Rabbits or not

[Olbunny]

I was out mulching rabbit manure and the mulcher was acting up. So I got a bit frustrated with all the other projects, n lack of fishing hunting. Asked my beautiful wife about the rabbits. She says with the calm in control voice that gives her the grace of motherhood. We need the rabbits. With the world being what it is n such. Food shortages are coming.
I tend to be out of touch with things outside my world n take care of my family. And having all the resources that Ak has available to us, besides the wild fish n game is our growing season for vegetables. Sun is up at 4 n sets near midnight. Pretty soon nothing but a little dip under the northern horizon for a half hour or so. That n we are always hurting on freezer space with 2 freezers.
Getting nonchalant these days is not a good idea ! And my beautiful wife was right again. We'll raises a couple batches n keep it simple, try selling offspring n supply what we need n try to cover enough to cover costs. And yes I get connected to our rabbits also. They are providing for my family a protien that is top shelf quality and keeping the garden looking great n producing a better product.
Enough said

 

[ladysown]

indeed

 

[eco2pia]

I live in a suburb of a large city now. I grew up in the very rural Pacific North West. My whole life I was well prepared to provide the basics of food and shelter for my family, come what may, without much outside help.

About a decade ago I decided to try living in this world "the way it is". I had a high rise apartment, fancy clothes and a fancy job. I bought a $6 coffee each day on the way to work. I did not hate it. I took trips to far away places and did generally love my life.

Then the pandemic hit. And whatever you think about it, the way the world broke over it blew my mind.

Old habits die hard. The pantry and freezer are full, water catchment and solar are being installed, and the skills are still there. My trust in the systems that support us is shaky at best.

Yeah, hang on to the rabbits.

 

[KelleyBee]

I live in a suburb of a large city now. I grew up in the very rural Pacific North West. My whole life I was well prepared to provide the basics of food and shelter for my family, come what may, without much outside help.

About a decade ago I decided to try living in this world "the way it is". I had a high rise apartment, fancy clothes and a fancy job. I bought a $6 coffee each day on the way to work. I did not hate it. I took trips to far away places and did generally love my life.

Then the pandemic hit. And whatever you think about it, the way the world broke over it blew my mind.

Old habits die hard. The pantry and freezer are full, water catchment and solar are being installed, and the skills are still there. My trust in the systems that support us is shaky at best.

Yeah, hang on to the rabbits.

I totally get it. I was doing the same….relying on the system that we, as a people, constructed. When it all crashed in 2020, my eyes flew wide open. You can’t “unforget“ utter failure in a system and once open, there’s no closing your eyes again.

I wasn’t raised like you were. My parents relied totally upon the system, as well. The only thing they did remotely self-reliant was a tomato garden grown, and not every year, definitely grown based upon the current whim. But it was enough to spark an interest in me and I began hobby gardening my tomato, lettuce and bean gardens every year for the past decade.

Well, after 2020, hobby gardening became serious food production and preserving and animals (rabbits) were added to the production line. It’s a brand new life and one I wasn’t expecting to be living at the age of 60, but here I am. If I don’t want to ever be a victim of the system, and I don’t plan on it, this is the way for me. Trips to the grocery store are now very rare.

 

[user8584]

Sadly all that is written about eye opening, once the crisis passes, and many go back to being dependent for their food being supplied by wal mart. Now not pointing fingers, I was one of those that forgot my roots, but the plandemc was a slap in the face. We are never going back to “normal “ , again. But the old ways are time tested, and true. Most of what in need to know is in the first chapter of the Bible. The land is primary, and must be nurtured by long term planning and understanding . Natural soil balance is essential for us and all our stock and plants. The rabbit is an essential part of that balance, giving us perfect fertilizer for our gardens, orchards, and fields. That along with earth worms brings balance to the soil. It is truly a beautiful thing, it gives me goose bumps when I think of the perfection.

 

[user8584]

I totally get it. I was doing the same….relying on the system that we, as a people, constructed. When it all crashed in 2020, my eyes flew wide open. You can’t “unforget“ utter failure in a system and once open, there’s no closing your eyes again.

I wasn’t raised like you were. My parents relied totally upon the system, as well. The only thing they did remotely self-reliant was a tomato garden grown, and not every year, definitely grown based upon the current whim. But it was enough to spark an interest in me and I began hobby gardening my tomato, lettuce and bean gardens every year for the past decade.

