Post by kasha on Sept 24, 2020 9:54:45 GMT -5
We've had cows for about the last seven years. Goats for a few years before that. It was my dream and this forum was a huge part in helping me understand what I was getting into and how to overcome the hurdles along the way.
Overall, it's been an awesome experience! I loved raising my four children on a farm and knowing they were strong and healthy because of all the good food they got to eat.
My dh and dc appreciate the good milk and food, but maybe not quite as much as I expected they would. Not enough to make it a priority in their own lives.
I have done 90% of the milking and have counted on the dc to do many other chores over the years. I've counted on my dh to do the building projects and help me get hay each year. And all hands on deck when the animals get out!
My body has suffered with the hard work and heavy lifting even with all the help. I had a pelvic floor injury that took a good year of pt to overcome. My back has recurring injuries and pain.
My dc are now 21,19,17,15. The oldest one has graduated college and wants to live a minimalist van life as soon as he can scrape enough cash together to buy a van. My 19 yr old got married this summer and will be graduating college by Christmas. They have big plans that don't involve animals or farm life (and she was my biggest helper and lover of animals !😊). My ds 17 will graduate this spring with an associate's degree in exercise science. He willingly helps when he can but his life is busy and he has big plans! My dd 15 will be with us for awhile but she hates all things farm! She is looking forward to getting her driver's licence so she can finally get a "real" job, go to college and get her own apartment asap 😂. I love seeing my kids personalities and dreams emerge. I don't begrudge them a bit. But I can't do all the animal work on my own! My dh works a full time physical construction job and frankly is burned out with all the extras!
So, that's why we're cutting back and making changes. Trying to simplify ours lives until some of the weariness leaves and zest returns.
I still have my garden and orchard and lawn and flower beds. I can let the pasture rest for a time and brush hog it when needed. We can go on some weekend camping trips and getaways again. We can look forward to grandbabies and being available to our children. We can buy fresh raw milk next door from our neighbor's dairy! Maybe down the road we'll raise a couple steers again to fill our freezer or have a handful of hens. I don't know, but a break is needed.
Yesterday I sold my milking system. Today the mobile butcher came for our last cow and steer. It's been bittersweet, remembering all the good memories, knowing things will never go back to how they were but also feeling some relief about moving forward. I'm so thankful I scheduled the butcher date months ago when we first decided to move this direction. Our butcher said they are scheduled a year out at this point!
Thank you for reading if you made it to this point! And thank you all for your input and encouragement to me over the years! You're an awesome group! 💪
Overall, it's been an awesome experience! I loved raising my four children on a farm and knowing they were strong and healthy because of all the good food they got to eat.
My dh and dc appreciate the good milk and food, but maybe not quite as much as I expected they would. Not enough to make it a priority in their own lives.
I have done 90% of the milking and have counted on the dc to do many other chores over the years. I've counted on my dh to do the building projects and help me get hay each year. And all hands on deck when the animals get out!
My body has suffered with the hard work and heavy lifting even with all the help. I had a pelvic floor injury that took a good year of pt to overcome. My back has recurring injuries and pain.
My dc are now 21,19,17,15. The oldest one has graduated college and wants to live a minimalist van life as soon as he can scrape enough cash together to buy a van. My 19 yr old got married this summer and will be graduating college by Christmas. They have big plans that don't involve animals or farm life (and she was my biggest helper and lover of animals !😊). My ds 17 will graduate this spring with an associate's degree in exercise science. He willingly helps when he can but his life is busy and he has big plans! My dd 15 will be with us for awhile but she hates all things farm! She is looking forward to getting her driver's licence so she can finally get a "real" job, go to college and get her own apartment asap 😂. I love seeing my kids personalities and dreams emerge. I don't begrudge them a bit. But I can't do all the animal work on my own! My dh works a full time physical construction job and frankly is burned out with all the extras!
So, that's why we're cutting back and making changes. Trying to simplify ours lives until some of the weariness leaves and zest returns.
I still have my garden and orchard and lawn and flower beds. I can let the pasture rest for a time and brush hog it when needed. We can go on some weekend camping trips and getaways again. We can look forward to grandbabies and being available to our children. We can buy fresh raw milk next door from our neighbor's dairy! Maybe down the road we'll raise a couple steers again to fill our freezer or have a handful of hens. I don't know, but a break is needed.
Yesterday I sold my milking system. Today the mobile butcher came for our last cow and steer. It's been bittersweet, remembering all the good memories, knowing things will never go back to how they were but also feeling some relief about moving forward. I'm so thankful I scheduled the butcher date months ago when we first decided to move this direction. Our butcher said they are scheduled a year out at this point!
Thank you for reading if you made it to this point! And thank you all for your input and encouragement to me over the years! You're an awesome group! 💪