Our Purpose
The goal of The Rabbit Revolution is to give people the motivation and tools to raise meat in their backyards. Rabbits are the ideal animal to raise for meat in a small space. We want to see more people interested in really connecting with their food choices. We want to see a hutch in the backyard of every person who eats meat. We want to see a community grow up around the conscientious eating of meat.
Our Reason
We struggle with our choice to eat meat. We really like meat. Our bodies really likes meat. But the meat industry is just that, an industry. Industry is generally evil. The meat industry crushed the small farmer. Helped create antibiotic resistant bacteria. Causes pain and suffering to untold thousands of animals a year. Churns out greenhouse gases by the ton. Regularly poisons folks with salmonella and e. coli bacteria outbreaks.
The meat industry devalues our food. Our meat is delivered to us under plastic without a face. Without bones. We don’t need to think about the life that ended up under the plastic.
Our Solution
Our solution, though not right for everyone, is to raise our own meat in our backyard. We know how our meat was conceived, born, lived, played, ate, drank, and died. We know what every part of our meat looks like.
We don’t eat solely rabbit. While a very tasty meat, rabbit gets a little monotonous. Therefore, some of our meat is purchased already cut and wrapped. We can’t help it. Yet. We’re looking for people who want to barter their own home-grown pork, beef, lamb, or fish.
Who We Are
We are two queer ladies living in urban Portland, OR. We share two kids, 9 and 11, with their dad, who lives in Hillsboro. In February 2009, we had four cats. Now, we have seven rabbits (plus babies), three cats, a dog, a snake, 10 laying hens, and one rooster (who will probably be soup soon). We are city girls aspiring to be country girls, working to create a pastoral oasis in the chaos of the city. By 2016, we’ll move out to the country and be real farmers!
Kelsey, I may be interested in the Organic feed? IS it Hillsboro, Kansas?
Terry
Nope! Hillsboro, Oregon! We live in Portland, Oregon. I should have made that more clear. Sorry for the confusion!
Hi Kelsy,That is true about sum of the humane society places but not always.Here in Kansas they usally dont spay or nuetor rabbits unless they share a cage.Any body out there in Kansas have a couple rabbits (male&female) they could or would sale to me?
That’s interesting. Must be a funding thing?
There is a Kentucky Rabbit Breeder’s Association. It’s a pretty bare bones website, but you can see their member list at http://www.tksrba.com/members.php.
I like the taste of meat. Actually, I love it. But, I don’t eat it. Killing anything in any way can never fall under the definition of “humane”
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/humane
I disagree 100%, James. PD, our most ancient Labrador/Bull Mastiff, has a had great life. When her life is coming to an end and if she is in pain, I will have utmost compassion for her suffering and will do everything to prevent it. Including killing her by putting her to sleep.
My post The Choice to Eat Meat makes the point that vegetarians kill by drinking milk, eating eggs, and wearing leather. Also, a commenter points out that plants are alive and by eating them, we kill.
Even a vegan who does not drink milk, use eggs, or wear leather is still killing animals through their lifestyle. Every consumer product you buy, and every bit of energy you use, even the building you live in, comes at the expense of animal life. Because these animals are killed indirectly, by somebody else, you don’t have to wrestle with the moral issues of being a human being. By raising your own animals and killing them for meat, you are taking full moral responsibility for your life as a human being and thus a consumer of other life. Eating organic tofu or broccoli causes animals to die, but you don’t take responsibility for it. You pay somebody else to handle the moral issues of being a consumer. If a person raises and eats the animals they cared for, created, and humanely killed, then they are on the moral high ground, compared to a person who eats only vegetables but thinks that somehow animals are not harmed in the process of turning forest or prairie land into farmland. 50 pounds of rabbit meat, raised in a suburban backyard that would otherwise produce nothing, is much less destructive than wiping out a new 5-acre chunk of forest to produce 50 pounds of organic tofu for pale, sickly, squeamish vegans.
May I come learn how to properly and correctly kill a rabbit on your slaughter day? I watched the video on your site but would prefer to see in person just to make sure I can do it before I purchase rabbits.
Just an observation about the use of the word “humane”. Is this how we distinguish ourselves from the animal world; the kind that rips apart it’s prey, and sometimes devours it while it is still alive? Hmm, last time I looked, Humans don’t seem to much different, so I wonder if a person was to end an animals life with “mercy and respect”, would it seem more “humane”.
You’re just making “an observation.” An observation of what? I’m trying to figure out if you’re saying that raising meat outside the industrial farming complex is not humane. Please see my reply to James, above, for my response to that.
I’m reading your post as condescending and self-satisfied. The “Hmm” really sent me over the edge. And not in a good way.
“Last time I looked” is not valid in an argument. Provide a concrete example of how *I* am not humane and then I’ll take you seriously and argue a point with you. I’m not going to argue for the rest of humanity. I don’t like them as a group and they can defend themselves if they want to.
I’m very sorry that my post was not clear at all, I meant it to be more in line with your reply to James.
I feel that people using the word humane to vilify meat eaters have not looked at the horrific behavior of some, maybe even a lot of humans (like in Darfur). And then use the the word in what seems to be judgment of meat eaters.
I also raise rabbits and chickens for meat, and hunt for my food, and take very seriously my responsibility for their lives. I just feel better about using the words mercy and respect when I end their lives, as opposed to the word humane.
Thank you for the chance to explain myself, and for the great site. And I hope I was more clear this time.
A more exact word to describe humane killing is the term ‘euthanasia’. This is a process by which we ensure that the death we give the animal is as humane as possible–swift,sure, and with a minimum of avoidable stress or pain. THAT is what we should all be striving for when a rabbit is put down for food or otherwise.
It’s not a matter of what feels good or looks good to US, it’s a matter of what the animal goes through.
By the way: Kelsy, were you aware that rabbitries with as few as ten does have been called ‘industrial’ or ‘battery’ raising? Such is the game of animal supremacy/human subjugation to animals.
Yet another sterling example of how disconnected people are from any kind of animal raising and keeping.
This site is sweet! My wife and I are planning on getting some ducks to raise for meat/eggs next spring and my daughter’s been obsessed with rabbits for years. While I was looking into the practical aspects of rabbits I stumbled across your site. So many of the sentiments you shared are the same reasons we want to raise our own food, and yes it’s quite annoying when “holier than thou” vegans turn their noses up without even understanding the ramifications of their actions, but I digress. (thinking about lead-laden, cross-contaminated, polypropylene reusable grocery bags now) By eating commercial meats we are essentially condoning and funding the manner in which the livestock is treated, both the negative health effects on us and the animals themselves. I don’t know about portland, but down here in southern oregon there are CSA’s one can join to acquire meats and vegetables raised outside the scope of the corporate industrial complex, at least while that’s still legal, maybe you guys could look into joining (or starting) a CSA in portland? Anyway, still not sure if I can bring myself to slaughter cute little bunnies? But it’s cool to know there are other folks out there with similar ideas.