I try to do something ‘homesteady’ every day, and today is no different. I began the morning with some fresh eggs which are thankfully back again after the girls went into hibernation during that deep arctic cold blast last week.
I had just used up my frozen stock and I needed eggs for a few things so I bought some at the local grocer, which I really, really hate doing. I did my best to pick the closest to ours brand I could find (which were the most expensive of course) and they seemed fine (except for the price!).
Until I compared them to my girl’s eggs…
Can you guess which one is ours? 😄
Now maybe the deep, rich color of our yolks doesn’t necessarily mean that ours are more nutritious, because according to my research it doesn’t, but it sure looks like it at first glance. Either way, I was happy to see the layers laying again because it is costing us money to keep them and again, as a modern-day homesteader, we aren’t in this for a hobby.
It’s one of the reasons we switched to the Buff Orpingtons. They seem much cold heartier than the other breeds we’ve had, even if they aren’t the prettiest. The prettiest ones, like these Wyandottes, didn’t fare as well in the long winters as these buffs do (even if they looked adorable in the snow lol)…
We get nearly twice the amount of eggs from the buffs which means it costs a lot less to keep them.
Speaking of cost-cutting, I also spent a few minutes making some homemade bread crumbs out of dried bread I’d been saving. Whenever we have a loaf, I save whatever is left over. I let it dry out completely, added a teaspoon of garlic powder, another of italian seasoning and a dash of salt and pepper and voila!
These are great for things like chicken fried steak or fried fish or moose meatloaf or whatever. And it’s much healthier than the boxed stuff that is full of preservatives. I vacuum seal it in the jar to keep it fresher longer and these are good for up to a year easily, if not more.
Not that they’ll last that long!
I find it really sad that we’ve lost so much of the skills and wisdom that had been passed from generation to generation in many of our families. Once we left the farms and went to live in the cities and suburbs we sort of gave all that up and it’s hard to get back.
Gardening, cooking, food saving, fishing, hunting and raising livestock are skills that can take years or even a lifetime to hone and really the heart of the modern day homestead movement is keeping these old ways alive and integrating them into our day to day lives.
I’m over here doing my best!
Empty Nest Homesteading 
To me the biggest difference in our free-range eggs is the flavor. I so miss that since we’ve had to buy eggs. We are going back to buff orpingtons this year too. They have been the hardiest, most reliable and nicest breed that we have had.
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I have definitely noticed the flavor and color go together! I’d say we long ago evolved to see nutrition in color, so no matter what the ‘science says’ I think they are healthier for sure!
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I take all those studies with a grain of salt because we know how easily data can be made to favor certain “stakeholders” profits.
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Yes, the flavor is definitely better and the yolk texture is creamier, too.
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You said it! The loss of essential skills is what keeps me going. It’s not good, I take it very seriously! And the thing is, it’s so rewarding. I’ve had loads of jobs and a couple careers over the years, and never did I get the same sense of satisfaction from any of them as I do from living close to nature and close to our food source and just ‘keeping home’. It was a stigma when I was growing up for sure, to be a housewife was a symbol of a simpleton or something, like rural living in general. Call me a simpleton, I guess, because I just love it! And, it’s not stressful. Sure, it’s hard, there’s ‘always something’ but it’s not that rat-race feeling of deadlines and bosses. I’m so glad to see it appealing to more folks, whether out of necessity or desire, and that we also have more folks to share our pleasures with! 😁
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That sums up my experiences, too. I used to work in high end spas giving facials and massages to wealthy, spoiled women haha. Now you couldn’t pay me to step foot in one of those places let alone work there again. Just totally not my thing anymore, I’d love to be even further out in the country!
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See, that’s just what the tech needs to fix, not the weather, but robots to give those women their spa treatments!
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You are doing great!!!! This suburb girl is in awe of your skills:)
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Thank you! It’s such a rewarding lifestyle, wish I could go full Amish sometimes! 😂
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