H&H: Volume 2

Highlights from Our Homestead Journey

In the spirit of gratitude, we’re incredibly thankful for the rabbit program we started this year. These little buns have brought us so much joy and given us something to look forward to during what has otherwise been a very challenging year. 2024 brought more family hardships and losses than we ever imagined, but starting a new hobby that feels like a step toward our dreams has been a huge source of positivity for us. Seeing new life emerge from such a painful year has truly been a beautiful blessing.

As of tomorrow, the little buns will be two weeks old. Their little eyes started to open for the first time on 11/22 at the 10-day mark. Here’s a picture of them as of yesterday:

But let’s talk about why we chose Creme d’Argents as our rabbit breed. I’d be lying if Teal Stone showing them off on YouTube didn’t help me make that decision (If you couldn’t tell by now— I’m a fan of her content).

But beyond that, I really wanted to raise beautiful rabbits, and their creamy silver coats and orange babies won my heart. In addition to being “pretty”, they are known for being dual-purpose for both meat and showing. We’ve never shown rabbits, but it is something we are considering.

Creme d’Argents are also a heritage breed. By raising them, we’re not only providing for our family but also helping to preserve a piece of history. Supporting a breed that’s both practical and rare felt like a really cool endeavor that we wanted to try out and that’s exactly what we did.

On top of all that, their calm temperament and manageable size make them a great choice for beginners like us. We wanted rabbits that would fit well into our suburban setup and help us learn as we grow, and the Creme d’Argents have been everything we hoped for—and more!

In the News: USDA Livestock Prices

As 2024 wraps up, livestock markets have experienced price changes throughout the year, presenting opportunities and challenges for homesteaders. Using data from the USDA’s Livestock and Meat Domestic Data, here are some key trends and their implications for small-scale farmers:

Cattle Prices:

• Nebraska steers have seen highs and lows throughout the year, peaking at $196.99 per cwt in July before softening slightly to $187.25 per cwt in October.
• Steer prices in Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico followed a similar trend, starting the year strong at $182.88 per cwt and stabilizing at $186.75 per cwt in October.

Hog Prices:

• National hog prices for barrows and gilts hovered around $64 per cwt mid-year, reflecting challenges in balancing supply and demand.

Sheep and Lamb Prices:

• Slaughter lamb prices in Texas have experienced a notable decline over the past year. In October 2023, prices averaged around $200 per cwt, but by October 2024, they had dropped to approximately $165 per cwt, reflecting a significant year-over-year decrease.

Key Takeaway:

• Rising livestock prices signal opportunities for those already raising animals, particularly in direct-to-consumer sales, where the margin can be higher. However, these increases also reflect growing input costs, such as feed and processing, which can strain budgets.
• For homesteaders, this year’s market underscores the importance of sustainability—whether through improving pasture management, growing your own feed, or focusing on efficient, dual-purpose livestock like heritage breeds. Staying informed on market trends can help you make strategic decisions that balance profitability with practicality.

What We’re Learning

This week, I came across an eye-opening YouTube video titled Why The U.S. Isn’t Growing Enough Food by CNBC. It explores a major issue in U.S. agriculture: the decline of farms producing food for human consumption.

For decades, the number of farms in the U.S. has been steadily declining, and many of those that remain are focused on growing commodities like soybeans and corn. These crops receive the majority of federal funding but are primarily used for livestock feed, processed foods, and biofuel. Additionally, they often contribute to the production of unhealthy ingredients, such as corn syrup, which can negatively impact human health.

Meanwhile, U.S. imports of fresh fruits and vegetables continue to rise, putting pressure on the few domestic farms still producing these essential foods. This reliance on imports raises questions about the resilience of our food system and the challenges faced by farmers trying to grow fruits and vegetables locally.

It’s a fascinating—and sobering—look at how policy and market forces are shaping what ends up on our plates. If you’re interested in understanding more about food systems and how they impact us all, I highly recommend giving it a watch!

Our Favorites This Week

This watering can from Amazon has been a game-changer lately. With colder weather setting in, I’ve stopped using the garden hose to fill up water and switched to this lightweight, compact, and surprisingly cute can instead. It fits nicely on my kitchen counter, making it super convenient for refilling in the kitchen. I’ve been using it to refill my Creme d’Argents’ water bowls, and one full can is just enough to refill all three bowls. It has been both practical and efficient!

This Week’s Wrap-Up

I’ve recently started something new—horseback riding! Owning a horse on our homestead has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid, and I’ve finally taken the first steps by signing up for riding lessons. My first lesson was freeing and so much fun, but I’m still unsure if it’s something I want to pursue long-term.

The lesson went great, but I can’t shake the fear of getting seriously injured. Over the past few days, I’ve been diving into statistics—a move that’s probably both the best and worst thing I could have done (But, I’m an overthinker so it was inevitable). While I know it’s a risk all riders accept, I’m still figuring out if my life goals align with taking this kind of risk and if the horse dream is something I should still pursue.

I’ll share more of my thoughts in the next edition, so stay tuned!

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