FAIT
H^ C
OOKGazette(^12) September/October 2019
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Of all the articles I’ve written, this one is the closest to my heart because it
serves as a reminder that no matter how long we do this homesteading thing,
we’ll always need good mentors. The week before I sat down to write this, my teenage
daughter lost a goat kid during her very first kidding.
Many factors played into the loss: an inexperienced vet, very big triplets, malpre-
sentation, stalled labor, insufficient dilation, an emergency cesarean, and toxemia. As
soon as the kids were delivered and the doe stitched up, the vet sent us on our way,
despite the fact that all three kids were still wet, cold, unconscious, and barely breath-
ing. We weren’t allowed the time to properly warm and revive the kids before travel-
ing 25 minutes to our home. The doe couldn’t tend them because she was still heavily
sedated and unaware of her surroundings. Within minutes of starting the warming
process at home, the first kid died. In less than 24 hours, our doe declined, developing
a fever, going off feed and water, and becoming lethargic. Had we not been blessed
with a long line of goat mentors, we would’ve lost all four lives.
We’re not new to homesteading, just fairly new goat owners going through our
first kidding season. We've been building a small homestead for many years now, with
FIND YOUR HOMESTEAD MENTOR
Use these tips to discover a mentor in your area.
By Kristi Cook
countless successes under our belts. We
owe much of our success to detailed and
thorough research before embarking on
a new area of interest, utilizing only the
best sources for accurate and up-to-date
information. Despite all of our prepara-
tions, we’ve learned it’s often difficult
to apply book knowledge to our farm
without the help of mentors and their
years of experience. So, if I could offer
only one piece of wisdom, it would be
to seek and find capable mentors in all
your endeavors.
Guides in Unexpected Places
Locating a trustworthy mentor can
prove difficult at times. Sometimes
there’s a generation gap that keeps new
homesteaders from meeting experienced
ones, simply because they don’t frequent
the same places. Or maybe there’s a lack
of people with the requisite knowledge.
Whatever the case, just be sure not to
overlook the most obvious mentors.
My mom was my first mentor, even
before I knew I needed one. Despite not
being a homesteader herself, she taught
me how to garden, raise chickens, can
food, and have a heart for this world’s
creatures. I’m now in my mid-40s, but I
still call on her when I have a question
or need help.
I found my beekeeping mentor by
accident when I asked my dad if he
happened to know anyone with a honey
extractor. Turns out, he knew a com-
mercial beekeeper who, unbeknownst
to me, lives just down the road. Had I
been frequenting the local beekeeping
association meetings, I’d have met the
man sooner, which would’ve made my
first summer with bees a lot easier.
Advice from Near and Far
Many homesteading skills have an
associated local club. You can find bee-
keeping clubs, candle and soap making
guilds, tanner’s associations, weaver’s
clubs, and more. Most often, an online
search will give you many options from
which to choose. Depending on your
location, you may have to travel to make
the meetings, but it’ll be well worth it.