The poem: heart felt and comforting. We should all hope that we have done enough on this earth that someone we touched in life will remember and honor us as you do for those who have touched your life. A lovely reminder to give and do so with love and humility.
Tara -- I am in The Rockies of Colorado, not on a farm or ranch. I guess (at 69) I never will be.
I grew up as a "wild" boy, in Minnesota. Hunting, fishing, boating, skiing, trapping, sports, skinning and such...Dad died in '58, leaving mom with 3 kiddos. I was the oldest, at 5 y.o.
I mention this as a "back story", only to "set the stage" for this thought/feeling/observation:
I simply love, and deeply appreciate, your writing!
The "how to's" and specific, "technical" aspects of life on your land certainly DO fascinate and attract me. Absolutely no doubt!
But there's a deeper "something" in there. A passion, a sensitivity and "a way." From rabbits, to your kitchen, to cows and ending a life of theirs...your writing is informed by intelligence, common sense, common courtesy, seasoned perspective, old ways, and a subtle, well-grounded humanity.
I enjoy (though will most likely not use) your more practical descriptions and reports of life, as you guys live it.
But it is for the certain special quality of your writing (that I probably didn't do justice to!) that I read it...and return to read some more.
Being acquainted with death at a very early age, I became very sensitive and aware of the bittersweet nature that life often serves up. I guess I am trying to say the FEELING(S) that your writing evokes in me are the reward, fulfillment and what I treasure in it!
These tales from the intact prairie peoples of the Americas are vital. If I could heal this broken world it would be with an intact prairie ecosystem - the bison returned to the land as it heals along with we the people. No noble savages just noble human beings on Mother Earth.
This is lovely! I’m wondering if you’ll let it accumulate deep litter or what alternative you have planned. We have been doing deep litter the past few years and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
Thank you, Chrisi. We do a blended approach with rabbits. With cattle we do deep bedding throughout the winter. That's not optional, really, with our set up and works well. With rabbits, we do a light scraping every now and then and then add fresh. We also only add straw in corners for them to dig in and have warmth, but the rest of the bedding is wood shavings which we far prefer. I find everything cleaner, drier, and easier to manage that way and they still get their clumps of staw to burrow in.
Your set up is amazing! Well done! I have questions about your grow outs. Do you have problems with the males fighting before their butcher date? I find im always walking such a weird line of carcass size/weight VS happy rabbits who are not fighting.
I love both your rabbit's home and your poem. First, the rabbits look so happy there! I look at them as almost human since my husband and I are re-reading "Watership Down" and reveling in rabbits! Every night he reads to me for about 20 minutes until my first twitch of sleep. And...your poem gave me chills and misty eyes. It made me think about the "real" people whom I miss but carry with me always. Thanks once again for sharing your life.
They are so cute, and they do look happy! How long does it take you to pick those two bushels? How many rabbits does that feed? Can’t believe they eat so much every day!
Very cool! I’m still trying to wrap my mind around how colony set ups work. I think I get it . You had mentioned something about rabbits having access to the outside space as well? How does that work? Do you let them out during the daytime and close them up at night? No predator issues during the day? Thanks!
Yes, exactly Sarah. They're in electric fencing during the day. That fencing gets moved all the time as well. Everything here goes out during the day and gets locked up at night (except for cows which do their own thing because they're big enough to not look too delicious to our predators).
👍🏽Can you post a short video sometime of how they go in and out for the day? Where do the mamas and tiny ones hang out in their early days? Would love to see that part too:) thank you
Some strange reason I never received this one in my inbox hopefully my gmail is not censoring itself!!! I LOVE your bunny palace! They look so calm and at home! How often do you think you’ll have to clear out the bedding? That poem Tara….you are routinely told this, I know, but there is such emotion conveyed in each turn of phrase I am routinely brought to tears! Such love, beauty and reverence! I am so thankful of Richard for all he taught you and are able to share with us. I will think of you both if ever a blue feather crosses my path as I can’t recall ever seeing such where I live on the prairies!
This is amazing. Well done, Troy. And what a vision Tara. Inspired for sure. I love how you forage for your rabbits. I am currently planning our colony setup and live in a rural neighborhood. I have decent gardening space and since I don’t have woods/pasture to forage I would love to plant greens/herbs garden specifically for the rabbits. Any suggestions on what would be most beneficial to grow for them to eat (obviously in addition to hay and organic alfalfa pellets) Thanks so much as always for your time and wisdom.
The poem: heart felt and comforting. We should all hope that we have done enough on this earth that someone we touched in life will remember and honor us as you do for those who have touched your life. A lovely reminder to give and do so with love and humility.
Thank you so much, Guy. That's true, a kind word or two, written or shared, some love left behind is what we should all strive for.
Tara -- I am in The Rockies of Colorado, not on a farm or ranch. I guess (at 69) I never will be.
I grew up as a "wild" boy, in Minnesota. Hunting, fishing, boating, skiing, trapping, sports, skinning and such...Dad died in '58, leaving mom with 3 kiddos. I was the oldest, at 5 y.o.
