We Changed Our Life To Do This

[@normp.3657]

the thing that i love about the homesteading videos i watch is that they never mention anything about politics. what they do talk about is how close they have become as a family, how strong they have become spiritually, and how rewarding raising their own food has been. They all become wonderful stewards of the land and their livestock, yet they have all chosen to live this lifestyle for different reasons, and many have left large cities for a wide variety of reasons. I don;t care what their political ideology is, as I see them as modern day settlers looking to bring back a sense of value and fulfillment for themselves and their families that so many of us have missed during our busy, hectic lives! thanks to all the homesteaders who reinforce these values for all of us who watch to learn from their mistakes, and from their successes

[@shesgonecountryfarms6281]

We are getting ready to change our life's. Bought 6 acres of bare land and will be moving in February. Can't wait

[@paracop35]

Congratulations

[@curtisep5885]

Such great news! Bless you & best of luck

[@barrys2764]

Im jealous of you. Best of luck with your new lives

[@pjdodda12]

Congratulations god bless u on the new journey

[@singleman1986]

@She's Gone Country Farms....GO for it. If you'll keep in mind to "eat the elephant ONE SMALL BITE AT A TIME", you will not only "change your lives", you will UPGRADE it and thrive! Best of success and God Bless....~Eli.

[@jmthomas29]

Thank you Meg for sharing the turtle story. I’ve been down on myself lately because I can’t do what I used to do. I’ve been battling liver cancer for the past year during this pandemic. I’m not old but I’m not young either. I can’t help my family or friends because I tire easily and loose my balance. Thank you for showing me a different perspective as I try to fight this illness. I so appreciate your family and channel. God bless you and have a Happy Thanksgiving 🦃

[@memawlisa]

I honestly think the rooster crowing in the morning is my favorite part of homesteading. It makes my heart smile.

[@margaretbedwell58]

Thank you Nate for coming to help the Hollar's process the last of their chickens. So kind of you. his was a very busy day for all. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving to all that are watching this video.

[@HeartinessApproach]

Thank you Meg for sharing the story and our book. We will always know a turtle brought us together. BTW. We cut up our chickens last time and we have loved it. We always let our chickens rest on ice or in an extra refrigerator for 24 hours. They ARE more tender. Love you guys.

[@JenniferG728]

We are moving from Colorado to Kentucky next week! Our primary goal is to go and take care of family that needs help, but after that we are going to find our forever farm and live a new dream. I think I need a shirt that says, " All it takes is a little courage and a little crazy. " that really spoke to me, Ben. Love you guys!!!

[@HiddenCreekHomestead]

Jennifer G We just made the change and started as well. We left metro NY and bought a homestead in South Carolina. Shamelessly we badly need subscribers and views - I’d be honored if any of you guys would give us a shot. Good luck on your new purchase btw!

[@ourwayfarm]

We are moving on Sunday to our mountain land, leaving our beautiful big home, to live off-grid in a camper & begin our homesteading life. So excited. So scared. But definitely more excited. You guys have been a true inspiration & I look forward to your videos. Love what you are doing!

[@clubmike2910]

Awesome, good luck I am sure you will do fine.

[@lindahubbs8146]

Exciting....don't fear change...change is a GOOD thing...Big Blessings

[@lance9249]

Always good to get out of the Marxist indoctrination camps big cities

[@lindahubbs8146]

@@lance9249 I am happy you said this. Agree...and true

[@brendamontanye9877]

Welcome home, neighbor :)

[@michaelflora375]

Hey this is Michael at My Crooked Road Homestead and I would like to say. I raise my animals for one reason and that is for food. I don't try to make a big deal out of it because it is a part of homesteading and if people don't understand why I do it I am not going to try and explain it. I just let them go to the market and buy food that they have no idea of how it was raised or what it was dead. Hang in there your doing a great job and I enjoy your channel. The baby sure is growing.

