Regenerative farming is one of the fastest ways to heal the environment and fix our soil. I have set up my own regenerative loop using a lesser-talked-about animal: bunnies.
Loved this article, and your ambition and kind hearted nature. This is the first year I purposely allowed the wild rabbits to co-exist with me in my backyard. I even built several scrap wood protective structures along the fences so that they could hide from coyotes or foxes. And it worked ... all winter (so far) I can see their footprints in my raised beds, finishing off the leftover veggie tops, and leaving behind GOLD. :-)
Great article!! Thank you for sharing your experiences, ideas and advice! Your mother has a lot to give in the way of animal health and longevity, also, which is a much needed aspect of life also. God Bless you both for all you two do for our planet and its inhabitants!I am in my upper 60’s, but planning to grow my own food, organically, and safely, contributing to and helping to keep and make healthy all aspects of life for us, all of God’s critters, and society as a whole, sharing with our brothers and sisters in this earth all that can while I am here, keeping our environment in the absolute best shape and health that I can.
I hope you don’t mind, I will be sharing this article, too.
Thank you for sharing this incredible insight on rabbits! I’ve started down the rabbit hole of regenerative farming without much knowledge and find your blog to be very helpful. I can easily see myself caring for rabbits rather than pigs, cows, or even chickens! Thanks for the clear benefits and breakdown of practice.
Yes!! They are great pets - and contrary to what a lot of people think - they do need hardware cloth on the bottom of their cages so their droppings can fall out (they are very clean animals and do not like to sit in their droppings).
Great to hear your experiences so far with rabbits, and your plans! I’m gonna share your article with my 10yo daughter :-D
She has LOVED rabbits for at least 3 years now, but the deal has always been that we need to be on land before we can commit. This is partly because we need to have the option to keep even a single “pet” rabbit OUTdoors, in case my eldest child turns out to be allergic to rabbits, as well as his dog and cat allergy that we already know about.
I also love that you mentioned Joel Salatin; he’s the best! I’ve been trying to find more info about his “racken” (rabbits + chickens) setup. I’ve found a few videos, but I like details ;-)
*** Any more tips you can offer from your Florida days re: keeping rabbits in hot climates? We moved from Minnesota to the Middle East last fall.
The predominantly clay soil here needs a LOT of help! I know that rabbits, chickens, composting, no-till, and food forest principles will work wonders.
We’re hoping to move out of our city rental and onto a homestead property soon, so we can be a part of the regenerative ag movement (beyond the trench composting that I’ve been doing since Week 1, thanks to no HOA and the blessing of the owner who may regret telling us that we could do whatever we want with the yard, LOL!)
Rabbits are great! And prolific, if you are willing to sell meat bunnies. Or, you can raise Angoras and harvest the fiber as well as the wonderful by-products. I have read, but not seen done, a rabbit/ chicken system for more urban environments. You and your mom could generate a whole "Regenerative Rabbit Tractor" system for people, the training, a coop, a clutch of a male and two females, all ready to go! I admire your initiative!
The wild rabbits in Cape Coral(and there are alot) eat the blooms off of the flowers I have planted for the butterflies. I am not really sure the best way to discourage them. I love them too and will not harm them.
Check out Zach Bush-- (https://zachbushmd.com/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign). "His work is dedicated to the health of humanity and the planet we call home. It is critical that our pursuit of optimal health and longevity begin with an effort toward a collective rise in consciousness such that we would begin to thrive within nature, instead of fighting that nature that is life itself. My experience as a physician specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care with a focus on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems led me to found *Seraphic Group and the non-profit Farmer’s Footprint to develop root-cause solutions for human and ecological health."
I love this, and I love your vision and plans. If I were a young woman again .., but, since I am becoming an elder, I will continue to share my life with the gardens on my suburban 1/2 acre. And, I will do some research on keeping bunnies for regenerative gardening, and tender-hearted, vegetarian folks. Thank you Alexandra. You are an inspiration.
On a busy day you force me to read this because I changed my life slowly when I started taking natural remedies and then I decided to go vegetarian and then more research and reading and documentaries brought me to veganism and being plant-based with the Earth it's my dream to go to Peru and live on a blueberry farm because they produce the most number of blueberries in the world
Alexandra, check out the Magazine „Acres USA“ it‘s an organization tied to the organic & sustainability movement from 1971. I got turned onto this magazine and community 20 years ago and love it! Have been to a few of their yearly conventions. Super informative. Also, pick up some of Joel Salatin‘s books. They are fantastic; very enjoyable to read. „Holly Cows & Hog Heaven“ was the first one I read. A super book! Joel‘s parents bought the farm I think back in the 60‘s after loosing the land they bought down in South America (Venezula ??). Joel and his wife took over the farm from his parents. I haven’t visited Polyface Farms yet and intend to go some day soon. Another group near you is the Bio Nutrient Food Association with Dan Kittredge. A very interesting and informative community of small scale farmers. Thank you for your work in this important area!
I'd love to have a couple of rabbits but years ago I adopted one (1) who was homeless and had more poop than I knew what to do with!!
I ended up giving it to a friend who lived in the country and had large gardens. Nobody
around me here in Collins, NY has rabbits that I've been able to find or I could just get some pellets from them. I might be willing to drive to you to maybe buy rabbit poop/urine!! I'll be planting 24 shrubs this spring.
Loved this article, and your ambition and kind hearted nature. This is the first year I purposely allowed the wild rabbits to co-exist with me in my backyard. I even built several scrap wood protective structures along the fences so that they could hide from coyotes or foxes. And it worked ... all winter (so far) I can see their footprints in my raised beds, finishing off the leftover veggie tops, and leaving behind GOLD. :-)
Aww I love that!!
