Our Wee Farm

Been there, done that...

2012-01-17T18:56:00.000-08:00

Bunny #2 caught (rescued) from CrazyNeighborGuy's obnoxious animal mis-management. All those bunnies that were loosed in the Fall to "free-range" have been making a valiant effort to survive so far...

We thought we'd give another a fighting chance. So we set the trap with fall apples....and viola! Meet Chestnut. So named by her new owner. ( a local 4-H friend)

A face too sweet for foxes or frostbite, don't you agree?

Winter colors

2012-01-13T05:04:00.000-08:00

You were expecting white??

Hah! The Weather Service predicts a warmer than usual winter for Upstate NY. Which translates to pretty ugly, drab landscapes. (see example below)

So we search out our own color palette, where ever it may be hiding.

Check out that Maran egg...back to nice, dark brown specimens after a short winter hiatus of two months or so. The darkest brown egg layers always produce their darkest at the start of a laying cycle or the younger the hen.

I found this lovely little fungus in the woods; a spot of blazing color in an otherwise very brown and grey view. I don't recall ever seeing anything like it before. Any fungus fans care to name it or lay some knowledge on us?

And nothing says "Fun in the Sun" like neon farm pails. (Don't you just want to hunker down in some warm sand and make castles?) Really, I couldn't resist...I found these at Tractor Supply.

In my defense, we do have a color-coded animal system around here: Yellow is for Chickens, Orange for Turkeys/Quail/Ducks, Red for Sheep, Blue for Goats, and Green for Garden. Feed scoops, containers, hanging feeders, pails etc. are all kept/colored/labeled separately for the newbie/visiting farmer, farm sitter, or DH (who is very reluctant to admit there is a system, or that it has value...)

The neon pink pail and the lilac purple one (in use at at the time of the photo) don't have an assigned use, but who can resist PURPLE farm pails? After all, there is just plain, old hauling of water...

Because really, all this color is better than:

Porcine Dispose-all

2012-01-04T04:58:00.000-08:00

When we were growing up, I remember when we moved into our "new" house it sported a "dispose-all" device in the sink. I was both fascinated and leery - it could grind up just about anything (making after-dinner chores much tidier) and that included fingers (or so I feared). But the reality was a little more nasty and safe - it frequently got clogged with all kinds of unrecognizable goo, and since the "on" switch was a contortionist's nightmare, there was little chance my fingers would be anywhere near when the thing was running...

I thought again about that device as we brought home our summer farm guest - the piglet. I envisioned all the scraps now going into a slop bucket and the efficiency of our little farm just humming along ever better...

The raising of the pig gave us a lot to process (literally and figuratively!) and it's time to take a look back with the dawning of the new year...

We learned:

a) pigs are smart and sociable. Ours was in LOVE with the sheep, and never missed an opportunity to visit (they wanted NOTHING to do with him, BTW) and loved to be scratched. He would even roll over like a dog to have you scratch his tummy.

b) pigs are strong. Electric fencing actually works best, because they learn very quickly about the shock, and are reluctant to test it. They can knock over, push apart, and dig under just about anything else you attempt to construct.

c) pigs are efficient farm animals. We did very well supplementing organic pig feed with fell apples, acorns, food scraps, whey and garden culls. We now have a freezer full of organic pork at around $3 a pound (excluding labor expenses).

d) pigs are delicious. I've been a vegetarian for more than 25 years, and never missed meat at all, but this return to omnivorous eating has been a real treat. I feel good knowing exactly what went into this animal and how it was housed and handled. The "energy" (labor) of production was ours, and the variety of meat products we got from this one animal is impressive. We will go almost 2 years with this one animal. (There is only 3 of us, and we don't eat meat every day...)

So, would we do it again? Absolutely. In fact, we may be in negotiation to raise one for a friend next year if we can arrange a suitable barter.

We would definitely:

a) raise the same breed. Ours was a Tamworth, and it was a perfect match in size, temperament, and ease of raising. Six months to butcher weight (235 lbs.) and very good food-to-product ratio. Able to forage, and will eat a variety of pasture, garden culls, and fruit.

b) build a pen/area somewhere we need clearing. They dig up every inch, and love to nibble on branches, grasses, and leaves.

c) work with them every day. Because they are social, they learn and become quite manageable. That's a good thing when they get loose (they will) or when you need to move them (at least once, probably) and when you have to get them into a trailer (for you-know-where).

Things to consider:

a) butchering. There is a critical shortage of good, FDA inspected meat processors around here. We had to make our slaughter date as soon as we got the piglet, since they schedule 6 months or more in advance.

b) feed. We used organic pig feed as the basis, but we could cut costs even further if we had a good storage area (for a one-time delivery of multiple bags of feed) and if we sought out more fruit drops, whey/milk, and were super-diligent about food scraps. (it took a while to train the fam - but they are trainable!)

c) trailer. This time I was lucky to have a good friend and neighbor who volunteered her trailer and drove to the butcher. It would not be a bad thing for us to invest in one for a few things - only we have to either get one low to the ground or with a strong, stable ramp for loading.

Now to figure out what exactly the labor part might look like and be worth - for the potential barter....and a future post!

New Year, New Look, New Resolve

2012-01-02T04:04:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Please let 2012 be a better year for everyone I know!

I resolve to:

a) Post more

b) Spend less time in front of a screen

c) Get more things done (as in: completed all the way, and the tools put back where they belong)

How I will achieve a) while doing b) remains to be seen. If I do b) I expect I will accomplish c) which in turn, gives me more for a).

I imagine that since we have 7 MINUTES MORE DAYLIGHT!!!! anything is possible....

Here's to Spring.

Holiday Tension

2011-11-17T12:55:00.000-08:00

Just sayin'...

Did I tell you the one about the bunny?

2011-11-14T10:51:00.000-08:00

No?

Well, it seems nobody is immune from downsizing these days, and that even extends to bunnies. One day a month or more ago, the DH mentioned "a rabbit was ranging with the chickens today", and I (of course) assumed he meant a wild rabbit.

So, imagine my surprise when I glanced out the door to see a brown bunny (definitely NOT the wild bunny shade of brown) hopping around with the chickens. Yeah. That's what every farmer needs (in addition to the cats, dogs and chickens that get dropped off...) - a bunny.

So I scooted it into the garage, added a Have-a-heart trap loaded with apple, and shut the door. Two hours later - viola! Bunny-in-a-box.

This was where my bunny smarts ended. I have NO idea about bunnies, so we called out to the 4-H contingent. (Thank goodness we got an answer!)

My daughter's friend came over and showed us all how to handle the bunny, sex the bunny (a girl), put the bunny in show position, and generally confirmed that the bunny was a very tame, gentle, pet bunny.

Meet Simba. Who now resides in a very bunny-friendly home. (Unlike her former home where the human idiots decided it was humane to let a tame bunny "go wild" at our place.)

And apparently, when you show a 4-H rabbit, this is exactly what you do to convince the judge you know your way around a bunny and are deserving of a ribbon. (Who knew?)

Simba did.

Coloring outside the lines

2011-11-13T13:51:00.001-08:00

So it appears my Leonidas is more of a Jackson Pollock, than a Michelangelo...
But, ...count the days with me...that's right! Easter lambs!

(There must be an app for that already...)

Bouquet of Flours

2011-10-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

My neighbor, Sue, had decided do go gluten-free. Bless her. Couldn't do it, myself. But as a result, she gifted me:

I feel a baking day coming on....

Strange Bedfellows

2011-10-04T09:47:00.001-07:00

They say it's politics that makes that happen. But around here apparently all it takes is a breakdown in fencing...

I went out to do morning chores, and when I walked onto the lower lot, there were two bodies. Lying next to each other. Spooning, actually. I thought they were dead. I made some sort of shocked exclamation, and the pig woke up and jumped up like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. The ram did not move. Closer inspection revealed he could not move - he was hopelessly tangled in electronet.

My best guess?

The ram was grazing overnight by himself in the electronet. The Tamworth pig got out of his enclosure. ( In the past when this has happened, the pig runs to "visit" the sheep - he is terribly excited to see them, and makes like he wants to play, or at least be friends. The sheep are mortified, and pretend not to see him, all the time moving quickly and quietly away, as if the pig is carrying the plague... ) As per the usual, the pig tried to "visit" the ram, and the ram panicked and tried to get away. Through the fence. Which was at one point connected to a power source, so this was a painful enterprise. There was MUCH thrashing and rolling about and eventually they pulled the fence out of the battery, but by that time, the ram was rendered practically immobile, what with fence wrapped around his head, horns, and front right leg.

What came next, only those two know, but when I found them, they were sleeping together.

The pig was returned to his enclosure, and I went to free the ram. Unfortunately, Leonidas was much the worse for the experience. The biggest injury was to his neck, mostly the right side. A patch of fleece at least 6 inches in diameter was gone, and there was terrible bruising. Minor scrapes and abrasions, but nothing too deep. He was trembling, obviously in a lot of pain, and exhausted.

Dr. Shelley was dispatched, with CDT boosters, and banamine, and anitbiotics, and we are waiting and watching. Leonidas is eating and drinking, although slowly. The pig seems fine for the encounter.

And nobody's talking.

You're never gonna believe this...

2011-08-30T20:36:00.000-07:00

I still can't - and I've seen the whole thing first-hand. The other day when DH shot the skunk in the chicken shed (in the middle of Hurricane Irene) he got off three shots. He was basically shooting at the critter in a somewhat dim area of the shed as the skunk ran along a divider wall looking for a way out.

Here's the weird part - he killed 2 skunks. Yep. Found another body on the far side of that dividing wall today. The round from the .22 went through the thin wall and shot the other one dead.

Really.

(And I wondered why the smell didn't seem to be getting any better!)

Do we know how to have fun in the rain, or WHAT?

2011-08-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

The challenge is finding an activity the whole family can enjoy, preferably one that requires skill, creativity, and a moderate amount of physical activity.

Scrabble? Nope, too sedentary.

Charades? Hard to find categories that are equally meaningful to a 14 yr. old AND a 63 yr. old.

How about farm chores? Too routine you say? Well, how about farm chores with a skunk?

Yep. We might just be on to something here....

Game set-up: Place the animals needing to be fed and watered as far apart as possible on your property. Playing in hurricane style weather preferred.

Each player is only allowed one piece of weather-appropriate gear, because anyone possessing complete, matching and fitting raingear probably can afford to decamp to a theater or friend's house to wait out the storm.

Points are awarded for successful completion of game activities.

Play: Roll the dice to see who gets to stay inside. Lowest roll or busiest person goes first. Start by feeding the flock inside the 12x30 poultry shed on the upper lot. (1 point) Continue to the pig, then the turkey, then the sheep, all on the lower lot. (1 point awarded for each animal fed. Deduct one point for each dish that overturns when the animal steps in it, or if the animal head butts the scoop and spills the food.)

Return to the upper lot to see the flock rapidly departing the food in the (mostly) dry shed.

When you hear the new chickens clucking and carrying on a little too loudly for comfort, enter the poultry shed and discover something screaming and causing a stir behind the gate to the sheep stall.

As soon as you see the skunk locked in a death roll with either the bantam rooster or one of the teenage chickens, throw everything you have in reach at them, and run for the house. (1 point for every object that hits the skunk. Bonus points awarded if the kitchen bowl that held the apple peels for the sheep lands anywhere close. This now becomes a barn bowl.)

Scream at the next player to grab the .22 and meet you in the barn. If the next player is the 63 yr. old with challenged hearing, repeat the instructions several times.

Play resumes in the poultry shed, and the next player has to shoot the skunk dead. (1 point) If Player 2 cannot see the skunk immediately, Player 1 must run back in the shed to point out the skunk and receive the bulk of the Aromatic Bonus Spray (3 points).

Player 3 now joins the game by shouting out the office window, asking what is going on. ( 1 point for every question that receives an answer.)

Other game tasks that earn points: picking up the skunk and placing it in an empty feed bag (1 point), tranferring the dead skunk to the fire pit (1 point), and retrieving the thrown objects and returning them to their proper place (1 point each).

All game points are doubled if the player falls in the mud during execution of a task. Note: chances of falling in the mud are proportional to the degree to which the player desires to stay dry.

Winning the game: Player with the highest point score, gets the first shower.

Irene prep bonus

2011-08-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

Like everyone around us, we are doing a season's worth of tidying chores in a few hours, in anticipation of high winds and lots of rain. We decided it might be timely to deal with a pile of large, loose brush left over from the winter, lest it become airborne and hit something (or someone!) Look what we found!

In all my life, millipedes have never been longer than an inch, and no more than the diameter of pencil lead. This specimen was almost 4 inches!

P.S. Both my DH and I thought it was really cool - the Teenager thought it was disgusting, and only agreed to take the photo so I would go back outside and leave her alone...(sigh)

The Older I Get...

2011-08-25T17:50:00.000-07:00

...the less I like people.

For example, who dumps 5 chickens by the roadside because they are too lazy/cruel/irresponsible/cheap/simple to care for them??? Were they thinking they would simply "go native", and live off the land??? That they would somehow "enjoy" this return to nature, and frolic in the fields? Did those dolts ever consider coyotes, dogs, cars, or hawks? No, probably not.

Luckily for the remaining 4 (#5 lost a game of chicken with an automobile) my daughter and I chased and wrassled them over the course of two days, pouring rain, prickers and muck and brought them back to our place to see what we could make of them...

Forgive the poor photos - the quarantine coop is kind of dark. Once Irene has passed, we may be able to get much better shots, but we are cleaning up the place and tying down what can't be stored, and getting ready for a whopper.

But we think we have a gorgeous Buff Cochin rooster, a Buff Cochin hen (foreground above), and a Rhode Island Red is hiding in the background.

The one on the perch is possibly a Buff Orpington. The apparent difference in color of plumage is actually different degrees of soaked feathers and poor lighting. But she may be a cross of some kind, as well.

Can't wait to see how they do in the "chicken yard" with the rest of the poultry community. We'll let you know next week after quarantine is over.

Aggravating footnote: If I go back to the quarter mile of country road we traversed to catch these guys and picked up all the beer and soda cans thrown out somebody's windows, I could probably buy a sizeable bag of poultry feed. When did we become a society that simply chucks out a window anything we are too lazy to put where it belongs?

Meat Birds (Vegetarians - take 5...)

2011-07-20T08:43:00.000-07:00

The raising of meat birds has been well-tried around here, and it's time to share some of the results.

