debbiepiwowarczyk9237
    @debbiepiwowarczyk9237 Před 3 lety +5

    Great information Thank you for taking the time to help us

  • @jacobschenkel1010
    @jacobschenkel1010 Před 2 lety

    wow, that was a serious download that I am sure took a lot of hard work to accumulate. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and experience.

  • @cherlopes4597
    @cherlopes4597 Před 3 lety

    Her knowledge is amazing.

  • @jerskyred4822
    @jerskyred4822 Před 3 lety +9

    I would make sure there is plenty of Wild Turkey there too.... Both the liquid kind and the meat kind.

  • @lucasvieira8357
    @lucasvieira8357 Před 3 lety +4

    here in Brazil, as tropical country, we managed to raise up to three cows per acre in the spring and summer, even more depending on supplementation.
    On the other hand, autumn and winter production falls to one cow per acre.

  • @777gotkog2
    @777gotkog2 Před 2 lety

    Wow this is a breath of fresh air

  • @anglosaxon244
    @anglosaxon244 Před 3 lety

    That was very usefull,thanks a lot Melissa for your time.

  • @DerekMurawsky
    @DerekMurawsky Před 2 lety +4

    This is a great overview/perspective! How do you process and store it all? What is your freezer setup like? And how do you keep an eye on the freezers in case one breaks?

  • @mandrake925
    @mandrake925 Před 2 lety +7

    My girlfriend and I been talking about doing this in a few years. This is an amazing video can't wait to check out the other videos. We've been thinking about 30 acres in texas

  • @justbeachy2031
    @justbeachy2031 Před 2 lety

    I feel like I should apologize because a couple of comments regarding the sweet pigs. Nothing terrible. I was hoping you would say these pigs are so sweet we decided we couldn't butcher them. You give a wealth of information on your Channel and you are obviously very experienced at taking care of Land & livestock. I don't want to be one of those people to get education from your Channel, then give an opinion when no one really asked for it. You appear to be a very nice person. Thanks for all of the insight you have to offer.

  • @emilyriley6029
    @emilyriley6029 Před rokem +1

    This is very informative and much needed, thank you. I watch just a few acres farm on CZcams and they have a much larger farm (acreage and animals) than what I know of and I have no farm animals but ample land. I am looking to have a homestead soon and this was very informative. This made me realize that I don’t have to have as large as a farm as Pete and his family

  • @boisterouscockfarmstead2217

    Good information. It always amazes me to see how eclectic our country's environments are. I am an American Guinea Hog breeder in the desert SW and raise them more like cattle. I will say that you might want to alter your AGH feed because they will have a lot of fat if you were to butcher them as they are. Good if you are looking to have lard, but if you are used to a leaner breed line a Hereford, you may be disappointed with how your cuts turn out. AGH are not great containment raised like other quick growing breeds are. They are best left to forage and rotational grazing with supplemental feed provided. If you intend to raise them in that hog panel setup, I think going back to Hereford (Duroc/Berkshire/GOS/etc...) would be the best. Thanks for sharing your operation. I wish I still lived where I could get seafood regularly. (We moved down from Alaska). God bless

    • @boisterouscockfarmstead2217
      @boisterouscockfarmstead2217 Před 3 lety +1

      @Crow Bait you definitely want some fat on prime cuts. But the is where breed plays a major roll. On a "lean pig", you can fatten them up on the outside of the muscle. (Big fat cap, but solid muscle chop). On a "lard pig" it will marble throughout the muscle AND around it. Plus, AGH is a smaller breed, so the muscle groups aren't as big either. As they say, a lid for every pot.

    • @wolfthequarrelsome504
      @wolfthequarrelsome504 Před 3 lety +1

      @Crow Bait you need fat in your diet. Fat makes you thin.

    • @teslashark
      @teslashark Před 3 lety

      Kudos for the pig science!

    • @jamiebrandon4256
      @jamiebrandon4256 Před 2 lety

      I used a Berkshire boar on my AGH girls and it is the perfect mix.

    • @boisterouscockfarmstead2217
      @boisterouscockfarmstead2217 Před 2 lety

      @@jamiebrandon4256 I have had success breeding a Duroc/bluebutt sow by my AGH boar. I plan to take a boar from that and breed it to an AGH as well and see what that produces

  • @johnwestmoreland32
    @johnwestmoreland32 Před 3 lety +32

    I would love to see your storage accommodations for a year's worth of meat and Garden yields. How much freezer space do you have and do you can your garden Yale's or freeze or a combination?

