In August 2023, I stood before an attentive crowd to discuss poultry genetics: egg color, sex-linked traits, and broilers. I referred to the previous speaker, who raised Red Rangers but, after seeing how carcasses dress out the same, switched to Cornish Crosses so he could reap the same returns in less time.
Fitted with a microphone and a PowerPoint presentation, I provided a different story: One of my Cornish Cross pullets broke her leg three days before processing weekend because of the strain of rapid growth. But we couldn’t move up the processing date because my husband and I worked several jobs while raising children. So, we kept her comfortable in the house until we could process her. It was the best decision, considering factors we hadn’t anticipated.
“But that’s the point,” I told the audience. “We can choose which ways we take care of our families. There isn’t ‘one solid rule’ to homesteading.”
We face various methods and viewpoints within the Mother Earth News office. While some employees purchase cheap meat to meet a budget, some eat only ethically raised meat, some raise their own, and some don’t eat meat in any form.
But, as I said during my presentation, that’s the point. There isn’t “one solid rule” for consuming protein. Nor for gardening, starting seeds, or working with the seasons. Till or no-till? Plant lights or coordinated seed starting? Raising your own pork or trading goat milk with a pig farmer?
This last example refers to the time my husband risked his life to load up two Hampshire-Yorkshire crosses, over 450 pounds on the hoof, to take to processing. Afterward, he said, “Can we not do pigs again? I don’t like them.” (For this man, these are strong words.)
None of us is an island, and our households can’t do it all. After research, we determine our priorities, our accessibility, and where our hearts lie, seek help for what we can’t do ourselves, and then find our way.
When describing Mother Earth News readers, I always smile before saying, “They’re ambitious and dreamers. Some of the smartest and most capable people in society. They’re already taking steps toward sustainability – though each person’s path and footprints look different.”
To address this skill and ambition, we at Mother Earth News have a goal: to provide trustworthy information so you can decide for yourself. Our magazine will rarely appeal 100 percent to everyone. Some are focused on the work of ducks (see “Do Ducks Eat Bugs?“); others are focused on the well-being of pets (see “DIY Dog Mental Stimulation Toys,”). Some people are homesteading powerhouses who make their own hay (see “How to Tell When a Hay Field is Ready to Cut,”); others just want to bake bread and make butter – and will attempt it after their children are a little older.
No matter what path you follow toward sustainability, we’re honored to be a part of it. If you have ideas for articles or information you can’t find, please write to Letters@MotherEarthNews.com.
May you thrive on your paths,
Marissa