Let's start by saying - we don't raise many. Our consumption of chicken is well below the national average, and so thankfully, meat birds are not a large part of the equation around here. But they are a reality of many small homesteads.

We first tried the classic Cornish cross. A bird bred for nothing other than meat - large breasts, quick to market (just over 6 weeks) and light in color and feathering. (A factor in processing). Besides being freakishly large from the start, they are disturbing for other reasons as well. They don't "act" like chickens. Little to no foraging, almost constant eating if given the opportunity, and quite sedentary. We have raised them in tractors, so they get time outdoors and can at least contribute to the cycle of fertilizer and renewal. The first time we fed them straight grain, the second we tried to force them to forage by scaling back on the quantity of grain fed, and they simply were smaller. Our experience is that these birds basically trample the grass they are on, not eat it. Advantage: ready in 6 or 7 weeks, so your time investment is minimal. With grain available in good quantity, it was pretty easy to get a 5+ lb. bird. The batch we tried to force to forage came in considerably less. Know your market - if you are raising for re-sale, be sure you can recoup the costs of organic grain. Not everyone is ready to pay $18 for the Sunday chicken dinner...

We have tried raising the Cornish X chicks with layer chicks for the first 2-3 weeks, and the result was that the layer chicks were often bullied and didn't get all the food and water they needed for the optimum start. So we recommend separate brooder space and equipment.

We have also tried the Freedom Ranger, or French Red. They advertise as a free-range meat bird that will be ready for market in 12-14 weeks. Attaining a good market size (4-5 lbs.) in that time frame still requires a pretty large grain investment. (Again - think costs!) Yes, these birds will forage. They are more alert, and "act" like chickens. Their tractor needs to be moved daily to new ground, and be careful not to put too many in the tractor you are using, or the forage and grass consumption goes way down. Overall, they are quiet and not flighty. So we give them good grades as far as being less "factory food", and more "slow food." Their breasts are not as large, and their meat is more dark. But the flavor is exceptional...

We had no problem raising these chicks with layer chicks until about the 5th week, but by then, they were feathered out and could weather the out of doors - so into the tractor they went. They seemed to prefer sleeping on the ground to roosting, so make sure the tractor is heavy enough to discourage digging predators and the mesh is small enough to thwart raccoons. We raised 4 lb. birds with a moderate investment of grain and emphasis on foraging in about 16-17 weeks.

Finally, we have tried butchering the occasional "Oops rooster" (You order all pullets, and "oops" get a boy...) as well as those times when we hatch our own eggs and can only use the hens. These chickens are raised along with their peers in the same brooder arrangement and out on farm free-range at 7-8 weeks. In this scenario, they are free to range the property, eat the daily kitchen scraps, and only get grain at night or when we need to put everyone away. This is how we raise our egg-laying flock (read about another good perspective here) and it has worked out quite well. Typically, these males don't get butchered until around 17-20 weeks of age (when they discover they are roosters and either mount everything in sight or try attacking my shins - both decidedly risky behaviors on a farm that loves their laying flock AND doesn't like barnyard bullies) Breeds vary - but we don't raise bantams, so these are all full-size roosters. They don't have an overly large breast, are lankier than the usual roasting chicken, but still fantastic for the soup pot or roasted and the meat used in a casserole or other dish. Typically, they butcher at around 3-4 lbs. carcass weight, and that is plenty for our family. This is the most cost-effective method - minimal time and grain investment beyond what we are already doing for our layers, and we haven't (usually) paid for the chicks.

One more tip - if you order laying chicks in a small quantity (say a dozen or so) many hatcheries will include either extra males or meat birds as "heat insurance" to keep the chicks from chilling during transport. We used to refuse them, but now we welcome the free birds as a cost effective way of raising the few meat chickens we require each year. (Free is good. We have learned to love free.)

I'm still looking for good crock pot recipes for cooking chicken - ones with minimal chopping. Having been a vegetarian most of my life, I utterly suck at cutting up a whole chicken. I apparently missed that day in high school Home Ec...

Turtle rescue

2011-07-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

Meet George. (Gender unknown...we just like the name) George now resides in our farm pond. Because crossing busy Rt. 22 was NOT something George was likely to survive. Despite high hopes, I just didn't think the odds were in his/her favor. (Truthfully - WE almost squished the turtle, and the 4 cars that followed before I could run out and save the guy almost squished it too...all in a window of perhaps 2 minutes) And a Painted Turtle is a really nice addition to the farm pond. Don't you think?

What to do with a million garlic scapes

2011-06-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

OK, maybe not a million...but when you are harvesting by the garbage bag...that's a lot of scapes.

This year, we are making garlic scape pickles. (A new item.)

We've adapted the Dilly Beans recipe from the Ball Blue Book. We left out the garlic, and exchanged dill seed and dill fronds for the full dill heads, since dill is not currently in season. The pickles use the bottom inches of the scape, (one or two per scape), and we use the remaining curly end and flower for pesto.

Conveniently, four jars of pickle pieces leaves 8 oz. of scapes for the pesto recipe. Perfect.

We are working diligently; but we are still looking for the bottom of the scape bag!

Added Note: For the inexperienced, scapes are the "flower" of the garlic plant. They look like green pigs tails as they emerge and curl around atop the plant. Letting them stay and straighten out to flower only takes away from the formation of the garlic bulb (what most people want). They provide a nice "second crop" if you grow stiff-neck garlic. And we all know farmers can use all the help we can get!

Dilly Beans are a popular, short time pickle that you usually make with green beans. Here, we are substituting pieces of the scapes. Then, the remaining scapes are used to make pesto (an Italian dreamy delicacy usually made with basil) that you can do a million yummy things with beyond just putting it on pasta...

Hopefully, this helps?

Pan

2011-06-07T06:09:00.000-07:00

We FINALLY saw an early contraction around dinner Sunday. But Secret held out all evening, and we checked every half hour till bedtime - nothing. I awoke at 2 a.m., but was just too tired to drag out of bed. At 3:30 I caved, and went to check. A small, golf-ball sized bag of fluid was protruding. I stared sleepily at her for 10 more minutes, and went back inside to nap. At 4:30, she had gotten no further, was pushing pretty hard, so I called the vet.

She said I needed to go in and check. Keeping in mind that every minute waiting at this point meant a lessening chance of a live birth. Great.

With enough lube to bury a small pony, I felt inside and just met head. Nope, those sharp edges were teeth, not hooves. Damn. I massaged, coaxed, felt around, tugged - but no feet. Pushed the head back down, and the next contraction brought a hoof forward. Something to grab onto, at least. But no amount of pulling produced any further progress, and still no second hoof.

So, back in it all went. I felt desperately for the second hoof, but nothing. Wait a minute - there it was, at the very tip of my finger, but still out of reach.

And then, a very strange thing happened. Our lambing jug is no more than a corner carved out of a large poultry barn. Basically, one huge chicken coop. And at the moment, we were sharing that morning space with 40 or so chickens, chicks, and roosters. I strained to reach further, the ewe bellowed in discomfort and pushed, and every chicken in the place started simultaneously to cackle. I was surrounded by a chicken cheerleading squad.

Somehow, I managed to hook my finger around the crook of a folded hoof, inched it forward, and I could finally pull on two hooves. Just as suddenly as it had started, the crowing stopped. I pulled, the ewe pushed, and out came a gush of fluid, lamb, and sac. We had been at this for almost an hour. I was sure it was another stillbirth. And then the little thing convulsed. I rubbed it all over, swiped at its mouth, and ran in the house for towels. I grabbed up that limp bundle and began rubbing it vigorously, praying that the ewe would come over and help (or at least show interest) but it was just me and him. Another call to the vet, who recommended swinging him by his hind legs. (That seemed rather insulting to a little fellow who had just been through so much, but I did as I was told.) Wheezing, wobbling, and still pretty limp, he stuck with it. The ewe was in a daze, and completely unable to connect the events of the last few hours to anything I was doing. She sniffed at him once, and sidestepped the whole mess. I propped him up on his chest so his lungs could expand more easily, and watched. It was as if he drew some sort of energy from deep inside, willing himself to pull his floppy muscles and rubber bones into some semblance of a functioning creature.

By this time, the usual morning routines had begun in the house, and DH came out to see what I was up to. He held the ewe's harness, and I propped the little thing up to nurse. A few sips, a few sips more, and lots of protest from the ewe, but we got the baby through a proper breakfast.

Every kitchen towel I owned had been spent in the process, I was out a pair of sandals (believe me, there are some experiences Tevas are NOT made to withstand) and I literally stumbled off to shower, and somehow when I wasn't looking, the teenager named him. She posted on FB, so there was no going back.

Ahh, Mondays.

Breakfast at Susan's

2011-05-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

Notice the title does not read, "Breakfast WITH Susan". It was just me and the critters.

Susan called early this morning with an "uh-oh" tone in her voice - she had a very sick lamb. Picturing Sue trying to finish all the morning chores and then hurtle down the highways to the vet's office, I volunteered to handle the feeding and whatnot, so she could go. I took the 10 minute drive south to her place (she shot past me somewhere around halfway, going north at a speed that well exceeds my age - that's all I'm going to say...)

I took care of all the birds (pictures are unnecessary, as a yard full of soaking poultry is not much to look at - did I mention it was pouring??) Checked on Marie Claire (the crazy chicken who is terminally broody), who promptly bit me, and decided to focus on the ruminants. They are much better breakfast companions.

I was forced to eat at the kid's table. (That's at the back of the hay feeder.) Acacia kept me company.

Apparently, the tastiest bits are on the bottom. Because Daddy ate with his face completely buried.

Seriously. Like almost the whole time.

So I took advantage of lambie moments with Juniper.

Lambs are the best part about breakfast at Susan's.

P.S. The sick lamb is better.

P.P.S. I sent Susan home with a waffle, so it really was breakfast for everyone.

P.P.P.S. We might have lamb pictures of our own in a bit; Secret is pregnant!

With Livestock...

2011-04-27T03:48:00.001-07:00

No pictures with this post. Just the facts, ma'am. In case there's ANYTHING to be learned.

I read early on, that if you have livestock, you should expect deadstock. Not meant to be funny, just a blunt reality check for the wanna-be. I have come to accept and appreciate the wisdom of that phrase. Sadly, this year's lambing began with a prime example.

Angel, a first-time Shetland mom, gave birth Sunday night to a stillborn ram lamb. Very large (for her) - at least a 10 lb. baby. We had her jugged, and were watching closely. In the morning, we saw a contraction. They came about every 5 minutes, but she didn't seem to be advancing, or in any discomfort, so we left for Easter dinner. We got back around 5, fully expecting a lamb. Nothing. And the contractions weren't any different. She was nibbling, drinking, and otherwise looked fine. Still, when we had no real action by 6 p.m., I called the vet. I was told she was probably a slow starter, and to be patient. One hour later she had mucus, but no real contractions. The vet said I was welcome to put my hand in and feel around, Angel said otherwise. So I opted to let her be. My hourly check at 10 finally showed some hoof (the lamb's) but the contractions were just not "there". I jumped in to help, and it was clear this guy was stuck. I pulled, massaged, eased, pulled, wriggled, pulled (all while DH was on the cell to the vet) and nothing. It was the hardest birth I could recall - she was just not dilated, and I was worried about prolapse. It took a half hour, but we finally got it out. I knew when the nose had presented that the lamb was stillborn (the tongue was blue and limp, when I reached fingers inside I got no reaction, etc.) I let her lick him off for a bit, since that helps to stimulate uterine contraction and ease passing of the placenta.

Today the vet is coming out to look her over, as she is running a fever. I believe she needs a good boost of penicillin, and perhaps something else - we'll see.

We buried the little guy in the woods, as we do. Luckily, with Spring finally here, it was possible to dig the grave. But I reflected on another important piece of the lesson - be prepared if an animal should die, especially in winter. If you do not have a large piece of property with equipment for heaving lifting/digging, you should plan ahead and have something ready. Just cover it with a piece of plywood. It's not grim - it's just prepared.

Now our hopes turn to our other ewe - who is showing few signs of being pregnant, but I really believe she is just being difficult. After all, who could resist the romantic advances of Barry White?

Update: Dr. Shelly (the good vet) came and administered Banamine (for pain) to be repeated daily for two more days, LA200 to be repeated in 48 hours, and her CDT booster. Temp was 104 degrees. Two small tears in outer muscle wall, nothing notable on internal exam. Udder is still full, but not painful or hot. She is back with the others and seems happier, if a little slow. Will have them all out on pasture today, close by, so I can monitor for behavior, eating, and rumen action.

A little OCD isn't a bad thing...right?

2011-04-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

I worked most of my professional career in the Human Services, with the Emotionally Disturbed and Mentally Ill. Believe me, I know EXACTLY how close we all are to sliding into one of those DSM IV classifications...

I routinely find myself knocking on the OCD door. I can get caught up in the minutia and ritual of certain chores. Like picking the garbage pile. Not a garbage pile we started or contribute to - it was part of the package when we bought the place. Apparently, the former owners found it acceptable to toss all sorts of household, automobile, construction and farm trash over the hill. The fact that practically none of it was biodegradeable (forget safe) seemed not to matter.

We hauled 15 huge truckloads out of here when we first moved in. (Back when we had access to a dumpster.) Now, we have to take smaller runs to the local transfer station, or "go commando" and drop off bits and pieces in public trash cans. To mark our achievement and progress, we planted a border of daffodils back there, to mark the "edge" and to put something pretty and growing in a place that used to be dismal and trashy.

That doesn't stop the picking, though. Every few days, I find myself wandering back there to corral wayward chickens or dump some leaves and I catch the glint of metal, the sparkle of glass shards, or the garish color swatch of some plastic jug just peeking out of the soil. I can't leave it alone. I can't return to the homestead side of the daffodils and pretend it's not there. Nope. I'm too compulsive, or the urge to clean too strong, or something. I pick.

Today's haul:

It all started innocently enough with a walk back to take a photo for the header, and that tip of pipe just winked at me...and there you have it.

Better get back to my scheduled project - the one where I can't part with last Fall's decorations, and I sit and hand shuck 40 little ears of Indian corn for turkey feed.

I'm OK, really. I can walk away. Really. Just watch me. Here I go....walking away. Off to weed the potato patch. Or trim the rose briars. Or....pick some more trash?

Breakfast with Alice

2011-04-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

We got up early this morning to go visit the latest addition to the local farm family...

