Rabbit Hutch Design

Based of the awesome Rabbit Hutch I saw on Youtube! It's designed for four individual rabbits, three Does and a Buck, or whatever configuration is needed... The two cages on top have pans under where the mesh floor is to catch poop and urine. Though it'd be easy enough to put toilet trays in there if the rabbits are potty-trained.

I used Google Sketchup to draw these! I'm rather proud of  them.

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I fully plan on building one or two of these units, as well as at least one large Rabbit Tractor to use as a grow-out pen for the bunnies. I also want to build alternative housing for the rabbits inside a small barn or large shed for when the weather gets extreme in the winter.

Rabbits!

Well I guess it's about time for me to write about Rabbits....

                                                                New Zealand Whites



Why rabbits?

Because they're amazingly versatile, and a perfect addition to the homestead. They're relatively easy to keep, their poop is amazing natural fertilizer, they're fairly good as "pets", they reproduce quickly, they're robust with few diseases, and of course you can ultimately eat them.

I can hear the gasps now...

Especially from people in North America who recoil at the thought of wrapping poor little "Thumper" in bacon, and cooking him like a roasting chicken. But the truth of it is, rabbits originally were domesticated to be raised food, and for fur. Not pets (that came later).

Much of the "old world" still consumes a fair amount of rabbit. And in truth, rabbit is better for you. It has more protein than any other animal-based food source, and it has almost no fat or cholesterol. It's texture is identical to chicken, thus rabbit can be substituted in pretty much any recipe that calls for chicken. Domestic rabbit has a very mild flavor, not "gamey" at all, and is pretty much entirely "white meat" (like Duck is entirely "dark meat"). Because domestic rabbits are often fed a diet of commercial pellets, fresh greens and vegetables, garden weeds, etc, and don't have to "work" to get it, they are "fatty" compared to their wild cousins. So the famed "rabbit starvation" is not a concern if you're producing rabbits for consumption on your homestead.

Now, what about breeds?

Well, there are quite a few "Meat breeds". Californian rabbits. New Zealand Whites, Reds, etc. Standard Rex rabbits. Silver Fox rabbits. American Chinchilla rabbits. And Champagne d'Argent, among a few others. Generally, they're rabbits that can weigh up to12 pounds.


There are three breeds which I plan on breeding once I have the space...

                                   New Zealand (Reds, Broken Reds, and Blues) Rabbits.

                                                           American Silver Fox Rabbits.

                                                       American Chinchilla Rabbits.



All are great meat producers, and have beautiful fur. There's also a possibility that if I can find them, I may try out Standard Rex rabbits as well. (Mini Rex pet rabbits are far more common due to their pet popularity, but they are far too small to be meat producers.)


Why? Why raise rabbits for food?

Because ultimately... in this day and age, full of toxins, excessive antibiotics, and inhumane factory farming practices. Wouldn't you prefer knowing how your food was raised and treated while it was alive? With compassion and respect, instead of fear and abuse. What it ate, what it drank, and how it was housed. Think about it.

I sure would. And that's why I plan on raising my own rabbits, along with other homestead livestock.

Indoor Garden Update -Squash and Watermelons!

To tell you the truth, I wasn't sure how well this experiment would go... But so far, so good! Just look at the little watermelon that's growing in my window! Actually, the plant has produced a number of them now and is almost always covered in flowers.

And yes, even the Butternut Squash is doing relatively well. Though so far no fruit has been produced. Frankly, I'm just happy to see that the plants haven't just withered away to nothing. They're actually doing really well! So time will tell whether or not any of them produce. Regardless, it thrills me to see plants you'd think of as outdoor-only, actually doing well indoors.

Eventually this knowledge will come in handy when I either build a four-season greenhouse, or find another way to grow plants over the winter (grow lights and large pots perhaps?).


I think it's an important thing to learn....especially now given how bad food prices are getting.

The Hunt for Land...

Recently I started "browsing" through the "Land for Sale" ads. Just to see what's out there. There's a really wide variety of land here. A variety of soil types, trees, and micro-climates. Something to suit pretty much anyone! There are tons of books and online articles on the subject, and I'd recommend anyone thinking of investing in land, to start doing some serious reading!

So, what do you do when you're looking for land to live on? I guess it depends on your end goals... a Cottage get away, a Bug Out Location, a Hobby farm or Homestead. In my case, I have a rather particular Wish List.

1. Water. There's got to be easily accessible sources of water. A creek, a river, a pond or small lake. Wells are great, but Wells can run dry. Having another source of water as a backup is important. Especially if you have animals to worry about, as well as yourself.

2. Size. For me, anything smaller than 10 acres is not big enough. 50 would be ideal, but I'm willing to go smaller if I have to. Why? I need the buffer between me and neighboring properties for privacy. So raising animals isn't an issue among other things. Nobody wants to have to deal with neighbors complaining about the sounds and smells your animals make on a daily basis. And frankly, I don't need to have people watch me go about my life. I've had enough of that growing up in the city where everyone's in your business no matter what.

3.Not Visible From/Near a major Highway. Very important to me is not to have the property right off of a highway that gets a lot of traffic. Firstly, for safety of my animals and myself from fast moving vehicles. Secondly, security from Trespassers. Thirdly, noise. I mean, c'mon... you move to the country for peace and quiet, not to listen to the constant "Vrrroommm~whoosh" of trucks and cars blowing by at all hours. Not to mention the annoying flash of headlights in your windows all night long.

