🥩 Raise Meat on a Small Homestead + How to Break Free from a Fixed Mindset

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Tuesday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Intro to Raising Meat on a Small Homestead 🥩

4. Personal Development: Shifting from a Fixed to a Growth Mindset 💗

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Stop Wasting Money on Store-Bought Produce… Grow Your Own Food Instead!

Have you ever picked up a bell pepper at the store and wondered why on earth it costs so much? Or brought home a bag of spinach only for it to wilt before you even got the chance to eat it? Yeah… same.

A few years ago, I stood in the middle of a grocery store, staring at a $6 organic tomato, wondering how the heck I got here. My grandma used to grow bushels of tomatoes for free—okay, not free, but way cheaper than what I was seeing. I knew something had to change.

So, I did what any stubborn, slightly fed-up woman would do… I started growing my own food.

Luckily, you don’t need a huge budget, fancy equipment, or endless free time to achieve that as well. What you need is a plan, the right skills, and a community to help you along the way.

That’s exactly what this month’s Gardening Basics Challenge is about.

What You’ll Learn in March:

• How to start a garden anywhere (from backyard plots to patio containers)

• The best low-maintenance, high-yield crops for beginners

• How to keep your plants alive (because we’ve all been there 🙃)

• Simple, budget-friendly soil and fertilizer tricks (no overpriced products needed)

• How to avoid common mistakes that kill your plants before they even have a chance

What You Get When You Sign Up:

1. Step-by-Step Gardening Guide – So you actually know what to do

2. Exclusive Video Tutorials – Because sometimes, you need to see it

3. Live Q&A Support – No more Googling for hours

4. A Private Community – Find your people who get why this matters

Ready to get your hands dirty (in the best way possible)? Let’s do this together.

POLL RESULTS FROM LAST TUESDAY

If you had the choice, how far off-grid would you go?

 🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 100% off-grid! No utilities, total self-sufficiency.

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Mostly off-grid (Solar power, rainwater, homegrown food)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Partially off-grid! I want backups but still rely on modern comforts.

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Grid-tied with sustainability. I garden, preserve food, and use renewables

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I prefer modern conveniences but admire the homestead lifestyle.

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on our FB page and Pinterest for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

Intro to Raising Meat on a Small Homestead 🥩

Raising meat animals on a small homestead can feel overwhelming at first, but with the right plan, it’s absolutely doable. Grocery store prices keep climbing, and knowing exactly what goes into your food gives peace of mind. The good news? Even with limited space, families can raise their own meat in a way that’s sustainable and cost-effective.

If raising meat has been on the homesteading to-do list, let me help you out!

1. Choosing the Right Meat Animals for Small Spaces

Not all animals are suited for a small homestead. The key is picking livestock that provide plenty of meat without requiring too much room or feed.

• Chickens – One of the easiest options. Meat birds (like Cornish Cross) grow quickly and can be processed in about 8 weeks. Heritage breeds take longer but have better flavor.

• Rabbits – A great choice for tight spaces. They require minimal feed, reproduce quickly, and provide lean, nutritious meat. Also, their manure is excellent for gardens.

• Quail – Small but mighty. They mature in just 6-8 weeks, need little space, and lay eggs, making them a dual-purpose option.

• Ducks – A solid alternative to chickens. They grow fast, require less maintenance, and their meat is rich in flavor.

• Pigs – Work well if there’s a bit more room. They grow fast and can be butchered within 6-8 months, providing a large amount of meat.

• Goats – Best for those wanting red meat but lacking space for a cow. Goat meat (chevon) is lean and flavorful, and goats can also provide milk.

2. Setting Up Housing and Shelter

Even small animals need proper shelter. Each type of livestock has different needs, but they all require protection from predators, harsh weather, and overcrowding.

• Chickens & Ducks – A simple coop with a secure run works well. Make sure there’s enough ventilation, nesting space, and perches.

• Rabbits – Wire hutches or colony-style setups are common. They need shade in summer and insulation in winter.

• Quail – Small cages or aviaries work best. They need dry, draft-free housing since they don’t tolerate extreme cold.

• Pigs – Sturdy fencing is crucial since pigs love to root and escape. A small shelter for shade and rain protection keeps them comfortable.

• Goats – A simple three-sided shelter works well, but strong fencing is a must since goats are known escape artists.

3. Feeding for Growth and Sustainability

Meat animals grow quickly, so proper feeding is important. While store-bought feed works, supplementing with homegrown or foraged food cuts costs and improves nutrition.

• Chickens, Ducks & Quail – High-protein feed is best for meat birds. They also enjoy kitchen scraps, garden weeds, and bugs.

• Rabbits – Thrive on hay, fresh greens, and pellets. They love garden extras like carrot tops and dandelions.

• Pigs – Can eat scraps, garden produce, and grains. Some homesteaders even grow fodder crops like turnips and pumpkins to feed them.

• Goats – Prefer brush, shrubs, and hay over grass. They also need minerals to stay healthy.

4. Managing Health and Welfare

Healthy animals produce better meat. Simple daily checks help catch issues early, and good management keeps sickness at bay.

• Keep housing clean and dry to prevent disease.

• Provide fresh water at all times. Dehydrated animals don’t grow well.

• Watch for signs of illness like weight loss, dull coats, or sluggish behavior.

• Rotate pastures (if possible) to reduce parasite problems.

5. Processing and Butchering

Processing meat at home can be intimidating, but it’s a valuable skill. If butchering seems too overwhelming, many local processors can do it for a fee.

