I received an email from my wife’s aunt, Nan, who happens to be Heathcote Botanical Gardens’s Educational Coordinator. Her email was in regards to yesterday’s post on harvesting meat rabbits. She mentioned that she would be willing to run the camera for me to better show the process (one of two offers I received – thanks to Mr. Mike also!), since my wife and daughters wont. She went on to say that,
“…it is something I would consider for becoming sustainable. I know my grandfather, father and uncle hunted quail and we ate them for supper but didn’t stick around for much of the preparing. I vaguely remember some of the process. Somehow I would not like to see this lost to this generation soooooo if I learn it I can help pass it on.”
I love the statement, “I would not like to see this lost to this generation“. It brings home the fact that we are losing touch with our roots and our ability to provide for ourselves. Yes, working a job, then going to the store to buy food IS providing, but not directly, and not sustainably. If the trucks stop, so does the food supply.
But learn to raise some of your own food, and you develop a level of self reliance that is becoming scarce these days. I strongly believe that ANY skill that develops self reliance is a good thing.
So I am happy to be able to announce a way to learn a small bit of history in a fun way, and possibly develop some self reliance.
Heathcote Botanical Gardens is currently running a program to help children venture back in time and experience how life was without the amenities that many of us take for granted. “Pioneer Family Days” will take place on on March 16, April 20 and May 11. This weekend is themed “Survival”.
From 10am to 11am there will be a Survival Workshop featuring my friend, Amanda Thompson, of the Oxbow Eco-Center, demonstrating how to make a blow gun. (I’ve seen these, and they truly are amazing, fully capable of taking down small game.)
Later, join Mason Propst, Commander of the Raiders Team Port St. Lucie High School JROTC, and his team as they demonstrate how to make a shelter, display survival skills, and describe what mind set you must have to survive.
Everyone is also invited to make butter, wash clothes & wring them through the wringer and hang to dry, grind grain for flour and knead dough, as well as enjoy dulcimer music, food, games, and experience a hands-on taste of life in the 1880’s!
It runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $5 for members or $10 for nonmembers.
For more information, call 772-464-4672 or visit heathcotebotanicalgardens.org.
Go reconnect with your past, learn a lost skill, and be better prepared.
Or just go to have some good, family fun. I hope to see you there!
Peace,
db
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this sounds interesting but where ? in Fla ? Too far as nc here . As for eating rabbit doesnt one skin ’em like they do a squirrel ? like cat fish one skins ’em . Haven’t had rabbit or squirrel since a kid though . Oh the things I would love to do but i live in town and rent sighs yet i have chickens and a couple of ducks but have to keep penned up . I do tons of research on natural survival also and i am an ole lady ha . Been interested in the old ways since the 80’s . as for washing with a washer wringer machine i have done that , have also washed by hand and have my knuckles bleed as a washing machine was broke so yes know the rough life . [ or parts of it ] dry food as well as can or freeze too [ dried a lot of potatoes a couple of years ago and down to my last container now as thats what i had been eating ] ferment foods too [ last a long time in the ref live culture ] even ferment salsa yum . so many things one can do if one is willing to learn and i am . Yet all this i do alone as i am alone smiles .
Heathcote Botanical Gardens are in Ft. Pierce, FL.
Yes, we skin rabbits like you would a squirrel, normally. However, I “case skin” them like you would a fox, raccoon, muskrat or bobcat, so hat I can have the hide in one piece to be tanned.
IF you have ducks or chickens, you should be able to have a few rabbits….
I’m trying to recapture a lot of what I saw my grandparents doing when I was a child. I never really lost the skills, I just stopped using them for a while. I’m getting back up to speed now, thankfully.
Thanks for reading and taking time to comment.