The Rustic Journal
Notes from the paddock — every Sunday morning
This is where we share what we’ve learned (and what we’re still figuring out). From how we grow, build, fix and reuse—our blog is packed with seasonal how-to guides, honest farm updates and tips for living a little more self-sufficiently.
Whether you're starting your own homestead or just curious how we do things out here, we hope you’ll find something useful.
If there’'s a topic you want to know more about Contact Us and we’ll be sure to touch base and make an article to help others too
Why We Raise Livestock for Our Fridge
Thinking about raising your own meat? Learn how small-scale farmers can ethically raise sheep and goats for the freezer — no additives, no stress, just honest food
Electric Fencing for Hobby Farms: Pros, Cons & Practical Tips
Electric fencing can save you time, money and stress—especially if you’ve got livestock. We share how we use it on our hobby farm, why we started and what to know before setting it up
Preparing for Lambing and Kidding Season
Preparing for lambing and kidding season is essential for healthy offspring and low-stress birthing. Here's how we set up our sheep and goats for success each year
Managing Parasites in Sheep and Goats: Prevention and Treatment
Parasite control is vital for healthy sheep and goats. Learn how we manage parasites with rotational grazing, deworming, natural treatments like apple cider vinegar, and overall good management practices to keep our animals healthy and thriving
Why You Should Choose Goats for Your Small Farm
Thinking about adding goats to your small farm or homestead? We break down why goats — especially Boer goats — are such a great fit for small acreages
Reused, Recycled and Repurposed Items on the Farm
At Rustic Harvest Homestead, we’re passionate about sustainability. Learn how we’ve reused, recycled, and repurposed materials from the old vineyard and beyond for various farm projects
Feeding Sheep and Goats: What Works for Us
Feeding sheep and goats isn’t one-size-fits-all. Over the years, we’ve worked out a seasonal approach that suits our climate and animals—using pasture rotation, hay, grain and veggie scraps in the right balance. Here’s what works for us and why
How to Save Seeds from Your Flower Garden
Saving seeds from your flowers is a simple way to build up your stock year to year. Here’s how we do it at Rustic Harvest to keep our garden growing strong
Feeding Sheep and Goats Through the Seasons
Feeding livestock changes with the seasons. We share how we manage sheep and goat nutrition throughout the year, from pasture grazing and hay supplementation to special care during pregnancy and seasonal challenges
Why We Chose Goats — And What Breed Suited Our Small Farm
When we decided to add goats to Rustic Harvest, we wanted a breed that would suit a small farm like ours. After plenty of research, we landed on Boer goats — and they’ve been the perfect fit
What We're Planting for Our Pastures This Year
This year, we’re planting a blend of grasses and legumes to improve the quality of our pastures, support rotational grazing and enhance soil health. Find out which crops we’re adding to our paddocks and how they benefit our livestock
The Importance of Rotational Grazing
Rotational grazing is a key practice for maintaining healthy pastures, improving livestock health and promoting soil regeneration. Here’s why it’s essential for sustainable farming and how it can benefit your land and animals
Choosing the Best Sheep Breed for Our Farm
Choosing the right sheep breed is a big decision. Here’s why we picked Australian White Dorpers for our small farm. When we brought livestock onto the farm, we weren’t just after animals — we wanted the right fit for how we live and farm
Removing the Vineyard
Clearing 120 acres of old vineyard wasn’t a quick job. It took us two and a half years to remove the wire, dripper, posts and vines—but doing it ourselves gave us a clean slate to start building Rustic Harvest from the ground up.
How We Started With Bees
Clearing our old vineyard left us with thousands of timber posts—and one surprising trade. After weeks of giving them away, a simple chat with a fellow hobby farmer landed us our first beehive. We had no gear and no idea what we were doing, but that’s how beekeeping began at Rustic Harvest.
Bruno the Goat (aka our accidental first kid)
The story of how one tiny goat changed everything.