    • @johnwestmoreland32
      @johnwestmoreland32 Před 3 lety +1

      Garden yields*

    • @priestesslucy3299
      @priestesslucy3299 Před 3 lety +5

      For me personally, I try to do a lot of traditional preservation via fermentation.
      Especially the pork, there are so many different things to do with pork.
      Meat chickens are tough, there's a system that's so organized and professional for processing and storing them... And it's all freezer driven. There's absolutely something to be said for the old-school Dual Purpose approach, with a flock of birds you harvest as needed. Less storage, less hassle (especially if you have a few broody hens) and no annual investment buying in chicks...
      But they will never grow and fatten up the way a Cornish Cross will. Feed conversion rate won't be as good either, but they might make up for it with foraging.

    • @TheKraemerLife
      @TheKraemerLife Před 2 lety +1

      Looks like she put a link to that video in the description : Check out my other video on how we store a year's worth of meat here: czcams.com/video/QVkot_Xg6aI/video.html

  • @mr.perfect1er933
    @mr.perfect1er933 Před 2 lety +1

    Family of 4
    25 meat chickens for 52 weeks.
    That's less than 1 chicken meal every 7 days. I'd need more than that, personally, but seriously thanks for the perspective.
    Godspeed and Blessings to You and Yours.

    • @MissHargraves1
      @MissHargraves1 Před 2 lety

      I also was wondering about the amount of chickens. Twenty five meat chickens a year is about 1 whole chicken every 2 weeks. Just wondering how often chicken is being cooked and are the recipes designed to be light on the actual chicken?

  • @Lou.B
    @Lou.B Před 3 lety

    These videos are SUPER helpful! Thanks!!!

  • @CelticRootsFarm
    @CelticRootsFarm Před 3 lety +6

    Great info! Thanks for sharing. We raised Idaho Pasture Pigs last year and let me tell you... their temperament was amazing! Very little rooting took place... And... It was also some of the best tasting pork we’ve ever had!

  • @sjhitman16
    @sjhitman16 Před 3 lety +3

    New subscriber here! Love from Philippines 🇵🇭♥️💞

  • @willbell2339
    @willbell2339 Před 2 lety +2

    Just discovered your podcast. Thank you for your content it was very informative.
    You ma’am are a delightful lady.
    Greetings from Australia.

  • @fliprodriguez5250
    @fliprodriguez5250 Před 2 lety

    Great video. No bs. Just straight to the point.

  • @phuckyoutube5927
    @phuckyoutube5927 Před 3 lety +16

    Love how everyone tried to free range Thier chickens at some stage and they just got snatched up to the point it wasn't worth it I mean the effort was there

    • @blake9651
      @blake9651 Před 2 lety

      Literally. We have these 2 hawks that come around so much that we don’t do it anymore. Our neighbor’s free ranged theirs and stopped this year because of it.

    • @johnnewell1735
      @johnnewell1735 Před 2 lety +2

      We still free range. It helps to have dogs, of course trained to not eat the chickens! We lost one pullet two years ago to a hawk, other than that no losses. In fact our roosters have sent up the warning and our younger dog has scared off a couple of hawks in response. So far so good, and we love having the chickens out and about.

    • @Noodlepunk
      @Noodlepunk Před 2 lety

      I am going to do a chicken tractor.

  • @veronicagrave159
    @veronicagrave159 Před 3 lety +8

    Melissa, I would also be curious of how your family approaches fishing.

  • @foxhollerhomestead
    @foxhollerhomestead Před 2 lety

    Sincerely appreciate y’all!

  • @paparomesoutdoors711
    @paparomesoutdoors711 Před 2 lety +1

    Unreal video so much valuable info I was debating adding pigs to my homestead this season. You did an amazing job on this video new follower to your channel and journey. Happy New Year

  • @williamfloyd4669
    @williamfloyd4669 Před 3 lety +8

    This is the best all round video that I've seen. Thank you for sharing.

  • @kungdu
    @kungdu Před 3 lety +7

    In Laos those guneia hogs are a much better breeds for meat and temperment. My grandmother tells me she used to travel with her pig similar to those hogs for almost 60 to 100 miles on foot in the mountains to see if near by villagers would buy them. The piglets would follow mommy pig. This would be a great way to make money for her.

  • @vastinkelter1393
    @vastinkelter1393 Před 3 lety

    Pleasant experience just listening to a well thought out speech.

  • @Off-Grid
    @Off-Grid Před 3 lety

    We have wild blackberries all over the place and we make Jelly and Mead with them. We let the patches grow and then cut them down every couple years. They grow back in one seasons typically in better condition.

