It became clear to us we needed to raise animals to achieve food independence. This meant not having to go to the grocery store, rely on supply chains for meat, or worry about ransom-ware attacks and e-coli contaminations disrupting the availability of meat to the consumer. This also meant not having to support meat factories.

In the previous post, I described the ways K and I are creating a sustainable home.  A large part of our sustainable solution is working towards food-independence. This requires research on how to find quality animals, why to have the animals, animal husbandry, sheltering, fencing, and other security measures to protect from predators and the elements, along with a whole host of other things. 

We also had to choose which animals we wanted to eat, milk, and have running around.  I knew I wanted goat milk for various projects.  K knew he wanted lamb for meat.  Both of us wanted chickens for eggs and meat. Neither of us wanted cows for many reasons including their feed and water requirements, impacts on the climate, and the large amount of meat from a single animal.  So we bought goats, sheep, and chickens. 

It’s been quite the journey of discovery. 

We found our chickens doubled in number in two years– ah chicken math. We process our meat chickens and collect eggs throughout the year. We butcher our goats and sheep to keep the herd close to its original size and to work towards a freezer full of meat and a pantry full of canned meat.  We also occasionally hunt for a few rabbits for variety in our meat. 

With a plethora of headlines on contaminated meat and produce and the instability of the food-distribution infrastructure, it’s good to know what we’re eating.  This aspect of our sustainable living has been important in bringing us peace-of-mind, especially during the pandemic.  Clinical depression and anxiety have been constant companions in my life.  An unexpected side benefit of this lifestyle is the role these animals play in boosting my mental health. It’s hard to stay depressed and anxious while bottle-feeding and holding a baby goat! It takes all my concentration and gets me out of my own head.

Next blog post: Growing vegetables for food-independence