[@stevengriffiths780]

just started watching your journey today and loving it the way you are getting your children involved is great with the farm to table is great we have done this as we were part of bramble farm bristol uk we keep pigs,chickens turkeys and sheep plus other live stock all for the table keep up the good work steve&nina

[@marybalantic2683]

Not to steal your thunder Meg and Ben BUT THAT BABY!!! ✌️❤️👶

[@genevievegreene1595]

Babies bring their own thunder 😂

[@vmorganbogart]

So glad you got the butchering behind you. It will be wonderful to enjoy the fruits of your labor, over the coming months. Liliana has grown so much & just keeps getting more beautiful. It’s always great to see the boys helping out. I am sure they are a big help to the family. 🦃 Wishing y’all a wonderful, healthy & safe Thanksgiving! 🦃 Blessings, Love & Hugs from Vicki in Ft. Worth, Texas 🇺🇸👍❤️🥰🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@christykeller1116]

We started parting out most of our chickens too. I really wanted to stop buying chicken from the store, and wanted more than a whole chicken to work with. It has been a game changer over here! It is such a delight to pull out packages of OUR homegrown chicken!! I hope you do a future update and share how it is working for you. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!!

[@StoneKathryn]

I missed this 3 years ago! Buggy looks like Elizabeth in her rocker chair. The twins look like boys yet and not quite men like they are now. You're getting ready to harvest the chickens. So much has changed on the homestead it looks like a different place. I love the "Tawny the Turtle" book! That was a great story about meeting your friend with a turtle in her driveway! You are going to piece out the chickens because the space is at a premium so this is nice to see you do. I was taught how to cut a whole chicken up when I was about 20 years old. It's nice to see you do it too. I'm so glad for you that you had Nate to help too. Thanks for this video Hollar family!

[@MartinFamilyHomestead]

Love watching you all work as a family! And the community is amazing! I truly wish we had that here in our little see if southeast TN. We have chickens there are way overdue to take out, but no help. Oh well, we’ll figure it out. 😉 Keep sharing & doing what you’re doing! God bless!

[@territn8871]

Happy Thanksgiving to the Hollar family! This is truly a very special Thanksgiving for your family: First Thanksgiving in your new home, and the blessing of your new baby daughter, Lillyanna Faith!!!🙏 Love you all, you're very special to me!😊

[@pamlove625]

I was delightfully surprised to hear your nickname for your baby. 14 years ago my granddaughter Lily was born and I also nicknamed her buggy. She has of course since outgrown the nickname and has just started high school as an honor student. I pray your Liliana will also grow and prosper in her life too.

[@02271953me]

What beautiful weather for your day - looked perfect for the task. So nice to have it done and stashed for another day. Blessings to all!

[@CreatorInTrng]

Been following the channel for a while now - still loving it. I think one of the 'hooks' to your channel is that it's real. By the time this all gets to you it'll probably be Thanksgiving. All the best to you all. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay positive and test negative.

[@batpherlangkharkrang7976]

Hi...... Meg and Ben nice to see you your baby is growing so fast I love watching your videos, thank you for sharing your video homestead chicken farmer garden 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 👕🐔🐓🐥🐖🌱🎥👍👍👍

[@tillie1012]

Hey there Ben. Thinking ahead to next year. Look in your local Craigslist / NextDoor / Farmers bullitin for a non working chest freezer. You can remove the mechanics and use it as a oversized ice chest. just load up your coolers with ice. Put a layer of ice on the bottom of the chest ( dry ice is great if you can get it) then as you process put down a layer of birds / meat and a layer of ice till you get to the top. It is a game changer. Learned this trick while in the Military.

[@heatherk8931]

What a great feel to this video! Starting from the beautiful light in your HOME! I looked all around and knew you were finally landed. The refurbished space it's really, really lovely! Then with the 4 brothers at the door, flashing forward 10 years, lik sister with 4 big brothers to watch over her! (Me thinks you need another to grow up with her :) ). BEN, you spoke of the distance from your life in Cally, to now, you are finally a very happy, excited to be where you are soul, it shows. And I LOVED Meg sitting with Buggy, talking about the turtle book. A beautiful story all around! I see you are all "home". Happy Thanksgiving! Love you all!!!

[@davidj.mackinney6568]

Happy Thanksgiving. We are glad you changed your lifestyle because of the improvement in your marriage. We love watching your life on You Tube.

