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5 Meals or More With 1 Pasture-Raised Chicken

09.22.2022 by Raelene Bradley // Leave a Comment

Before we started raising our own heritage breed chicken on fresh air, local non-GMO grains, lots of sunshine, and green pasture, it would take 2-3 birds to feed our crew.

Now though? Now we can stretch one bird into 5 or more meals. No skimping. No joking.

Here’s how we do it:

  • Meal 1: Roast Chicken

We process all of our birds right here on the farm. Every day is a good day for these birds and they live the best chicken life. And after processing hundreds and hundreds of birds and training many many family, friends, acquaintances, neighbors, students, and like-minded folks of all ages (even the youngest kids have a job), we’ve honed the process to be as quiet, efficient, and honorable as possible. We package every bird whole – it’s simple, efficient, and is the most versatile. Any kind of meal is possible with a whole bird.

Because of that, in our family, we most often eat chicken as a whole roast chicken. No one complains because it’s amazing and delicious and so simple to put together.

Rub the chicken all over inside and out with salt (I probably use about 1-2 tablespoons). Cut an onion and lemon in half and stuff into the cavity. Add fresh (or dried) rosemary and sage if you’ve got them. Roast at 350* until the temperature in the thigh registers 165* (usually right around an hour).

Serve with, well, anything: fresh or frozen vegetables, a robust green salad, roast or mashed potatoes.

  • Meal 2: Chicken Tacos

There’s something about a homegrown pasture-raised chicken. A little goes a long way and even though we’ve got a crew of 5 growing kids, we still have leftovers. These almost always get turned into chicken tacos. Because tacos.

Chop 2 cups leftover chicken. Combine in a saucepan with 1/2 pint salsa verde. Warm. Serve over toasted tortillas with all your favorite toppings. Ours include a cilantro cabbage slaw, cojita or other cheese, avocado, diced red onion and more salsa verde.

  • Meal 3: Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Even after feeding our crew two whole meals, there’s still more chicken to go around. The last 1-2 cups of leftover meat gets chopped and tossed into soup (in my opinion, soup is the best way to stretch a small amount of meat into a robust meal to feed a crew our size). One of our favorite soups is Chicken Pot Pie Soup – all the warm thick comforting goodness of chicken pot pie without the time of adding a pie crust. My kids love it so much that it’s become a regular birthday dinner request.

I’ll use chicken stock I’ve preserved from a previous roast chicken, plus vegetables from our garden, and milk and butter from our cows. It’s hearty and filling and perfect comfort food for chilly days.

  • Meals 4-8: Bone broth/stock

Now that all the meat has been repurposed into other meals, we’re left with the carcass and bones. I add these to a large stockpot with whatever vegetable scraps I have on hand. I always include celery, carrot, onion, garlic, and 6-8 peppercorns. I also like to add parsley, rosemary, or sage. I let this simmer on the stove for 12-24 hours. Not boiling, mind you – it’s best to not let it boil. Keep it low and let it simmer for a long long time to extract all the goodness from those pasture-enriched bones.

In my stockpot, one chicken carcass will make 7-8 quarts of stock. I’ll make a pot of soup right away with the fresh stock – often something like Broccoli Cheddar Soup or Chicken Noodle Soup or Vegetable Bean Soup. We also like to heat the broth and drink it with scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast.

The remaining 4-6 quarts I will process in the pressure canner to make them shelf stable and add to the pantry. We’ll use it for soups, stews, cooking rice, sauces and much much more for weeks to come.

So there you have it. One chicken and more than 5 whole, nutrient-dense, filling and delicious meals to feed your family and nourish your bodies.

My daughter asked this week if we were rich. “We sure are,” I told her. “We have everything we need and all the delicious food we could ever want.” In my book, that’s true wealth.

If you’d like to try your hand at stretching one pasture-raised chicken to feed your family for nearly a week, you can reserve an October-harvested bird here or call/text/stop by the farm and pick one up this week.

People who love to eat are always the best people.

