Today we’d like to introduce you to Adora Childs
Adora, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Our Homestead story started in Massachusetts a year before COVID. We wanted better food than what you could find in the store. As a former Chef I also wanted to learn to cook from dirt to table. From egg to roasted chicken. We had a 1/2 acre neighborhood lot where we grew veggies in the from yard and raised and processed chickens in the back. I learned to make tallow soap to start our journey on straying from unnecessary chemicals. In 2021 we sold everything,packed us, the dog and 2 cats into a 4 window school bus we converted and made our trek to Texas to find our new home. We found a 4.6 acre property that needed a lot of work (and still does) but it was home! We built a tiny house and got to work! We now have over 90 chickens, raise meat birds, have a chicken food garden as well as one for us. We had to relearn gardening here very different from what we are used to. We found local farms to source what we don’t have or can’t grow. We learned that you don’t have to do everything just work/trade with your other local farms. We now vend at the Waco and Salado Farmers Market every Saturday. We make a variety of items from fermented sauerkrauts and kimchi to tallow soaps tomoickled things. Come see us and all out handmade products!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Homesteading is never easy. Especially with new raw land and no equipment. Everything we do is done by hand, (by two people in their 40s).
Last year we learned how to deal with the flooding our property endures. We ended up losing 40 meat birds and half of the spring garden. (Alot for a small farm).
Even getting into good markets is a struggle especially if someone does something similar to you. Trying to do all the markets around to figure out which ones are good, which ones are just too far of a drive, and there are a lot of scam markets as well. Not to mention the weather during markets. It can be 20°-110°, super windy, or rain. But without struggles you cannot learn to over come them
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We love using locally sourced products, teaching other how to use them as well. Making sure every bit gets used up with as little waste as possible. Nothing is single use. We try to incorporate as much from our own farms as from others so if we are successful, everyone is. We can all learn from each and raise each other up.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Make sure you’re essential and apart of a self sufficient community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/rockygutterhomestead
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockygutterhomestead
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockygutterhomestead
Image Credits
Rocky Gutter Homestead