[@warrenrines3924]

My wife and I hope you and you family have a wonderful thanksgiving. We thank you for sharing of your life and all the entertaining videos.

[@THardy.]

LOVE the more frequent videos! Homestead life: growing your own food, be it vegetables, fruit or meat. Well done! Have a Happy Hollar Thanksgiving.

[@kingmanstudent]

Have a great Thanksgiving. I had to order the book. I’ve been looking for some good books for my littles.

[@bigbarnlittlehouse7013]

We too have enjoyed our pieced out chicken! Definitely worth the extra time and we'll do more next time. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@soniaspangenberg8557]

Buggie keeps getting more adorable every day. She was so cute, with your hair Meg, wrapping around her little face. She seemed to not mind being right in the middle of processing chickens. Or maybe that was a bit of editing magic? Thanks for taking us along. Bless you guys.

[@pattyhuxley9509]

I love watching your family and homestead grow and how your boys just jump right in to help with the work both outside and inside. Have a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving.

[@lisavandyke8833]

Love your vlogs! When we processed our chickens, we use a turkey fryer to scald them and the temp was 150. We found anything higher than that would start cooking the skin and the skin would rip in the plucker. We use 2-55 gallon barrels to cool them. Filled with water and used 2 bags of ice in each and it stayed ice cold all day. You want to rest the chickens in the fridge or in a cooler for 2 days before freezing them until the rigor mortis is gone so the meat is tender.

[@susanbaker8130]

“I will see you guys dark and early in the morning!” 😉 Oh, Miss Liliana is soo cute!

[@brendafletcher8458]

Im much older than yall,pushin 70,but sfter pluckin feathers we used to hold the chicken over an open flame and singe off the pin feathers,moving the chicken continuosly.we also butchered our hogs.yall are doin fine,can be tough at times bot so rewarding and the way we were meant to live on this planet.creator gave us all we needed, bless love yall and have an amazing thanksgiving

[@GrandmasGardenofHope]

We used corn cobs dipped in grain alcohol for singeing chickens. That was the best part of the whole process except for the smell of burning hair. 🤔🧐😉

[@suellenw561]

I'm also "pushin 70" but from the other side ... half way to 80. I knew how to cut up a chicken by the time I was 12. My siblings did the plucking. Also helped w/ the pigs at grandparents. Once Pop-pop sent me to buy 5 lb of guts to make sausage. Strangely, I don't remember butchering our pigs. Maybe Dad sent them away.

[@janeschmidt9611]

Nate, you are much appreciated for helping the Hollar’s! Meg, I want to see more baby videos, cooking and how you organized your home. 🥰

[@elizabethmacdonald4605]

Hello Hollars! Busy, busy day. Big thanks to Nare for coming to help out. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@shannonfugate1756]

i saw in the back ground ur son had made him self a bow . i did stuff like that growing up happy to see some kids that still make their own stuff to play an have fun with

[@rkthing55]

Like that potato gun this last spring! LOL

[@33bwt427]

Love it when everyone is involved in getting it done!

[@jgivens1227]

Happy you are able to video more. So glad to have you back. Hope you have a GREAT Thanksgiving day. I “get” to work. Lol You all please take care and be safe.

[@JerryB507]

Nate isn't regretting his decision to come help, because he knows when the time comes you will pay it back. Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.

[@flyingpigpreserve8562]

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Lilly Anna is getting so big and does her hair have a hit of red? Your boys are hard workers following in their fathers footsteps. God Bless and Peace Be With You All

[@zuzannaszmidel2305]

Thank you guys for being honest about time management with the baby! I have 2 youngsters 15 months apart and i feel so useless, I can't do much and feel so bad about it. But you make me feel like I'm not the only one, and maybe (just maybe) it's normal

[@alisonshanahan9529]

When I was pregnant with my first baby, the prenatal class said that we would be doing well if we managed to get dressed by 10am! A lot of ladies never made it that far and merely changed into a new nightie before their husbands came home from work! So we were not to stress about it and just do what we could.