4. Varied Topography. I'd like to have a piece of property that's got a little of everything. A nice amount of mature trees, either actual forest or a large woodlot or two. With a nice mix of softwoods and hardwoods throughout. Open areas, either natural meadows or cleared areas that have been allowed to go fallow for a long while. And something that's a little bit rolling and not completely flat.

5.Full Ownership, of Timber Rights/Mineral Rights. Including NO Right-of-Ways or Hydro/Gas/Roadway Easements.  I do not want to buy land unless I get everything on it. Period. I don't want Big Brother suddenly showing up and clear-cutting my land or telling me I have no rights to the trees on my property. Or turning it into a giant hole if they suddenly decide there's some kind of metal or mineral under it they want. Or cutting huge lines through it to put down gas pipelines, hydro towers, or god forbid a road.

My ideal piece of land would be something10 acres or larger, near a four-season Town, but not IN it. Where I have access to main roadways but not next to or within sight of it. It would have a small creek or river, running into a small pond or lake with fish in it, and a mix of forest/woodlots and meadows/open areas where goat pasture and gardens could be put in without having to cut down too many trees. It would also have a rise or ridge, where the cabin could be built overlooking the area. And as a bonus, some pre-existing architecture would be nice too... like a small barn, sheds, small greenhouse, or even a travel-tailor/camper would be nice.

Now, if I could just find something like that, that doesn't cost so much it'd take the next 20 years to save up for it... that would be nice. *laughs*

Indoor Garden Update

Wow, it's been a while since I was able to update this blog.

Well, so far the Autumn crop of Lettuce I planted is doing well. As are the green Onions I started.

But most surprisingly, it's the Watermelon and Butternut Squash that are doing really well! The Watermelon in particular has been absolutely covered in flowers (both male and female).

I really wasn't sure how the Butternut Squash would behave when grown indoors, but so far I've been pleasantly surprised. I had a brief scare with spider-mites but cutting off the effected leaves right away seems to have solved the issue. The oldest of the vines is covered in flower-buds, including a pretty obvious Female (the swelling under the bud itself looks like a squash in super-miniature!). It's fascinating watching how things are progressing...

Things here have been crazy busy the last month, so unfortunately I haven't been able to photograph the plants, but I will try to get a few shots in the next week or so to share.


Here's hoping things continue to do well!

Makin' a Living while Living the Dream.

Many friends and family members of mine have asked me, if and when I make the big move to a more rural life, how I'm going to make money... Which is a valid concern even when you plan to live off grid and mortgage free.

There will still be the need to buy animal feed; like rabbit food and hay for goats/chickens, dog food, etc. Not to mention vet bills. There's also the costs of maintaining tools and the house itself.

Let's face it, you can't make or grow everything you'll need on the homestead. There will be times where you have to spend money. So you need ways to make money.

So, how do you make money without having to go off and rejoin the rat race?

Well, for me it's more straightforward than with some people.  I don't really have to invent a business or move out of my current career path. I'm not an office worker, or in some specialized field dependent on the urban lifestyle.

Firstly, I'm an Artist.
I paint, draw, sculpt, and also craft. I plan on having a studio space in the cabin OR something built separately as a studio, and to sell through both an internet-based business as well as locally via a gallery or craft fairs. I also make "stick/rustic furniture"!

Secondly, I'm also a Dog Groomer.
A portable, flexible job, that I can do pretty much anywhere. It'd be pretty easy for me to convert a large shed into a grooming "studio" (I could work in a space as small as 10'x12'), and it would be pretty straight-forward to attract work from people who flood "cottage country" from spring through autumn. And if my land happens to be near a town with a good four-season population, all the better.

I also plan to make soap and cheese from my goat's milk (selling the occasional goat kid too naturally), and perhaps sell some of my excess meat rabbits from time to time. And there's always the possibility of selling fresh chicken eggs depending on how many hens I end up with.

Ultimately, I should be able to do alright being self-employed. Given the biggest bills will probably just be for wireless internet and phone services. (And perhaps the hydro required for my grooming "shed" IF it requires more hydro than I can provide via solar/wind/generator).

This is all fluid of course. We can't be putting the cart before the horse after all!  It'll be a few years before I'm in a position to have to seriously consider what I'll do for money. I need to buy my land first! And build the cabin AND drill the well. Then we'll see what's what. ;)

Goats!

I've been considering what Goats I'd like to get when I get my land and am all settled in. Given that I'd need hardy animals, able to handle cold winters and warm summers (that seem to be getting warmer!).

I think I've narrowed it down to the following:

-Alpine /French-Alpine.
-Hardy, erect ears, nice coat patterns, good milk production, easy kidders and good mothers who often have twins or triplets. Moderate size (130-170lbs).

-LaMancha.
-Hardy, nice coat patterns, interesting appearance with very small ears, are supposedly very friendly with people. Moderate size (130-160lbs).

-Nigerian Dwarf.

-Not a true "dwarf", but a small goat from Africa. Can be used to produce "minis" by crossing Nigerian Bucks to other types of Does (never the other way around).
-High butter fat content to the milk, erect ears, nice variety of coat patterns, small size (average 75lbs), easy kidders and natural mothers, friendly.

 I do also like Kiko goats for their hardiness, ease of care, and resistance to disease and parasites. They're also a bit smaller in size. I have seen some nice Kiko x's that make good dual purpose animals,  giving good milk and meaty carcasses. Having one in the herd would be interesting!


I can't wait to get my property so I can start actually posting about MY animals and how I raise 'em!