Where we've been, where we're at, and where we're headed
It's been too long - thank you for hanging in there with me!
Have you ever stopped to reflect on the goings-on of the past week, only to realize that what you thought happened a week ago actually happened a month ago, and that somehow you made it to today without being able to distinguish yesterday from the day before or the day before? That’s normal, right? Right? No? Okay. *Insert nervous chuckle* Anyway…
All that to say that the past couple of months have been something of a whirlwind, and we have some catching up to do. So please forgive me for the seeming randomness that follows. This post is the likeness of an overdue phone convo with a good friend I haven’t talked to in over a month!
So, how are things for you? How’ve you been? What’ve you been up to? I hope and pray that your summer has been a blessed season of bursting gardens, growing livestock, laid-back kids, and broody hens (if you’re into tiny, fluffy, baby things running around like we are ;).
With as many blessings as Summer can bring, sometimes it’s just downright brutal. I think “survival” may be a bit more accurate description of what our summer has been like thus far. Just trying to keep stuff alive. And y’all, sadly, we haven't even been successful in doing that for all of the living things we are tending.
Have you been there? Sometimes this farming/animal husbandry thing is harrowing. Just on our own farm, we’ve juggled heat stroke, foxtails, rattlesnake bites, runaway dogs, and bizarre, out-of-left-field injuries. Not to mention the lacerations, toxicities, pink-eye, predator attacks, more foxtails, and mastitis we’ve helped with on other farms. And it’s just mid-July! Did I mention foxtails?
I share all this not to complain - this is part and parcel of what we signed up for - but to hopefully temper any discouragement you may be feeling if you seem to be passing through like waters. We all go through them. And this, too, shall pass. We’ll get to the other side.
Keep on keepin’ on, my friend.
‘Round here
I’ve got an article or two waiting in the wings, but I felt like I owed all you lovely people who’ve supported Habit of Husbandry and now, this new mobile veterinary endeavor, an update on where we’re at and where we’re headed (Lord willing!).
With your help - since launching into this start-up at the end of May, we’ve been able to:
acquire all necessary licensing (business, premises, and other veterinary-specific licensing)
establish vendor accounts
create a name a logo (woo hoo!)
establish a payment processor, bookkeeping, etc.
begin the homestead husbandry consulting leg of practice
and perhaps the very most exciting blessing has been that we’ve had our first members come on board!
On that note, I want to pause to say a special ‘thank you’ to those of you (you know who you are!) who started supporting this work at the ground (shall I say “grassroots?”) level. I’m so humbled & blessed & grateful!
Members…
When the idea of starting a of a mobile veterinary practice first germinated, I knew membership and community outreach would be foundational. Members would have the benefits of priority for appointment scheduling, full access to HoH educational resources, monthly phone consults, and tailored, at-home veterinary care. And memberships would not only benefit members, but would go a step further to help provide veterinary care to underserved communities and extremely rural areas in Tehama & Shasta counties.
Not long after sharing this vision & beginning fundraising, we had our first donations at the $500+ level, which secured these big-hearted, salt-of-the-earth, amazing folks (and their animals) charter membership. Please know that I am so very grateful for you, and I’m chomping at the bit to get this thing rolling & start serving you. (It won’t be long now!)
Where we’re headed
At this point, homestead husbandry consulting is up and running, and we’re close to being able to start offering basic wellness care for members’ animals, as well as in-home euthanasia.
In-home euthanasia may seem like a bit of a strange place to start, but if you’ve ever needed this for one of your beloved animals, you know what a blessing it can be to allow them to pass at home, where they’re most happy. Furthermore, it’s a service I can provide without the need of pricey equipment or a large inventory.
So, until we’re sufficiently funded to provide broader, mobile veterinary care - this is where we’ll be!
A sneak peak…
The (almost, maybe, probably) final version of the logo was just sent to me, so I just have to share it with you! I brainstormed practice names literally for years, but this one came to me, plain as day, as I saw how important community support and involvement would be to this service.
So here it is!
Thank you again
I can’t thank all of you, who’ve supported this so far, enough. I will continue to be working behind the scenes to get us up and running, so Grassroots Veterinary Services can get to work for you and our neighbors.
I just love this so much- what a tremendous blessing you will be for folks in your area!