NorthEastTexasHomesteaders

At 3:35am Wednesday, February 4, 2026, Fire consumed our little homestead barn claiming the lives of our TAMUK Composite rabbits, our Celadon Coturnizmx Quail and our young grow out chickens along with the structure, all of our livestock equipment, scales, water hoses, extension cords, hardware, $400+ worth of feed (Feed for the entire month), hay (costal/alfalfa/Timothy/straw), gardening equipment, Cub Cadet Riding mower, Lawn Sweeper, Wheel barrows, brooders, medications, first aid kits for our animals, weed & Trim mower, power tools, hand tools, cage building supplies, fencing, wire, lumber, cages, feeders, waterers, crocks, nest boxes, grooming table, carting cages, kennels, holding pens, hutches,honestly way to much to list. Even the simplest things we often overlook like feed storage, scoops, buckets are greatly missed. Nothing we had was really fancy. But it worked for us and we were blessed to have it all. It took years to collect as we grew our homestead. 

The animals we raised were to improve our homestead and what we sold went directly back to the homestead in the form of feed and equipment maintenance and being able to offer animals and eggs to others low cost and even free. We don’t have a farm stand as we love to share what we have with our neighbors as well as others in need. I donate to local food banks when we have surplus as well as neighbors even introducing some to quail eggs and their amazing benefits.  I feel God has asked us to help each other and that is exactly what we enjoy doing. 

I cannot explain how the loss of 92 little lives that depended on me to care for and protect them has hurt my heart. I cannot get the sound out of my ears of them when I ran out the door and saw the fire feeling helpless and realizing I truly could not stop what was happening. The hay that was on fire was next to the gate and I couldn’t get to it. The fence that was surrounding the animals meant to protect them was like the great wall of China. As hard as I pulled I couldn’t free them as everything burned. 

I know for me throwing in the towel is not a solution. I’m a homesteader. If I don’t move forward I can’t survive. I have to rebuild. I have to rise from the ashes and take this experience and learn. I hope to help others not ever experience this devastating loss. If they do, I want to be in the position to help them get back on their feet by providing help, animals, supplies, time, a shoulder to cry on and a hand to grab theirs with to pull them back up and get their lives going again.

Through all of this both my mom and dad have been admitted into ICU (Dad a week ago & Mom on Thursday) due to unrelated health issues. They are still in the hospital but are improving.

i feel a bit conflicted about doing this gofund me because it feels like begging. That is not why I did this. Many have reached out wanting to help and this was the suggestion most made. 

My plans for these funds are solely to rebuild and replace animals I have lost. I have quail hatching in less than a week that were placed in the incubator before all of this happened. Those I lost will live on through them. I am officially changing the name of our homestead to “Rising Phoenix Homestead” as I believe the photo tajen during the fire will explain. I truly believe my animals that perished were sending me a sign that I had to rise from the ashes. Never give up!

 

God talks to us and we usually are hung up in our own selves so much we don’t see what he is trying to tell us. That was a God Wink. All God and you will never make me believe otherwise!

Thank you so much for your help and prayers. Know they are greatfully received. I will only get what we need to get back on our feet and with the guidance of others in the homesteading community I would like to use excess funds to start some kind of emergency fund. Once things calm diwn I will research this avenue. 

God Bless