• Chickens & Quail – Backyard processing is straightforward with sharp knives, a scalder, and a plucker (optional but helpful).

• Rabbits – Require a quick, humane dispatching method. Their meat is easy to process, and their pelts can be used for other projects.

• Pigs & Goats – Best processed with help since they’re larger animals. A good butcher will guide first-timers through the process.

6. Storing and Using Homegrown Meat

Once the meat is ready, proper storage ensures it lasts.

• Freezing is the simplest option, but a reliable freezer is a must.

• Canning is a great backup. To be specific, pressure canning makes meat shelf-stable for years.

• Smoking or curing works well for pork, giving it a longer shelf life.

Pro Tip: Having a mix of storage methods ensures a steady meat supply year-round.

7. The Benefits of Raising Meat at Home

Despite the work, home-raised meat has major benefits.

• Healthier and fresher – No preservatives, questionable ingredients, or factory-farmed conditions.

• Cost savings – After the initial setup, raising meat is cheaper than buying high-quality store-bought meat.

• Better animal welfare – Homesteaders can ensure animals are treated humanely and raised in a stress-free environment.

• Self-sufficiency – Reduces dependence on grocery stores and builds valuable skills.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Shifting from a Fixed to a Growth Mindset 💗

Life on a homestead is full of challenges. There are seasons of abundance and seasons of struggle. Some days, everything goes right, like fresh eggs, a thriving garden, and a full pantry. Other days, things fall apart such as sick animals, failed crops, and unexpected expenses. How homesteaders react to these moments depends on mindset.

A fixed mindset sees failure as a dead end, while a growth mindset views it as a lesson. One keeps people stuck, while the other pushes them forward. Here’s how to make that shift and keep moving forward.

1. See Challenges as Opportunities

Struggles happen no matter how much planning goes into a homestead. A fixed mindset makes people avoid challenges because they fear failure. A growth mindset embraces challenges as a way to improve.

• Instead of thinking, “I’ll never figure out how to grow tomatoes,” a growth mindset says, “This season didn’t go as planned. What can I change for next year?”

• A setback with livestock might feel like a failure, but it’s really a chance to learn better care, feeding, or breeding techniques.

• Every challenge holds valuable lessons. Seeing them as stepping stones instead of roadblocks makes a big difference.

2. Change the Way Failure Feels

Nobody enjoys failing. It’s frustrating, discouraging, and sometimes expensive. But failure doesn’t mean the journey is over. It’s simply part of the process.

• A fixed mindset sees failure as proof of incompetence. A growth mindset sees it as proof of effort.

• Every homesteader has had a bad batch of bread, a sickly garden, or a skill that took years to master. Failure means trying, and trying leads to progress.

• Instead of thinking, “I’m just not good at this,” reframe it as, “I’m still learning, and that’s okay.”

3. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

Perfection doesn’t exist. No homestead, garden, or home runs flawlessly all the time. A growth mindset values small wins and steady improvement instead of waiting for perfection.

• If a garden produces more this year than last year, that’s progress.

• If bread-making goes from inedible bricks to decent loaves, that’s a win.

• If a family is eating more homegrown food than they did last season, they’re moving forward.

4. Use “Yet” to Reframe Negative Thoughts

The word “yet” is powerful. It shifts a negative statement into a hopeful one.

• Instead of “I don’t know how to pressure can,” say “I don’t know how to pressure can yet.”

• Instead of “I can’t bake sourdough,” say “I can’t bake sourdough yet.”

• Instead of “I’m bad at growing herbs,” say “I haven’t figured out how to grow herbs yet.”

Adding “yet” turns a fixed mindset into a growth mindset. It reminds people that skills are built, not assigned at birth.

5. Seek Out Learning, Not Just Results

Homesteading is full of new skills like gardening, animal care, food preservation, baking, and DIY projects. A fixed mindset focuses on quick results. A growth mindset enjoys the learning process itself.

• Instead of feeling frustrated by a tough new skill, enjoy the process of getting better.

• If a batch of jam doesn’t set right, see it as an experiment instead of a failure.

• If an attempt at fermenting food goes wrong, take notes, adjust, and try again.

6. Surround Yourself with Growth-Minded People

Mindsets are contagious. People who constantly complain, make excuses, or fear failure encourage a fixed mindset. People who embrace learning, share knowledge, and support each other create an environment for growth.

• Join homesteading communities where people share both wins and mistakes.

• Follow farmers, gardeners, and homemakers who focus on problem-solving instead of perfection.

• Find a mentor who has more experience and learn from their journey.

Being around others with a growth mindset makes it easier to adopt one.

7. Turn “I Can’t” Into “How Can I?”

A fixed mindset says, “I can’t do this.” A growth mindset asks, “How can I do this?” This small shift in thinking opens up new possibilities.

• Instead of “I can’t afford a greenhouse,” ask, “How can I grow food in winter with what I have?”

• Instead of “I can’t raise meat animals,” ask, “How can I source ethical meat or partner with a local farmer?”

• Instead of “I don’t have time for homesteading,” ask, “How can I make small changes to move toward self-sufficiency?”

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

What do farmers call the unpredictable March weather?

Mudder nature at work!

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. When you softly wake up a chicken... 😂

@mylovelychicken

😅🐔 She’s cute #backyardchickens #lovelychicken #fyp #adorable #goviral #funnyvideo #animallover #sleep #wakeup #funnymoments #cute #justforfun

2. If you've never seen a chicken hopping before, you're in for a treat! 🐔

@ari.bean.things

chicken hops 🐔✨ #chicken#jump#hop#fyp#funny#wee#cute

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