Spacial solutions “Space… the final frontier…” Well, kinda… A more fitting intro for this piece on urban meat farming would be, “Space, the lack thereof is a CONSTANT challenge…” (still spoken in Leonard Nimoy’s voice, of course). At least, that’s what it feels like when you’re not blessed with acreage and still want to grow...
An Ounce of Prevention Generally, I find people would like to maintain peace of mind and avoid panic-inducing situations. I strive for the “peace of preparedness,” the calm possession of a plan and the means to execute it. We’ve all seen the power of panic, the lines to get fuel when there’s a shortage, the...
In the world of rabbits, the number of breeds is astounding. Dwarfs to giants, Netherlands to New Zealand, even some named after LIONS of all things! The names and sizes vary so much that we aren’t going to list them all here. We are going to focus on meat rabbit breeds. If you have an...
Rabbits: Livestock of Agorism, Volunteerism, and Anarchism
Inspiration “Rabbit math is the fastest math you’ll ever know!” The old man proclaimed as I looked at his clean, home-made 24 doe cage system. His rabbits weren’t pure New Zealand rabbits, but they were clean, healthy and the right shape. He had a system, a process of producing food, RIGHT out of the shed...
Arizona definitely is a unique place to raise meat rabbits. The hot summers make outdoor rabbit husbandry difficult, but not impossible. The miserable June through August months can hit 120 degrees, true, but that hasn’t stopped the 2000 years of farming this valley has seen. Ancient Arizona Farmers When modern settlers founded Phoenix AZ, they built it from...
One of the simplest forms of rabbit husbandry is the colony style meat rabbit or colony style rabbitry. The style best mimics what the European rabbits would do in the wild. The European common rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, is the source of most domesticated breeds. If left to their instincts, the domestic-bred rabbits will follow their European heritage patterns. The Warren...
I’m no stranger to the anxiety of starting out. Whether we’re talking about a new hobby, job or business, we experience some “change anxiety.” I’ve found myself asking, “what am I doing? Have I done enough research? Am I making the right decision?” Starting out with rabbits gave me the same feeling. In the beginning of...
Slow cooked rabbit with chorizo and mushrooms Slow cooked rabbit with chorizo and mushroom 1 rabbit, cut into 8 pieces. 9 ounces field mushrooms, cleaned and thickly sliced 1/2 dried chorizo sausage, sliced 2 cinnamon sticks 1 onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, sliced 2 bay leaves (I prefer fresh) Salt and pepper 11/2 cups...
Episode 8 of the We Grow Ours Show: Prepping, Urban Farming and Homesteading with Nick and Don. In this episode we discuss various options for homesteading in the city or in a small area. Hostile Hare hasa lot of info on this subject that can be veiwed Here. Be sure to check us out on...
Raw Pet Food Feeders I’ve met a LOT of interesting people while working with wabbits… Preppers, homesteaders, 4hers, FFAers, and many others that don’t fall into a neat “ers” category. One of the groups of “ers,” the raw pet food feeders, has caught my attention as of late. I have a small pack of mismatched...
How do you provide water and power for your off-grid homestead? Let’s be honest. It’s hard to live without electricity- even if you want to. A Boston-based clean-tech company explores a unique way of living off the grid with a turnkey solution. You can purify water and generate electricity straight from a small metal shipping container....
We at Hostile Hare are all about growing our own food. It’s hard to miss that point, but did you know that the rabbits were originally purchased as part of an alternative fuels experiment? In 2009 five female rabbits were purchased for the purpose of pelletizing unorganized biomass I.E. grass clippings and other landscape debris. ...
Sure it sounds like a desperate cry from someone feeling inadequate… but its true, bigger isn’t better! I know, I know, the statement tends to take your mind down a dark and somewhat inappropriate road, so let me put us on the right track… we are talking homesteading. And when we are homesteading in a...
INTRODUCING THE URBAN FARMING WORM BAG VERSION 2.0! THE DURABLE, BREATHABLE, ATTRACTIVE HOME WORM BIN SOLUTION INTRODUCING THE URBAN FARMING WORM BAG VERSION 2.0! THE DURABLE, BREATHABLE, ATTRACTIVE HOME WORM BIN SOLUTION Create organic fertilizer inside your home or apartment using nothing more than common household waste like newsprint, cardboard, and food waste. I’m adding...
The Reason Everybody knows that having over 10 rabbits on water bottles is a royal pain in the patootie… And for somebody that’s trying to raise animals as efficiently as possible, water bottles just ain’t going to cut it… the answer? Rabbit Nipples! That being said, not everybody has the facility with indoor plumbing necessary...
