Heartland Recovery hosted a thank you luncheon for supporters of the Homestead Project on campus in December. The initiative, started in 2024, provides an avenue for men, women, and youth to learn gardening and animal husbandry skills to instill purpose, confidence, and life skills. Heartland Homestead also exists to utilize and steward the land and resources God has provided, and to become as self-sustainable as possible through various animal and gardening endeavors.
Guests ate lunch at the Men’s Recovery cafeteria, then heard an update on the project’s progress and future goals, including a testimony from Dustin about how caring for animals in the Heartland Homestead Project is helping him on his road to recovery.
The Homestead started with 60 chickens and has grown to a flock of 130. In 2025, the men hatched 80 chicks, collected 13,257 eggs, and are supplying enough for the ministry’s needs. They plan to increase the number of laying hens to 200 in the coming year.
In the cattle department, two heifers were butchered in 2024 and four in 2025. That number will increase as they begin raising their own herd with six bred heifers scheduled to calve in the spring.
Hawkins Family Farms have been very helpful with the Homestead’s pig herd, donating animals as well as providing training on care and management. They provided the first three pigs in 2024 which were fattened out and butchered. In 2025, the Homestead raised seven pigs; five were butchered, with the remaining sows bred for piglets to fatten out for 2026.
The garden, greenhouses, and orchard continue to increase as well. The men grew a lot of produce in 2025 and were able to preserve quite a bit for the winter. In addition to the 25 existing pear trees in the orchard, 30 apple trees and 30 peach trees were planted this fall, with 30 blackberry and blueberry bushes planned for the spring.
Heartland is deeply grateful for the donations of time, livestock, supplies and equipment which have been instrumental in helping residents develop valuable skills while advancing the mission of self-sustainability.
If you would like to get involved in this project, contact us for more information!