Great article!! Thank you for sharing your experiences, ideas and advice! Your mother has a lot to give in the way of animal health and longevity, also, which is a much needed aspect of life also. God Bless you both for all you two do for our planet and its inhabitants!I am in my upper 60’s, but planning to grow my own food, organically, and safely, contributing to and helping to keep and make healthy all aspects of life for us, all of God’s critters, and society as a whole, sharing with our brothers and sisters in this earth all that can while I am here, keeping our environment in the absolute best shape and health that I can.
I hope you don’t mind, I will be sharing this article, too.
I do not mind at all - thank you!
Thank you for sharing this incredible insight on rabbits! I’ve started down the rabbit hole of regenerative farming without much knowledge and find your blog to be very helpful. I can easily see myself caring for rabbits rather than pigs, cows, or even chickens! Thanks for the clear benefits and breakdown of practice.
Yes!! They are great pets - and contrary to what a lot of people think - they do need hardware cloth on the bottom of their cages so their droppings can fall out (they are very clean animals and do not like to sit in their droppings).
Great to hear your experiences so far with rabbits, and your plans! I’m gonna share your article with my 10yo daughter :-D
She has LOVED rabbits for at least 3 years now, but the deal has always been that we need to be on land before we can commit. This is partly because we need to have the option to keep even a single “pet” rabbit OUTdoors, in case my eldest child turns out to be allergic to rabbits, as well as his dog and cat allergy that we already know about.
I also love that you mentioned Joel Salatin; he’s the best! I’ve been trying to find more info about his “racken” (rabbits + chickens) setup. I’ve found a few videos, but I like details ;-)
*** Any more tips you can offer from your Florida days re: keeping rabbits in hot climates? We moved from Minnesota to the Middle East last fall.
The predominantly clay soil here needs a LOT of help! I know that rabbits, chickens, composting, no-till, and food forest principles will work wonders.
We’re hoping to move out of our city rental and onto a homestead property soon, so we can be a part of the regenerative ag movement (beyond the trench composting that I’ve been doing since Week 1, thanks to no HOA and the blessing of the owner who may regret telling us that we could do whatever we want with the yard, LOL!)
Brilliant! So glad you and the rabbits have each other.
Me too!
Rabbits are great! And prolific, if you are willing to sell meat bunnies. Or, you can raise Angoras and harvest the fiber as well as the wonderful by-products. I have read, but not seen done, a rabbit/ chicken system for more urban environments. You and your mom could generate a whole "Regenerative Rabbit Tractor" system for people, the training, a coop, a clutch of a male and two females, all ready to go! I admire your initiative!
The wild rabbits in Cape Coral(and there are alot) eat the blooms off of the flowers I have planted for the butterflies. I am not really sure the best way to discourage them. I love them too and will not harm them.
Maybe a little bit of fencing? And feed them their own separate breakfast? Haha!
Check out Zach Bush-- (https://zachbushmd.com/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign). "His work is dedicated to the health of humanity and the planet we call home. It is critical that our pursuit of optimal health and longevity begin with an effort toward a collective rise in consciousness such that we would begin to thrive within nature, instead of fighting that nature that is life itself. My experience as a physician specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care with a focus on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems led me to found *Seraphic Group and the non-profit Farmer’s Footprint to develop root-cause solutions for human and ecological health."
I love this, and I love your vision and plans. If I were a young woman again .., but, since I am becoming an elder, I will continue to share my life with the gardens on my suburban 1/2 acre. And, I will do some research on keeping bunnies for regenerative gardening, and tender-hearted, vegetarian folks. Thank you Alexandra. You are an inspiration.
Aww thank you! Half an acre can change the world too 🙏🙏
Indeed. Mostly, it changes me, and then the-changed-me changes the world. A very grounded activism. 😊
On a busy day you force me to read this because I changed my life slowly when I started taking natural remedies and then I decided to go vegetarian and then more research and reading and documentaries brought me to veganism and being plant-based with the Earth it's my dream to go to Peru and live on a blueberry farm because they produce the most number of blueberries in the world
Hi, Alexandra, be aware of the FDA's stance on manure in farming: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/raw-manure-under-fsma-final-rule-produce-safety
You might be able to get advice from other organic farmers in your area. Thanks.
Alexandra, check out the Magazine „Acres USA“ it‘s an organization tied to the organic & sustainability movement from 1971. I got turned onto this magazine and community 20 years ago and love it! Have been to a few of their yearly conventions. Super informative. Also, pick up some of Joel Salatin‘s books. They are fantastic; very enjoyable to read. „Holly Cows & Hog Heaven“ was the first one I read. A super book! Joel‘s parents bought the farm I think back in the 60‘s after loosing the land they bought down in South America (Venezula ??). Joel and his wife took over the farm from his parents. I haven’t visited Polyface Farms yet and intend to go some day soon. Another group near you is the Bio Nutrient Food Association with Dan Kittredge. A very interesting and informative community of small scale farmers. Thank you for your work in this important area!
I'd love to have a couple of rabbits but years ago I adopted one (1) who was homeless and had more poop than I knew what to do with!!
I ended up giving it to a friend who lived in the country and had large gardens. Nobody
around me here in Collins, NY has rabbits that I've been able to find or I could just get some pellets from them. I might be willing to drive to you to maybe buy rabbit poop/urine!! I'll be planting 24 shrubs this spring.
I miss my rabbits and have been thinking about them a lot lately! Sheep and rabbits. <3 Thanks for the inspo!