The Journey
The journey began with my mom supporting me to have my own tiny garden as a small child to grow cherry tomatoes. Fast forward to the purchase of my first home in 2003; and there was my mom again, helping me put in a garden amongst the many other projects I was trying to accomplish. She knew when the tomatoes ripened, I would be glad I took the time. Several life changes later, along comes my second house with more space and a more elaborate garden plan, once again encouraged and supported by my mom. I quickly added an orchard, bees and chickens to my one-acre urban homestead. The summer of 2014, while watching the chickens peck around the yard, I realized I need more. Shortly after my first child was born in 2015, I purchased the 80 acres that would become my homestead. Immediately after the birth of my second child in 2017, construction of our house began. I planted a small orchard by the house and moved in the chickens before the house was even complete. Ducks and geese quickly followed. Fall of 2019 I bartered for the use of three pigs to prepare my new garden space for planting the following spring. After much research, July 2020 I brought home four Idaho Pasture Pigs as feeders. I fell in love with pigs and the breed.
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Today I have a small breeding herd: six sows, two boars and a barrow buddy for my boars. I market feeder piglets and a limited number of registered breeding piglets in the spring and fall; we have half and whole shares of pasture raised pork that are processed in early winter. In addition to Idaho Pasture Pigs I raise chickens and Muscovy ducks, maintain a large garden and small orchard. What I do not produce myself I strive to source locally; most of our food coming from withing five miles of home; I am more than happy to support my fellow farmers and homesteaders. If I do not have what you are looking for I probably know someone who does! The SOL Homestead is always evolving, striving to find new and better ways to care for our animals, our customers, our community, and our selves.