We had breakfast with the cutest calf in Rensselaer County.....ALICE!
Don't know which picture is better of the "proud momma"...either Sue, (above) or Jasmine (below).

(Wow! Dairy barns sure are steamy!)

We're into the B...

2011-03-31T07:03:00.000-07:00

By the looks of things, we are into "B" syrup season. Maple syrup is graded on its quality and color; ranging from lightest amber to dark, rich brown. (That's actually density and translucency if you want to get technical) While the tourists seem to gravitate towards the lighter stuff, those of us diehard maple lovers hoard the darker, "B" syrup. It's where the real maple flavor is at...

Can't say as I know all the reasons why late season sap is darker, but it may have something to do with cooking time...it took almost the same amount of sap to produce both jars, so there was more water in the later stuff to be boiled off. Longer boil = longer time = darker color (think of carmelizing sugar when cooking).

There's another quart on the stove finishing right now, so we'll see how permanent this darker phase may be. The forecaster is calling for a foot of snow tomorrow - someone better tell the maples it ain't over yet!

Honey Brunch

2011-03-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

What do members of the Mountain Women Beekeepers Guild do with all of these cold weekends? ( Eat, of course!)

Snacking with a purpose, anyway...

We held a Honey Brunch. Everyone had to bring something made with honey, and we also had a honey tasting.

We had 5 different honeys to sample, and it was amazing how different they could actually taste!

From left to right:

a) Honey from Kentucky, b) from our farm-late season honey from the honey super, c) from a farmette about 8 miles south of us, d) from a farm 8 miles to the northeast - locust honey from 4 years ago, and finally, e) a sample of last summer's honey, from the same farm, but a different hive.

When you have them all together like this, you can really notice the nuances - the honey from Kentucky was by far the mildest, the locust honey had very dark, spicy undertones, the honey from e) was so laden with floral tones it was almost like perfume...it was a really interesting time.

I hope we can make this a yearly event - but that will all depend on the bees! We took heavy losses and all of us are purchasing new bees this year just to maintain the equipment/investment we have.

Anybody have more honey recipes to recommend?

Good for the Gander?

2011-03-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

...I was doing evening chores.

We feed hay a half bale at a time, which means when I cut the twine, the first half is tight, neat and orderly flakes. The second half is, well, somewhat scattered (due mostly to the rampages of a goose and two dozen something chickens) but I squooge up an armful and manage to get a mostly intact pile down to the waiting diners.

Today was a squooge day, and I wrapped up the largest pile I could from the hay stacks, and deposited it on the sled. (I drag around my feed/hay on a sled for most of the winter). I turned to grab a scoop of grain, and when I looked back, there was an egg on the ground next to the sled.

It hadn't been there before - no one pinched it out when I wasn't looking - the only possibility was that it rolled out from the squooge of hay on the sled. So, someone laid the egg during the day, and here it was.

I was momentarily speechless. The egg was either evidence of a MAJOR case of prolapse for some unfortunate chicken, or...

Candy - the male Canada goose that has been farm greeter, chicken herder, comic relief, and my gardening companion for all these three years - is a girl.

Talk about your "late bloomer..."

Tap, tap, tapping..

2011-03-10T08:27:00.000-08:00

That time of year again, although late because of the ghastly weather..

Only about a pint cooked off so far...but hoping for much better runs this week. We're going to try birch syrup this year also, as an experiment. Keeping fingers crossed...

Off to check the pails!

Crystalline Misery

2011-03-09T08:27:00.000-08:00

My friend, Sue, asked me last night if I had given up on the blog. "No!", I replied, but was forced to admit I had been very quiet. Ridiculously quiet for someone who started a blog to connect with the rest of the world.

Sorry.

It's easy to get quiet and caught up in yourself with the winter we have had. Either that, or scream your head off in frustration as winter pounds away...I just opted for the former.

The latest:

Ice storm #2. ( There was actually another 3rd little one snuck in there, but who's counting?) These storms leave me feeling both awed and very tired. When the sun came out yesterday, the landscape looked as if it had been put together with glass trees and bushes. Brilliant, glittering branches everywhere you looked, and lots of them broken. I can't capture the amazing beauty with my limited camera skills; I don't know if anyone can. It truly might be one of those things you have to see to believe.

Roads were blocked with broken trees, downed power poles, and icy automobile accidents. Power was out for days for many neighbors. (We luckily, won the power lottery and didn't lose ours - for once!) The family down the road actually threw up their hands and went for the Hilton after the second day of no power...

I skated out to take care of the animals, and paused to listen to the whine of chain saws and chopping of logs and branches, and was just overwhelmed with the misery of battling winter yet again...

And then Candy waddled by with a dose of perspective...

"You haven't spent the winter locked in a barn full of spastic chickens!"

(Somedays, it just feels that way.)

Winter Conference

2011-01-23T16:54:00.001-08:00

Ahhh...the long-awaited conference. Right when you need a boost of motivation, ideas, and farm-people the most. Three days in Saratoga, NY - excellent organization, food, and program. Perhaps the most well organized and diverse conference I have ever attended. (In any subject) They manage dozens of small workshops, intensive long workshops, silent auctions, vendor areas, wonderful meals (all with donated food from participating sponsor farms), child care, music, social events, and networking.

Photos would be pretty uninteresting for the most part, (lots of crunchy-granola types dressed in natural fibers, earthy colors listening to speakers in front of PowerPoint presentations and sipping organic tea or munching on organic peanut butter sandwiches...)

But I can share some of my take-aways:

Friday: Cheese making intensive workshop. Should have been a full-day, limited numbers workshop. But, that said, it was led by an excellent presenter, Cliff Hatch. He led the class through the making of 8 different cheeses, using much the same milk, but varying the process, the enzymes, and the molding. Our group made Brie. I have done this plenty of times; but Cliff did a more thorough job of explaining the process and curd handling than any book (or previous employer), so I was happy with the day. Made some very nice friends in our little group, and we nursed our cheese through the three days of the conference, trying to allow adequate time for the mold to form and ripen, but conditions were less than perfect. In the end, it was still cheese, although more feta than brie. The absolute best temperature for ripening cheese: 72 degrees. Great site for cheese making tips and recipes: here.

Saturday: Introduction to Greenhouse and Transplant production. In the greenhouse: never let the end of your hose touch the ground or it transfers disease agents to the seedlings as you water. Making your own planting mix: look here.

The 1/4 Acre Farm. Lots and lots and lots of food production on small plots. Row cropping is inefficient, go with raised beds. Use a four year rotation with three complementary crops and one year of rest (ex. peas, corn, potatoes ) in your boxes.

Visiting the Trade Show/Vendors. Really wanted a custom-made scythe, but it's not in the budget right now. (Will be drooling frequently here.) We will be applying for certification for our laying flock from Animal Welfare Institute. Make your own hoop houses and secure the plastic sheeting around the poles with PVC cut in 6" lengths and split lengthwise to open it up so it fits around the purlin like a clip.

Raising Heritage Turkeys. Best when done on pasture. Turkeys like shiny and reflective things (might be why ours head for the neighbors to sit on their pool...). Use cardboard, barriers or steeply piled shavings in the brood box to avoid piling in the corners by the skittish poults.

Processing Beeswax for sale. Got a recipe for beeswax salves with herb-infused oils. Can't wait to try it. Running 9 frames in a 10-frame box yields slightly larger amounts of beeswax during honey harvest. Beeswax retains very high levels of toxins, pesticides, etc. so rotate out frames with new foundation within 3-5 years.

Sunday: Growing and Marketing Cut Flowers. The 5 most popular flowers from a U-cut operation were Sunflower, Zinnias, Gomphrena, Rudbeckia and Lisianthus. Cut flowers for the Farmer's Market when they are just barely coming out of bud, not in full bloom.

Beginning Seed Saving. You can make your own equipment for much of the small scale seed saving. Place pads of stair runner material in the pan and on the surface of the paddle to crush seed pods. The small seeds hide in the "valleys" of the runners, and the larger vegetative matter is crushed by the "hills". Make your own winnowing boxes with different sized screens to clean chaff as well as dust and dirt after seeds are released. Good source for seed saving containers here.

I purchased two books: Four-Season Harvest by Eliot Coleman and The Backyard Homestead by Carleen Madigan. Now all I want to do is curl up and read. And plan. (When it's almost 20 degrees BELOW zero, that's not a problem.) World go away - I'm busy.

: - )

Starting to lose it's shine...

2011-01-19T19:17:00.000-08:00

This winter is all the usual stuff. Snow, ice, cold, snow, wind, ice, snow and so on. We in Upstate New York are used to this:

and this:We try to do a lot of this:

And we even try to find the beauty where we can:

But...

... I'm tired of shoveling, I've run out of farm porn (seed catalogs), I'm not even marginally entertained by the neighbor's anatomically correct snowmen, and it's not even halfway through January!

Cicero is begging me to take him on vacation to ANYWHERE...

and I'm actually considering it...so long as he shares the driving.

Sno-cano?

2011-01-12T15:14:00.000-08:00

They said there is even snow in Hawaii. Maybe this is what it looks like on top of the island volcano?

Today, most of the farm looked like this:

(sigh..)

But, some chores have to be done, snow or not. Like burning the papers...doesn't it make a neat juxtaposition for our snow day?

(Bet the turkeys would like a little one of their own in the corner of the coop...)

Stay warm, everyone!

Proof...

2011-01-04T11:19:00.000-08:00

...that the days are getting longer. (In case you didn't notice the extra 8 minutes...)
Egg laying is triggered by day length, so as the daylight increases so does production from the poultry. Yay!

Proof also that I am still playing catch up. The male Tibetan Corturnix quail pair that I am keeping from the summer hatch...are not a pair. Of males, that is.

"Er...duh."

Do you Peppadew?

2011-01-03T06:58:00.001-08:00

If you haven't tried these damnable little things yet, then let me warn you. They are GOOD. I'm not a huge fan of hot stuff, although I can handle my share, but these peppers are just a hint of hot and then sweet, and even smoky. Lovely.

Now the part that makes my blood boil: they are patented. Yeah, not the preparation process, but the actual plant, seed, etc. A farmer in South Africa discovered this natural hybrid growing on his property, developed the sweetened, canned product, and laid rights to the plant and seeds themselves. They are actually known as juanita peppers. (The variety) They fall around 2500 on the Scoville scale. That is right in the neighborhood of the pepper we grew this year: the Cherry Bomb.

So, being ever frugal, and completely frustrated by not being able to create these delectable dainties ourselves, I fudged. I figured out the sugar brine that Peppadews are preserved with. Took our cache of Cherry Bombs, cleaned them (with gloves on!) and packed them up.

Results:

Captured the sweet. Missed the mark on the smoky...I believe that is the unique feature of the juanita pepper. Could try alternative spices...but I'm not sure what would do the trick. Cherry Bombs are larger than Juanitas, so the snack appeal is somewhat less, but I can live with that. Also, it was my first time canning peppers. I followed salsa directions for heat and time. May need to adjust to get slightly firmer results. Or it may be a matter of processing the peppers a little earlier, when they are crisper.

Definitely will grow more Cherry Bombs with plans to repeat and perfect the preserving. I think with a sampler jar at the market, I can do quite well in sales. Of course, that doesn't stop me from looking for the elusive Juanita. It's January, and seed catalogs are coming up on the agenda...

( Note: We will not be growing this pepper...ever.)

Steppin' out for the New Year...

2011-01-01T14:16:00.000-08:00

....or not.
"What do you think, Della? Is it safe?"

"I'm not sure...that white stuff down there looks awfully deep..."

Cold Shower

2010-12-06T11:36:00.001-08:00

Candy stayed under there and splashed around the entire time I was feeding the sheep and turkeys. Nutter.

Well, THOSE are fun...

2010-11-15T06:26:00.001-08:00

(or " Making the Most of a Senior Moment....")

Face it. We all have them. Probably some of us more than others...and they can certainly make life interesting, if not exasperating.

So, I was planting the seed potatoes last Spring, and I got distracted in the middle of the job... (Say it isn't so!!) and put down the bag of fingerlings. Somewhere. After an hour or so of futile searching, I gave up. Figured somebody (the goat) found them and ate them, or they were going to get wet and rot somewhere.

Ta Da!!! Found them in August in my Craft Room next to the Beading Basket. (I have NO idea...) Having a recently emptied spot in the garden, I put them in. What the heck?...

Last week I harvested. The plants did pretty well - never got to flower, but apparently that is not a requirement for taters. The tubers grow in response to day length and plant size. A 1+ pound bag of (slightly) dehydrated seed potatoes yielded over 6 lbs. of crop. Plenty of the usual fingerling size tubers, some seed tubers for next year, and lots of fun, little tater "tots" that we tossed in the fryer, roasted with fall veggies, and fried up as hash browns.

Not going to change farming policy around here, but certainly nice to know there is such a thing as late potatoes...

Not everyone thought they were tasty....but who asked her anyway???

Flurry of FO's

2010-11-10T17:18:00.000-08:00

Zippin' off the needles in the last weeks....

Socks for Bill; 2-at-a-time on 2 circulars, toe-up, Dyenamics custom over-dye, Sport weight yarn.

Fingerless mitts for Madison; Periwinkle Sheep worsted weight.

Fingerless mitts for me; Dyenamics Alpaca/Wool blend using a Dyenamics exclusive pattern.

Socks for me; using a Lion Brand Magic Stripes sock yarn (a freebie from a friend's stash) which Madison decided SHE liked, so....

I dove back into my sock yarn stash/ends and found some blue sport weight for the contrast...and VIOLA! Two pairs of socks out of 660 yds. (or so)

Right now, stitching another pair of socks for Madison from a colorway she designed herself. Details soon...

And of course, can't have just ONE WIP, so there's more fingerless mitts at the bottom of the knitting bag...

Bit O' Honey

2010-11-06T04:40:00.000-07:00

We have two hives this year (unofficially "his" and "hers") and we decided NOT to pull honey, since we want to stack the deck in the favor of the hives and help them overwinter. The "hers" hive finished out the season with two full hive bodies and a full honey super (10 frames). The "his" hive finished with two full hive bodies, but only 4 frames of additional honey in the top honey super.

But, truth be told, I have become a honey addict, and I couldn't think of going the whole winter without, so we pulled 2 frames from "my" hive. Crude harvesting of the frames (read: no extractor) gave us a half gallon of honey (more than enough if I don't go crazy) and two very sticky frames for the bees to clean.

