The Homestead freezers are looking pretty empty. As the stockpile dwindles, meals become more creative and less meat based; the chilli is equal parts mince and lentils, the bones of the last roast are picked clean for curry over rice that, the following night, is served up again in pastry. It’s a good time to give the freezers a defrost and wipe down, discovering that very last lamb shank and gathering together those frozen-golfball tomatoes that always manage to escape the sauce collection bag.
Today the flock got to gorge themselves in the old duck pen. Tomorrow they’ll be coaxed out by the rattling food bucket and the gate closed again until Wednesday. That’s when Pete from Malvern Homekill is turning up and four of our flock will go back into the old duck pen for the last time.
It never gets easier, I always cry, but it’s how we chose to live.
Union Homestead 
Everyone has to choose how far up the food chain they want to eat. At our house, where we eat most of the time, we are strictly plant based. Occasionally, when I go out, I’ll eat clams or shrimp. But only very occasionally and no higher.
I agree totally: life is all about mindful choices and I very much respect yours.
You are definitely winning when it comes to food miles. 🙂
It’s a bit of a dream come true for us to be able to produce so much of our own food
We would like to produce more of the vegetables and fruit that we eat, but it is just a dream. 🙂
I think you’re doing your bit….beans, potatoes, courgettes…
Home kill seems way preferable to being loaded onto a truck and taken to a commercial abattoir – much less stress for the animal.
Our paddocks now have only one animal born off-Homestead: Marilyn the goat so they live a very easy, pampered life.