We're Bethany & Trapper.
Being homesteaders was not our plan. Thankfully we're good at figuring things out.
Blessed to have known each other since first grade, we moved to Durango in 2001. There we raised our two amazing boys, and after they left the nest we bought this twenty acres with a view that can’t be beat in 2020.
How we ended up here…
We both grew up in Northern Wisconsin, and we knew early on that the mountains were calling us. Durango is a great small city that has something for everyone, and we are so happy to be able to call it home for so long.
Then came 2020. With a newly empty nest, it was time to have some fun! We'd been riding motorcycles through Baja and over every mountain pass we could find. Built out a camper van and we were ready for adventure. The world got strange though, and we found we wanted more space than a house in town could give us.
We looked at something like forty-five properties, then our perfect spot became available. This spot.
“Where there is love there is life.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
“No animals,” we said.
That lasted about a month.
Buddy was the first, a rescue pup. Then eight baby chicks, of course all with names. Next was Bella, a German Shepherd, because Buddy needed a best friend.
Then came the honey bees, Queen Latifah and Queen Nefertiti with their colonies. A red-footed tortoise named Chica. Fifteen more chickens, while cruising Tractor Supply after cocktails.
Next was five Scottish Highland cows. Then, somehow, more chickens, and more bees. And since we were already neck deep in animals, we added pigs and turkeys to the mix.
In between all that, we built and built and built. First the studio apartment in the hay loft. A greenhouse. A coop (with three additions to it since we could not stop buying chickens), an orchard with fencing to hold off the deer. A second greenhouse, because one wasn't enough. A second rental in the barn, because homesteading is expensive — that isn't a joke. And then fence-pacalypse, when we realized cows were coming.
What we grow, and what we've “tried” to grow.
Sweet corn, tomatoes, onions, kale, cabbage, peppers, squash, potatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, peas, carrots, lettuce, spinach, beets, pumpkins, piñon for pine nuts, and more herbs than we can shake a stick at. Cider apples, eating apples, peaches, cherry and a nectarine tree.
From all of this, we make wine, mead, soap, tallow balm, kombucha, sourdough, bone broth, jams, tomato sauce, salsa, lavender mint bath salts, sauerkraut, etc. Some of these items are for sale in our little farm store in the barn.
Growing anything at 7,474 feet without much water is difficult to say the least. We have made more mistakes than we can count but we have also learned a lot as well. We call ourselves Youtube Homesteaders since neither one of us knew a thing about homesteading prior to 2020. Thank you Youtube!
It's a lot of work. A lot of sweat. Some injuries, yet it is the most fun we've ever had.
Our Highland Cows
We have eleven Scottish Highland cows: four mommas, three steers, three heifer calves, and a white bull named Leche. We actually bought Leche from a wonderful couple who stayed with us — perfect timing.
The cows move around a lot during the day, but they are never far. There's a designated Cow Petting Area north of the barn where you can reach through the fence safely and give them a scratch under the chin, which is their preferred spot to be touched. We know they look cuddly, but they are not dogs — they're very large animals with very large horns so please keep that in mind. They're normally calm, curious, and used to visitors behind a fence. They usually mosey over toward the petting area near the end of the day. (Please don't go into the field or open any gates.)
A common question we get is whether or not we milk them. Highlands actually don't produce a large amount of milk, and what they do produce we leave for their calves. The cream in your fridge is organic, and it's from the store.
The rest of our circus:
Bella — German shepherd. Large, loud, entirely soft-hearted.
Buddy — the rescue. New people are his favorite thing in the world.
Fuzzy Mommy — the very old long-haired barn cat. She came with the property. A Bonus!
The Chickens — protected by Bebe Roo and Beauregard, the roosters, in their Hen-itentieary. The ladies hope you enjoy your breakfast.
The Honeybees: Our five colonies live far away from the barn and are protechted by an electric fence. No touchy.
How we run the place...
Sustainability
Southwest Colorado is in a record-breaking drought, unfortunately. We ask guests to be mindful of water usage, close the shades in the summer, set the thermostat sensibly when they are out, and sort the trash into the clearly labeled trash and recycling bins. Filtered water is in both units, so nobody needs a plastic bottle.
We Happlily Provide…
Farm-fresh eggs, organic cream, raw sugar, good tea, olive oil, and an abundant spice collection. Our favorite locally roasted coffee that we grind for you. Cruelty-free shampoo, conditioner, and body wash without harsh additives.
Cleanliness
The feedback we get most often, after the breathtaking view, is how clean our homestead is — inside and out. We work hard at that and appreciate respectful guests.
