Sustained

Part of living a sustainable life— a big part, actually —is your garden. Almost everyone can grow something . Maybe not everything you want (plants are picky about zones, weather, and timing), but something. You can cheat the seasons with a greenhouse, but let’s be real: they’re not always practical. What is practical, though, is building great dirt. And I mean really good soil —the kind with the right pH to grow food that feeds you back. Let’s Talk About pH (Without Making Your Eyes Glaze Over) Everyone knows about compost and fertilizer, but pH is often overlooked. Think of it as the fine-tuning knob of soil health. If your plants aren’t thriving, pH might be the sneaky culprit. Now, I’m chaos personified—so don’t worry if this all sounds too “science-y.” It took me way too many seasons to figure this out. But once I did, my garden took off. Let me save you the trouble. DIY Garden Soil Recipe (aka The Poop Method) 2024 "Tomato Tree" Here’s what you need to make ric...

It seems we need a follow-up—or three—on the bear attack … now attacks … on the homestead. We thought the horrendous discovery Friday morning was the worst it could get: everything in shambles, five of our 17 birds missing. We were very wrong. Saturday gave us a brief pause. A breath. But then Sunday morning, my husband—who never wakes me—did just that. Before I opened my eyes I said, “More dead?” He replied, “I'm afraid so.” The bear had returned. It killed seven more birds, including our awesome Australorp roo. RIP Larry. It undid all the hard work we had done the day before like it was nothing. We rounded up the five remaining hens—a three-year-old Australorp, a seven-year-old Barred Rock, and three seven-year-old Sapphire Gems. A little worse for wear, but alive. We tucked them into an unused rabbit tractor and moved them daily across the grass, locking them up at night in the carport with the young chicks inside the “Cape Cod House” (a cute little movable coop I found on Amaz...

Rabbit is actually easier to break down than chicken once you know where to cut. That’s because the shoulder isn’t attached by bone, but by tendons and ligaments—just like a deer. (This is what gives these animals their impressive reach and leaping ability!) The only real joints you need to break are the thigh/pelvis, and those snap and roll out pretty easily once you free the muscle around them. You will need: A good sharp filet knife. I like these from Rada because they hold their edge for a decent while, but they're not unaffordable so once I can no longer get a decent edge on it I can just replace them. I am thinking of giving KastKing a try to see how they go. If ya'll try them or have used them, drop me a comment and let me know what you think.  A pair of Poultry Shears. These have served us well for 2 years now. And these scissors also come in handy but I use them more for cleaning than piecing out. A good sterile cutting board is always a plus, I'm still using a w...

Here at our place, we love rabbit. When it comes to lean, healthy, and high-quality protein, rabbit truly fits the bill. Despite their unfair reputation as rodents, rabbits are actually lagomorphs—not rodents at all. Living in Appalachia, there are a few things I simply won’t eat: rodents, roadkill, and turnips.  Crispy Air-Fried Bacon-Wrapped Rabbit Recipe Last night, I was craving some bone-in, chicken-style meat to really sink my teeth into. I briefly considered breading and frying rabbit, which is delicious—but frying is messy, and I only do it maybe twice a year. So instead, I created this simple air fryer recipe that I hope y’all will enjoy as much as we did. Ingredients: 1 whole fryer rabbit (or cut pieces) Salt and pepper, to taste Garlic powder, a sprinkle Your favorite BBQ sauce (enough to brush on) 1 (12 oz) pack of bacon Instructions: Prep the Rabbit: If you’re using a whole rabbit like I did, I share how to easily break it down here . Trim...

The Stigma Around Quitting We’ve all heard the adages: “Nobody likes a quitter.” “When the going gets tough…” But sometimes, quitting is the tough and wise choice. As a society, we've come to view quitting as a personal failure—a weakness to overcome rather than a calculated decision. The truth is, not every endeavor is meant to succeed. And sometimes the most responsible thing you can do—for yourself, your animals, or your family—is to let go and walk away. Unpopular Opinion: Mercy Over Ego in Animal Rescue Here’s where some folks might click away—and that’s okay. Animal rescues serve a purpose, but at times, their efforts cross a line from compassionate to cruel. In our attempt to “save” animals at all costs, we often end up prolonging suffering rather than easing it. Take rabbits, for example. Prey animals to their core, they are wired for flight—not for prolonged recovery or adaptation. When we try to rehabilitate severely injured rabbits by outfitting them wit...

  As a rabbit keeper, one of the most delicate times is kindling — when does give birth and care for their kits. Supporting their health naturally can make a huge difference in stress levels, milk production, and overall success. One of my favorite easy remedies is raspberry leaf tea mixed with molasses , frozen into convenient ice cubes. These herbal ice cubes are: Easy to store and use on demand Great for offering pre- and post-kindling support Loved by does for their sweet taste and cooling effect in summer Rich in nutrients that promote uterine health and calmness Why Raspberry Leaf + Molasses? Raspberry Leaf : Packed with vitamins, minerals, and tannins that help tone the uterus, reduce stress, and support healthy digestion. Molasses : A natural source of iron and energy, it adds sweetness that encourages drinking, plus extra nutrients. How to Make Herbal Ice Cubes Ingredients: Fresh or dried raspberry leaves Molasses (blackstrap preferred) ...

One of the many things rabbit breeders love about rabbits is the supposed ease with which they breed — you know, like rabbits . But this reputation can be misleading. The truth is, rabbits can run into the same kindling complications as any other animal. Good Breeding Starts with Good Breeders Prevention is your best friend here. Start by breeding only does with solid breeding conformation — namely, those who aren’t “pinched in the hind.” You can assess this by flipping your doe on her back and checking her foot base. Ideally, her heels should fall wide apart, and her feet should sit perpendicular to each other. We’re breeding to improve our lines, so both bucks and does should show these traits. Age and Condition Matter Your doe shouldn’t just be old enough — she needs to be ready . Age: Large breeds like New Zealands or Californians can technically breed at 4 months, but they’re not truly sexually mature until 6–8 months. I’ve had much better long-term success starting does...