I mention this as a "back story", only to "set the stage" for this thought/feeling/observation:
I simply love, and deeply appreciate, your writing!
The "how to's" and specific, "technical" aspects of life on your land certainly DO fascinate and attract me. Absolutely no doubt!
But there's a deeper "something" in there. A passion, a sensitivity and "a way." From rabbits, to your kitchen, to cows and ending a life of theirs...your writing is informed by intelligence, common sense, common courtesy, seasoned perspective, old ways, and a subtle, well-grounded humanity.
I enjoy (though will most likely not use) your more practical descriptions and reports of life, as you guys live it.
But it is for the certain special quality of your writing (that I probably didn't do justice to!) that I read it...and return to read some more.
Being acquainted with death at a very early age, I became very sensitive and aware of the bittersweet nature that life often serves up. I guess I am trying to say the FEELING(S) that your writing evokes in me are the reward, fulfillment and what I treasure in it!
Thanks to you & Troy & the "girls"!!
A rich post you gave us this beautiful fall morning. Thanks.
Thank you, Louisa.
These tales from the intact prairie peoples of the Americas are vital. If I could heal this broken world it would be with an intact prairie ecosystem - the bison returned to the land as it heals along with we the people. No noble savages just noble human beings on Mother Earth.
Yes, imagine that. Real healing of our earth simply by following Nature's design.
Yes, at least there's a reliable intelligence in that.
This is lovely! I’m wondering if you’ll let it accumulate deep litter or what alternative you have planned. We have been doing deep litter the past few years and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
Thank you, Chrisi. We do a blended approach with rabbits. With cattle we do deep bedding throughout the winter. That's not optional, really, with our set up and works well. With rabbits, we do a light scraping every now and then and then add fresh. We also only add straw in corners for them to dig in and have warmth, but the rest of the bedding is wood shavings which we far prefer. I find everything cleaner, drier, and easier to manage that way and they still get their clumps of staw to burrow in.
Sorry having trouble commenting for some reason 🤦🏽♀️
Your set up is amazing! Well done! I have questions about your grow outs. Do you have problems with the males fighting before their butcher date? I find im always walking such a weird line of carcass size/weight VS happy rabbits who are not fighting.
No, I don't have much of a problem with that, Abbey.
I love both your rabbit's home and your poem. First, the rabbits look so happy there! I look at them as almost human since my husband and I are re-reading "Watership Down" and reveling in rabbits! Every night he reads to me for about 20 minutes until my first twitch of sleep. And...your poem gave me chills and misty eyes. It made me think about the "real" people whom I miss but carry with me always. Thanks once again for sharing your life.
Mhhh... beautiful poem. Moved to tears <3
I am so proud my rabbit house, built app 10 year ago, looks bit similar to yours:)!!!
Still it is with smaller compartments - so yours looks like real rabbit pallace.
I’d like to ask about aproximate space you planned for 6-8 rabbits? I will guess it might be about 10 sq meters or more?
They are so cute, and they do look happy! How long does it take you to pick those two bushels? How many rabbits does that feed? Can’t believe they eat so much every day!
Very cool! I’m still trying to wrap my mind around how colony set ups work. I think I get it . You had mentioned something about rabbits having access to the outside space as well? How does that work? Do you let them out during the daytime and close them up at night? No predator issues during the day? Thanks!
Yes, exactly Sarah. They're in electric fencing during the day. That fencing gets moved all the time as well. Everything here goes out during the day and gets locked up at night (except for cows which do their own thing because they're big enough to not look too delicious to our predators).
👍🏽Can you post a short video sometime of how they go in and out for the day? Where do the mamas and tiny ones hang out in their early days? Would love to see that part too:) thank you
I talk about that in the video. The young and mamas are always together. The babies don't go anywhere for a few weeks, just their nest.
Some strange reason I never received this one in my inbox hopefully my gmail is not censoring itself!!! I LOVE your bunny palace! They look so calm and at home! How often do you think you’ll have to clear out the bedding? That poem Tara….you are routinely told this, I know, but there is such emotion conveyed in each turn of phrase I am routinely brought to tears! Such love, beauty and reverence! I am so thankful of Richard for all he taught you and are able to share with us. I will think of you both if ever a blue feather crosses my path as I can’t recall ever seeing such where I live on the prairies!
This is amazing. Well done, Troy. And what a vision Tara. Inspired for sure. I love how you forage for your rabbits. I am currently planning our colony setup and live in a rural neighborhood. I have decent gardening space and since I don’t have woods/pasture to forage I would love to plant greens/herbs garden specifically for the rabbits. Any suggestions on what would be most beneficial to grow for them to eat (obviously in addition to hay and organic alfalfa pellets) Thanks so much as always for your time and wisdom.
It looks nice! What was the problem wird the system you‘ ve had before?
Are those just grow out pens? Is your breeding buck and breeding Mommas kept separate? What age do you usually process your growouts?
Hi Paula, I answered all that in the comment above. :)
Or maybe below, depending on how your view settings are set.
Thanks Tara.