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On today’s podcast episode, I chat about recent updates on the homestead and our goals for 2017. I share these things to hopefully inspire you to set some goals for your homestead and perhaps give you a few ideas for your next steps.

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I want to share some exciting things happening around our homestead, some new projects, and a bit about our family traditions. As we gear up for the new year, I always like to reflect on what we’ve been doing and plan for what’s to come. Let’s dive into what’s been going on here!

Thanksgiving Traditions and Family Time

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Around here, we really cherish this time of year. After Thanksgiving, my family kicks off the Christmas season. We have a little tradition where we visit a small town called Metamora, Indiana, every year.

It’s got a quaint canal, an old mill, and lots of little shops. Each year, we pick out a family Christmas ornament to add to our collection. It’s just a fun and simple tradition that we look forward to each holiday season.

Greenhouse Adventures

One of the bigger projects I’ve been working on lately is setting up a small hobby greenhouse. It’s a little 6×8 greenhouse, but let me tell you, there’s more room in there than you’d think! I built a nice wooden foundation, added some raised beds on either side, and even a little deck out front to make it look nice.

The greenhouse is already making a difference around here. I’ve started growing leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale to keep fresh salads on the table all winter long. I’ve even got some strawberries going! It’s a great space to get my hands in the dirt during the colder months.

Future Greenhouse Plans: Wicking Beds and Pond Expansion

Looking ahead, I’ve got some big plans for the greenhouse. Next spring, I’m hoping to expand our backyard pond to be five times its current size and have it flow right up to the greenhouse. I’m going to install wicking beds inside the greenhouse.

These are beds where the water flows through a gravel layer underneath the soil, keeping the plants perfectly watered. I plan to pump water from the pond to these beds, which will keep everything nice and moist without too much effort. It’s a simple setup, but it should make a huge difference in how well everything grows.

Rabbits and Quail

Another exciting update: we’re revamping our rabbitry and quail setup. I had gotten rid of most of my animals for a while to redo things, but we’re getting back into it with a better system. I’ll be raising rabbits for both meat and as pets, but this time, I’m moving away from colony raising because of some issues we had with disease and uncontrolled breeding. They’ll be back in cages, but I still want to make sure they live good lives with plenty of space and fresh air.

On the other side of the area, we’ve got quail. Right now, we’ve got 11, but we’re planning to expand that to around 40. Quail are great for both meat and eggs, and they don’t take up much space, which is perfect for our small homestead.

Composting with Rabbits and Quail

One of the coolest things about this setup is that I’m planning to do Verma-composting (worm composting) underneath the cages. Rabbit and quail droppings will fall into composting bins filled with worms, which will break down the manure into rich compost for our garden. Rabbit manure, in particular, is fantastic for the garden, and having this composting system in place will help us create a lot of rich, healthy soil for our plants.

Urban Homesteading Film Project

Here’s something that’s been in the works: there’s talk of doing a film about urban homesteading, and I’m excited to potentially be a part of it. Most people don’t have acres of land, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do homesteading!

This film would showcase all the ways you can be self-sufficient on a small urban lot—like our tenth of an acre homestead. It’s still early days, but I think it could be a great way to inspire others to start their own urban homestead.

Community Building

I’ve always believed in the power of community, both online and locally. I’ve seen so many wonderful connections made in our homesteading Facebook group, The Homestead Front Porch, and I’d love for more of you to join! We share tips, ideas, and stories, and it really feels like a supportive community of people with similar goals.

I also want to do more to build my local community. I’d love to get involved with my neighbors, maybe help them set up gardens or do little backyard tours for the local kids to inspire them to grow their own food. There’s something really special about sharing knowledge and working together to be more self-sufficient.

Final Thoughts

As we move into the new year, my goals for our homestead are simple: to be healthier, happier, and more self-reliant. Whether it’s growing more of our own food, raising animals, or building stronger connections with the community, these small steps are what make homesteading so rewarding. If you’re on a homesteading journey too, I hope this inspires you to keep going, even if you’ve just got a small patch of land like us.

Here’s to a great year ahead! Let’s all add one more thing to our homesteading efforts this year, no matter how small it is—every little bit counts. Happy homesteading!