| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Lindsay C |
Posted - Feb 19 2011 : 4:05:22 PM
Tomorrow my husband is planning on butchering one of our goats. It will be the first thing that we've actually butchered here on our farm. I knew from the start that these animals were to be a food source for us, but I'm still having a really hard time coming to terms with it. I know that if I want to eat meat (I am a former vegetarian) that this is the right way, from an animal who lived a happy, healthy life with us. Still, I'm really dreading it.
Do any of you have any advice? Do some of you have experience with this? Any words of reassurance at this point would be very welcome.
Lindsay
Farmgirl Sister #1452 |
| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| msdoolittle |
Posted - Feb 22 2011 : 7:50:32 PM
Lindsay,
I cried the entire time we butchered our turkeys. It was my first butchering experience. I spoke with a dear friend of mine who had gone through the same. She said that as soon as 'the deed' was done, she felt that the owed it to that animal to let nothing go to waste, and that's pretty much exactly how she treated the entire situation. It helped me deal with my experience a lot...I cleaned my turkeys until nothing was left. I still can't watch the beheading part (ugh) but I have no issue now with 'cleaning'.
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
| Lindsay C |
Posted - Feb 21 2011 : 6:31:31 PM
I just can't tell you how much I have appreciated all of these kind thoughts from everyone! It's great to be a Farmgirl and I'm so proud to be included in this group. On a different note, we're having barbecued goat for dinner tonight and it's pretty yummy. The first bite did make me tear up a little, but now that the butchering is done I know the best way to honor his life is to know that he's nourishing our family. Despite the sadness, it's been pretty cool to feel so self-sufficient.
Lindsay
Farmgirl Sister #1452 |
| AliciaNak |
Posted - Feb 21 2011 : 12:18:41 PM
Hi Lindsay. It is always a hard thing to do. I like the quote that someone posted, and I like what Kathryn said. But it's also good to know how your meat was raised. That you gave the goat a nice life, a kind life, and that he didn't suffer.
I've never butchered a furry critter, just poultry, but the first few birds I did were hard. I too said a prayer of thankx. This is one reason we name our butcher cows "dinner" names. In fact the first one I helped raise was named Dinner cow. Tasty cow IS tasty, and Ribeye will be really hard. He's a lepy calf (bottle baby) and the friendliest thing. Not so little anymore, but he loves a good scratching and rub.
Alicia
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.~Ralph Waldo Emmerson
www.blondenak.blogspot.com
www.artfire.com/users/BlondeNakCreations |
| RedHoopWoman |
Posted - Feb 21 2011 : 11:02:47 AM
Hi Lindsay!
Glad you got through it okay,even if we ultimately end these animals lives we can still feel good that by doing so and feeding ourselves from our homeraised animals we have opted out of consuming another animal that was raised in less fortunate circumstances.
That was a beautiful quote Cindy,it really spoke to my heart,I tell myself when I give death to something that if there is an end to them someday there will be an end to me,we all come to an end eventually.
My Grandfather rarely spoke to me,he didn't think girl children were really worth talking to but the few things he did say to me were really meaningful,we were once preparing to butcher some pigs and I was a little despondent so as he was loading his rifle he looked over at me and said "You know,Wakan Tanka (Great Spirit) puts a little shadow in our heart that we feel everytime we take a life so that when we kill,we should always feel that shadow so that we never kill anything without good cause" so what you felt when you had to butcher your goat,that was what you were supposed to feel,that little shadow that reminds us that what we undertake is a serious thing,not that it shouldn't be done but that we SHOULD feel that so we never take it for granted or become dull to it.
"Today's Mighty Oak is just Yesterday's Nut" |
| sherrye |
Posted - Feb 20 2011 : 6:24:32 PM
well i surely agree. you did a fine thing for all. a farmgirl you are for sure. true blue farmgirl. well HOWDY there rksmith. how fun your very first post. welcome to mjf. it is such a fine place to gather with good friends. maybe you are close to kris. she would be thrilled as i would to have another farmgirl close. so happy days to you my new friend. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| rksmith |
Posted - Feb 20 2011 : 6:04:16 PM
Nice to hear that things went well. I grew up on a farm and butchering our "pets" was a part of life; still is. I believe that if you raise an animal for food (or even as a pet but if times get really harsh they end up being food)when the time comes to butcher it, give thanks to the animal for it's life, friendship, and nourishment and thank it for fulfilling it's purpose on your farm. I also take time to give thanks to the universe for blessing me with the animal, the means to care for it and the nourishment I will get from it. |
| LeighErica |
Posted - Feb 20 2011 : 5:51:58 PM
Hugs Lindsay....so glad you were able to move on with this. I have been thinking about you today. Thanks for updating how you are. Hugs, Erica |
| Daizy |
Posted - Feb 20 2011 : 5:19:31 PM
Hay Lindsay, You can be very proud....a good life with good food and a loving care-taker, thats all we can do for our animals while we have them.... I still cry my eyes out when anything is butchered or sold for that matter. I just need a few minutes alone and say my prayers and give thanks. It does get easier but we should never stop caring. Bless you and yours. Hope you can come this weekend to our get-together.