[@marilyngodfrey868]

God gave you beautiful weather for chicken processing. Just in time for winter! God bless your young family. I love that you chose to share your lives. You are so humble! Happy Thanksgiving!

[@gailrothermund9209]

We processed our 25 chickens on Saturday too. It was a group effort. Love watching your channel! 🐓

[@kmcquack8989]

I appreciate the way you set up every scene and how long it must take you. Everytime you move the camera, I notice. You people are artists

[@MeBeingAble]

happy thanks giving guys. we dont do this tradition down under but as a family, we connect year round and xmas/new years is our special time xx i just thaw the chook then piece it out. 10pces per chook

[@barbmartinez5145]

I really love your videos because it reminds me of my childhood I'm going over to the grandparents and aunt and uncle's house killing Hogs and getting the chicken's ready everything put so we'd have plenty of meat and they also had a 5-acre towards vegetables we canned every year. Nobody was ever hungry in my family and we even gave some away. Really really really love your videos!

[@blueheronfarm3818]

How awesome that your kiddos do get this experience, even when they aren’t keen on the process. Y’all did great!

[@FieldFarmForest]

Nates one of the good guys. I’m glad you guys got each other! Great job. I love roasted chicken. I love the fact that I put 60 chicken I grew myself into the freezer! Your family is an inspiration! ☮️❤️☕️-Kirsten

[@fanciterv]

We chill our birds 48 to 72 hrs before freezing. Good job Beautiful Family!

[@nancycowan6109]

There is a lot to love here. We all watched the hard work and stress of getting your lovely home ready for sweet baby girl .. for you all. And through all the struggles and somewhat scary times, you’ve come out shining. Stay well, be safe. ❤️

[@donnamays24]

Love seeing you guys getting back in the grove...wishing you a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving🙏🏻💖

[@puskabeuford8667]

So much to be thankful for. Family being the greatest of Earthly blessing. Moving to the Ozarks to homestead in the spring. Meat chickens are first on the list. 🦅🇺🇸

[@yvonnebrumbeloe6626]

Those are some beautiful plump chickens! Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 To Everyone!!

[@patriciaherman6499]

People thinking homesteading is easy it's not. It's like farming I remember some people would say man you have an easy life 😂 back in the day when we started not, but with technology it did make it somewhat easier not a lot of hand labor, but tractor labor, bunkers and semi's. Hopefully at some point you can get a small tractor would make it easier. We found for a friend on Marketplace a small Case tractor in great shape with pto for $1500. and can buy attachments like a mower, small plow, rototiller etc. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ONE AND ALL. Blessings to you and the family and Larry's as well. 🙂🇺🇸

[@michelewalker7189]

It was good to see y'all today. Looks like things are beginning to level out. God Bless y'all.

[@patriciahazeltine9986]

How many pounds of birds did you process ÷ by # of birds? Great to have a buddy to help out, and your boys are so brave, and well taught that this is what it takes to get meat from the grocery store minus all the middlemen!

[@pjkz63]

Happy Thanksgiving ❤️🐔🐓, God bless you buggie ❤️❤️ Great job getting that food for your family.

[@daygirl2659]

Happy Thanksgiving to you all😁 You do a great job editing your videos Meg. I love it! So nice to have your own harvested meat in the freezer. Good job!

[@bjenuine]

I know it was a bit colder... but love that fall nip in the air. Hope it made it better for doing chickens.

[@rexschmidt9301]

I'm glad you're posting again. Blessings to u all. Happy Thanksgiving

[@molly8855]

Your little mini me is so adorable!! I laughed to myself when I saw how long and pretty your nails are. I did the same thing when our son was born because it was the only time I wouldn't break them doing work. Gotta pamper yourself when you get the chance!

[@ladycat661]

Ben you have a good set up and Nice of you Nate to help and Ben to see you and Meg through out y'all's journey I have seen a wonderful change in y'all I know it was scary when y'all started out but I can see the peace in y'all now and the homestead is growing and looking great and know it will even grow more .Red and I are going come visit yall one day when we get a chance but know y'all are in my thoughts and prayers always Love y'all and tell them sweet boys I said Hi and hug sweet Buggie for me.Have a Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless sweet friend's ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@teresaroman3348]

You all are doing great! Love seeing the boys and baby. She is getting so big! Oh, she was sneezing cause of the sun. I really like that book. Have a great Thanksgiving.

