GRIT and Grace Homestead Consulting

05/14/2026

Funny story and farm update coming tomorrow... For now... Good night!!

04/04/2026

04/04/2026

I love how Noelle's (and my own) hair gets all curly when it rains!

She sure is a perty girl, crazy eyes and all!

03/31/2026

Remember not to p**s off the farmers. They're built different 😎

03/28/2026

You have a whole pasture and barn to p**p in, but sure, crap in the mineral bucket. 🤦🏼‍♀️

03/16/2026

**Kicky Cows**

Have you ever heard the phrase, "There's more than one way to skin a cat?"

I always wondered why on earth knowing how to skin a cat in any way would benefit me, but never second guessed the logic behind the saying.

That said, there's more than one way to get a cow to quit kicking.

I've seen folks use hobbles, the cow can't kick bar, ratchet straps and ropes around the ankles. Everyone has their preference and some methods work better for certain cows. That said, I like this method as a first option. It limits the cows ability to move around too much, doesn't restrict their legs in a way that risks them falling and getting hurt (or hurting you!) and let's them know you're the boss.

Why is my cow kicking to begin with?

-Well, if she's a heifer who's calved for the first time, it's because it's new and she's afraid and/or p**sed.
-Your vacuum may be set too high.
-She has sore teats.
-She is in heat

The list goes on and on. That's why it's important to keep a close eye on your girls. Get to know them and make sure you catch anything new, like behaviors, changes in their milk color, flavor, textures and the way your cow looks.

Be safe out in the barn, field, shed or wherever you're milking! A hoof to the head can leave a nice bump and a headache... Or worse!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fOHF32UfpBU&pp=0gcJCZoBo7VqN5tDiggCQAE%3D&fbclid=IwVERDUAQlQs5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR4sxuM75uwSWaCGvWEiDMZpFhie8RI0hThkvSjhx80dQNCuBbBXAUek_GDBmg_aem_0ArRZtliEN3Bh6U-t42SUw

Fresh heifers kick and so can cows. In this video I show you how to use a belly rope or flank rope to teach your milk cow not to kick. With consistent use, s...

03/14/2026

In order to keep my cows, chickens, horses and children in a row, I have to have three planners lol.

-My farm planner that tracks everything from breeding and calving dates, egg tallies, gallons of milk, feed costs, etc.

-My homeschooling planner that keeps track of grades and curriculum.

-My everything planner that well, is self explanatory I think.

03/13/2026

Starting a homestead having little to no experience? Before you go out and buy that cow, reach out and get a free 15 minute consultation!

Howdy 🤠 My name is Holly Liska, the owner of Grit and Grace Homestead Consulting. My husband Raymond and I run a custom farming business, raise grass fed Angus beef cattle and have an A2/A2 jersey milk cow herd. We also raise chickens and have a couple horses on the farm.

Farming is tough business. There is endless heartbreak, whether it's loss of livestock, crop failures, broken down equipment or a poor reproduction rate, it seems there is trouble around every corner. Sometimes, there is. Sometimes you can't prevent it. But, sometimes YOU CAN.

I notice that a lot of folks are jumping on this homestead bandwagon. I think it's great to see so many people returning to the old ways of raising their own food. I also think it's wise to know your shortcomings and when you need help and mentorship. Too often I see posts about a new cow owner not being able to milk their freshly calves heifer, questions about how to feed their cattle and so on. Even seasoned farmers make mistakes and sometimes have to try something new to us and the way we have been taught.

That's why I started consulting. My goal is to help people who hope to homestead, or have already started to, navigate the challenges, determine whether or not their dreams are rooted in reality or have been well thought out and know when and where to get help. Fortunately, I am surrounded by experts regarding things I don't know and can consult with.

If you think you could benefit from a free consultation, feel free to PM me!

And remember, when it comes to farming, you gotta have a little bit of grit and a whole lotta grace!!