Butchering day on our homestead. I chose to include my toddler in the process, not to expose her to harshness, but to ground her in reality. Food doesn’t magically appear wrapped in plastic. Life feeds life. And when we honor that truth early, we raise children who are grateful, not entitled. Before anything else, she said her goodbyes. This was the hardest part for my Mama heart as she once held these hens as babies, but this is how we build a foundation of understanding. Here’s how we utilized the entire bird: ~The whole hen → simmered low and slow into rich, mineral dense broth ~The meat → nourishing meals for our family ~The livers → cooked for a simple, protein rich breakfast (my personal favorite!) ~The feet → given to the dogs (excellent for joints and teeth) ~The feathers → saved for a future crafts and learning projects This is about stewardship. Homestead skills are best passed down through observation and hands on experience.When children see this from the beginning, they learn that provision comes with responsibility. This is what it looks like to raise children with the land instead of apart from it. To teach them where nourishment comes from. To let them see the full circle of life. This is slow living. This is intentional parenthood on a homestead.