Many of us that have entered the cuniculture world (meat and fur rabbits) did so because we want to know where our food comes from. We want to make sure our livestock is treated a certain way, harvested in a humane manner, and that the animals’ diet is free from substances that we would avoid...
Lessons From The Farm You could say I learned a few lessons from the farm, some self-taught, but some were as follows… “I swear you’re about as worthless as tits on a boar! ” My uncle’s words still ring in my ears… “Yes, sir, when God said ‘let there be brains’ you thought he said...
My name is Nick Klein and I’m a carnivore… There are not many things that I enjoy more than a big juicy steak, rotisserie chicken, or any number of meaty treats. But it seems lately the reports of E coli and salmonella outbreaks, animal cruelty at feedlots, and inhumane methods of dispatching animals are increasing...
There’s a lot of hypothetical situations for a grid down, SHTF scenario, and widespread apocalyptic events. And a question that goes along with preparing for such a breakdown is this: how do you keep your humanity when the SHTF or do you abandon it?I don’t claim to be an expert on sociological for psychological theory,...
The H.O.P. Everybody knows that I’m big on bunnies… Cute, fluffy and delicious! But did you know that I’m also into quail, black soldier fly larvae, fish and aquaponics in general? Not only do I raise these creatures but we at Hostile Hare have figured out a way to integrate all of these into the...
Hypotheticals There’s a lot of hypothetical situations for a grid down, SHTF scenario, and widespread apocalyptic events. A question that goes along with preparing for such a breakdown is this: how do you keep your humanity or do you abandon it during such an event? I don’t claim to be an expert on sociological for...
I don’t like starting out a conversation with the negative aspects of raising rabbits. They truly are the perfect urban livestock. They are quiet, clean and super efficient. Chances are you’ve already decided that and agree with me. Rabbits are easy to raise, as long as you do it right! So once you’ve decided to...
Sour Cream Rabbit Enchiladas…let’s make it for dinner tonight! Easy recipe, amazing results – you’ll be making these over and over! Sour Cream Rabbit Enchiladas Rabbit Enchiladas – Ingredients: 10 small soft flour tortillas3 tablespoons flour2 cups chicken broth1 cup sour cream2 1/2 cups shredded and cooked rabbit meat3 cups Shredded Monterey Jack cheese3 tablespoons...
Bokashi composting and Rabbits with Morgan of Bokashi Evolution. Are you ready for a different composting method for your rabbit manure and kitchen waste? Then Bokashi is for YOU! This week on the We Grow Ours show, Nick talks rabbits and composting with his in-studio guest! Morgan joins him, and takes Dons place this week! Nick goes...
Beekeeper Dan Punch of The Punch Honeybee Company joins the We Grow Ours show to talk bees with Nick and Don. The Punch Honeybee Company has set out to change the way we react to swarms, hives and the like. Dan Punch not only rescues bees and relocates hives; he participates in public addresses and clubs to...
This week, the guys of We Grow Ours are talking Solar Cooking in the Sun Oven! They review SUN OVENS® and chat with the owner, Paul, all about what we can do with it. Don has put his Sun Oven through some major testing, and it has really held up! Solar Cooking in the Sun Oven For the past...
The Phoenix Grow Your Own Food Summit is coming next month. This week on the We Grow Ours Show, the guys have Kari and Greg from the GrowPhx Summit. If you want to know how to turn your backyard into a food producing oasis – this could be the summit for you. Speakers in...
Let’s talk livestock integration! This week on the We Grow Ours show, the guys go live for their first broadcast on 1100 KFNX Phoenix. They are reviewing an earlier show on BackYard Livestock Integration with rabbits, quail, and aquaponics. BackYard Livestock Integration Rabbits Nick does some impressive rabbit math to show us how much meat...
In this episode, Nick’s Awesome Origin: Farming and Homesteading… We all start somewhere…and this week the guy’s are talking to Nick’s dad, Jerry, a farmer, and cattleman. Following in his own father’s footsteps, Jerry is farming the family acres. Nick, Don and Jerry talk history, conventional farming’s pros and cons and a farmer’s view on...
Small Livestock Integration On this episode of We Grow Ours the topic is Small Livestock Integration. Using nature as the example this way of raising livestock creates a natural self-regulating organism. The goal is to create a system that has very little input and produces the maximum amount of food. But this integration is more...
Will Allen of Growing Power, Inc. Will Allen of Growing Power, Inc joins the We Grow Ours podcast this week. You might recognize Will from the movie Fresh. Will is the founder and CEO of Growing Power Inc with several urban gardens. He is also the teacher and proponent of the urban farm movement in...