We had a particularly warm day (70 degrees) a week or so ago, and that's when I decided to pull. So once finished, I put the sticky frames back outside for the bees to clean. I get a clean frame, they get lots of honey to store. And the two hives could share equally in the honey (therefore giving "his" hive a little boost).

Click to biggify, and notice all the "non-bee" honey helpers...Amazing! Within 15 minutes, they had found the frames, and four or so hours later, everything was squeaky clean!

For Halloween, my daughter's 8th grade class decided on a group costume (trying to strike a balance between "too old for that stuff" and wanting an excuse to wear a costume) for the Halloween parade to the area nursing home. They were a hive of "worker bees" (note the hard hats and tool belts) carrying their Queen (the more than willing Science teacher - who wouldn't want to get carried around and waited on by your students?) and Madison was the beekeeper. (BTW - wearing the gear is as close as she gets to the actual beekeeping; she'll stick to chickens, thank you very much).

(It reads, "All Hail the Queen Bee" for those of you that just have to know...)

We'll see in Spring if the hives survive...keeping our fingers crossed! And feeding them as often as we can!

3 (more) Musketeers

2010-10-27T15:24:00.001-07:00

When a neighbor asks if you want some laying hens in October, you don't even THINK about the added mouths to feed this winter - you grab 'em! We have a dozen or so "little" ladies that won't be old enough to lay until Spring, and I was kicking myself for not ordering more...

We always have a waiting list for eggs, and the current flock is a bit "aged"... so Spring was going to be tough - until Jordan decided to downsize...

She had 5 nice, big Delaware ladies - so we took three, and another neighbor farmgirl took two.

We've installed them in the (recently vacated) chicken tractor until everyone gets used to the new digs.

And the added bonus - we had no idea what the "unidentified chick" that came from the hatchery might be, until we saw the markings on the Delawares...

Speckles has an identity - she's a Delaware!

They come a peepin'

2010-10-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

It's strange to think that folks actually get in their cars to drive several hours just to look at what is all around...but it's that time again!

This is the view out my front door - the Taconic Trail which follows the border of NYS between VT and MA.

Note to self: Buy new card for the camera, and slow down long enough to take notice and perhaps some pictures. Snow will be here before you know it...

Got a minute?

2010-08-17T11:45:00.001-07:00

I need your assistance...or rather, a neighbor does.

Jordan, a local farmwoman, suffered the most heart-wrenching, devastating event in a homesteader's life - the senseless, brutal loss of her animals to a vicious dog. Her two little does were killed by a neighbor's dog and today she is grieving the terrible loss, trying to sort out the best path to take, and wondering what could have been done.

If you have ever been through this type of thing, or if you live in fear of it (like I do), or if you just have the knack for supporting someone in need, could you go to her blog and leave her a note?

Thanks. I owe you one..

Garlic!

2010-08-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

Can't really say enough about this wonderful crop - it should be a part of every homesteader's garden (and probably you backyard gardeners!) - here's why it works on our farm:

1. You plant in the fall. So when you have more time, and the regular garden is starting to fade and you are already dreaming of Spring, you get to farm! We usually plant in October, perhaps later than the catalogs recommend, but around here we still get pretty warm Septembers and I don't want the cloves sending up shoots above ground.

Plant cloves like a bulb; you should get 6-10 from each seed head. 3 inches down usually does it - but we cover with a good layer of straw for insulation and weed suppression. If you don't, I would plant a little deeper.

2. It is pretty tolerant and not a fussy crop. It will tolerate mediocre soil, although adding nice mulch insures bigger bulbs...and it can be planted pretty close so it doesn't take a lot of room for the yield. Just allow enough room for each clove to expand to a 4" diameter bulb.

3. Two crops in one. We plant a hardneck variety that "flowers" around June. The flower is the scape; a curly stem that looks much like a pig's tail and is about the same diameter. You pick scapes when they have just made it around in one loop. Removing them is a must, or the final bulb is much smaller. The scapes make an excellent item for the market, as well as the main ingredient in scape pesto which we freeze for the winter.

The garlic is typically harvested about a month later, when the leaves start to yellow. We save the biggest bulbs for seed for the following year, it always sells well as a market item, we use it in CSA shares, for our cooking, and even the smaller bulbs get put to use. Garlic is part of practically every cuisine on the planet, and has been a part of mankind's spice rack and medicine cabinet for centuries.

4. Good for everyone. What the humans don't consume, the farm critters do. We chop smaller cloves up for the poultry once or twice a summer. On a day when we are feeding some other scraps, we mix in the garlic and they love it. Good for their systems!

We also use garlic as part of our organic plan for parasite control for the ruminants. In the Spring, and again in the Fall, we feed each animal a clove or two for three straight days to rid their systems of any heavy worm load. The Fall application is followed with as many pumpkins as they want since the seeds are also part of the worm reduction, and they love pumpkins...We have tested at zero in our latest fecal samples!

5. Sustainability. Since we save our seed for the next year, it becomes part of the cycle of the farm that requires minimal new input. (We only have had to buy new seed once since the original investment - we wanted much more than I had been able to save). Also, being a member of the allium family, the plant has antiseptic properties that help to cleanse the soil it grows in, so we move the garlic bed often as part of the rotational use of the accessible land.

6. Lore. There are as many non-food uses for garlic as there are standard recipes. My favorite : rub the doors and windowsills of new buildings to ward off witches, ghosts, and ill fortune. Who knew?

Find a corner of your garden and try some this year - even flower gardens can use the spikey, green foliage as a contrast (and it is a cousin to the Lily...).

Grey Foxes - 9, Humans - 1

2010-08-04T15:42:00.000-07:00

We have been heavily hit this year by grey foxes. They have taken everything from fledgling pullets to full size roosters. Everyone has stories to tell - the old timers are saying this is a record year and they don't remember when they ever saw so many. In fact, a rabid fox bit it little boy in Bennington (9 miles away) just last week.

But tonight, DH got a yearling female.

Part of the cycle of life; but I am going to enjoy tipping one back for the ladies tonight.

The Incredibly Good Very Bad Thing

2010-08-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

My friend Sue introduced us to 5 Minute Ice Cream.

5 Minutes to make...about 5 seconds to consume.

I just made Strawberry...and this photo is what my dish looked like - for about a nanosecond. I was just eating too fast to stop and take an actual picture, so I Googled the image.

Recipe:

10 oz. frozen fruit

1/2 C sugar

2/3 C heavy cream

Place frozen fruit and sugar in a food processor. Chop for a few seconds until roughly mixed. Now, turn on the processor and chop while pouring the heavy cream in a small, steady stream into the mixture. In an instant it turns creamy and thick. Continue until all cream is added. Place in freezer for a few minutes, or until it reaches the consistency you desire.

By the time I run out of frozen fruit from this year's picking, my butt will be the size of Pittsburgh. Ahhhh.....oh well.

Barry White is alive...and living with my sheep

2010-08-02T06:40:00.001-07:00

Or so you might think, if you ever heard them. (Or should that be, "herd" them?) There's the usual symphony of nasal blatting, followed by the deep, bass rumbling of "Barry":

a.k.a. Leonidas, our ram. The funny part is, he is the smallest member of the flock. (And when we got him, he was the smallest Shetland I had ever seen.) But when he speaks, it's like listening to chocolate thunder.

Here he is at 1 yr. old, riding in the passenger seat of a Dodge Dakota, on his way to his first haircut and shearing demonstration. (Told you he was tiny...)

Of course, we are expecting big things of him, despite his small beginnings, so our fingers are crossed and the band is warming up.

Let me introduce Love Unlimited:

That's Secret and Angel, the back-up singers, and oh yeah, Alexander (on the right) plays the keyboards.

Walkin' in the rain with the one I love....

um...yeah...

2010-07-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's post was a culmination of several years of frustrating encounters with all sorts of people who do not understand what it takes to create sustainability, to raise organic food, to put in the work it takes to be a part of a successful agricultural endeavor.

Yes, I listed examples specific to a particularly problematic blogger, but I felt there was more to be gained by keeping my comments anonymous so that they could be attributed to any number of people or places. One responder, Meagan, left a response that included a name and since it was not my intention to lead a crusade against any individual, I chose not to publish her comment.

But she wrote a thoughtful, lengthy comment and I wanted to share it and respond.

She writes, "I found her announcement of the documentary this morning to be, well, unrealistic. Anyone can make a movie nowadays after all. I also find it a little on the presumptuous side how she authors books on how to raise animals when she has caused them some amount of harm (I'm thinking of the more than one time I believe her huskies have decimated her chicks). That said, she does have a very good way with words, and I appreciate learning through other people's mistakes. She is always one to admit she makes mistakes. And despite not being a completely suitable role model, her writing increases awareness of local food and sustainability, which benefits us all."

No, her writing does not increase awareness of local food and sustainability. Local farmers and the local food movement want people to be aware of all the good food being produced locally by farmers who are dedicated to the idea of agriculture. Most of these men and women work long days, long hours, and do not make a lot of money. In fact, a majority must rely on a non-farm job to help make ends meet. So they need to have consumers be aware of the impact of their choices when they buy foreign produce, or support markets that have no local connection. These men and women are also stewards of the land they work, and by truly caring about what they do to the land as they produce this food, they work for everyone on planet Earth. Sustainability is an integral part of that process because we simply can't keep doing what we are doing and expect resources to always be there. She does not write about her local food community, she does not contribute to it. She does tell us about what she attempts, about how it failed, and then goes right out to the local market and buys what she needs because she can.

I read the blog of a woman in Iowa who runs a flower farm. And yes, she tells us a bit about her ups and downs. She tells us a lot about what is going on in her neck of the woods with the local food scene, the local markets, how she teaches others about this lifestyle, how she lives herself. And absolutely none of it is available to me directly (because the commute to Iowa is a bear), but she deals in a more important commodity - inspiration and information. SHE increases awareness of local food and sustainability...

Meagan then says, "I do not agree with parts of your criticism's tone. Have you never had an animal demise under your watch? Sure it's happened more than 0 times with her, as it has with me. Sometimes it's even due to our own faults. I can't speak for (her), but I take great pain when my animals die (so far only one has) and use the opportunity to re-evaluate myself and my priorities with the farm. I find your quip about fanatics to be a bit pushing it - you have fans of your blog too, do you think they're all fanatics? That said, I do agree that her fans are more on the "isn't this lifestyle so quaint and romantic" side of things versus the "hey I'm a farmer too and you could improve on this and that", but when you publish a book that is in city bookstores I expect such a thing will happen."

I have been told before that my tone is not always friendly. (My last boss used to tell people that I failed charm school.) I am brutally honest, and usually those people that consider themselves my friends understand that they will always know where I stand, and if my delivery is sometimes fierce, my loyalty is even more so. That being said, yes, I have had animals die. And each one causes me to re-evaluate. I consider each and every one MY fault. That makes the gravity of their deaths act as a constant drive for me to improve what I do.

My friends that share my blog space are not so fanatical that they lose perspective. They do not get caught up in the quaint and romantic side of things. In fact, nothing here is quaint or romantic. Really. (The best I can hope for is to try and make some of it funny...) I am not sure how publishing a book found in city bookstores generates the kind of gushing, "atta-girl" comments she often gets. I find it appalling that she actually HAS a book in city bookstores. Didn't the publisher practice any sort of "due diligence" and check out her qualifications and experience? I mean, I tried spelunking once, but that doesn't mean I'm submitting articles to Cavers Weekly...

Finally, Meagan writes, "As I've read her blog I hardly feel as if she portrays herself to be the center of the world. In fact I think she is quite obvious about her failures and I appreciate her for that. As I have said, I've failed too. When people like (her) and I come into farming, we don't necessarily have the luxury of an uncle who was a farmer or being around farms before. This is all absolutely new to me. And I try my best to educate myself and dedicate myself to my efforts, whether they are plant or animal. However I do know modesty, as much as I enjoy writing (as I'm sure you've noticed) and documenting things I know that I am not anywhere near an authority and I never portray myself as being so. Whether (she) does so or not is a point of contention. By publishing books and agreeing to be in a documentary one would presume, as I do, that she is portraying herself as some sort of authority. But she also portrays her failures, and I will not fault her for that even if it does make it easy for others to list off your failings for criticism. Just as I wouldn't fault you for being frank with your opinion.

In my opinion there should never be shame for trying something new or sharing knowledge."

Yeah, when you ask people for money, you are basically saying, "Give to me. I deserve it." That is EXACTLY portraying yourself as the center of the world. How about raising money to do for others???And since she does it in connection with projects she would like to try out on her little farm, she is also saying "Give to me. What I do is important, and I am an authority worthy of your support." What if the money she keeps asking for was to build a home for a homeless family instead of a barn - would she still sell the t-shirts and blog about her progress? What if the documentary was about the struggles of small farmers and their failures to make a living from what they do - would she gush with excitement about being featured?

Meagan, I thank you for taking the time to comment. I imagine that anyone that cares enough to respond so well is already an asset to the small farm movement. We've shared knowledge and opinions and like you said, there is no shame in that. I think you have tried very hard to be nice to the person you identify, but as you said yourself, she is unrealistic...and therein lies the rub. I'm not sure when reality will jump up and bite her in the ass, but I know reality is nibbling away constantly at my sizeable rump - (just wish it would help me get back in to my favorite jeans.)

I've had it.

2010-07-30T06:10:00.000-07:00

Perhaps a terrible way to return to blogging...but I have to sound off.

If you have actually read the URL to this blog, you'll see I am realistic about this life I live. It's always been "harder than it looks". That's the disclaimer to folks who over-romanticize this choice, or stupidly wander into raising animals without doing research or preparation. I have run into enough of them to know they exist and they are dangerous.

They are a danger to themselves, to the poor animals put in their care, and certainly a danger to my position as a small, organic farmer attempting sustainability.

I have perhaps one of the worst offenders living right in my "neighborhood". Since blogging is world-wide, I can certainly consider someone about 30 miles up the road a "neighbor". She has constructed a fantasy world in which she is the undeniable center, and that world is all about promoting her romantic, woman-powered, made-from-scratch lifestyle. She has duped readers, contributors, employers, publishers, and now documentary movie makers into believing she is doing something wonderful.