Love and Prayers,
Daizy
PHR Farmgirl #1093
A good day is when you find ALL your ear tags! I wonder how my cows would like my Farmgirl apron?? |
| Alee |
Posted - Feb 20 2011 : 5:14:06 PM
Good for you Lindsay! I helped butcher my first turkey this past fall and felt the same way. But eating him was a delight. I appreciated his life and was grateful for his healthy life to nourish mine.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| Lindsay C |
Posted - Feb 20 2011 : 5:08:44 PM
I really appreciate the thoughtful words everyone! Everything went alright today, although I took my son to the park to play while the actual event took place. I was okay with seeing the meat and all of that afterwards. Maybe next time I'll have the courage to stay home, but I'm not sure. My husband, brother-in-law, and I are currently working on getting all of the meat packaged up so that we can store it. It is nice to know that this noble animal that died to feed us lived a happy life and suffered no undue stress at the end. That's more than I can say for any of the hamburgers I've eaten. When we eat him, it will be the first animal that we've raised ourselves and eaten. I am not sure yet how that makes me feel. A little nervous and sad, but also very proud.
Lindsay
Farmgirl Sister #1452 |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Feb 20 2011 : 09:25:25 AM
Hi Lindsey. I hope the day is going well for you. It's probably over by now. I really love the quote that Cindy shared. I have several of his books. I still have several roosters and 2 tom turkeys that have got to be butchered. I am ok with the poultry butchering. It's the furry critters I have a hard time with. I had a buck that a friend butchered. I got there after he had killed him though. I am ok after that. Then I just see meat. It is sad but just temember that's why you are raising these animals. I do hope you were ok with all this and can't wait ti hear how it all went.
I hope you are able to come to the Southern get together that Daisy is hosting this next weekend. If you go to the Gathered Up section she has a post there about it. I hope you can come.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Lindsay C |
Posted - Feb 19 2011 : 8:36:07 PM
Thanks guys for all the support! Don't have many local "farmgirls" that have issues come up like this, as you might can imagine.
Lindsay
Farmgirl Sister #1452 |
| sherrye |
Posted - Feb 19 2011 : 6:36:21 PM
hi lindsay, we here at silk purse farm have a deep appreciation for the animals that provide our food. i know it will be difficult for you. saying a prayer before for a good kill and bleed and thanks to our God for the food is always done. i take it sincerely serious occasion for me. i do my best to have happy animals with happy lives like you. when i was 12 my dad told me i had to hunt and kill a deer if i was to continue eating meat. it was very hard. he had a deep respect for life and wanted me to also. it was hard but now i can do my own. i know what i am eating as you said. so you can be proud of your effort. let us know your ok when you and hubbie are done. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| windypines |
Posted - Feb 19 2011 : 6:28:03 PM
I don't think it is ever easy. We butcher cows, pigs, chickens. I love the animals. I do give them a good life, and that is what they are raised for. I guess you just got to get in that mind set, that is what they are for.
Michele |
| LeighErica |
Posted - Feb 19 2011 : 6:12:19 PM
Dear Lindsay, I know how you are feeling. Growing up my parents would do chickens and a turkey every year. It was difficult then and I know if we did that now it would be just as emotional. But, give thanks for the meals that your family will have from this animal. I will be thinking of you and praying for peace and acceptance. Hugs, Erica |
| maggie14 |
Posted - Feb 19 2011 : 6:00:50 PM
Lindsay, I wish I could offer you some advice.. But know that I am praying for you and your goat. I too have goats and know how hard it would be to butcher one of them. Hugs!!!!
Hannah
Farmgirl sister #1219
Lifes not about the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away.
Just a small town country girl, farmgirl,loggergirl, trying to live her dreams. :)
P.s. I've been playing around with the spelling of my name ( weird I know) and I've decided that I will stick with Hannah for good. Sorry I got you all confused. Hugs!! |
| prariehawk |
Posted - Feb 19 2011 : 5:56:08 PM
From Kahlil Gibran, "The Prophet": When you kill a beast, say to him in your heart, "By the same power that slays you, I too am slain; and I too shall be consumed. For the law that delivered you into my hand shall deliver me into a mightier hand. Your blood and my blood is naught but the sap that feeds the tree of heaven."
Hope this helps. I've never had to butcher an animal but I used to be a vegetarian.
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
