Homestead Meat Processing

Today was butcher day on the homestead. We processed ten animals; six cows and four pigs.

This isn't an unusual sight here on our little piece of heaven, but this time, the kids wanted to watch. We are very open and honest about the whole process with our children and always have been. They are fully aware of how things are done and why they are done the way they are. But today, they wanted to watch. All of it. From start to finish. My mama heart didn't want them to lose that bit of innocence that our children have. That piece of their heart that is disconnected. Where they can separate themselves from the loss. The heartbreak of an animal leaving our homestead for its journey to our freezers.'

We have a lot of animals for your typical homestead. Generally a homestead will have one or two cows, maybe a pig and a handful of chickens. Each are purchased in the spring, fed through the fall and then processed to sustain the family's needs for the coming year. Not here on our homestead. We breed and raise our own herds. We have the space for it with over 100 acres. Even though we have almost 60 head of cattle, 15 pigs and around 75 chickens, they are handled with love. Our children will play with the pigs, even take naps in the fields with them. Hand feed the cattle and raise calves. We know every single one of them as individuals, as their family units and as the herd. Our chickens follow us around, love to be held and give us some of the most delicious eggs every morning. Baby goats even hang out in the house, snuggling on the sofa with Granny and the dogs.

This is why we are a homestead. This is our home and theirs. We are not a ranch where the animals are just a number. We know their personalities and what they do and do not like. We are connected to them and they are given as much love and respect as any other being that steps through our gates.

So this is why I have guarded the hearts of our children. Today, that changed. They were so excited to be a part of the process. To watch and learn. To ask questions and to experience the gift that we are given with each harvest of our animals. The animals provided to us by God who sustains us.

The excitement for knowledge was so great with each of the children. As elementary and middle school ages, they each have a different appreciation for what they were witnessing. Even though they know that twice a year, our friends who have been with us throughout the year, will leave us, they still grow attached to them. Our children have so much contact with every aspect of our daily life, that forming bonds with them is hard to avoid.

Today, my heart broke as their little hearts ached. Through the excitement of the process, through eager eyes, broad smiles and intense focus, tears streamed down their cheeks. They asked so many questions about the process and how it worked and why it worked the way it does. About the skill it involves and the work it takes to become so skilled.

For us, being fully aware of where our food comes from and how it actually makes it to our dinner plates is a very important thing to teach and to learn. There is no magic fairy that waves her wand to make that package of meat appear in the grocery cooler. A lot of hard work and sacrifice goes into every meal we make.Beyond this, we are so thankful that we are able to raise these animals in such a way that provides them the best life possible and provide for our family. Through this, we are able to bless other families with pure, healthy meat that will sustain their families throughout the year. There is nothing greater than that!

All the glory to God!