Well, after 2020, hobby gardening became serious food production and preserving and animals (rabbits) were added to the production line. It’s a brand new life and one I wasn’t expecting to be living at the age of 60, but here I am. If I don’t want to ever be a victim of the system, and I don’t plan on it, this is the way for me. Trips to the grocery store are now very rare.

Peace and blessings, how it was meant to be.

 

[KelleyBee]

Sadly all that is written about eye opening, once the crisis passes, and many go back to being dependent for their food being supplied by wal mart. Now not pointing fingers, I was one of those that forgot my roots, but the plandemc was a slap in the face. We are never going back to “normal “ , again. But the old ways are time tested, and true. Most of what in need to know is in the first chapter of the Bible. The land is primary, and must be nurtured by long term planning and understanding . Natural soil balance is essential for us and all our stock and plants. The rabbit is an essential part of that balance, giving us perfect fertilizer for our gardens, orchards, and fields. That along with earth worms brings balance to the soil. It is truly a beautiful thing, it gives me goose bumps when I think of the perfection.

You’re so spot on regarding the soil! We live in a housing plan built in the 1970s and tons of fill was trucked in to make our yards. If you saw a shovel full of my dirt, it’d make you weep. Pure yellow clay and rocks. I’ve been spreading natural wood chips on my garden areas for years, mushroom mulch, too, just to produce a decent layer of topsoil. I’ve had to make raised beds and buy soil to fill them just to be able to plant Veggies, I am now sooooo thankful for the rabbits and the beautiful “soil” they drop for me every day. No more buying soil amendments. Now the rabbit droppings are amending my garden dirt and making it into beautiful soil.

 

[hihobunny]

You’re so spot on regarding the soil! We live in a housing plan built in the 1970s and tons of fill was trucked in to make our yards. If you saw a shovel full of my dirt, it’d make you weep. Pure yellow clay and rocks. I’ve been spreading natural wood chips on my garden areas for years, mushroom mulch, too, just to produce a decent layer of topsoil. I’ve had to make raised beds and buy soil to fill them just to be able to plant Veggies, I am now sooooo thankful for the rabbits and the beautiful “soil” they drop for me every day. No more buying soil amendments. Now the rabbit droppings are amending my garden dirt and making it into beautiful soil.

We have pet rabbits.
But before you roll your eyes I have learned a valuable skill on how to take care of them.
So when the blanks hit the fan, I can buy meat rabbits and know how to raise them and have the hutches and such.

 

[Olbunny]

Wow, some real go getters here, right on ! We, our family always had a garden growing up. I always took an interest in gardening, seems like my entire life.
We homeschooled n had a huge garden n greenhouse for tomatoes n cukes. And animals. Horses to goldfish n ants. And we're still doing it even though we say we are downsizing. Oh well, our family are neighbors. We gave our son n new daughter n law an acre when they got married. Great move. And selling our now too large house to our daughter n building a new one for us. We all work together, gardening, rabbits, share moose meat n salmon.
While homeschooling our kids learned about growing food starting from selecting seed varieties and developing a good tilth in the soil. Growing, harvesting, processing, cooking and composting back. And we just learned together.
Kinda worked out for us but just what we do

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

I love plants and yesterday I got a bunch of seeds including tomatoes, onion, cantaloupe, asparagus, watermelon, and flowers

 

[user8584]

You’re so spot on regarding the soil! We live in a housing plan built in the 1970s and tons of fill was trucked in to make our yards. If you saw a shovel full of my dirt, it’d make you weep. Pure yellow clay and rocks. I’ve been spreading natural wood chips on my garden areas for years, mushroom mulch, too, just to produce a decent layer of topsoil. I’ve had to make raised beds and buy soil to fill them just to be able to plant Veggies, I am now sooooo thankful for the rabbits and the beautiful “soil” they drop for me every day. No more buying soil amendments. Now the rabbit droppings are amending my garden dirt and making it into beautiful soil.

That is the main reason why I got rabbits so I would have a reliable source of fertilizer for my land. Raising worms as well, all for the purpose of rebuilding my soil.

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

We have pet rabbits.
But before you roll your eyes I have learned a valuable skill on how to take care of them.
So when the blanks hit the fan, I can buy meat rabbits and know how to raise them and have the hutches and such.

I don't think anyone rolls their eyes at "pet" rabbits You are in good company - and my adult breeders are 'pets' to me, I take them out and snuggle them. Well, I snuggle the teenagers, the adults are too big LOL. I do give them kisses and treats though. And you're right, the knowledge you are gaining is invaluable.