  • @thebarefoothomestead
    @thebarefoothomestead Před 3 lety +11

    when we raised guinea hogs last year, we got them in the fall, so they were little and not eating a crazy amount through winter and then they were butchered the next fall
    also rotating their pastures helps with feed, because they’re great at foraging

  • @shermdog6969
    @shermdog6969 Před 3 lety +29

    We're a family of 2 and we go through 50 chickens, one elk, 2 antelope and one beef. Pigs coming in the spring incase we don't get an elk.

    • @lunargentleman3750
      @lunargentleman3750 Před 3 lety +1

      How much you fucking eating a meal daaaaayyyym

    • @zxb995511
      @zxb995511 Před 3 lety +10

      That is an enormous amount of meat for 2 people.

    • @pudder68
      @pudder68 Před 3 lety +5

      @@zxb995511 not really ... 365 days a year man .. those chickens gone in 50 days lol ...

    • @brianesterly9224
      @brianesterly9224 Před 3 lety

      Trying to think of where elk and antelope both exist....

    • @priestesslucy3299
      @priestesslucy3299 Před 3 lety +1

      @@lunargentleman3750 I mean, I'm a woman (5'9, slimthic) and I eat around a pound of meat per day. I have male family members who can pound down a whole chicken by themselves for a day's food.

  • @rocwyvern1101
    @rocwyvern1101 Před 3 lety +1

    This was SUPER interesting! Subscribed!

  • @butfirsthomestead
    @butfirsthomestead Před 2 lety

    thank you sooo much🧡🧡 very informative. We love homesteading

  • @axisofpeter
    @axisofpeter Před 2 lety +4

    Awesome video. And these animals have an infinitely better life than they would on an industrial farm. I know what would happen though if I tried it: I would fall in love with the animals, become a vegetarian, and have a whole bunch of giant pets. I really enjoyed learning about the farm.

    • @kenzie0122
      @kenzie0122 Před rokem +1

      Lmao same!! I’ve raised and butchered my own hogs before but it was always so hard for me because I got attached and still feel awful to this day

    • @skipperg4436
      @skipperg4436 Před 9 měsíci

      @@kenzie0122 well, you can put yourself on starving diet and after couple of months of it you will see every farm animal as "tasty food".
      Quite literally: I see goose but I almost sense taste and smell of its delicious brown flesh and its gorgeous fat that goes so nicely with potatoes and cabbage; I see chicken but all I can think of is what kind of marinade I should use for its wings and breast, should I fry its legs (and loose chicken's fat) or should I make a bullion from it and use it for a one of large variety of different dishes and what I would do with meat (again so many options...).
      When I sleep I see dreams of me cooking different kinds of meat dishes, only to wake up at the end of the process, tired from the cooking and quite... hangry lol.
      The most funny part is its not like that with vegetables or cereals or beans despite the fact that I know how to cook them too. Nor with fruits that I have whole fridge filled with 'em.

  • @julmc4434
    @julmc4434 Před 3 lety +4

    Hey Melissa, Love your channel! On the hens laying in the winter. You can up your egg production by taking your grain and soak it in hot peppers or hot pepper juice. This warms them and causes them to lay more eggs. We usually put the grain on the wood stove and soak it over night.

  • @madonbarma2531
    @madonbarma2531 Před 3 lety +2

    Love this idea of rearing own supply of food and meat. Hope I can follow your ideas someday with the plan of rearing surplus meat.....

  • @asformeandmyhouse4463
    @asformeandmyhouse4463 Před 2 lety

    Such a beautiful rooster! Thank you so much for doing these videos!

  • @SandraSnowdenElam
    @SandraSnowdenElam Před 3 lety +15

    This is exactly the info I wanted to know about livestock. Thank you.

  • @TenerifeHorseRescue
    @TenerifeHorseRescue Před 3 lety +7

    looks like the animals are taken care of really nicely, those pigs are so cute

  • @leilaniaki344
    @leilaniaki344 Před 3 lety

    Beautiful Scenery!

  • @missouririverrats3010
    @missouririverrats3010 Před 2 lety +1

    Love the video, yet disagree with the fencing. I revamped a 750 acre farm untouched for 30 plus years. First thing we did was fence in 12 acre paddocks with 6 strand electric predator fencing. Only tied to electric in one location with 1 cyclops box with weed burner. Worked like a charm and zero maintenance. Look into it! Great job 👏

  • @engineerjay420
    @engineerjay420 Před 3 lety +3

    I have back yard chickens and love getting fresh eggs everyday and am going to do meat chickens this year. You are right they are a gateway to know where your food comes from! Thanks for sharing.