natures bounty

My love and I did not grow up on a farm. We weren't taught how to raise cattle or hunt for our own food or cultivate the land.  Homesteading is definitely not in our roots. Yet, we were taught about caring for the world around us. Preserving family traditions and enjoying the great outdoors. 

When we moved out to this farm, we took those ideals we were taught and built them into a dream, a vision. One that involved us raising our children to the music of mooing cattle and clucking chickens. An adventure where we learned to live off the land. Where we could preserve all those beautiful values and instill inside our children a hope and love for future generations.

A few years ago, Kaleb was gifted a bow and a quiver of arrows. From there, a little love affair was born. He enjoyed being out in the woods, hidden from view. Animals stumbling upon him while perched high in the tree tops. He loved the adventure of it, the skill it took to know where deer may be walking thru, and the challenge presented by using something more primitive. He loved getting back to the land, feeling the pull of early settlers in his blood- hunting not for a trophy, but for sustenance. 

He dreamed of a day the two of us would be out together- he so badly wanted me to be a part of it, to join him on this new venture. So, he bought me my own bow.

Now, you would not look at me and think- 'now there's a real outdoors woman.' I'm tiny, a little bit girly, but still, there was no way I wasn't going to support him on this venture. 

So I learned to shoot my bow and took to the woods.

It has been amazing, for so many reasons- I get to be outside wholly surrounded by beauty and stillness. Kaleb is so excited for me, he nearly pushes me out the door. A few hours of alone and quiet time -ummmm yes, I'm all in. Plus, it is so exciting, open-ended possibilities fueled by hope.

I bring a book, I read, I ponder, I praise and if the moment is right- I shoot.

Last year we ate only deer meat for six months, and to be able to play a small part in providing that, was an incredible feeling. I am so excited for this season especially. Kaleb and I have been reading and learning more and more. Focusing on putting everything to use and having much less waste. We have great plans of bone broths and our first attempts at tanning hides. 

Steps like this, pulling us closer and closer to our dreams for this farm and our family, excite me. They light a fire for what may come and fuel the love I have for this way of life.