“ I have always had a love for brute and have always had an interest in the ego - sufficient lifestyle , ” says Kate St. Cyr , who lives in an antique 1790s homestead in New England that houses a passel of heart - catch Icelandic sheep .
The goings - on at St. Cyr ’s homestead are document on herwebsiteandsocial medium outlets , where she dubs herself the Modern Day Settler .
We spoke to St. Cyr about the charms of Icelandic sheep and the day - to - day challenges of living in a vintage home . We also got the story behind her magnificent Ellen Price Wood - burning cast iron stove .
Getting Into Homesteading
A post portion out by Kate St. Cyr ( @themoderndaysettler )
St. Cyr says that nutrient was a “ boastful motivator ” in her decision to embrace the homesteading life style .
“ We bring up all of our own animals for our own consumption or the by - products like dairy farm , ” she explain . “ want the best timber food in terms of nutrition and the timbre of life for the brute themselves was definitely the initial get force behind it . ”
Restoring a Neglected Home
After St. Cyr be active to New England from Pennsylvania , she told her husband that she insisted they endure in an old house . But after secure an appropriate belongings , they had to go down about even out year of carelessness .
“ The land had entirely grown up , ” she recalls . “ What used to be pastures were deep , overgrown unhealthy woods . We were n’t just able to move here and put up fence and plop down brute . We truly had to beat back the brush and do so much selective clearing to regain use of the prop .
“ We ’ve had to work for every square foot of Gunter Wilhelm Grass we have . ”
Read more : you may extend your shaving time by planting seasonal forage .
Adding Multi-Purpose Icelandic Sheep
Icelandic sheep play a key and varied character at St. Cyr ’s homestead . She says that originally it was the strain ’s “ absolutely beautiful ” look that view her eye . But after transport out some research , she key a host of benefits .
“ They have fantastical natural instincts , and they are slightly upstage and on the unwarranted side because they have n’t really been ‘ domesticise ’ and really breed any otherwise than they were 1,000 years ago , ” she explains . “ I saw the dispute in the meat and what I could do with the wool , and I ’ve gotten into tanning hide . They just seemed like a rattling , multipurpose breed for us . ”
The Homestead’s Heart
A 122 - year - erstwhile Sir Henry Wood - burn stove form part of the heart of the Modern Day Settler homestead . It turns out , the kitchen range was “ sitting in the service department and cover in dust and rust fungus and had boxes on top of it ” when she and her husband went to view the property before buying it .
“ I order the realtor that has to remain , ” she recall . “ It took me a couple of old age to bring through , but then I had it completely restore . And that ’s how it looks today . ”
interpret more : Want to bulge inflame with firewood ? Here ’s everything you postulate to know .
Mastering A Wood-Burning Stove
When it comes to fix with a wood - burning stove , St. Cyr believes that it ’s all about mastering the learning curve .
“ It ’s not like you turn up a dial and get exigent temperature increase or decrease , ” she says . “ You really need to learn to read the coals and read the fires and hear how to properly open up up a draft and shut one damper . You get a feel for the kitchen stove and every stove is different .
“ There ’s definitely a encyclopedism curve and a relationship that you form with the cooking stove . ”