Bees and Monsanto Today we bring you the second part of the bee series – bees and Monsanto. Dan Punch joins Nick and Don on this podcast. A beekeeper and rescuer, Dan knows bees; including “Africanized” bees. What’s a colony collapse? What is Monsanto doing to the bees? What about neonicotinoids and pesticides? Dan shares...
Beekeeping and BeePods on this episode of We Grow Ours. Join the guys as they talk about these amazing furry creatures that are so important to our food system. Beekeeping and the BeePod They’ll also be discussing the crisis that bees are in right now and why we should all be concerned about the...
Solar power is the topic of We Grow Ours Episode 7. Nick and Don welcome Chris Frye of Alternative Energy Inc. to talk solar power. If solar power is something you’d like in your home then you don’t want to miss this episode. Chris has owned Alternative Energy Inc. for the last 14 years and has built a...
Edible bugs? Heck yeah! On this episode of WeGrowOurs Podcast, we talk edible insects with Tiny-farms with a bit of politics with Don & Nick. So could or would you eat bugs? Let us know in the comments! Edible bugs? Heck yeah! On this episode of WeGrowOurs Podcast, we talk edible insects with Tiny-farms with a bit of politics with Don &...
Quail and Prepping On this episode of We Grow Ours we talk Quail and Prepping with Scott Yarosh. We’re talking prepping styles, reasons behind prepping and food storage. Then Scott of the Yarosh homestead shares his expert knowledge on raising quail on the backyard homestead. Be sure to check us out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr...
The Black Soldier Fly Come find out how the black soldier fly can help you on your homestead. This episode we welcome Karl from Compostemania.com and thebiopod.com and a black soldier fly expert! Be sure to check us out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube!
Homesteading and Urban Farming FAQ’s From We Grow Ours The We Grow Ours Podcast is answering FAQ’s on Homesteading and Urban Farming this week! As you know Nick from Hostile Hare is part of the awesome duo that is We Grow Ours. This week they are answering questions from their listeners. This week’s FAQ’s cover...
Survival Gardening Is survival gardening part of your prepping plan? While we are advocates of creating a survival pantry those are eventually going to run out. So today we bring you tips for your one survival garden. Of course, we also think your survival homestead should include rabbits. Check out this episode on Small Live Integration:...
On the latest episode of We Grow Ours we are talking Bokashi: Urban Farm Friendly Compost! What is Bokashi? Bokashi is an accelerated way to compost and have that black gold ready for your garden beds. We welcome Morgan of Bokashi Evolution and get all the Bokashi details. “ Bokashi, Urban Farm Friendly Compost, composting is...
Fodder for Feeding Food Fodder for feeding didn’t happen for me overnight. When I started out raising rabbits I took the route of every first time cuniculturist, I bought a bag of rabbit pellets and started feeding 4 ounces a day. It was easy, affordable, and functional. My first four does I had in a...
Yard Sale Prepping Yard sale prepping is perfect for those of us on a budget. In our economy we have to use our funds wisely and still be prepared. There are many items that can be found and purchased at yard sales and thrift stores that will help your efforts with huge discounts. This...
Rabbit Meat Storing and Cooking Rabbit meat storing and cooking safety isn’t complicated but because it is a meat that hasn’t been commonly eaten many people are unsure about it. I got a call from a friend yesterday that was worried about her rabbit meat. She had defrosted it on the counter and then it...
The Best Pig For Small Homesteads Have you wondered what the best pig for small homesteads would be? Sure the Berkshire is a great heritage pig, but they also weigh 600 lbs at full maturity; not exactly an animal for a small scale farm. A pot belly pig could be a choice but they are...
Meat rabbits and cubed poo; quite a title! Today on the latest episode of We Grow Ours Nick and Don are talking to rabbiteer Boyd Craven. Boyd is the author of several meat rabbit books and the inventor of the new Cube-It press. Boyd has a lot to share about raising rabbits for food and...
Pick Your Poison: A Look at Urban Farming “Pick your poison” the bartender grunted with half a smirk as he washed cups behind the bar, it was probably the most clever thing he’d come up with all day. I really doubt he knew how long that line would last in...
Using Coffee Grounds In Your Garden Using coffee grounds in your garden can produce some amazing effects. If you’re gardening, you’ll want to consider these tips; even if you aren’t a coffee drinker. Transcript for Using Coffee Grounds In Your Garden below over the years we’ve added hundreds of pounds of used coffee grounds to...
3 Pillars of Independence In homesteading and prepping Motive A motivational drive to the survivalist life is independence. Some folks, including myself, want to know they can make it on their own. We stockpile food, ammo, guns and other supplies we feel are pertinent to our independent survival. So now you do the same…...