Along the way she has killed chickens, rabbits, turkeys and who knows what else through her neglect and unrealistic efforts. She has planted a garden, watched it be decimated by critters, and then shrugged it off because she simply needs to drive down the road to the grocery to sustain herself. She farmed out a troublesome goat that she couldn't manage to another family until they had to give it back. She tried to butcher her own meat and almost killed herself because she clearly didn't understand the mechanics of it all and the necessity of sanitation. She dove head-first into a meat operation with animals, breeding, food, cages, etc. until she had to give that up, too....but not before accidentally releasing some of them and then deciding to call them "free-rangers"...She even has the nerve to pump her readers for financial contributions to her various "wonderful" projects...or better yet - buy a farm t-shirt!

Enough already.

Shame on the blog fans (remember - fan is short for "fanatic") for following her blather and commenting like she is re-inventing pioneer womanhood. Shame on the publisher for allowing her to write a book like she has any sort of authority beyond how NOT to do things. Shame on her for even using the word "sustainability" to describe her train-wreck of a life. And now, shame on the documentary film makers for thinking she has any media value beyond humor.

OK, and shame on me for calling the woman out. But really...if you don't tell the emperor that he's naked...well, we all know how that story goes...

A "10" on the Farming Weird-o-meter

2010-06-16T08:07:00.000-07:00

You know that loud, harried, incessant cackling a hen does after she has laid an egg?

Well, one of ours found it necessary to get out of bed at 2:09 a.m. and do her impression of the Romeo and Juliet balcony scene right under our bedroom window last night using that very noise.

For no apparent reason, other than possibly to run a farm-readiness drill to see how quickly the stunned humans could bolt out of bed, scramble for the flashlight, and hit the yard at that hour...

Darn Weeds! (Not for the squeamish!!)

2010-06-12T20:17:00.000-07:00

It was an innocent afternoon of picking garlic scapes for the market...which are planted on a hill...which does have way too many weeds and leftovers from last year's bramblefest...when I went to turn away and step back down hill...and WHAMMO! Stick in the eye!

I pulled out the piece of stick in my eye purely instinctively, but unfortunately left 4 slivers of whatever it was...

And then followed a nightmarish afternoon at the eye doctor. Ever seen that horror flick where they pull open your eye and come at you with a big hypodermic needle???

Yeah...been there.

Chicken Yoga

2010-06-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

(or subtitled, "Why You Have To Check On Your Livestock Every So Often...")
Our pair of bantam show chickens live in a little coop, with a little round door, and a little entrance ramp and usually all by themselves. Occasionally, one of the other chickens gets the wild idea to "visit".

Apparently it was Lacy's turn. But somehow she managed to get her right leg caught between the door and the coop, above the hinge. Maybe the photo doesn't really do this justice, but she is in the equivalent position of me raising my leg and hooking it behind my right ear while standing.

How did she do this?

I don't even want to think about it.

(No chickens were hurt in the making of this blog post. Or, if she DID pull something, she's not admitting anything...)

10%

2010-06-06T06:38:00.001-07:00

Remember grafting? We tried to graft our heirloom apples; 10 in all - 5 of our favorite variety and 5 of the tree that suffered a serious split in the trunk.

Only one actually took (and I am not a little bit shy about telling you it was one of the ones I did!) and it was of the "favorite" tree. But the split tree seems to be faring pretty well this season, and may yet make it through another winter so I can try again next Spring.

The gloppy, brown, waxy thing on the stem is the site of the graft. Even though the site is still not completed healed over, we are hopeful.

I can deal with 10% success. Totally. And we get to use the root stock again (the 9 that didn't take) again next year. Apparently, they are good for two years before they get too big to be of use. (The top of the root stock and the grafted twig must match in size for the best chance of a graft.)

Keeping fingers crossed!

Hired hands

2010-05-31T06:07:00.001-07:00

Mowing the front lawn.

All with proper supervision, of course.

Scarborough Fair

2010-05-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

The herb bed is starting to come together...

(That's mint contained in the terra cotta pipe - too invasive to be left on its own...)

And I thought I knew...

2010-05-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

...all the places for chickens to hide eggs on this farm.

I guess I was wrong!

This is the hose by the back door, landscaped with the large hosta....see them???

Look closely...

Need some help?? Let me lift the leaves for you...

(*sigh*)

B - Autopsy

2010-04-18T07:20:00.000-07:00

DH hammin' it up last Spring with the new hive

It's finally time to tell you what happened to our first year of beekeeping, as many of you have wanted to follow along...

It's often called a "dead-out". They didn't survive the winter. Figuring out why was a bit of an exercise; not really an necropsy (because we didn't cut up actual critters) but an analysis of the evidence, for sure...

We didn't see bee activity on any of the warm winter days. Typically, bees take advantage of those days to perform cleansing flights (potty runs) since they won't make a "mess" in the hive. There were no dead bees around the entrance or below, so we simply waited until early Spring just in case...

As soon as a warm spring day convinced me they weren't alive, I opened the hive. A few dead bees on the lid, a few visible on the tops of frames. We had left the hive with two deep supers (hive bodies) for the winter, and a wrap for warmth (although I have my doubts about the effectiveness of that). The top super was ridiculously heavy with honey. Rather than run the risk of warm weather spreading the inviting smell of honey to marauders (a bear has been seen in the area), I pulled it as soon as I could.

Most of the frames were completely filled with honey; I just shot this one to show you the contrast between filled comb and empty comb.

There was some brood but not the number I would have expected, and empty cells that had been eaten out, but generally not a lot of bees. Those that were found looked as if they had been frozen in a moment of time; some clustered, but others eating, and walking around/climbing as if on their way to a task. The cluster was pretty small and a few dozen bees were found down in the comb, literally eating to the very last drop. This is often a sign of starvation. I didn't see the queen, and the bottom board of the hive did not show visible signs of mites. We ruled out disease or parasites; but were concerned with the small amount of bees. Likely a fall swarming or a dead queen, both which would have left the survivors without enough resources to make it through the winter.

Death occurred early in the season; the top super was so heavy with honey I couldn't carry it up to the house, I had to drag it on a sled!

So, on to extraction. Each frame had to be uncapped using a hot knife to skim the caps off the comb. I saved even the scraps, and collected them in a pan.

The frames were place in a centrifuge extractor. One frame goes on each side, and a volunteer (the DH) gets to spin them and the honey is flung out and gravity collects it on the bottom.

From there, the honey flows through holes in the bottom, through a screen filter which catches bits of wax, body parts and such, then is collected in a tank until you are ready to pour off into containers. We do not pasteurize; all the pollen and good stuff is in there when we bottle (less the bee parts.)

Empty frames are then put back in the hive body to be used for the new bees coming in the Spring. This work took several very sticky, but very satisfying hours.

The scrapings were gently melted down. Honey can be poured off, wax saved, and other stuff thrown out. This honey is less desirable but no less usable - I bottled it for use during the year in baking.

From the hive we harvested more than 5 gallons of honey. I am left in awe of the bees.

Bee hives today are mostly designed with the ease of keeping and harvesting in mind. The Langstroth hive is the standard, named after a fellow in the 1800's that did extensive work with bees and discovered the idea of "bee space". He determined that bees need a certain minimum distance to work and live in the hive. If left with more space, they will fill it with wax structure and propolis. This reaction is a completely bee invention, but a nightmare for bee keepers as it sticks frames to the body, to each other, and reduces the maximum output of the hive. So most beekeepers simply put 10 frames in each body, all designed to keep proper "bee space" between frames and maximize honey comb.

When doing my initial research into beekeeping, I was struck by this calculated construct and didn't like the "feel" of it, since it reminded me of commercial farming which is designed to pull maximum production out of so much, without regard to its impact on land or animals.

Some beekeepers run 9 frames in each hive body which also affords a little more space for the beekeeper to manipulate individual frames (all while wearing bulky protective gloves.) I also liked the fact that running 9 frames instead of 10 gave me an extra frame to swap in if I wanted to move brood, honey, etc. So we built our hive with 9 frames. The bees took advantage, and filled the extra space. A little more work to pull apart the hive, but what a visual treat!

Who knew bees were interior designers?

We were not discouraged by the loss of the hive; rather, we are more determined than ever to keep bees - we've order two packs for this year! Arrival in late May...

A is for Apple (Grafting Lesson!)

2010-04-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

Another victim of the early spring heavy snow was one of our ancient apple trees. It still bears fruit and it was a variety nobody could identify - but the tree is at least 40 or 50 years old. The apple it produces is a kind of brownish gold when ripe, and the rough skin reminds me of a pear. The taste is also reminiscent of a pear; spicy and sweet. It is a pretty late producer, and hard fleshed - what people have suggested might be a "cider apple" - intentionally raised and created for tasty cider. We have included it in our fresh cider every year for the taste (we use a blend of apples and adjust for taste as we press).

I decided we needed to at least try to salvage something from this situation, so I decided to try and graft some branches to "re-invent" this variety in a sapling. My friend, Becky, has a lot of grafting experience and pretty good success, so she agreed to come over and give me a lesson.

First, I ordered root stock from Fedco Trees. They arrived and we wasted no time in getting started; the goal is to have root stock that is vibrant and ready to grow and top stock that is as close to dormant as possible.

Unfortunately, we had a bloom of very warm weather, and all the apple trees exploded into flower buds, so it was challenging to find branches that were concentrated on new growth rather than flower and fruit production. But we took branches from the wounded apple as well as from my favorite tree - another unidentified variety that gives juicy, yellow fruit that tastes better than Honeycrisp (IMHO). I wanted to have a copy of this tree as well.

Notice, most of these twigs have growth (leaf) buds vs. flowers. I could have harvested topstock when I pruned (ummm...yeah) up to two weeks ago and kept them in a jar of water in a cool, dark corner of the cellar (think dormant). Will keep that in mind for next year...

Next, we chose a root and top by trying to match as close as possible for size. It is recommended that you graft 8 inches or so above the planting line, but we had to fudge a little to get matches on all 10 plants. Using a very sharp knife, cut each stem at an angle, then notch about 2/3 of the width of the stem and make a notch about 1/2 inch deep. You will push the two pieces together, interlocking the notches, and trying to make the best match of the cambium (growth area) of each piece.

Then we tie the graft together; we used soft, wide pieces of rubber band that Becky brought, and applied grafting wax to seal the graft site from air bubbles. Not a pretty finished product perhaps (right now) but the idea is to give the tree a healable wound that will create the graft.

Finally, they were packed in wet mulch in a bucket, and retired to the cool, dark cellar for a week or so to start the healing process. After that, they will be planted in a protected corner of the garden and cared for till next Spring. Hopefully they will be ready for new growth (and a new home spot) next April. Keep your fingers crossed!

Why I Do Not Have Nice Flowerbeds...

2010-04-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

(or The Line For The Shower)

Speck: Mom, when is it my turn? Huh? C'mon! The girls are taking too long!

Cripes! Enough with the camera! Is there no decency???

(muffled) OK, who dropped the soap??? Where is it?

Speck: I'm outta here. Guy can't get a simple bath...

I love it...

2010-04-05T19:12:00.001-07:00

I'm not the only one who knits on the road...

Click on me! :-)

Drive by posting

2010-04-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

Been VERY lax about posting, primarily because I have so much going on right now that I avoid the computer in order to pack more into my day...besides, much of what I am doing is not really what I would call Kodak moments...and I'd rather post with at least one picture...

So here's one cute one to cover me:

These are some day-old Coturnix quail that we recently hatched (lengthier post will be coming). I, meanwhile, am going back to my "lemonade" project.

The reference to lemonade in my last post was about "when life gives you lemons...". The heavy, wet snow that literally crumpled and broke so many of our trees and bushes also brought to the ground all the vines, brambles and such that I've been meaning to get to. I'm working on the motherlode right now-wild raspberry vines, rose brambles, hawthorn, sumac, barberry, and grapevine threatening to overtake the entrance to the chicken barn. I've dubbed it Prickerfest 2010. Pass the band-aids.

Meet

2010-03-04T08:22:00.000-08:00

One beautiful thing about blogging is the people you meet. Grace is no exception. We came together in a rather roundabout way...a mutual read, Leah, decided February was so droll, we needed to have a swap. All the interested readers threw their names in a hat, and Leah paired us up. There was a list of possibilities to include in your box; we simply chose 4 and went from there.

Grace is from Georgia...yet another cool person from a state I know so little about I'm embarassed...

This was in my box:

She is crafty beyond my abilities - she made the t-shirt (can't wait to wear it to the Farmer's Market) and the bags and the horse...it was all really neat. The book is one of her favorites - I have never read it, so I am waiting for the first rainy day to curl up with a cup of tea and off we go...(Anyone else read it?)

And she finished with chocolate. Chocolate!!!! She's crafty and smart.

Go check out her blog. (link above)

I'm off to make "lemonade." (Tell you tomorrow)

Meat

2010-03-03T10:10:00.000-08:00

It's never been a priority for me; in fact you could call me a vegetarian for most of my life, and it is still my preferred way to eat. But my outlook on meat has definitely changed.

I committed to eating as a vegetarian in college as a way to make a conscious choice about how I eat and what I eat. When I had that epiphany in Freshman Bio about the food chain, energy, and resources I just simply could not go on eating at the top of the food "pile". I didn't feel any more entitled to greater than "my share" of the Earth's energy than the next person.

But this year we raised Tamworth pigs. Pasture raised, and nut-mast and fruit finished. (With a bit of commercial grain to cover us). And suddenly it was my energy raising them, my efforts to provide drops and nuts, those were leftovers from my organic garden. I was hauling water, and moving fences and chasing them when they got out. And for the first time, I wasn't looking at meat that had been raised in a commercial operation with petro-fuel feed that my consumerist American culture had thrust upon me - I was raising quality, heritage-breed stock that had been a key part of my whole cycle of living, growing, working and family.

So, I now eat pork. My pork. Our pork. (And, it's not half bad!) I'll still take chickpeas over ham anyday...but it's growing on me...

This summer we are going to try meat chickens. Stay tuned...

Careful what you wish for

2010-02-28T15:19:00.000-08:00

(How many times have I heard THAT before??)

We'd been having a pretty snow-light winter. Cold, windy, but pretty dry. So, we were kind of excited when the weatherperson predicted snow. (You know where this is going already, don't you?)

We got 18 inches of super-wet, heavy snow.

(No, that is not winter sculpture. It was our secure chicken yard.)

(That's a magnolia that used to be much more lofty and vertical and I could walk beneath it...)

Trees began snapping from the weight of the snow around 8:00 a.m., and we couldn't get to them fast enough - apple trees, magnolia, fruit bushes, hydrangea, quince and on and on...

