2025 Here We Come : Homesteading Plans

Every year we all fall victim of not fulfilling our New Year’s resolutions… Personally I am one of those people who makes a long list of plan and goals for the up coming year and then a couple months in something changes. This year I’m going to hold myself to it, by writing this blog and coming back to it at the end of the year!

First and foremost HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! 2024 was such an awful year for us here at Diamond TA Homestead but I have a feeling 2025 is going the an amazing one! Let us dive on in on what I have in store for 2025.

Rabbits

It's well known that I introduced a new breed of bunnies at the end of 2024. This means my rabbitry will need stricter guidelines on what is retained and what is released. My goal is to have two bucks and three does in each breed by the end of 2025. I plan to keep kits until they are 14 weeks old before offering them to other show or breeding homes. My focus is on meeting weight requirements, having excellent body and fur types, and ensuring friendly personalities, and I believe this timeframe will help me achieve all these criteria!

This year, I aim to transition from my current setup to something more practical. I'm hoping to create more space for additional cages in our small bunny barn. I want to retain junior rabbits for future parent replacements when necessary or if the adults out produced themselves.

Cattle

There's a substantial amount of work ahead with our cattle. Although it might seem straightforward, it will indeed require significant effort and expense. This year, we plan to separate Poker in late winter or early spring and reintroduce him in late fall or early winter. Our goal is to synchronize our girls for fall calving in 2026. We think this approach is the simplest way to ensure none of our females miss a breeding season.

With that in mind, we also intend to add one or two new cows to the herd this year without replacing any of our older girls just yet. Additionally, we aim to take out some of our old fence lines and install new ones. This will allow us to start a pasture rotation and provide a suitable area for calves when it's time for them to start weaning.

New Animals

In 2025, I plan to introduce a new animal for us to begin breeding: the small and the feathery Coturnix Quail. These birds will be raised for both meat and eggs, particularly for making pickled eggs as a healthy snack. I am not looking to have a large flock of them. Maybe have two pens with one roo and four to six hens in them. I am currently in contact with a few breeders known for their colorful quails and am thrilled to share what we acquire once they arrive!

In The Kitchen

I have a variety of exciting activities I want to begin in the kitchen! One of these is starting a small home bakery. I've been selling sourdough bread to friends and family, but I'm looking to expand sales to earn some extra income. This year, I plan to bake various cakes, cupcakes, and cookie cakes to improve my baking skills, with the goal of starting to sell these delicious products locally by the end of the year or in 2025.

I am also interested in restarting canning. Although canning is familiar to me, I haven't had a garden in the past few years. I prefer not to can products that I haven't grown myself. Fortunately, I've made some friends that I trust that have wonderful gardens who are more than happy to sell or trade some of their produce with me to make this year canning products possible. I hope to have pickles, jams, and salsa available sometime this year!

This aligns with the health aspect of my goals, particularly in terms of kitchen activities. I plan to create many of our own seasonings and snacks. This involves making crackers, candies, chips, and similar items. I've purchased a book, which I haven't received yet, that contains numerous recipes for naturally aiding in sickness, guiding us towards using more natural products. At the end of the day I want to spend less time at Walmart or Sam's getting unhealthy products when I can make a lot of the stuff at home that are healthier with less products and a lot tastier.

Health and Fitness

Last year, my health improved significantly compared to previous years. I think this is largely because I reduced my consumption of processed snacks, made fewer trips to the store, and avoided being around people that I know are sick. I've always had a weak immune system, which has been a persistent challenge for me and likely will continue to be. I don't let this stop me from doing the stuff I love but it does make it a bit challenging at times.

This year, my primary focus isn't on losing weight but rather on becoming healthier. My workout schedule includes rest or quick yoga sessions on Sunday and Wednesday, walking, running, or indoor biking on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, and using the FitOn App for workouts on Tuesday and Friday. Although losing weight isn't my main goal, I aim to lose three to five pounds by the end of every month. It's not something I will stress over it, but I do want to monitor my progress throughout the year.

Gardening

It seems I won't have a vegetable garden in spring 2025, but I plan to prepare an area for fall. My focus in the spring will be on the flower bed and starting an herb garden to create homemade spices. I'll be drafting some ideas and plans this month and am excited to share them with you all.

Home Improvements

This is definitely getting done this year. I'm fed up with the clutter and my inability to get organized. I'm also tired of the brown walls all over the house. Painting, packing things up, and having a yard sale are all going to happen, and I'm not going to wait for Thomas to feel like helping me, or I'll be waiting another three years! It's not a priority for him because he's never home to see it all like I am which is okay because I know that man is busy! So it looks like I will be teaching myself how to use a sander and fill in holes in the walls!

Social Media and More

Social media is a significant part of my homesteading journey! Although I don't post on my personal account often, I love sharing about our animals and their lively antics on my Facebook page and Instagram. I want to be more consistent on social media, aiming for four to six posts daily and a reel every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. This isn't a hard set schedule but rather a guideline to help me stay connected with everyone. Regarding my blogs, there will definitely be a post on the 15th of each month. However, I might occasionally add extra posts on the 1st if time permits and I have additional content ready!

I am optimistic that 2025 will be one of the best years I've experienced in a long while, even if not all my plans see it all through. My main overall goal is to enjoy life by focusing on creating a healthier lifestyle for myself and my family. I want to cherish my time with my animals, friends, and family, and take things at a more relaxed pace. I am in no hurry to accomplish these goals, even though I would love to see them get done this year! I hope everyone had a wonderful 2024 and I wish for an even better 2025 for you!