[@ritadonovan6606]

We don’t see your daughter much and gee she’s getting so much older looking already. Her sneezing so cut. Bless her. 🥰OMGoodness you’re boys are brave and hard workers👍 🤗🇨🇦

[@WildOnesHomestead]

The house is looking good! That bookshelf. 😍

[@rkthing55]

Megan was not joking when she said she had a lot of books!

[@WildOnesHomestead]

@@rkthing55 she was not! I used to have a floor to ceiling wall to wall bookshelf. But moving and downsizing houses has 90% of mine sitting in storage. 😪

[@frenchysandi]

Your little bug is growing so fast. We must love our differences not fear them.

[@JHTREASURES]

My daughter is obsessed with turtles. We have 2 red ear slider turtles. 🐢Mr. Turtle and 🐢Mr. Cuddles. Thank you so much for sharing your friend's book. I'm definitely buying it for my daughter when I get paid! I can't wait til she opens it for Christmas. She's going to be so happy!!!

[@thomaswright6250]

My grandmother always told me when a baby sneezes that is the breadth of an Angel

[@jlruby4856]

Check out big foot farmer he had some send him a scalder that keeps the water hot automatically game changer

[@ladonnawoodley5279]

A d o r a b l e OMG that baby is precious. So glad to see you guys and glad your loving life!

[@jillhuddle7379]

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all From my house to yours.. God bless

[@wayneschnare4019]

Once you part them up , it will be a breeze , I just parted up a bunch , there is a system I use and it flows so well !!! Bend back the leg, cut along joint . bend thigh back , cut along joint , bend wing at body back , cut at joint , I take and split the body in 2 , and then , for us , I split the breast in 2 . Most of the backs go for stock !! Necks also . But I am sure you have it all worked out !!!

[@buzzwinklemoose9853]

In the unlikely event you don't already know this stuff: If ya gotta burn wet wood, the smaller you split it, the better it burns. The remains of elderly retired candles, specifically the wax, makes a helluva fire starter if you melt it and pour it into a cardboard egg carton. Wait 'til it sets up, cut the carton apart and, presto, a dozen fire starters. Each will burn about five minutes. No wicks, no string, just light part of the cardboard. If you have an air compressor, that'll get your fire going way faster and hotter than any fan I've ever seen. Just a few tricks I've picked up heating with wood and relaxing by an open fire on the patio. Also, you folks ROCK!

[@mindi.m]

I have to admit that I am not a fan of the process, but I admire you guys so much for your hard work! It's quite a reward! She has cute sneezes. 💗

[@alisonshanahan9529]

I have been watching Dexters World about a great guy in the Philippines who breeds fish and eventually expanded to 2 pet shops. He is also a government employee but earns very little from his job. He has recently bought farm land and is building an integrated animal and fish farming business. Its fascinating as the weather there is tropical and hot all year round. It's also very poor and when you see how little the locals have, you realise how easy your life is. Dexter just had his 50th birthday, in celebration he and his wife cooked and distributed food to the poor. That's what makes him happy.

[@grandmasewhappyhomestead187]

we are currently praying for a new address to make our change. Asking God to show us the address. When I think of you doing all that you do having a new little one, that was us here many years ago. oh my in a different way. You have come so far, amazingly great job Hollars. That baby she is adorable, your boys are fantastic. Great job you two. Her book sounds amazing

[@kennethgibbons2487]

Always great to see the family in action... that baby is growing fast!

[@tammysarrazin7078]

i am so glad Nate met you guys he is your kinda people in the training hugsssssss

[@dalegray4140]

Happy thanksgiving,🦃🍁 hope you have a wonderful day.

[@dalegray4140]

Lumnah Arcers uses a boiler for the chickens it looks real reliable, might want to check them out.

[@2Quacks5ClucksFarm]

Those words you spoke before the intro are the words I live by every morning when I wake up! Love the homesteading life with a dash of filming for our channel! Great work Ben & Meg!

