The Homestead Sessions: Chicken Processing Workshop

Description

This Isn’t a Demonstration. It’s Hands-On.

This Homestead Session is designed for people who want to actually learn the skill of processing poultry—not just watch someone else do it.

You’ll work alongside us through the process of taking a pasture-raised chicken from start to finish, with guidance and instruction at every stage.

Whether you’re completely new to poultry processing or you’ve done it before and want to build your confidence, this is a practical, encouraging environment where you can learn, ask questions, and do the work yourself.

We believe homesteading skills shouldn’t feel intimidating or out of reach. With the right instruction and a little practice, these are skills anyone can learn.

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What We’ll Cover

Throughout the workshop, we’ll walk through the complete poultry-processing process, including:

• Dispatching
• Scalding
• Plucking
• Eviscerating
• Quality control
• Packaging

You won’t simply stand around and watch us do it.

You’ll process your own chicken with guidance every step of the way.

We’ll also talk through the equipment involved, what you actually need if you want to process poultry at home, and how the entire process fits together from start to finish.

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What You’ll Take Home

Your Own Chicken

Each participant will process one whole chicken during the workshop and take it home afterward.

Bring a cooler for transporting your chicken home.

Real Hands-On Experience

You’ll work through the process yourself instead of simply watching a demonstration.

The goal is for you to leave having actually experienced the work—not just having heard someone explain it.

Practical Knowledge

We’ll discuss the equipment we use, what you need to get started at home, and the practical considerations involved in processing your own poultry.

A Farm Experience

You’ll spend the day at Jonestead Farm and get a glimpse into our family homestead and the work that goes into producing food close to home.

Community

You’ll spend the day alongside other people who are interested in learning practical homesteading and food-production skills.

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Why Learn This Skill?

For many people, processing their own poultry can feel like the biggest hurdle between raising their own food and actually putting that food in the freezer.

That’s where hands-on experience makes all the difference.

There’s a confidence that comes from doing something yourself for the first time—with someone experienced beside you to answer questions, explain what’s happening, and help you through the parts that feel unfamiliar.

Our goal isn’t to make you an expert in one day.

Our goal is to give you the knowledge and experience to confidently continue learning and doing this yourself.

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What to Expect

This is a full, hands-on day at the farm.

We’ll start by walking through the process and then work through each stage together. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to ask questions and receive individual guidance as we go.

We’ll also spend time talking about the equipment involved, what you actually need at home, and how the process comes together from start to finish.

And because this is Jonestead Farm, you’ll get to experience a little bit of farm life along the way.

Come ready to learn, work, ask questions, and get your hands dirty.

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A Few Things to Know

Rain or shine.
This is a working farm and a hands-on outdoor experience, so plan accordingly.

Tickets are required.
Because this is a small, hands-on workshop, everyone attending must have a ticket.

Bring a cooler.
You’ll be taking the chicken you process home with you.

Tickets are non-refundable.
Because we purchase supplies and prepare specifically for a limited number of participants, workshop tickets are non-refundable.

If Jonestead Farm has to cancel the workshop for any reason, you’ll receive a full refund.

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Come Learn Something You’ll Actually Use.

You don’t have to be an experienced farmer.

You don’t have to already have all the equipment.

And you certainly don’t have to know what you’re doing when you arrive.

That’s what the workshop is for.

Come learn alongside us, get some hands-on experience, meet other people interested in becoming more self-sufficient, and leave with a skill you can continue using for years to come.