Julia Child

Categories // Blog Post, Recipes Tags // eat like a farmer, homestead, Homestead Skills

Milk Cow Myths: Part 3

01.12.2022 by Raelene Bradley // Leave a Comment

5 Myths Keeping You From Living The Milk Cow Life

In this series, I’m talking you through, step-by-step-by-step, the 5 most common myths about keeping a family milk cow so you can crush those negative thoughts and set yourself up for success.

By the end of this series, you’ll see that getting a milk cow is not only totally possible, but that it is absolutely within your reach.

In the previous posts of this series, we tackled Milk Cow Myth #1: I Have To Get Up At Dawn and Milk Cow Myth #2: I Can’t Leave the Farm or Go On Vacation. Those are big concerns, I know, but totally manageable, I promise.

If you haven’t seen them yet, go have a look and then come meet me back here. I’ll wait (chuckle).

Myth #3: I Don’t Have The Right Set-Up For A Milk Cow

If you’re talking yourself out of keeping a milk cow because you don’t think you have enough land or the money to invest in a stainless steel milking parlor, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

Let me tell you what you DO need.

The Minimalist’s Guide To Keeping A Milk Cow

I love lists. Like, really love them. (chuckle) And I’ve always been drawn to those minimalist guides you see all over Pinterest. You know the ones right? Ones like “The Minimalist Guide to Having a Baby: The only 5 things you absolutely must have.”

So here’s my version of the Minimalist Guide to keeping a milk cow. These are the absolutes:

  1. A small pasture
  2. Fence
  3. Somewhere to milk
  4. A pail

And that’s it, really.

But of course you know I have more to say about each of these so let’s dive in.

A small pasture

Ideally, for one milk cow, you’ll have 1-2 acres. 3-4 is even better, but not a necessity.

Frankly, you don’t even have to have acreage. I know of several people who decided to keep a milk cow in their backyard. Literally.

It means they have other challenges – like needing to buy in more hay since the cow won’t have enough pasture to meet her needs, and manure is something they have to deal with a little more proactively – but what I mean to say is: it is totally possible to keep a milk cow in your backyard.

But if you’re not quite that adventurous, a couple acres is plenty to keep a milk cow. Depending on the health and vitality of the pasture, you may need to supplement with extra hay, but that’s not such a big deal. You’ll just need to prepare for it.

Bottom line: a couple acres is plenty enough room to comfortably keep a milk cow.

Fence

I feel like this is pretty self-explanatory: you will need a fence to keep your cow safe and where she needs to be.

But before you get off in the weeds thinking you need to dish out thousands of dollars to put in a fancy fencing system, let me assure you that you can do it for a lot less.

You’ll have a gentle, sweet milk cow. She might be a little feisty, but she’s not wild or used to wide open spaces. She’ll respect a fence. As long as it’s in good condition, you don’t need anything fancy.

There are a zillion fencing options and the price tags to go with them. I actually use a pretty low-budget system of step in posts and a single strand of electric poly wire. Simple, budget-friendly, and effective.

Somewhere to milk

I deliberately chose not to name this section “The Milking Parlor” because that term seems to come loaded with visions of concrete floors, stainless steel machinery, and miles of sanitized hose snaking in and out of the walls. That may very well be true for commercial dairies, but that’s not you.

So – where can you milk?

  • Out in the pasture
  • Tied to a post in the barnyard

Milking right out in the pasture is a beautiful experience. The sun will be just rising over the hills, birds singing, and a soft breeze will accompany the swish swish of milk into the pail. If you want to milk right outside, by all means, go for it.

Or perhaps you’ll bring her up to the barnyard so she’s close and just tie her to a post or a fence right there and milk her outside. The chickens will swarm around you, the barn cats will vie for a squirt. It’ll be lovely.

But it won’t be warm or clear every day and so you’ll need a plan for inclement weather.

These are my favorite low-budget options:

  • In a woodshed or lean-to
  • Under a carport
  • Under a tarp

Almost every farm/homestead has one of these. A woodshed, a lean-to, or a 3 sided shelter are plenty good to keep the rain off your back while you milk.

And a carport (or garage!) works great too. In fact, the concrete floor can make cleaning up extra easy.