Four hours of clearing and cleaning till we salvaged what we could...

Perfect day to stay inside and knit - (I was too tired!)

And then 8 more inches the next day...an inch today...

Enough already!!

I am SOOOOO ready for Spring.

One start...

and one finish...

Trying to set an example...

2010-02-20T15:13:00.000-08:00

Shame on me if I pester the girls about laying and don't keep busy myself...so I have to post about my efforts...

It's the Pretty Thing cowl by the Yarn Harlot. It's actually the second one I made; the first was for my sister for Christmas, and I was so enamored with the easy lace knit and the yarn itself - I had to make a second.

But truthfully, it goes beyond love of yarn and knitting. It goes to frugality and thrift. Because the story of the yarn goes like this: I bought it back when money was MUCH easier. (Like when I had a paying job...) It is Mongolian cashmere, and I had never paid that much for so little yarn before in my life. When I went to cast on, I discovered that "something" had happened to the yarn causing multiple breaks throughout the whole skein. In some past life of mine, I might have thrown up my hands, boo-hooed a little, and tossed the yarn in the trash. Not in THIS life...

I gingerly wound the ball and kept every little piece. As I knit, I patiently tied end to end as I came upon the multiple pieces and kept working. (Talk about having a lot of ends to weave in!) When I finished the gift, there was no way I could simply toss the remainder in my stash bin...it had to be used. Just as we try to use every little scrap around here that might have any use beyond its first assignment...

So, I knit a second one for me. (Really, no selfishness here - Christmas is over and nobody on my list has a birthday for months...so of course I was the logical recipient...denial is such a lovely river...)

And do you know, there's still yarn left over!

And it's going into a special stash bin - because I'm using every last inch of that stuff if it's the last thing I do!

Next project...

P.S. The girls have squeezed out three eggs. I am still giving them stern looks as I pass by...

The Memo

2010-02-14T05:05:00.000-08:00

To: The Chickens

From: The management

Re: Production & expenses

Date: 2/14/10

We realize that in these difficult times, it may be challenging for you to put forth an egg on your usual summer schedule. In fact, to demonstrate our commitment to an improved workplace, we have reduced the quota to a reasonable 4 or 5 eggs total per day. You have so far been able to meet this production quota throughout the winter days, despite lack of adequate daylight hours. For reasons unexplained, your current production has dropped to an unacceptable 0 eggs per day. According to farm legend, "Even a dead chicken lays an egg in February".

As you know, expenses have not dropped accordingly. Eggs are a direct offset for the costs of feed, housing, and care. Not that we don't love you in your own right, mind, but momma wants some scrambled eggs.

The Brown Leghorn got the memo. She is hard at work.

The Barred Plymouth Rock got the memo. She is also hard at work.

What the Bantam rooster thinks he is doing? We have no idea. But we appreciate the show of support.

Connectivity

2010-02-13T06:58:00.000-08:00

The Internet was innocent enough at the beginning. Extensive, informative and a pretty good resource. Through it, I found seed sources, equipment, tips and like-minded folk to launch me on my farm adventure. Wildly entertaining, a daily surprise, and more enjoyable than I thought possible. (Kind of like raising chickens.) Then it got sticky...

There was the blog. Amazing fun, fantastic friends, and connections I never dreamed of with fellow shepherds and farmers all over the country, uh, actually the world. As we delved further into our farm efforts, the blog sometimes became difficult to manage, but we did our best. (Kind of like raising sheep.)

Next, there was the web page for the side business. Then, a site called Ravelry popped up to bring together fiber nuts, knitters, and crocheters. And I had(?) to become a part of that. Besides hours of fibertastic fun, it was "good" for the business I was told. So, we even got a forum group over there to grow the business and exchange with fellow fiberholics about the richness and diversity of our passion. Different tastes and colors, all beautiful, all desirable. (Kind of like growing vegetables.)

And then there was Twitter, and Facebook, and it got more complicated. Platforms to tell the world was I was doing now, what I liked and disliked, find friends from ages ago, and a little bit of how it is to struggle to be an organic farmer in the United States. Postings, tweets, walls, and updates now coming at me from all directions. Difficult to stay one step ahead, never knowing about the next contact or what to do. A roller coaster ride ... (Kind of like raising goats.)

I love connecting with people over the things we share...and meeting new ideas, old traditions, common threads, and fresh perspectives. My only question: Am I the spider or the fly?

NOFA served with catch up

2010-02-08T07:18:00.000-08:00

(Even things of somewhat "current events" come late these days...)

The weekend of January 22-24, the Northeast Organic Farmers Assoc. held it's winter conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. It was an overall excellent conference - lots of interesting speakers, good displays and vendors, and of course it's always nice to hang out with farmers...

I was able to attend with a New Farmer Scholarship (Thanks, NOFA!) and tried to diversify my participation to fit the myriad of things that go on around here.

On Friday, I attended a workshop on growing cut flowers. (Madison has ideas about growing gladiolas and perhaps zinnias this year) I was hoping to at least get some good sources for glad bulbs - but wasn't able to find that out. Anyone got some good sources for healthy, inexpensive bulbs so she can try her hands at it? Interestingly, the speaker did use pigs in her land rotation, and I was pleased to hear that. I am gaining new appreciation for the little porkers after our experience this past Fall...not many notes or "take aways" from that lecture besides the idea of adding Cosmos as another good Market flower (beyond Zinnias and Sunflowers) and reminding me of Dainthus (Sweet William). In the past, we've grown this for decoration (and the smarmy reference to my DH) but it also makes a good cut flower, although you won't get blooms till year 2...

I did cut out of that class early, and scooted into one on organic beekeeping. The speaker, Russ Condrad, was great. You couldn't help but learn something as you listened, even if it was about the life of the bee (rather than care tips) and it got me all excited to see our hive wake up this Spring. I purchased his book , and it's a very good read.
I was really encouraged to hear so many ideas and tips for organic beekeeping, since we are an organic operation. I understand that man has taken the honeybee to its current spot on the brink of collapse and sometimes it is negligence not to apply supportive measures even if they are chemical, but I want to be doing everything I can in a natural way before that...

I cruised the vendor /shopping area and picked up a few seed samples, reading materials, and my prize purchase was my new hand tool, by Holdredge Enterprises, the Hummingbird. Can't wait to be able to get out in the dirt and play...

Saturday morning I first attended a workshop on growing sunflowers for oil and fuel. Even though the speaker, Samuel Yoder, was addressing an audience way beyond my scope of mechanization and understanding, he was such an energetic speaker and so knowledgeable that I couldn't help but learn something. I feel much more knowledgeable about the soil preparation for our flowers, and am excited to try field peas in several areas of our farm as a short-term fertilizer...

The next workshop was by Michael Phillips. His workshop was entitled Home Orchard basics. (He also has a good book - just more than I can digest this year with everything else we are trying to pull together)

Again, a very good speaker and had way too much material for such a short workshop, but he focused on soil biology and that was a good infusion of information for me. We have a dozen or so apple trees on our property still producing, but struggling with less-than-optimum growing conditions. I learned a lot about what I can do to support them, as well as tips for our new stock coming in the Spring. The hardest part about attending all these great workshops was wanting to run right home and get going...and forgetting about the fact that it's January and 4 degrees outside...(sigh)

Saturday afternoon was spent learning how to sharpen hand tools (Mama wants a sharpening stone and some new bastard files now...) and ended the day learning about shared-use kitchens.

Sunday morning brought an additional surprise (beyond the excellent workshop on organic blueberries!) - a friend from high school and college plunked her butt down right next to us...(it wasn't till after the lecture that I caught up with her) - what an excellent way to end the conference by re-connecting with someone I have not seen in 25 years - and to find out she is only a few miles up the road. Add to that the fact that she raises alpacas...and, aahhh...fiber bliss. Can't wait to go up for shearing in a few weeks....

The conference was really excellent - and I am brimming with ideas for the Spring...now if Spring would only get here!

So there's this project...

2010-02-06T20:09:00.000-08:00

Project. That's how you refer to a breed that's in development. It's not a "real" breed yet, but you're working on it. Like these Mille Fleur Cochins:

This beauty was from Nancy's site (don't go here unless you are prepared to be smitten...) and I hope she doesn't mind too terribly if I borrow this pic to show you what I'm working on...

It was she, in fact, that got me going on this. (Little does she know!) She discovered the beautiful little breed, started posting pictures on her sheep blog, and the rest was history. But here's the hitch - everyone on our farm has to make money or they can't stay. That pretty much rules out bantam chickens, as their eggs are not in demand for sale. We only have one set of bantams on the farm - they are Madison's pets and they won Best in Show at the local fair a few years back. They pay for themselves in chicks, as we hatch and raise a dozen or so of them each year to sell to the local poultry enthusiasts who want show quality Buff Brahma bantams.

So, that being said, I knew if I wanted those amazing chickens at our place, I would have to find some standard Mille Fleur Cochins. Not as easy as it sounds...so it developed like so many other projects around here - "I'll make it myself!" (She announces with naive confidence...)

You soon learn that there is no documented, direct path to get such a chicken. Many start with a Mottled Cochin roo over Buff, Red, or Columbian Cochin pullets. While these may all be recognized variants in Bantam Cochins, they are not recognized in Standard Cochins. Finding a standard Mottled Cochin roo meant $75 and over 6 hours in the car...not in the budget! Ordering the chicks to start our project meant waiting till Spring, raising them over the summer, and possibly getting some breeding in before short Fall days shut them down...not in my ability to be that patient!

So we started the process with what we had on hand - (Barred Rock over a Red Cochin)

Meet Step #1:

A pretty, little chick hatched just before Christmas with nice, fluffy Cochin-type fuzz, the striping which usually promises future color, and light feathering on the feet.

Here she (I'm guessing) is at around 6 weeks:

Pretty good Cochin body shape, mottling on feathers around head, neck, and wing. I expect the next generation will only enhance the chevrons and coloring. And we'll see how she changes as she ages.

Best part? - She can be bred in 10 weeks and we can be hatching 2nd generation project chicks around the same time we are raising the new foundation flock for Fall breeding. OK, second best part? - no cash investment so far, and I get a little more instant gratification. Third best part? - fun genetics lessons for the DD...

FO spotted...

2010-02-04T10:20:00.000-08:00

Yippee!!! an actual, real, live, honest-to-goodness finished object! One down, seventy million (or so) to go.

This is the famous Farm Sweater. I got a hold of neck-down, raglan-sleeve, all-in-one piece (mostly) sweater directions and was so excited I had to do it. (Note: I started this months ago. Excitement is apparently a fleeting and fickle thing.) Used yarn I had bought long ago when employed and relatively stupid about yarn, so it was screaming to be used in something.

I came up with this one round, stripey idea to ease the blending...

And used the easiest cabling ever to make it look pretty. Viola!

I updated the knitting widget below, posted on Ravelry, and am moving on! Next?

Getting Ready

2010-01-21T05:18:00.000-08:00

In order for us to feel comfortable about bringing new stock onto the farm, we want to make sure we are prepared (or as prepared as we can be...) so this Fall we put new fencing and storage on the top of the project list. As well as a medical preparation. (Supplies, health check, etc.) Luckily for us, the large animal practice we use was offering free fecal checks (we love free!) and so even though the sponsor of the clinic was one of those large animal pharmaceutical operations (hoping to push their wormers, of course).

So all I had to do was get samples from everyone, label them, and get to the vet's office on the appointed Friday. I started a week in advance; good thing since most of what I got when I went to visit was this:

What's in the baggies? Snacks? Yummies? Food? Baggies mean goodies, I know it. Therefore I'm not taking my eyes off you...I want to be first when the cookies appear...

This is Angel - just multiply the photo by four more - they all solidly refused to follow their normal routine or show their butts so I could positively identify which chocolate drops came from which sheep. (Sigh)

It took the entire week to gather what I needed, but finally got the five sheep and one goat to produce what I was looking for. Luckily for me, I arrived late enough in the day that the company rep was backed up (no pun intended) and so full of poop samples that he could not do the fecal test right then and there. (That saved me having to explain to the eager salesman about raising animals organically and my lack of faith in their miracle concoctions...)

We worm with Spring and Fall applications of garlic ( three or four cloves each over three days) and in the Fall they get all the pumpkins they can eat.

As you can see, nobody (especially Hattie) has a problem with this regimen.

We also rotate pasture every few days with our Electronet and they don't double back on the same area for around two weeks, if possible. The only drawback to Electronet is that a few of them have figured out how to use their fleece to absorb the shock just enough to tolerate slipping under the fence if the flower garden looks especially tasty. So faces/polls/ears are kept well clipped.

So - this years results? (Drum roll, please...)

No, not a typo. The sheep showed zero. Zip. Nada. And Cicero, the lone goat, showed 1.

Realistically, they usually carry a small, bearable few as that is normal for ruminants. So I'm sure they are in there somewhere. But we felt a lot better about our Fall arrival, knowing he was coming into a healthy flock and pasture.

Our only planned changes for 2010 are the addition of a few more poultry to free-range the pasture (We had a flock of turkeys this year) and the usual enhancement of pasture areas with a liberal sprinkling of orchard grass seed in the Spring. And if I get REALLY motivated, perhaps a little clearing of scrub to create a wee bit more grass area. Maybe...

It's that time...

2010-01-19T18:00:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite winter milestones: time to order the seeds! Even though the process is one we've been perfecting for a few years, there's always fresh research and thought that goes into each year's selection.

A very good site to check out: Say No...

If that doesn't give you plenty to think about, then try a different train of thought: How much?

Actually, since we are playing ketchup, the order has already gone out. We kept the total well under the usual $200 with lots of seed saving and keeping an eye out for free seeds (lots of friends at Cooperative Extension and Master Gardeners).

Now all we need is Spring....

A resolution, of sorts...

2010-01-18T14:23:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I start thinking about New Year's resolutions weeks before I actually have to. Not that I settle on one, mind, but at least the thoughts start to percolate...

I finally settled on one when I was in the midst of a semi-frantic search for my size 9 circular needles. As I rifled through tote after tote, project after project, corner after corner...I was hit smack in the face with the reality of my startitis...I have too many projects.

So 2010 is going to be the year of the Finished Objects. I dedicate myself to finishing more projects than I start. Especially those of the knitting variety. ESPECIALLY those...

I won't bother you with the gory details; the knitters amongst you can run right over to Ravelry and get all the latest scoop. (I'm rugbplayr).

