Welcome to the Ditch the Store community! I’m so glad you’re here. This is the place to connect with others on the same path — whether you’re just starting out or already knee-deep in compost. Take a moment to introduce yourself below. Tell us where you're from and what stage you're at in your homesteading journey. I’m CJ, and along with my partner (aka the Handy Helper), we run Mojo Homestead — 120 acres in regional NSW, Australia. We raise chickens for eggs and meat, goats for milk, meat and fibre, bees for honey, and cows for dairy and beef. We grow as much of our own fruit, veggies, and nuts as we can, and make our own bread, cheese, cleaning products, and even a few crafty things. We’ve been working on ditching the store for about 8 years now, and we’re getting pretty good at it — though we still buy toilet paper! Can’t wait to hear your story.

Sorry I have been so quiet over the 2 weeks. On the 1st of November I was involved in a farm accident on a neighbours property. We were attempting to push a newly calved heifer into a race to check her udder as the calf was having trouble getting a good latch. During this process I went into the stockyard with an unfamiliar animal, which I know comes with risks. She reacted badly and kicked me. The kick sent me through the air and into the metal fence. The result was not great, open fracture to my femur and damage to my other knee. I had surgery on the 2nd November to put a titanium rod into my femur bone and after 6 days in hospital I was back home on the farm. Strict bed rest for a week! The leg that was damaged most was unfortunately the leg I had a patellar replacement in just 1 year earlier. Luckily the prosthetic replacement was not damaged in the accident. I'm finally back milking again but still not allowed to drive, and on crutches for 6 weeks. I have posted some photos below, which are not for the faint hearted. But it is important to remember when dealing with a 2000kg animal just how much can go wrong. I am constantly reminding myself how lucky I am she did not kick me in the head or chest! It could have been a very different outcome.

Here in Southern NSW Australia we have a little thing called a false spring. Its when the weather starts to warm and you think fantastic, I can move animals to less sheltered paddocks and get seedlings ready to go....... And then it hits! And you remember the false spring. And the freezing weather that comes before the true spring. At least we are heading into summer, for my northern friends, is it getting cold yet?

If you'd like to receive my weekly newsletter don't forget you can subscribe at either https://www.mojohomestead.net/7mustknows to get a Must Know Guide to Keeping Backyard Chickens or https://www.mojohomestead.net/sourdoughstarter to receive a Sourdough Starter Cheatsheet. The weekly newsletter has all the links to the new podcast episodes and blog posts for Ditch the Store. It also give useful tips and an update on what's happening on the farm. All the cool homesteaders are on the list, so don't miss out.

Things got really busy on the farm, its goat kidding season and although we don't have as many does kidding this year it got really busy. Welcome to a lot of new members and apologies for the delay in approving applications. Please introduce yourselves and let us all know about your homesteading and farming journeys.