And barring that, you can rig up a tarp to milk under. A tarp costs just a few dollars at the hardware or feed store. You can tack it up against the side of the house – or the green house, or shed, or outbuilding and there you go: DIY milking shelter.

It won’t be fancy, but it’ll be plenty enough to keep you dry.

And of course, if you’ve got it, you can absolutely go ahead and milk where I do:

  • In the barn

When we first moved to the farm, the barn hadn’t housed animals in more than 30 years. When we were getting ready to bring Sandy home, I cleaned out all the junk and trash and old tractor parts from a corner of the barn, fixed the swinging door to the outside that had been nailed shut, and tada! Instant milking shed.

It’s not a big deal, certainly not fancy, but it’s shady in the summer and keeps out the wind in the winter. It’s perfect.

I’ll bet you can think of somewhere right now on your own place that you could repurpose as a milking shed. All you need is a roof to keep off the rain. Everything else is gravy.

A pail

This too seems a bit obvious, but you’ll need something to catch that liquid sunshine. It doesn’t matter a lot what kind of pail you use; it just needs to be clean and sturdy.

I use a stainless steel milking pail. Be sure to choose one that has no seams (seams can be difficult to clean and bacteria can get lodged there).

I have friends who use food-grade plastic buckets.

In a pinch, I’ve even milked into a stock pot.

All this to say: you’ve got options.

Just remember to bring a lid (even if it’s simply a clean towel draped over the top of the bucket). You’ll want to keep any stray bits of dust or straw from falling into your fresh milk.

You’re Closer Than You Think

And that’s it. A small fenced pasture, somewhere low-budget so you can milk out of the weather, and a pail are the only essentials you need.

Of course you can add accessories. You’ll probably want a halter and rope and a feed bin or two. You’ll want a few supplies like milking rags and udder balm, and a few essential veterinary items on hand.

But if we’re talking big-ticket infrastructure, I bet you’re closer than you think.

Keep Learning in Milk Cow 101

We go over in depth all the supplies you’ll need in Milk Cow 101 – from big-ticket infrastructure (including a lot more detail about fencing and shelter) to every day milking supplies and how and what to stock in a vet kit.

So if you’re getting more and more excited to dig in and learn what you need to bring home your very own milk cow, join the waitlist for Milk Cow 101 today.

I’ll bet that day is closer than you think and I want to help you get there.

When you join the waitlist, you’ll be the first to know when enrollment opens and you’ll be ready to learn everything you need to feel confident and prepared to make that dream happen.

Categories // Blog Post, MilkCow 101 Tags // family milk cow, home dairy, homestead, Homestead Skills, milk cow

Milk Cow Myths: Part 2

01.05.2022 by Raelene Bradley // Leave a Comment

5 Myths Keeping You From Living The Milk Cow Life

In this series, I’m talking you through, step-by-step-by-step, the 5 most common myths about keeping a family milk cow so you can crush those negative thoughts and set yourself up for success.

By the end of this series, you’ll see that getting a milk cow is not only totally possible, but that it is absolutely within your reach.

In the last post, we tackled Milk Cow Myth #1: I Have To Get Up At Dawn. That’s a doozy, especially for a night owl like me. If you haven’t seen it yet, go check it out and meet me back here. I’ll wait (chuckle).

Myth #2: I Can’t Leave The Farm or Go On Vacation

Listen, keeping a milk cow is a commitment.

Truth: A milk cow doesn’t ask for much, but she asks every single day.

You DO need to show up, you DO need to be invested. But the benefits of that kind of commitment are exponential and worth every minute.

A milk cow is a commitment to a lifestyle focused on wholesome, nutrient-dense food and wonderful growing experiences of stewardship and responsibility for you and your entire family.

And yet, even with the daily commitment of keeping a family cow, you’ve got more options than you might think.

How Often Do You Really Leave Home?

Maybe I’m going out on a limb here, but if you’re thinking about wanting to keep a family cow, you’re probably pretty content staying close to home.

Be honest with yourself here: how often do you really leave home for an extended amount of time?

Once or twice a year? A long weekend every few months?

We can work with that.

