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Run Rabbit Run

On Monday I posted this on my facebook page:
It was really interesting to read peoples responses, which continued to come in all evening. I posted a pic on instagram, which also got some questions from friends.
People were quite divided (though thankfully, respectful) about the thought of shooting or slaughtering your own meat. Many people said that they understood why we would eat rabbit, but didn’t think that they could do it themselves.
To be honest, the whole gutting thing grosses me out – so Country Boy does that before he brings home rabbit. We paid to get our pig slaughtered, mainly because of the hassle involved in doing it ourselves. However, I would be lying if I didn’t admit that the thought of having to slaughter our own pig really did not appeal to me.
Despite this squeamishness on my part, I can’t help but think that it is better that we know where our meat comes from. It forces us to value the meat, and use it wisely. It ensures that the animal has a good life, and is treated humanely. 
Eating rabbit is a sustainable way of getting protein. Rabbits are a huge pest – they do a lot of damage to the environment. In addition, they don’t need to be fed, unlike pigs, cows, and sheep. And because they breed, well – ‘like rabbits’, there is a plentiful supply.
In many ways, we are so removed from how our food is produced. It all comes neatly packaged in plastic and jars, and many people pay little attention to what is in the package or how it got there. We get the sanitised version. Chicken is no longer a luxury, because we no longer have to take the axe out and kill it ourselves.
To me there is something good and honest about growing our own vegetables, and eating our own meat. I can trust it. I can trust that the vegetables are fresh. I can trust that the animal has been treated well. I love that our kids know where their food comes from. When people talk about the simple life, this is really what they are talking about. 
Any way, we all loved the rabbit pie. We had left overs for dinner last night and it was even better on the second night!
P.S. Rabbit tastes kind of like chicken – but doesn’t everything?
What do you think? Could you eat meat you slaughtered or shot yourself? Have I just been watching too much River Cottage?

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Comments

  1. A Farmer's Wife says

    July 3, 2012 at 12:07 am

    By definition any meat we eat has been slaughtered by someone. I think who does it is not an issue as long as it is done humanely. Whether your husband does it or you buy the meat wrapped in plastic from Coles the process would have been similar.

    We slaughter and butcher our own sheep sometimes. I agree with you – at least you know where it came from.

    Reply
    • Jo says

      July 3, 2012 at 2:47 am

      I know! I do wonder where some people think their meat comes from!

      Reply
  2. Surely Sarah says

    June 27, 2012 at 9:24 am

    I fully support the hunting and killing of your own meat. One question – aren't you worried about myximitosis? Probably not spelled right :/

    Reply
    • Jo says

      July 3, 2012 at 2:46 am

      Hadn't really thought about myximitosis. Asked CB who said that most rabbits are now fairly immune to it. Also you can tell whether they are sick, and wouldn't eat it.

      Reply
  3. Anne@GtSlamseysFarm says

    June 27, 2012 at 8:44 am

    I agree with you on every count Jo. We get our pigs slaughtered and I get Bill to skin the rabbits (on the basis that if I do it once then it will always be my job). Have you tried cooking rabbit with Sambuca (or other aniseed based drink)? Delicious.

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Jo

I'm a city girl turned farmer's wife, school teacher, ideas woman, and mum to three country kids. Country Life Experiment is all about simple country living, growing and making our own food, and life on our family farm in rural Australia. Join me as I give country living a try. Read more...
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Team work makes the dream work. We were asked rec Team work makes the dream work. 
We were asked recently whether we “make” our kids work on the farm. The answer is “of course not”. Having said that, all three love to help out whenever they can. They all work hard because they want to; because they take pride in working hard and contributing in a meaningful way to our family life; because they love living on our farm and don’t remember life before we moved here. Whether it be planting trees or doing sheep work or feeding animals, they all want to be involved. As a parent, nothing is better than watching them grow in skill and confidence as they work along side you. We’re so glad that we get to spend time with our three, working together.
We’ve had an unexpected addition to the family ☘️🐑. She is a lot easier to look after than the other family members but she does try to escape her yard and head butt people. Poddy lambs are super cute but they tend to think they are a human. Clover the lamb is sure that Meg is her mum. Can’t think why… 🤔🤣
The perfect way to end a long winter weekend: toge The perfect way to end a long winter weekend: together, cooking damper around the remains of the bonfire.
It’s been a tough few weeks on the farm. We got It’s been a tough few weeks on the farm. We got through shearing without a hitch (thankfully 🙏) but we’ve had a run of the flu followed by Covid run through the family since then. The kids and I have tested positive (this is my second time getting it 🦠) though so far C has managed to avoid it. There has been a lot of lying on the couch feeling pretty ordinary. Han had to reschedule her driving test for a 4th time due to Covid, which is disappointing for her because she wants her freedom and for us because it would be so much more convenient if she could drive herself places. Just to add in to the mix, our hot water system has chosen now as a good time to die so we’re on cold showers until we’re all out of iso. This is not meant to be a whinging post but sometimes life just sucks a bit and it’s good to be real. Fortunately, the sight of the fire going with a stack of wood next to it cheers us up. Things will improve soon. Onwards we go…
A picture perfect Autumn afternoon to end the scho A picture perfect Autumn afternoon to end the school holidays. We’ve been busy spending time with friends and family, harvesting the last of the summer produce, as well as a short escape to explore the big smoke. After the craziness of last term it was the break we all needed. It’s back to school for me tomorrow, and the kids are back on Wednesday. Shearing starts soon and so it’s all systems go over the next few weeks.
Covid has made some late changes to our weekend pl Covid has made some late changes to our weekend plans so we are embracing the unexpected and doing not much at home. Plenty of time for hanging out on the dam and enjoy the perfect weather.

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Hi, I’m Jo

City girl turned farmer's wife, school teacher, ideas woman, and mum to three country kids. Country Life Experiment is all about simple country living, growing and making our own food, and life on our family farm in rural Australia. Join me as I give country living a try. Read more...
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