Homesteading: Taking Steps Toward Self-Reliance - 27 East

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Homesteading: Taking Steps Toward Self-Reliance

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Young Angora rabbits enjoying the fresh grass. COURTESY RACHEL STEPHENS

Young Angora rabbits enjoying the fresh grass. COURTESY RACHEL STEPHENS

Happy chickens enjoying an early spring day. COURTESY RACHEL STEPHENS

Happy chickens enjoying an early spring day. COURTESY RACHEL STEPHENS

Ewes Kelly and Belle just after shearing. COURTESY RACHEL STEPHENS

Ewes Kelly and Belle just after shearing. COURTESY RACHEL STEPHENS

Rachel Stephens and one of her customers, Dr. Stephany Meng. LISA DAFFY

Rachel Stephens and one of her customers, Dr. Stephany Meng. LISA DAFFY

Ben Stephens next to Sweet Woodland Farm’s nesting boxes. LISA DAFFY

Ben Stephens next to Sweet Woodland Farm’s nesting boxes. LISA DAFFY

A resident of Rachel Stephens’S chicken coop. LISA DAFFY

A resident of Rachel Stephens’S chicken coop. LISA DAFFY

Canned beans and pickles from the Stephenses' garden. LISA DAFFY

Canned beans and pickles from the Stephenses' garden. LISA DAFFY

Jars of dried herbs from the Stephenses' garden. LISA DAFFY

Jars of dried herbs from the Stephenses' garden. LISA DAFFY

Rachel Stephens with some brightly dyed wool from Kelly and Belle. LISA DAFFY

Rachel Stephens with some brightly dyed wool from Kelly and Belle. LISA DAFFY

Rachel Stephens spins yarn from the wool of her sheep and rabbits. LISA DAFFY

Rachel Stephens spins yarn from the wool of her sheep and rabbits. LISA DAFFY

Home-spun wool is used to make hats, scarves and other clothing for the family. LISA DAFFY

Home-spun wool is used to make hats, scarves and other clothing for the family. LISA DAFFY

Rachel Stephens showing off a hand-crafted scarf she made from homegrown wool. She also made the hat she’s wearing. LISA DAFFY

Rachel Stephens showing off a hand-crafted scarf she made from homegrown wool. She also made the hat she’s wearing. LISA DAFFY

Billie, the Stephenses’ pet turkey, on her way to the vet. COURTESY RACHEL STEPHENS

Billie, the Stephenses’ pet turkey, on her way to the vet. COURTESY RACHEL STEPHENS

author on Mar 13, 2016
“Johnny Cash is in with the ducks again,” Rachel Stephens says—to the confusion of a visitor, looking around for the Man in Black. Instead, she spies a gregarious black rooster... more

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