You’ve Got Options

Truth: The average milk cow’s lactation lasts 10 months.

A milk cow must have a calf in order to give milk. And, at least 60 days before she is due to have her next calf, you’ll stop milking or dry her off.

She needs that break to build up her fat stores for her next lactation and channel all her energy into growing her calf.

And that means (you guessed it!) you get a break too.

Use Her Dry Period To Your Advantage

Truth: She needs at least 60 days before calving to rest & replenish her stores.

When she’s dry, you’ve got 60 days (sixty!) to gallivant all over the earth if you so choose. It’s infinitely less complicated to find someone to check on her, fill her water tank, and be sure she has plenty to eat every day or so than it is to find someone reliable (and willing) to milk her once (or twice) a day, every day.

So use that to your advantage. I’m almost certain you have a friend (or several!) who would jump at the chance to have a farm-cation and keep an eye on your place while you soak in the sun at some undisclosed tropical location, or hike into the backcountry, or get lost in the museums of Europe.

Go. Sate your wanderlust for a week or two or five.

And come back refreshed and ready for calving and a whole new lactation.

Weekends Away Are Totally Possible

Truth: Calf-sharing opens up a whole world of flexible options.

Once she calves, that calf can absolutely help carry the load.

For the first little while after calving, you will have more work to do. She will produce way more milk than that calf could possibly consume on his own. She’s been bred and raised to do exactly that.

So you will need to milk her twice a day. Plan on several weeks.

But after a few weeks or a few months, depending on her production and the size of your calf (or if you have twin calves!), and your goals, you’ll be able to shift more and more of the milking to him if that’s what you want.

You’ll start first by transitioning to once-a-day-milkings (whew! Game. Changer.) and as he grows and her production evens out, you’ll be able to leave him with her around the clock and skip a milking every now and again.

That means that, yes, you can go to your sister’s wedding. And attend your nephew’s graduation out of town. And book that romantic overnight getaway.

The calf will pick up the slack.

You can learn more about how to get started calf sharing here.

Lean On Your Community

We aren’t meant to do it alone.

Too often there’s an ethic among homesteaders that they have to go it alone or it isn’t authentic, that being self-sufficient means they don’t/can’t/won’t rely on anyone else.

I think that idea is misguided and short-sighted.

We are meant to live in community. Being self-sufficient means that you have something of value to offer and that you do your best to provide not just for your family, but for others as well.

So lean on your community.

Reach out and see if anyone you know would like to learn to milk a cow and train a relief milker.

Teach them. Train them. And then enjoy a sleep in every now and again. Or a weekend away. Or a true family vacation knowing that you’ve got a competent, reliable milker taking care of business while you’re away.

You might start small and train your spouse first, and your older kids. That’ll give you a couple mornings to sleep in.

And then train a neighbor or a gal from church or a couple you met at your kid’s basketball game who have dreams to start their own homestead. You’ll be paying it forward by giving them an invaluable opportunity to prepare and learn the skills they’ll need to make their own dreams come true.

Keep Learning in Milk Cow 101

If this is feeling more and more doable, you’re on the right track. Keeping a cow is totally possible and absolutely within your reach.

So if you’ve got the gumption to really dig in and learn what you need to live that milk cow life (boy is it a good one!), join the waitlist for Milk Cow 101 today.

Bonus: You can absolutely go on vacation. It’s all about the timing.

When you join the waitlist, you’ll be the first to know when enrollment opens and you’ll be ready to learn everything you need to feel confident and prepared to bring home your very own family milk cow.