Here's to 2010: it's gotta be better than 2009. Please.

Of Which There Are 57 Varieties...

2010-01-16T14:25:00.001-08:00

Let's play ketchup, shall we?

No, I am not sick, dead, or tired of y'all.

I have been wildly distracted by knitting, dyeing, holidays, world events, winter, and Facebook.

(And let's just mention the frustration of not being able to get a photo from the camera to the Mac without fourteen intervening steps and contraptions.)

Exactly how disappointed are you going to be with me when you learn I haven't even finished my Christmas, er, holiday cards?

And don't even think about making any kind of snarky remark about the yet unmailed Christmas packages under the office futon...

I was going to wait to introduce you to our latest little addition to the farm, because technically the "ink isn't dry", as his previous shepherd hasn't gotten us the paperwork, but I can at least let you take a peak...

Handsome, no?

Outraged

2009-10-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

My favorite catalog came in the mail yesterday. While I can't paint myself a true, radical, left-oriented person (I have those occasional flashes of conservatism) I can certainly enjoy most of what the catalog has to offer, and definitely enjoy having a laugh. (Wit is appealing, no matter your politics)

Each year, I prowl the pages looking for my "must have" t-shirt. This one was my first choice:

After a summer of trying to eat exclusively off the farm, struggling with the worst gardening season in recent memory, and actually having outright arguments with people who are convinced it is impossible to feed oneself without the heavy use of groceries and processed food, I liked this one.

But a close second was this:

I mean, it's been practically non-stop Wall Street greed, force-feeding of the "national health plan", and a bogus Peace Prize nomination just to touch on the highlights...but I was trying to remain positive and limit my spending.

That's over.

This is something everyone should know about. The government is fully involved in telling us what we can put in our mouths. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, what you put in your mouths, what you CHOOSE to consume, is now under the purview of Washington. Because, lord knows, you can't be trusted to recognize actual food when you see (or taste) it.

It was freaky when the Corn Refiners Association began stalking a flower farmer in Iowa who happens to make and promote salsa WITHOUT high-fructose corn syrup, it was frustrating that the government allows such rampant deception when it comes to food in our stores, but I have to tell you, it's FRIGHTENING when the government can step in, confiscate and destroy something already paid for through a private transaction, (purchased in the name of healthier living) and determine it is only fit for animal consumption. That's comforting.

Growing food, saving seeds, supporting organic agriculture, eating for health is becoming more of a radical act every day.

There's going to be a revolution in this country soon...and just remember:

It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

Downsizing

2009-10-07T17:12:00.001-07:00

Usually this means cutting back, laying off, and generally not good news...but we have a new twist on that phrase -

We've gone small (er)!

Introducing our Coturnix quail:

Ivory - the daddy, and Topaz, the mommy.

And now we have

Babies! The laying flock is on its way...although it will be 4 weeks till this little guy is feathered, and a few weeks after that we shall see if it's a boy or girl (Coturnix quail start laying around 6 wks.) A second baby hatched soon afterwards - you can see it's relative size

Their eggs sell for gourmet cooking, sushi, bento boxes and just the fun of itty, bitty omelets. And they sell for the same price as a dozen of our free-range chicken eggs. So no one can say these guys are slackers - they'll pay for themselves!

He came a knockin'

2009-10-05T19:31:00.000-07:00

One moment I was sitting at the computer doing some work, and the next I heard a banging and a rustling in the back hall. Normally that means the chickens have gotten into the cat's food again, but this sounded a bit too rambunctious to be greedy poulty...

Isn't he regal looking? I was amazed that he flew into the back hall in the first place; I can't imagine what he was chasing...

I knew from the beak and the talons he was a raptor, but I had no idea what he could be (he was smaller than our banty rooster). It took some searching on the internet, but the views I got of his markings helped - here he is "resting" after another round of crashing into the windows -

He is a Sparrow hawk. How lucky I am to live here and be able to experience this kind of thing during my "work day"...

It knocked me backwards...

2009-09-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Last time I was here, I had been tagged with an award. Not just any award, but the Bella Sinclair Award. The tagging literally stopped me in my tracks.

First, I took time to find out what the award was about and in who's honor it was given. I spent a lot of time thinking about Bella's circumstances and the artful community she is a part of. (Grammar be damned...) I was sincerely flattered, but also touched by her story - would I, could I, manage in her shoes? How would I be whole again if half of me was gone? What would my art become?

I stopped to think about it a great deal.

And it gave me reason to think about a lot of other stuff this last month. It turns out, when you are thinking, you don't do much talking. That gives you plenty of time for listening. Which, in turn, means you hear more. What you hear, provokes more thought, and so on...

So, yes, I have been here all along. Lurking, mostly. But commenting when I could. And listening.

Now, the goal of the creator of this award was to have it spread across the Web as an honor to Bella. But I don't feel qualified to "nominate" blogs to carry on; there are so many and how do you choose just a few? So I am leaving that up to all of you. Feel free, if you know of a blog that embodies the ideals of being "gifted, accomplished, eloquent and talented blogger whose friendship and influence inspire us to do our best" then I look to you for help.

Tag, you're it. Pass it on.

Pull up a chair...

2009-07-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

I'll catch you up.

(sigh) Where to begin?

After much consultation, we concluded that a raccoon attacked the bantam hen and took her wing. We haven't reduced the raccoon population around here; but there hasn't been any more problems. Thank goodness.

Now, voting weighed heavily for either snakes or rats in the barn. If there was really a snake of that size, then there would certainly be a limit to the rat population. After seeing a few in the barn, we decided it was most likely rats. We caved, and put out poison blocks. (I hate putting anything chemically harmful on our property, but this was serious.) We found 10 rats. Of disturbing size. That is seriously disgusting to me. Glad they were dead, of course, but really creeped out.

(DH re-affirmed his special place in my heart because he did the actual "cleaning up" of the bodies. Ick.)

So, we have totally restructured the chicken housing and made sure babies (especially) are safe.

I've made a Mama Hen, so our chicklets can go outside sooner and survive without the usual heat lamp.

It's a box, with fringes of clean rags hanging down where they can hang out and conserve body heat while they snuggle and sleep. The idea came to us from Sue, who had a friend in the Peace Corp who used to use these in areas that had no electricity or frequently lost the power to traditional heat lamps.

The current crop of babies seems to love it. Here they are playing Hide-n-Go-Seek.

(See the little one peeking out on the left?)

These guys are housed in a small dog crate, attached to the upper wall of the large coop. It was designed as a safe spot to house various chickens, safe from pecking or bother, but still in the same coop so they become/stay familiar with the flock.

It was also the start of our last story about chicken adventures - just yesterday I thought we lost another one.

I went in to feed everyone, and behold! the door to the upper cage was open, and the fourth chicklet was missing. I searched all over, even sifting through the pine shavings on the floor for a little body, and nothing. I combed the barn, looking in every cranny. No chick. I looked outside in the chicken yard, expecting to see that the flock had pecked the little thing to death, and no chick. I double and triple check. Nothing. Resigned, I go to tell DH we have somehow lost another baby, and as I begin the tale, I hear a little "peep, peep, peep" from the brambles. I am stopped mid-story, craning my ears to hear it again. Sure enough, a "peep, peep, peep" comes again. I dig through the brambles and weeds and finally find the little guy. Somehow, he fell out of the cage, down about 5 feet (probably bumping down the laying boxes), got across the coop floor, up over a ledge exit twice as tall as the chick, out the door, across 15 feet of fenced-in chicken yard, and across another 20 feet of lawn to the brambles, all without any predators, cats, or full-grown chickens discovering it. Not to mention the humans who had been traversing that area all morning! We've named the chick Marco Polo.

I have been keeping up with my commitment to eat my meals from all that we grow here or I can barter with local folks, and it's been an interesting challenge. Especially considering we have had rain 39 of the last 43 days, and the warmest day this year was back in April. I have to have a hot flash just to sweat most days. If I don't get tomatoes soon, I may make the 6:00 news. But...

this is what it looks like on most days...eggs, lots of salads and greens, bread, cheese. Jams and berries fulfill the sweet; pickles and salsa fulfill the savory; and I don't miss soda like I thought I would. In fact, the thing I yearn for most is pasta. I just haven't had time to try making it myself...

Some of you know I have been struggling with designing my website - terrified that I would get it together and it wouldn't work - so that has been tapping my time and energy. But...it's up! There's been a website before, but now I am solely responsible for it, and actually the business is now all mine. So I had to start fresh, and here's the new look. Granted, there are still issues with the shopping cart and there's more content to load, but it's like giving birth - exhausting, joyous, unbelievable, and nerve-wracking. Now to work on the small stuff...

On one of our rare sunny days, I caught these guys taking a nap on the foundation:

That's a pile of three garter snakes. Cool, huh?

And I have 4 WIP's/UFO's on the needles right now, none of them close to being finished, so pics will have to wait.

That's it for now;

no, wait! One more thing - I think we are getting a new sheep. More on that later...

Something evil this way cometh...

2009-06-29T06:44:00.000-07:00

We've had our share of poultry mishaps. In six years, we've had dogs, rodents, disease, a marten attack, and even human callousness take some of our flock. But something is plaguing our barnyard this year, and I can't figure out what it is...

I'm pretty sure a skunk took the 14 turkey eggs from their nest. But they were on the lower property, and we don't monitor that plot for wildlife like we could. But up near the house is the layer flock and the goose, with housing for chickens, chicks, bantams and the like - all within 25 yards of the house, and all secured - or so we thought.

It started two months ago when something ate the wing off our bantam hen. Yeah, the whole wing. I wasn't telling you about this one, because I thought maybe it was too much...but now is the time to come clean.

I went to the bantam house in the morning to open them up, and there was the hen, with a big patch of blood on her side - way too much for the usual pecking or pestering of fellow poultry. Not actually bleeding anymore, but bloody. Upon closer inspection, we realized her wing was bitten off. Gone. We can only figure that she fell asleep in the laying box and her wing dipped down through the 1" ventilation slot on the side, and something got her. They left only one small drop of blood on the wood, and nothing else. At a loss for what to do, I slathered the wound site with Super Salve, and housed her inside the small poultry barn to give her time to heal and be away from the bugs and sun.

This is a picture of her right side, showing the feathers growing back over her stump. She was posing on the top of her coop, and was actually so "recovered" that she struggled to get free and consequently moved her pretty little head right out of the shot.

As you can see, she has recovered. Having one less wing doesn't seem to hinder her, and so I have dubbed her "Lefty". (Madison does not share my dark humor, BTW and still calls her Jelly.)

As soon as she was recuperated, I returned "Lefty" to the bantam compound, and to lessen the cramping in the house, I moved another broody bantam and her five eggs to the indoor cage. Everything was fine for a few days, and then I went to check on Ms. Broody, and all the eggs were gone but one. Gone. Overnight and they just disappeared. No shells, no mess. She was totally over the idea of sitting on the remaining egg unfortunately, and I returned her to the bantam house.

Two weeks ago, I was doing the evening chores and I spotted a baby grey catbird, hopping about after Candy the goose. No parents were anywhere around, and it was too young to fly. I didn't want to leave it to the after dark predators, and it was peeping desperately, so I scooped it up and brought it to the barn. I locked it away in a small poultry cage with some straw and Candy to watch over it, and thought I would figure out the next steps in the morning.

Well, come morning it was gone. Gone. No sign of a struggle, no apparent opening large enough for the thing to escape. Just gone. I told myself that it must have squeezed out and found another small way out of the poultry shed overnight.

Now, two nights ago, I "graduated" two of our largest turkey poults (2 and 1/2 weeks) to a cage on the floor with larger mesh, (but none large enough for escape) and put the lone 6-week-old bantam pullet in with them for company. It was the same set up I had used for the wounded bantam as she was recovering, and for our broody bantam. They seemed to like the arrangements, and did well for 36 hours.

Last night, it struck again.

All three are gone. Gone. No feathers, no bodies, no sign of a struggle. The littlest Narragansett poult and the Bourbon Red poult next to them in the smaller mesh cage were untouched.

WTF????

I have set the trap in the barn. But I don't expect we'll get an answer...

Testing, 1, 2, 3...(er..4)

2009-06-18T09:48:00.000-07:00

Rose, one of our two Bourbon Red hens, sat diligently on the nest of eggs for over three weeks. There were 14 in total; mostly hers, but with a few from the Narragansetts snuck in for good measure. Well, despite what we (humans) felt were adequate security measures, the skunk (s?) got them all.

Having a healthy skepticism for natural hatching, I had tucked away several in the incubator, even though nothing had worked so far. Over three incubators and four different thermometers, we had failed with almost thirty eggs - none hatched.

Success at last - thank goodness! (I was beginning to drag out all my tofurkey recipes that I had accumulated over the years...)

#1 and #4 show the difference in plumage. #1 (on the right) is a Bourbon Red; the Narragansetts are darker, duller browns with a bit of black.

Despite the claims by numerous sites that the incubation period is 28 days (don't believe all that you read - it can cause traumatic boo-boos) our poults have widened the hatching window...#1 and #2 came on the 30th day, #3 on day 28, #4 on day 29.

And not to be outdone - precocious #5 is announcing his/her arrival on day #27:

Turkeynomics 101

Last year we bought the poults (11) from the local feed store at a base price of $8.75 each. Add organic game bird starter, at $16.95 for a 25 lb. bag, and we were starting off pricey. We lost three to various ailments of baby poults.

They arrived the third week of May, and we let them free-range for a lot of their lives, with minimal supplementation of organic turkey grower. The decision to let them range was part kindness - our chickens free-range, and seem much happier and healthier for the experience, and part financial - we had to be able to sell these at the end of the year, and could not afford huge use of organic feed at $21.95 for a 50# bag.

By November, they were not as large as we would have liked, averaging around 8 pounds from the processor. (Who charges $10 each for processing, BTW.) This was due, in part to the fact that heritage breeds naturally take longer to put on "Thanksgiving weight", and in part to the leaner range diet.

By Thanksgiving, organic, free-range, heritage turkey was selling for $4 -$7 a pound. New York City (three hours away) was going for $8 and more, but our customers were local, and we wound up charging $4. We kept breeding pairs of both Narragansett and Bourbon Reds for this year. We ate two ourselves, and sold the rest. It was not a money-making success.

With all the difficulty hatching our own poults, we are getting started three weeks later. So, like it or not, there has to be more grain supplementation. We want to exceed 10 pounds for all the birds; hopefully some higher.

