So, it is finally [b]that[/b] time...........

I've grown veggies for eating but not an animal yet. I'd like to have a hobby farm someday but that's doubtful *sigh*

Hi AnnieOakley! Can't see your star from here but once I post this, I'll be able to see it. Hopefully it's gone up another notch for I'm working on it! I haven't given up nor will I! lol As for killing, I couldn't do that. I love animals too much and it would eat me up alive to know I did such a thing. It takes a different kind of person to be able to do this kind of work. Not a mean person but one who can do it and think nothing of it. I had a friend who's dad did this with rabbits that he raised and another friend who's dad and brothers did this with cows. I've seen it happen ONE time on both and never ever again will I witness such a thing however, you're sending yours off which is entirely different than doing it yourself but still, I'd much rather go to the grocery store.... BUT.... for my hubby because I'm mostly vegetarian.

I have never raised animals for the table. I rather buy from the butcher where I don't know the origin. I can't bring myself to eat meat from animals that I reared. I am the type when I feed my chickens or any other animals, I have a little talk with them like asking them to take their food etc. But I have no problems from eating my home grown vegetables. I am not too conscious whether my vegies are organically grown or not as I prefer wild edible ferns. Organic produce cost a lot more here.

I don't know if I could eat an animal I cared for for so long. But I do grow a garden every year and I have a pear tree in my back yard. Grr. Now I'm hungry for BLTs but we are all out of bacon. Looks like I'll be heading to the store tomorrow after work.

I have never done that but my grandmother has. She has actually slaughtered a chicken before, and boiled a baby chick by accident. This was years ago when she was a little girl though. Happy Eatin'! What will be your first meal with the pig, have you decided?

When my father retired from the military, we took a "family vote" about where to go next. We were living in Florida at the time. Both my folks were originally from the midwest.....Mom from Missouri and Dad from Kansas. So the family vote was, "Let´s move to a farm!" Little did we know......It wasn't much - 300 acres about 2hrs outside Kansas City on the Missouri side. We had a barn, a few acres of hay, space for a garden, a well, etc. We started simply......a few chickens, an Angus and two pigs we named Clarence and Cleopatra. (Don't ask why because I can't remember! lol) At any rate, it was our first experience on a farm and we really took to it! I loved gettin' up in the mornin' and sloppin' them hogs! lol. Actually, it wasn't quite like that. They were piglets when we got them and kept them in our basement where we bottle fed them until they were big enough to go outside. For us, the Angus (who's name was Charlie) went to the butcher first. As a kid, I had mixed feelings. I tried not to think about the fact that it was the beautiful eyed creature that I used to pet and feed, talk to and hang out with. Man! Truth be told, he tasted amazing! lol. It was a little easier when it came to the pigs having gone through it once with the cow. Still.....hauling them off in the trailer to the butcher was pretty heart-wrenching. I drew the line when it came to my precious calico rabbit though! I put my foot down. I would absolutely NOT eat my bunny! As an adult, I certainly have mixed feelings about the consumption of meat. Having raised them from babies and watched them come back as sausage, steaks, hamburger or whatever made a very lasting impression on me. However, as an adult consumer, at least I know what they ate, how they were treated and the process of getting them to my table. I absolutely will not buy anything from any grocery store meat department....even in the heart of the US. Nope. Won't do it.

I was raised in a vegetarian/kosher communal house, but there was meat available, and some of the chickens and cows that we had on the land were eaten. Let me explain. My mother is vegetarian and my father is a converted jew who still sticks to a kosher diet, but they never sought to push their beliefs on their housemates or their kids. I love a good burger, but that is my thing. We had chickens and cows on our land when I was growing up. If the cow was going to be food, we would name them, "hamburger" or "steak" so that we wouldn't get attached. The Chickens were either egg chickens or fried chickens. Maybe it seems harsh to some, but many of these animals that I had while growing up became family pets to me. The ones that were had for food, I was able to keep at arm's length, because my folks let me know that they were not pets. I could never, personally raise an animal and eat it afterward. I do, however, support hunting wild animals, and I love the taste of game meat, be it deer or racoon. Squirrel is good if prepared properly, but I can't do rabbit, since I have had a few as pets. I'm way off topic, but I have never had a pet pig, so if you are anywhere near me and want to sell half of your pig, let me know. Nothing better than fresh pork. Just don't ask my dad. Pork and Kosher don't mix. LOL

no, I don't think I could raise something to eat - but then again, I live in a big city and we can't have "farm" animals here so I've never had the option

Morning Annie I'm a city girl, always have been, most likely always will be but this past year I found I have a love for gardening. I actually am considering growing a small vegitable/ fruit garden this year but it will be tight since my yard is not so big. As far as meat and raising animals, I really don't know if I am able to raise something then see it on my dinner table. Everyday I am leaning more towards being a vegetarian as it is. Especially when hearing about all the hormones and antibodies used to "beef up" (pun intended) the animal in order to make a bigger profit. I stopped eating pork over 10 years ago so no pigs necessary for me. And the only real meat I actually truly still enjoy is a good steak. (which is what stops me from becoming a vegitarian- don't think I could give up my NY strip)

Packing bags. Heading west. Lay an extra place Annie! I've eaten my own vegetables many times. Yummy.

I have never lived where we would have been able to raise farm animals. We've done a little fruits and vegetables, but not much...

Well,If I raised some animals I think If they were ready to go ,I have no brave to eat them.because after a couple of days or years maybe I will think they are cute and have a realtionship with them.vegetable is okay.I never have a chance to raise some vegetables.I will try it.