Saturday May 3rd Newsletter

Hello and Happy Saturday Friends!

Hope things are well in your part of the world.

When we left you last, T and I were set up at the Homestead Conference in Waco Tx, and it's been a wild ride since then... all good stuff, just keeping us busy as heck. I will try and not miss any of the good parts here, and there are quite a few good parts.

Let's start from the beginning...the Conference was AMAZING! First off the host community was truly the most helpful and generous of anywhere we have been in a long time, really made it a fun time for us. The speakers were excellent and we could see/hear from our spot, we traded out standing in the booth and taking classes, I found a couple of great ones on cheesemaking, T took some herbology and gardening stuff, the attendees were awesome, we got to meet some internet friends IRL, but the highlight was the kids... we had probably 100 or so come through, some of them 10x or more, and so many spent so much time hanging out in the booth, asking great questions about how we make things, they had so many insights and stories.. met a 13 year old who had just finished tanning a bobcat hide. (most of my adult friends couldn't do that) another kid showed me the leather wallet he just finished, and a young girl was showing off the soaps she made and the chickens/geese/turkeys she raised and some of her knitting. Was such a fun positive experience, and definitely was exciting seeing the things they do and make. Love seeing young people being productive and excited about making stuff. Gives you a good feeling about the future.

also came home with quite a few new books,

It's not long today, just a few anecdotes from around here... mostly pig pics. Using a new email service (old one got crazy expensive since this list has grown so much) it's a little clunky, but will figure it out eventually.

Hope you have a wonderful day

Ron, T, and the Crew here at the BWC

Actual BWC Stuff: We don't really have much to sell y'all today, BUT we do have a truckload coming from Fox River this coming week, and OTC compression socks in Medium will be restocked shortly. More Casual Crew and Kenai as well. Pro-Gear Boot/Crew are almost sold out, and won't be back in stock till Aug-Sept

there are also still 40 something bags of TLC Ranch pecans available

Rory Groves is no ordinary author—he ditched the tech world for Minnesota farming, swapping cubicles for cornfields and stirring up a revolution of heart, hustle, and homegrown wisdom. With his wife Becca and their six kiddos, Rory proves you can kick that 9-to-5 to the curb and build a family-first life. We really enjoyed his presentation, so much we bought both of his books, Durable Trades: Family-Centered Economies That Have Stood the Test of Time and The Family Economy: Discovering the Family as It Was Designed to Work, are more than just reads—they’re battle cries for anyone ready to make work and family groove like a barn dance.

Durable Trades is a wild ride through history’s toughest jobs—think blacksmiths hammering iron and farmers wrangling dirt. Rory serves up not just nostalgia, but solid reasons why these gigs are rock-solid, mixing stats with tales of modern folks living old-school dreams. One fan said it sparked their journey to publish their own book—talk about a firestarter! It’s packed with tips to ditch the daily grind and embrace trades that keep your crew close and your spirit soaring. A treasure chest of ideas for outsmarting the corporate hamster wheel!

Then there’s The Family Economy—a short but mighty dose of inspiration. it’s like Rory’s giving you a cheeky shake and saying, “Your family’s the dream team—make it your business!” He shows how families are the OG economic dynamos, where everyone—kids, parents, even grandpa—plays a part. Forget late-night promotions that zap your energy for storytime—this book’s your blueprint for blending work and love. Fans call it a “rocket booster” for rethinking life, with one saying it hit like lightning when they were stuck in the daily grind.

Rory’s living the dream—raising livestock, homeschooling his crew, and throwing workshops that feel like a purpose-driven party. His books are your VIP pass to join the fun—part manifesto, part playbook, and all heart. So grab Durable Trades, snag The Family Economy, and channel your inner carpenter or cheesemaker. With Rory as your guide, you’re not just reading—you’re rewriting your story into one epic adventure where work, family, and joy collide! Ready to roll up those sleeves? Let’s do this!

New Arrivals at RATHranch

Only a couple hours old in this pic, Tuesday on T's Birthday, Chorizo had 6 baby piglets, and they are just the cutest things (#6 is buried under the first two in line)

and yesterday afternoon Patty had another 8 more... so we got our hands full and as soon as the sun comes up, I have to go build a bigger piggy containment system.

the 3 day old ones came over to sneak a peek a the new kids

Ours are a crossbreed between IPP and American Guinea hogs, they are small and compact, and don't root up the pasture.

this is what a pure bread pig and her litter looks like.

With all the rains we have had this tiny guy showed up on the patio, I think he floated here... played with him a bit and then returned him to the pond.

Beware the dangers of raw milk:

A goat for milk turns into a cow.
Raw milk leads to an extra fridge for storing all the raw milk.
Raw milk leads to raw cream.
Raw cream leads into raw ice cream that leads to homemade chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, butterscotch....
Raw cream leads to raw butter which leads to homemade breads.
Raw milk leads to yogurt and clabber and kefir…
Raw milk leads to farmers cheese which leads to cheese curds and mozzarella.
Raw cheese making leads to aged raw cheddar, gouda, parmesan.
Raw cheese leads to another fridge dedicated to aging hard cheeses.
Raw cheese leads to whey leads to lemonade and fermented drinks.
Raw dairy leads to collecting cream separators, antique butter churns, antique 19th century butter molds.
A cow leads to multiple cows.
It's a buttery slope.…

Raw Milk is dangerous.

Thank you to Clint and Kim for making this all this dangerous stuff happen