VENISON FOR DINNER: LIFE AS A SELF-SUFFICIENT PERSON

We caught up with Kate Schat, who works as a freelancer on our Canadian “field team,” to chat about family and farming. She encourages her children to actively participate in farm work, teaching the next generation the family motto: “Work like a horse, eat like a king.”

Here on the farm, we often talk about how we couldn't produce as much food as we currently do without our children. They know they play an important role because they experience it firsthand every day. To give them the freedom and space to discover for themselves what self-sufficiency means for our family, we encourage each of our children to produce and use "high-quality" products like butter, cream, or lard to regularly make delicious treats and snacks. We teach them knowledge and build their confidence in the creativity of this process. This way, they understand the effort involved in producing the food they enjoy - and that's how we teach them our family motto: "Work like a horse, eat like a king." When they enjoy homegrown and homemade treats like popcorn and ice cream (absolute favorites), it helps them understand the value of the work they do on behalf of the family when milking and feeding the animals, and that makes them feel that it's worth it.

When it comes to Muck Boots, it's really hard for me to choose a favorite! Since we have such varying seasons throughout the year, I wear different boots from season to season. In warmer weather, the mid-height Muckster II boot (green with a floral pattern, of course!) is my favorite. The boot is high enough to protect my feet from livestock manure and dirt, but not so heavy and warm that it's uncomfortable on hot days. In winter, the Women's Arctic Ice Vibram® Arctic Grip All Terrain short boot works best for the weather we have in British Columbia. The grip of the soles is simply essential when I'm on icy patches, to keep me on my feet and not on my backside! They are black with a hint of pink. This is important when you have two sons with the same shoe size who would rather die than put their feet in pink boots! You might notice that I prefer mid-height boots because I have to squat a lot in the garden and when milking. A mid-height boot gives me more mobility in the ankle area, and I can kneel down without it being uncomfortable. My husband and my older boys prefer knee-high boots, as they walk more through water and snow, and the height keeps their feet dry.

About “Venison for Dinner”

Kate and Marius and their five children have always been passionate about self-sufficient living. Since moving almost two thousand kilometers north to Northern British Columbia, Canada, in 2017, they have taken it to the next level. They now live on a 13-acre self-sufficient farm and take great pleasure in producing their own meat, dairy products, and vegetables.

Instagram: @VENISONFORDINNER

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