 

[HTAcres]

I just turned 60 as well and always wanted to have a homestead. Kids' father did not agree so I spent decades in neighborhoods. Finally getting my wish now is funny and didn't expect for it to be a necessity. I wish I was better at the gardening though part of that is just that I'm gardening in a rather inhospitable environment. My goal is to be feeding at least half forage by the end of the summer. There is no tractoring here - no grass. I'm doing mostly tree hay because it is more dependable. If I micro-irrigate it, and can keep the wild animals off of it long enoug, it will grow.

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

@Olbunny how do you mulch rabbit manure? Like with a tiller? Do you have chickens? They will turn rabbit poop over daily and make a great soil out of it. Maybe you need some chickens

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

Since we're 'sharing' - my story is that my husband and I sold our 3,000 square foot house with pool and moved into a TINY 19' travel trailer to travel. Then the insanity hit, and my husband has had unrelated health problems and we parked in my sister's 3 acre yard and haven't moved in 2 years - so I got chickens. Then I got rabbits for food security. When I was a young married teen, I lived like this - in a small trailer, in a field, with chickens, rabbits and a small herd of milk goats. I loved it. At 66 I seem to be aiming right back at that simple, pleasant life. I take care of the animals all myself, and my husband watches me out the window from his 'office' in the small cabin next to the trailer. Whether my husband is as content I don't know LOL but he's still here. By the way, I'm looking for a couple milk goats, know any for sale???
(my husband did say he would learn to butcher the rabbits so I didn't have to do it - also he is a great gardener, but not able right now)

 

[user8584]

I just turned 60 as well and always wanted to have a homestead. Kids' father did not agree so I spent decades in neighborhoods. Finally getting my wish now is funny and didn't expect for it to be a necessity. I wish I was better at the gardening though part of that is just that I'm gardening in a rather inhospitable environment. My goal is to be feeding at least half forage by the end of the summer. There is no tractoring here - no grass. I'm doing mostly tree hay because it is more dependable. If I micro-irrigate it, and can keep the wild animals off of it long enoug, it will grow.

Is possible to have raised beds?
how do you keep yourself cool?
the reason I ask we are catching about 15 gallons of water off the air conditioner. We can put it where it does the most good.

 

[user8584]

@Olbunny how do you mulch rabbit manure? Like with a tiller? Do you have chickens? They will turn rabbit poop over daily and make a great soil out of it. Maybe you need some chickens

Putting directly into the garden just side dress with it. And also putting in my worm bin.

 

[user8584]

Since we're 'sharing' - my story is that my husband and I sold our 3,000 square foot house with pool and moved into a TINY 19' travel trailer to travel. Then the insanity hit, and my husband has had unrelated health problems and we parked in my sister's 3 acre yard and haven't moved in 2 years - so I got chickens. Then I got rabbits for food security. When I was a young married teen, I lived like this - in a small trailer, in a field, with chickens, rabbits and a small herd of milk goats. I loved it. At 66 I seem to be aiming right back at that simple, pleasant life. I take care of the animals all myself, and my husband watches me out the window from his 'office' in the small cabin next to the trailer. Whether my husband is as content I don't know LOL but he's still here. By the way, I'm looking for a couple milk goats, know any for sale???
(my husband did say he would learn to butcher the rabbits so I didn't have to do it - also he is a great gardener, but not able right now)

I see you call Fort Worth home, my wife and I grew up in Fort Worth, went to Tech High

 

[HTAcres]

Is possible to have raised beds?
how do you keep yourself cool?
the reason I ask we are catching about 15 gallons of water off the air conditioner. We can put it where it does the most good.

We are working on raised beds and straw bales and also have dug trenches to fill with rabbit hay (hay plus pellets). We do try to repurpose every bit of water like what comes off the AC. It is dry so sometimes we can use evaporative cooling.

 

[Olbunny]

@Olbunny how do you mulch rabbit manure? Like with a tiller? Do you have chickens? They will turn rabbit poop over daily and make a great soil out of it. Maybe you need some chickens

I use a mulcher used for sticks n leaves. Chops everything up nicely. Best if you spread out the manure n let it dry a bit before mulching or it plugs the machine.
By mulching it is broken down faster and easier to handle than rabbits turds, for me. And beautiful wife would rather handle a product that looks like topsoil with shredded hay