Please join me in welcoming Ashley from The Browning Homestead as our Local Perspective today! Ashley lives in Montana on a gorgeous homestead and while I’m not sure I could handle the winters, her summer pictures have been reinforcing the pull I’ve been feeling to literally move to greener pastures!
Ashley, is a strong woman who regularly inspires me just by living her life and striving towards a more sustainable existence. She has inspired her family to go paper free in the bathroom (a step we have yet taken), believes firmly that Apple Cider Vinegar works wonders in the Everything Department, pulls herself up by her own bootstraps through rougher winters than I can even imagine and writes beautifully and profoundly about the livestock on her homestead that she cares so very much about.
I truly hope you enjoy getting to know Ashley as much as I have! She is one homesteader that, despite the miles between us, I truly consider a friend!
xoxo,
M
*****
Defining local in Montana for me is a bit tricky. Montana is considered Zone 3/4 as far as growing seasons go. It’s completely landlocked. And winter lasts for 7-8 months. Which means the growing season is pretty.darn.short. So defining local has been a challenge. But one we try to navigate through at all times.
We define local as ANYWHERE in Montana. I figure the apple that comes from Northwest Montana is alot closer than the clementine from Florida in January. If I can’t source something locally, I try to support family ran businesses, such as our local grocery store. We are also very fortunate that our grocery store carries many local foods. A few years ago an online Farmer’s Market opened that brings farmer’s produce to everyone in Southwest Montana. That being said, we purchase about 75% of our food locally or that we raised.
Knowing where our food comes from and how it was cared for is important to us. It not only ensures we are getting quality products but it helps us feel at ease knowing the food (meat and veggies) lived a good life. Veggies deserve a good life too! One tended to carefully and without chemicals sprayed on them. Animals require the utmost care as well. A pig should get to be a pig and a cow, a cow. Allowing animals to be themselves gives us good, nutrient dense meat to nourish our bodies and soul.
And the only way I can make sure of that, is to buy local or raise my own. Know your farmers and know how your food was raised.
When I started really thinking about what Montana has to offer for local foods, I realized that even though our winters are long we have access to some great food!
- Wheat flours
- Barley
- Chickpeas
- Oats
- Lentils
- Beans
- Honey
- Milk, cheese, and butter (cows and goats)
- Wild game meat
- Beef, pork, and poultry
- Most veggies (with a greenhouse)
- Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries (Flathead Cherries are the best!), Raspberries, and Strawberries
And from that list, I think you can make just about anything. As for the other little things (like salt, spices, oils and coffee) I let my local rule go. Remember that just 100 years ago, homesteaders were able to go to a small local store and order from larger cities for things like salt, linens, and such.
What I can’t find locally, we try to raise it ourselves on our homestead. We have a big garden where we put up the produce for the year. While it doesn’t last us a whole year yet, that is what we are striving for. We also have a small herd of milk cows that provide us with milk and meat (bull calves). That milk provides us with most of our dairy needs. We raised 50 meat chickens this past summer for ourselves.
Here’s a little secret I haven’t told anyone yet….I might be tired of chicken!
And another secret….I SPLURGE on Utah peaches every year. They are so delicious and we enjoyed 30lbs of canned peaches winter!
I really find it fun (and sad at times) raising our own food and sourcing out local producers. Its quite the challenge to navigate the food system. I mean, whats the fun in going to the grocery store and seeing the same old stuff there everytime?
When you eat local food, one week you may be devouring asparagus and the next month you are swimming in strawberries. Keeps you guessing 😉
Ashley can be found blogging at The Browning Homestead where she writes about life on a homestead, farming, raising farm kids, and enjoying the good life. Please join her and her adventures on Facebook and Pinterest.