[@paulinelarach938]

Looking ahead and hope NC winter is good to you all.

[@edatao2]

I just simply love you guys!!! Can we see more of baby!! Us grandma's live for baby moments.

[@sonyagregory5711]

Happy Thanksgiving Up In The Hollar! God Bless You Richly!❤❤🙏🙏🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃

[@stephaniefunderburk8606]

From 1 homestead to another if you guys have a Water trough they work great for the water bath at the end. We have a 100 gallon one we fill half full of ice then fill with water and cover with a piece of plywood it keeps our birds around 32° even in july. It held 90ish birds.

[@carolwengel4640]

Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving, Ben, Meg & family!

[@darlynearmstrong1599]

Hello Oh ya it is got to feed the love ones !! Happy holidays as always I send my best and prayers keep up the good work!!

[@user-justbeingme]

I am so proud of you and your family, you will survive. Humanity can learn a lesson from you and yours.

[@Julie-bq6iz]

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your whole family and homestead! Blessings! 🧡

[@diannt9583]

Another great post, you all! I end up piecing out about half my chickens... and sometimes I take off just the wings on birds I otherwise leave as roasters. As I really enjoy making a Wing Night!

[@jill.arbogast6538]

Congratulations to all of you what a blessing. You may have some good dirt to plant your garden and some sunflowers 🌻 in God Bless you and your family 🙏🙏🙏🌻🌻🌻

[@ashley5619]

When I heat water I keep the lid on sometimes it helps heat the water quicker

[@williamthegriffin6185]

Wishing the Hollar a Happy blessed Thanksgiving 🤓. I hope we all have something to be thankful for !

[@terribethreed8464]

Have a great Thanksgiving & please send up prayers for those who are going through these hard times & not having as good a Thanksgiving & Christmas as other's may be having & those who are missing loved one's because of COVID.

[@terribethreed8464]

Great video. I hope you saved the wing's for some good whole fried wing's etc. Lol. I'd love to check out your friends new book for my Grandkids. Kid's today really need that kind of positive story.

[@leroybrown7757]

..each and every one of our peculiar and special uniquely individual qualities..is what makes us all "beautiful beautiful people!" thank you hollar fam..for sharing all your wonderful adventures ☮️&🌱's p.s. STILL get stupid excited for a new post from y'all... have a wonderful 🦃day❗

[@karencatalano4349]

Takes courage,determination,and lots of money.

[@cicy8167]

Thank you, Thank you for the blurb about the cute little turtle book. Yes it's a cute book, but I spent the whole time looking at that adorable baby girl. More videos with her in them would be just fine with me. We have missed your videos, and I'm glad to see you slowly falling back into the routine. Take care and Happy Thanksgiving Hollar's!!

[@marionward5958]

I like the way you film the process. I am one of those squeamish ones so appreciate way you do this. At least it is finished now no more moving the chickens or having to feed them. One less chord for winter! Baby is getting strong and growing well. She is gorgeous

[@sonyagregory5711]

Just in case your interested. Ingles near you has a giant bag of ice in stead of those small bags! Pretty good price too!😊

[@MustangSally7259]

Tortoises are special to me... I have 9 , most born here. All have names...I know them all. ..each has their own personality...all sleeping now for the winter. 😁😁

[@lindastrandquist2429]

They are symbol for stroke associations as the growth after a stroke is slow and steady.

[@MustangSally7259]

@@lindastrandquist2429 What????

[@lindastrandquist2429]

@@MustangSally7259 my mom loved (edited) turtles after my dad suffered a stroke and the mascot for stroke foundation was turtles. Slow and steady progress. No need to rush the process. She had them everywhere.

[@mattsara2802]

That’s always a good feeling to all of the dispatching done for the year

[@marcialittle7893]

When you buy a turkey fryer, mine came with a big pot which is great to do chickens, but had to use a great big 20 gallon tub from Lowe's and then heat big pot on burner and pour into tub, also big pot on stove with boiling water to scald turkeys. My male turkey we just did two days ago minus guts and feathers was 44 pounds.

[@cindyfinn4845]

Have a blessed Thanksgiving