As I sit here and nibble the chocolate chips out of my homemade banana ice cream, I can't help but think about all the wonderful things in the world. It is, after all, Sunday afternoon. And the sun is shining through the jungle outside, slowly warming my core temperature up (which is currently about 15 degrees from eating so much said ice cream).
Point being = it's a sweet moment.
I'm slowly getting better at savoring the sweet moments, as it seems all too often the Lord allows uncomfortable circumstances to come into our lives. But those moments, those sweet moments, when all is calm and wonderful – those are to be savored.
Notice I didn't say all is ‘clean' or all is ‘organized'. Oh no. The house is filthy, dishes are stacked in the sink, I'm out of grocery money for the month with no clue as to what I'm going to make for the next ten days of dinner.
But such is life. And regardless, it's still a sweet moment.
I've been allowing my mind to daydream the past few days – a trail of these sweet moments when I feel passionate and inspired. I've let it wander to….wait for it….wait for it…
Our homestead.
I know. Shocker, right?
I can feel it – a new season is upon us, and it's time to get serious about this homesteading business. I am trusting that the Lord will make straight the path before us so that our adventure can finally hit full-force.
Chickens, for fresh eggs daily.
Goats, for their delicious raw milk.
Bees, for their sweet honey.
Rabbits, for their meat.
Worms, for their incredible compost.
A vineyard, for grapes.
A garden, for vegetables.
Fruit trees, for…well, ya know. Fruit.
It's a mindset of resourcefulness and appreciation. A slower pace that pairs enjoyment with hard work.
A time where clothes will make their way out to dry on the clothesline.
A time when supper will come almost entirely from the soil of our land and the work of our hands.
A time when flowers will bloom.
And tea will be sipped.
And fellowship will be enjoyed over a day of harvesting.
A time when Georgia will begin carrying a bucket of eggs up from the coop.
And a time when the morning routine will include milking, be it rain, snow, or shine.
Ultimately, my friends, a time is upon us where we will get to witness first-hand the glory of God that is present in this incredible created world.
Perhaps it's just the way I've been designed as a daughter of Adam, longing so desperately to be close with the earth, with it's animals, with it's ability to produce such wonderful things. As cliche as it sounds, I've discovered the movement of life on the farm to be incredibly harmonious.
Harsh. But harmonious.
I know that farm life isn't for everyone. And truth be told, I'm sure there will be many a day when I'd rather roll over and fade back to sleep in a warm blanket than head out into the cold air with a milk bucket. In fact, I know there will be those times – I spent many frigid winter mornings in college feeding cattle and horses. Peeling myself away from the Memory Foam was torture.
But I love the work. The dirt. The rewards.
I can really tell it's time to begin this part of our lives and I'm so excited! So until the day when it will all begin (and soon enough it will), I'll read through great resources such as this, and this, and this and soak up and learn as much as I can.
I shutter to think of a day when I cease to learn and grow.
Someday, by the grace of God, I'll be able to milk a goat like it ain't no thang.
So what if I don't know how yet!
It's a process…a journey…
…and a beautiful one at that.
What's YOUR favorite part about farm life?
Patrica Harris
So what exactly is homesteading? My husband seems to think it’s called squatting? I have read that you are renting where you are & there was also talk about the lease being up & you’re having to move?
Megan @ Restoring the Roost
You will not regret it- we LOVE homesteading! We’ve had chickens now for about 3 years, and we just got turkeys to raise for meat. We also have a pretty large vegetable garden and it is SO rewarding to reap the fruits of your own labor and then to preserve the harvest even further (via canning or freezing). Our friends nearby give us honey from their bees all the time although we are hoping to start beekeeping too. My next big wish is to get a couple of Dexter cows for dairy but we will need some more land 🙂
Abby Jo
Homesteading on a farm is all about food to me! I get excited that we are growing
MomTo5Rats
While I was planting fruit trees with my hubby yesterday, I looked up and realized we have been blessed with so much. 13 years ago we asked the Lord for some property…some day… Here we are, today – 5 acres, 2 cows, 48 chickens, 1 dog, 2 cats, and 5 kids later. And btw, those early morning milkings are tough. (Especially with a little one keeping you up at night!) I didn’t know a thing about milking until the day Daisy ended up in my barn. You learn quickly! Thanks for sharing your dream.
tmr 91acres
Wonderful thoughts. I too have learned to slow down and savor the sweet times. It’s funny how many of those times there really are – I’ve just never slowed down enough to enjoy or even notice them. Troubles come and go, but I am so blessed!
~Taylor-Made Ranch~
Wolfe City, Texas
http://www.taylormaderanch.com/blog
Melissa
We love having our small farm with our huge vegetable CSA garden and our rabbits, honey bees, pigs, chickens, donkeys, ducks and more. We have raw goat and cow milk in half-gallon mason jars in the fridge (from our homesteading friends) and hope to have our own cow by the end of the year. We have our own bamboo jungle and use the bamboo for everything! I think my favorite part is our complete and total reliance and trust in The Lord to provide for EVERYTHING! Nothing grows apart from Him we love it. Despite our HUGE dreams and crazy hopes, we’ve seen some incredible miracles and daily little blessings unfold continuously! I am always encouraged to read of your adventures as well. 🙂
Rebekah
Ideas for bamboo, please?! We just doubled our chickens (24 now) and our daughter (age 6) will be getting a dozen fertile eggs for our eternally-broody hen. We get our pig next month and my husband has a mess of bee-keeping hive-building on my living room floor. Planning a new style of gardening this year..back to eden. So exciting! Our chickens run in/around the bamboo forest but wondering what we could use it for, if our landlord allows. Thanks!
Melissa
We use it for trellissing EVERYTHING in the garden. We also made a mobile chicken tractor with bamboo and the best thing yet is our bamboo and billboard tarp pick-up shed. It’s almost like a yurt. Shaye used bamboo some for curtain rods that turned out super cute as well. There is one photo on this blog of a piece of the shed and another blog has the chicken coop prototype. 🙂 http://www.urbannafarm.com/?p=2008
Roxana Dora
It’s funny how when I was little my grandmother used to tell me that I should really watch her and learn how she kills-cuts and cleans the chicken, because someday I’ll have to as well. And I used to laugh thinking now-a-days the chicken you *buy* are already dead, cut up and cleaned. I never imagined that so many years into the future I would actually be dreaming of a time when I have my own farm, where I can have my own chicken (or ducks not sure yet) haha! Nice one, grandma!
But yes, I too dream of the harsh harmony that is to be found in living so close to Mother Earth.
Magi- www.halfacreheaven.com
My favorite part of farming is watching my little farmers charge ahead with no fear regarding dirt, animals and poop. I just love how unflinching they are! Next favorite is the rare occasion when we can have a meal entirely from home grown food. So gratifying!