Categories // Blog Post, MilkCow 101 Tags // family milk cow, home dairy, homestead, Homestead Skills, milk cow

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belvederefarms

Hey there friends! Long time, no see eh? . Popping Hey there friends!
Long time, no see eh?
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Popping in to let you know I’ll be posting over at @belvedere.farms from now on.
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Same farm, same milk cow / farming / homesteading / canning & preserving / free-range kids capers & misadventures kinda stuff, but a whole new chapter.
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Sneak peek: if you’ve been around for awhile, you’ll know Maude (our milk cow Sandy’s first calf). She’s a brand new momma herself!
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She and I are learning together how to train a milk cow from scratch. It’s an adventure, to be sure!
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Come on over to @belvedere.farms and follow along.
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- Raelene
Wow. Just wow. . This is how I feel every time I l Wow. Just wow.
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This is how I feel every time I look at the pantry shelves, filling slowly but surely, bit by bit.
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Summer’s bounty + hard work (and plenty of hot sweaty days in the kitchen) means my family will eat like kings all winter long.
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It’s such a blessing to know these skills and get to pass them along.
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Sign up for my newsletter (link in bio) so you know when the next homesteading/self-sufficiency class is happening here at Belvedere Farms and you too can start filling those pantry shelves with goodness.
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#homestead #preservingtheharvest #canning #cannedpeaches #canningseason #selfsufficiency #homemadefood #homesteadmama
“She is little, but she is fierce.” Don’t pu “She is little, but she is fierce.”
Don’t put out that fire.
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#farmraisedkids #farmher #farmgirl #ican #homesteadmama
Can I hear an AMEN? Just tell me one thing: Team L Can I hear an AMEN?
Just tell me one thing: Team Lake or Team Ocean?
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Me? Lake. All the way. Nothing in the lake wants to kill me. 😱
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#gooutside #wildandfreechildren #lakeday #summertime #outdoorkids
There’s nothing like the smell of fresh cut hay. There’s nothing like the smell of fresh cut hay.
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#hayingseason #freshhay #hay #farmlife #summeronthefarm #hayfield #ohiofarm
Just like that, canning season has officially begu Just like that, canning season has officially begun.
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I drove down to the vet’s to pick up meds for a sick heifer and since it takes me right through Amish country, I couldn’t resist stopping at a farm just off the road to pick up 10 quarts of small but luscious berries (the small ones are sweetest, I think).
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Harvested rhubarb from the garden and a couple hours later : strawberry rhubarb jam.
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When you’re filling shelves for the winter, every little bit counts.
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Are you making jam this year? What’s your favorite fruit to use for jam? I loooove apricot jam, but have a hard time finding local apricots here in Ohio. If you know of a source - spill the beans!🤣
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#canningseason #strawberryjam #homesteadmama #homesteadskills #oldfashionedonpurpose #preservingtheharvest
It may seem like a small thing, but it always make It may seem like a small thing, but it always makes my heart happy to look out the window and see the cows grazing in the pasture.
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It took a lot of work to get here, and takes a lot of work to stay here, but working hard for something you love isn’t a burden. Instead it builds confidence, self-respect, resilience, and stamina.
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Go, friends. Work your tails off at work worth doing. And stop every now and again to take stock of all you’ve accomplished and all you’ve learned. It’ll blow your socks off and give you the gumption to do the next hard and worthwhile thing.
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#iamyourfarmer #milkcow #grassfed #rawmilk #farmlife #lifeouthere #hardworkpaysoffs #ohiofarm
Every farm needs a barn cat. We’ve noticed a hug Every farm needs a barn cat. We’ve noticed a huge difference between the years we’ve had barn cuts and the years we haven’t. They’re essential.
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And yet, I’m pretty sure my kids all think we keep barn cats for the kittens.
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There’s a new litter every spring and so far we’ve always been able to give enough away to keep from being overrun. Their momma, Scout, is a phenomenal mouser (and catches birds and squirrels and chipmunks too) and earns her keep many times over.
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So much so that when she decides to give birth, she finds a spot in the basement and we let her come and go as she pleases while the kittens are teeny. That in itself is a testament to her place on the farm.
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Are you team barn cat? How many do you have?
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#barncat #kittens #kidsandkittens #farmraisedkid #farmkid #homesteadkids
Eleven brand spankin’ new piglets born on the fa Eleven brand spankin’ new piglets born on the farm yesterday afternoon/evening.
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It never gets old this farming thing. There’s always something to work on, look forward to, get better at, learn from, grow into, and try again.
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I’m here for it and doing my darndest.
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#farmlifebestlife #babypigs #piglets #iamyourfarmer #supportlocalfarmers #berkshirepigs #farmher
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