Tonight, we had one of my favorite meals. And I’ll be honest—it's not so much a favorite because it’s fancy, but because of how quickly and easily it comes together. That said... it is delicious. It’s cozy. It’s comforting. And it’s very kid-friendly—though I don’t have any of those little creatures running around here. I do try to stay a bit of a kid at heart. We're talking basketti. Oh—sorry, for the adults in the room, that would be spaghetti. Now listen, I know this method may have Italian Nonnas the world over clutching their pearls. But this recipe is all about balancing flavor with the reality of time constraints. It's not traditional, but it works . And it works fast. What You’ll Need: Four simple ingredients, tossed into your Instant Pot : 16 oz pasta of your choice 24 oz jarred pasta sauce (chunky varieties work best) 1 lb ground protein of your choice 24 oz water That’s it. Serve it up with a vegetable and maybe a loaf of crusty I...

  During the Great Depression, one humble plant helped keep people nourished—especially in urban areas where food was scarce. It wasn’t something cultivated or bought, but a wild green that showed up uninvited in empty lots, along roadsides, and between sidewalk cracks. That plant is lamb’s quarter ( Chenopodium album ), also known as wild spinach or goosefoot , named for the distinctive shape of its leaves. Where It Grows Lamb’s quarter thrives in disturbed soil —you’ll find it in hayfields, gardens, construction sites, and neglected city spaces. It’s a resilient pioneer plant that often springs up where the ground has been recently turned or left bare. Once you recognize it, you’ll see it everywhere. How to Identify Lamb’s Quarter Leaf shape: Diamond- or goosefoot-shaped (hence the nickname) Height: Can grow up to 36 inches tall Leaf texture: Young leaves often have a pale, powdery coating (a natural wax) that rinses off easily Growth pattern: Upright...

So the big day arrived. In the midst of dealing with a very aggressive bear (read: feathered-massacre-level aggressive), we made the drive—30 miles one way—to pick up our new Muscovy ducklings. For context: said bear wrecked nearly our entire chicken flock, destroyed our fencing, and turned our coop into modern art. It’s been a week. But back to the ducklings. I’m incredibly lucky to have connected with a fellow homesteader who shares my obsession— ahem, I mean, passion—for these quirky birds. This is my second duck purchase from him. (And if you happen to be in Southwest Virginia and want well-bred Muscovies that haven’t been overly domesticated into little feathered golden retrievers, drop me a note. I’ll hook you up.) We had perfect weather for the drive, which took us straight through the town my parents moved to when I was nine, when we first came to Virginia from Iowa. I hadn’t visited in years. So I took my husband on a little memory tour. We even stopped by the same resta...

Our Muscovy Duck Journey: From Trio to Flock Expansion Almost exactly one year ago, we made the decision to add Muscovy ducks to our homestead. After doing extensive research, I felt confident that these ducks would be a perfect fit for our farm. Muscovies are quiet, personable, incredible foragers and parents, excellent at rodent control, and, on the sustainability side, they’re gentle on your lawn and garden (unlike chickens... I'm looking at you, Larry! Insert photo ). And if that’s not enough, their dark meat is more like steak or venison than traditional fowl. So, we set off to find a trio—a drake and two hens—and took a long drive to pick them up. Muscovy Ducks and Chickens: A Good Fit? We were told that Muscovies could be housed with chickens, and while this setup worked for the first 10 months, it wasn’t quite ideal. We built a separate pen with a net over top and a dedicated house just for the ducks. Despite this, they eventually abandoned their designated space and decide...

Sometimes this homesteading life is hard— really hard. It can be unpleasant, heartbreaking, and full of loss. I’ve been fortunate in many ways, but I won’t chalk it all up to luck. I take serious precautions to protect my animals: a large livestock guardian dog (LGD), strong fencing, motion-sensor lights, zero feed left out overnight, and a 12-gauge shotgun by the back door. But even with every safeguard in place, things can still go wrong. The Visitor: A Yearling Bear Last night, a young black bear paid us a visit—likely a yearling, based on the tracks he left behind. In hindsight, my LGD Orsa had been trying to warn me for over a week. She's often vocal, especially with stray cats visiting after dark, so I’d dismissed it. The trail cam picked up a fox the night before, which I assumed was the source of her unease. But I should have listened more closely. Her intense focus and barking toward the woods south and west of the house were more than her usual reaction to a fox. ...

The Things I Heard in the Woods Life in Appalachia has its mysteries. I live in Appalachia—where the forests are deep, older than time itself, and dense with lore. Myths like the Mothman, the cryptids, and the moon-faced people linger in the shadows, whispered from one generation to the next. Most of these stories exist, I think, to keep folks respectful of the dark. As for me? I'm an inside-at-night sort of gal. Not because of ghosts—because of bugs . I like to see the buzzy thing coming at me so I can duck. Still, this time of year we keep the windows open. Last night, just as I was getting ready for bed, something made me stop cold. A sound drifted down from the tall poplars at the edge of our yard: Who-who-wh-wh-whooo? Alright, fine. Our resident barred owl. Nothing unusual. But then—out of nowhere—came a blood-chilling cackle . A laugh. Holy hoots, Batman. Had macaques taken over Appalachia? I kept listening, hoping for something normal to follow. Instead, the calls ...