Free-range has to be greatly limited, due to the proximity to the enlarging food gardens and my neighbor's reluctance to host turkey pool parties again this year when the poults discover the fun of his yard... (did you know cabana chairs make lovely roosts on hot afternoons?)

So, we shall see if we can turn this turkey business around this year...

B+

2009-06-10T06:12:00.001-07:00

Well, it was finally time to check on the bees...

Looks like they've been busy building comb, and we pulled a few outer frames to look closer...

And so we added the second hive body to give them more room to build and expand.

They were still very mellow and not too concerned with us humans, so long as we moved slowly and didn't shake things up.

All good for now...until the honey super goes on in July...

Plus, yesterday the cat and I found a little friend in the cellar, hiding amongst the Market stuff:

Little Miss Garter Snake was trying to hide, but we got her and found her a more appropriate place to hang OUT...

And have you seen that show on television that chronicles what would happen to the Earth once the humans are gone? Well, the plant growth would be swift, immediate, and engulfing for one thing...so we spent a little time battling back the beast:

Bill's green concord grapes were sucked under a year or more ago, and we liberated them! Always important to keep the DH happy...

In Review (or how to knit several posts into one)

2009-05-27T05:13:00.000-07:00

Plant Something: At this time of year, it's hardly news to plant something...but the corn is in the ground, and about a third of the vegetable plants, and raspberry starts, and the best so far was some horseradish from a friend farmer, Becky. Horseradish fans - when do you harvest and grind? Why? I've heard both Spring and Fall...

Harvest Something: I've told you about my aspirations of supporting myself from our farm...how about including the wild? I picked fiddleheads from our camp a while back and made a nice big dish for dinner - yumm!

Preserve something: (Allow me a little latitude on the word "preserve") we are trying doggedly to incubate and hatch heritage turkeys. After fifty eggs, rats, skunks, bad weather, faulty thermometers, four different incubators and pretty uncooperative hens, we are just letting nature handle things. This season, the preservation of Narragansett, Bourbon Red, and Midget White populations is just going to have to rely on the whims of nature.

So far:

Born this morning.

Prep something: Spent days and days winding and dyeing yarn for the summer festivals and markets. Don't want to touch sock yarn anytime soon...

Cook something: In the never-ending quest for things made with maple syrup instead of cane sugar...I present maple-banana-fudge bars: (a made-up recipe, but my ample butt can attest to the goodness)

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.

1 C maple syrup, Grade B preferred

1/2 C softened shortening (butter)

2 free-range eggs

2 C flour

1/2 C rolled oats

1 t baking soda

1/2 t baking powder

1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 C walnuts, chopped (optional)

2 Soft ripe bananas, mashed

Cream shortening and maple syrup. Add mashed banana. Mix, then add eggs and mix again. Sift flour, oats, soda, and powder together and add to liquid ingredients in portions; mixing after each one. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Pour batter into prepared 9x13 pan, bake for 40-45 minutes. Test for doneness with the toothpick thing...

Manage reserves: (Well, more emphasis on the "manage" than the "reserves") About a week ago now, we checked the hive to make sure the queen had been released. Yep. She's left the wee box and is off to laying eggs and eating royal jelly, or something like that...

Work on local food systems: We've finished taking memberships for this year's CSA and have compiled the little surveys on what folks want. Beets are a new request, and less greens and lettuce was mentioned a few times. Other than that, we appear to be on target. We are trying more dry beans this year, more onions, broccoli and herbs. First Market weekend: June 6th.

Reduce Waste/Recycle: We finished our 3-bin compost system. (Plans from the Winter issue of Organic Gardening magazine) Due to the presence of bears in the neighborhood, we cannot compost food waste; just chicken coop droppings, barn sweepings, grass and weeds, etc.

Learn Something: Never think that you're done learning anything. Even after all the socks I have knit, I learned a new technique - knitting on two circular needles. And I like it!

Be a friend: I have connected via the phone with one of my blog buddies, Michelle. It is always so interesting to hear an actual voice to go with the persona you have already put together in your head. We are having a wonderful time delving into the world of sock knitting...actually, I already live there, and I am pulling her in to join me...(*evil grin*)

Pygoras for Sale

2009-05-20T09:14:00.001-07:00

Reg. Pygora goats for Sale $150 each; White Doe and Silver wether - you must take both. 4-H discount of $50.

Almost since the inception of the farm we have had the Pygoras. They are an excellent hobby farm animal - milk, fleece, and meat. Not too large, and not too small. But we have decided to concentrate on sheep as our primary ruminant for now - with all the projects we have going on, it was time to consolidate. We've used them mainly for fiber - and even now we are not taking full advantage of that. So it is time to find them a new home.

They are The Oaks Cicero, b. 2004 and The Oaks Clio, b. 2004.

If you know of anyone who would like to add to a fiber/spinners flock, or if they just need two more goats, let them know. They can contact the farm through our e-mail:

petersburghmanor@yahoo.com

Bees!

2009-05-17T17:31:00.000-07:00

I went to BetterBee Friday afternoon and picked up our bees. (They suggested I should put them in the truck cab to drive them home; I declined.) They came in a screened box. And we had the hive ready - one super and parts; all painted for durability and cooling. (No paint on the surfaces the bees will contact.)

Here's a picture of the frames before bees (we'll get more pictures like this as the season goes on):

The smoker won't work with new bees; so you have to spray down the bees, all the frames, and the box with sugar water.

You pry the cover off the box of bees and remove the queen - she is in a little box with several drones attending her.

Then you shake the box of bees hard to get them all to the bottom, invert the box over the hive, and shake hard again to allow the bulk of the bees to fall into the hive. (The idiocy of shaking a box of bee just inches from oneself was not lost on me - but it worked.)

Once most of the bees are in, you replace the frames, and hang the queen box between two frames. (Ours fell in, and I had to retrieve it, but it worked the second time.)

Put everything back together, and marvel at how easy it was, how calm the bees seem, and how quickly they seem to settle right down to business.

And of course, say "thank you" to the photographer:

Garden like you can't go to the store

2009-04-29T04:30:00.000-07:00

It's not my phrase; I read it on one of the fantastic blogs I read, but it has been bouncing around in my head all week.

Really. What if you couldn't go to the store? The plants and animals around you take on a whole new meaning. Work in the garden takes on a new intensity; projects like the bees seem even more important.

I've wanted to try eating just from my own hand for several years now; my last attempt was sidetracked by medical issues. But I am going to try it again this summer and see how it goes. How long before I have my first choc-o-holic freak out and need to mainline a brownie? How long before my MSG levels drop dangerously low and I have to snort an eggroll or frozen veggie nugget? Can Diet Pepsi withdrawal give you the shakes? Hmm...we shall see.

Victory Garden logo from Victory Garden Supplement specially written for The New Garden Encyclopedia, 1943

It gives the message of this old logo even more impact - no? I know many of us raise food - but what are you doing differently THIS year? I'd be interested to hear...

Sisterhood

2009-04-27T04:41:00.000-07:00

When I started blogging, I never dreamed that I might one day use the word "sisterhood" to title a post, but it has been one of the most unexpected and joyful parts of this cyberworld experience.

A while back, I was tapped for a blog award by a cyber twin of mine - Michelle. She was recognizing the amazing similarities and fun parallels of our two lives, and I have been thinking about the significance of her award for some time now.

It is so easy to get caught up in your own little world and believe that your circumstances are uniquely your own, and nobody else could possible share your worries, your dreams, your ideas, or your thoughts. Michelle rocked me out of that bubble in a most delightful way, and I have thoroughly enjoyed finding out how similar our personalities and lives can be, while still being very different - she on the West Coast, I on the East. I think she has a faith much deeper than mine, so where I might be labeled the skeptic, she is the believer. But from this relationship, I am constantly learning. And it is that aspect of it that I think I like the best.

Blogging has taught me endless skills, viewpoints, factoids, perspectives and launched a thousand ideas. It has also deepened and fortified relationships that I might otherwise have let go. Last week, Karin, had a blog contest and I actually won! (That was VERY surprising to me, as I never win anything...) But more importantly, she is a wonderful person that I might otherwise have lost the opportunity to know. I met her through her yarn shop, but my life has changed so much in the last two years that even if it were still open today, I would almost surely never be able to visit - as Albany fades further and further from my sphere of travel. She is very talented, and wonderfully passionate about all kind of important things (which of course, includes knitting) but she is not a farmer. And doesn't need to be - but our interests still mesh.

( I won this - how cool is that? BTW - the red yarn is the exact color I have been searching for to match a gifted piece of jewelry, it must be fate...)

And even in my ever-shrinking circle of contacts these day, I have found sisterhood in the neighborhood. Two women whom I met through the Farmer's Market have become welcome "partners in crime" and they seem to be able to inspire me or enable almost all of my addictions. Can you believe they dragged me off to a poultry swap and made me walk away with yet another chick?

The telltale eye ring, green-grey feet, and patterned feathers gave this little peeper away as an Ameracauna. The moth-eaten, scraggly look gave it away as a face only a mother could love. In stepped Madison, lover of all things chicken, and viola! it lives with us. How could I say "no" when green eggs are one of our best sellers?

Yeah...it was purely a business decision.

Notes

2009-04-23T05:31:00.001-07:00

For those of you that can access NPR, there was an interesting piece on the Hear & Now program with Robin Young. Her April 22nd show contained a piece on the

Farm Census and its trends and potential impact and an interview with a mid-size farmer in Vermont. It was very interesting to hear about the growth in small and woman-run farms...you can listen to the show if you go to the website...

On letter writing...I received my third form letter response from White House. The first was a generic postcard from the fellow in charge of White House correspondence. (yawn) The second was another generic postcard, this one signed by a computer with the ability to forge the presidential signature. And finally a form letter, referencing one of the many topics I have written about, again signed by some automated something or other. (At least they took the time to read my letter and make the proper choice of form letter to send back...)

Of course, it would be nice if they would get my address right, and send my mail to Petersburgh (with an "h"). I've written and told them of the error...but I don't really expect a change...

Commercial Break

2009-04-23T04:25:00.000-07:00

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you several important announcements.

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival - May 2 & 3 Howard County Fairgrounds West Freindship, MD. Dye-namics Yarn will be on sale at the G&W Sharpening booth in Barn 3. Please stop by and see what Stacey and her family have to offer, and tell her you said "hello"...

Bennington Mayfest - May 23 Downtown Bennington, VT. Dye-namics Yarn will have a booth in the all-day craft and culture event in Bennington. I don't know our exact location yet, but just look for an olive green tent and two crazy ladies with WAY too much sock yarn for sale...

And for anyone keeping track, the first Sock Madness Knit off is down to the Elite 8, awaiting Pattern #3...

And this just in....

Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival - October 3 & 4 Tunbridge Fairgrounds Tunbridge, VT. I literally just found out...booth location to follow (when they let us know). And by then, we may have more to offer than just sock yarns...although there's nothing wrong with just sock yarns.

What the...?

2009-04-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

Sometimes all you can do is shake your head.
Despite ample nesting boxes, I have hens who insist on packing themselves into this cramped cage used for chick transport that is about 10 inches each side. (How can that be comfortable?)

And after sitting for the better part of an hour yesterday, one of our Ameracaunas produced this:

(Is that like a chicken fart?)

I saw Hattie, my oldest ewe, making funny noises and motions with her mouth as if she were sucking on a sour ball candy, so I went over and held out my hand and opened her mouth. This fell out:

(Was it hers to start with, or did she pick it up out of the grain feeder? And if there were tooth fairies for sheep, would this be one dollar, or more?)

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T08:25:00.003-07:00

The Best Thing Ever

2009-04-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

Twelve years ago today, at 8:19 in the morning, I was blessed.

She knew at 2 she was going to be a farmer. Or, maybe she was telling ME something...

At last...a break in the action

2009-04-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

Maple season is finally over. We look forward to it's arrival every year, and are always happy to see it go, simply because there is so much else to do! And it seems I cannot blog AND do maple syrup. Either I am away at the trees gathering, chopping wood, or cooking, or when I am inside finishing I must NOT get distracted by the computer or we will have maple goo all over the stove. And I haven't found a profitable use for maple goo...

My constant companions are never far away; following me everywhere, but also contented to catch a nap in the back mud hall while I have a snack or hit the loo. Normally, I would NEVER show you the nasty mud hall, but how else to share the view out my back door? - Max is in his bed, and Candy (who we have now figured out is a boy - sorry, Candy for a year of calling you "girl"...) with head tucked under for a quick wink.

And there's been a little bit of time for some charity knitting by the maple fire, as well as tucking in several flats of onions, mesclun, herbs, broccoli and lettuce.

EVERYBODY is laying, even the turkeys! The Bourbon Reds have mastered the art of walking around the pen without stepping on the eggs, so we are incubating a pair of those, and have sold some.

And we have three new additions to the flock:

Our Silkie just died, and I got the opportunity to replace her. And I thought one chick amongst all those hens might get picked on, so better to have a companion, and besides, how could I choose between the two colors, and well, what if I had somehow chosen two roosters? Just to better the odds, I had better get a third, that way we will at least have a hen to breed if we chose poorly and got two roosters, and, well, you understand...

Psst..I write letters...

2009-03-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

Something you should know. I come from a family line of letter writers. (Not the friendly, correspondence between pen pals.) I mean the ones to politicians and "responsible" folks who are supposed to get things done.

I never planned on taking up the pen. In fact, I kind of poo-poo'ed the idea. Until I became a farmer. That's when I realized I needed to speak up.

But I go to bed wondering - who is listening?

Apparently, not the President. Yeah, I've been writing to Barack. Every day. And I really shouldn't be on a first name basis, because, actually, he has never written back.

Not that I actually expected a response. I'm not THAT loopy. But some sort of response just to show me someone is actually opening the mail in Washington and not using it to fuel the White House furnace - would be nice.

I've sent somewhere in the neighborhood of 5o letters. You'd think that many letters would at least earn me a computer-generated response. A polite, milk toast form letter telling me about all the wonderful things Barack is doing for our country.

But he's not even listening.

Am I stopping? Nope.

It's not called "harderthanitlooks" for nothing. But if you wanted to join in...why, who am I to stop you? I'm thinking of doubling my efforts...

We need a measurement!!

2009-03-12T16:51:00.001-07:00

Well, if you thought NAIS was a bad idea...wait till you hear this one...

As usual, the government has the right idea, but the WRONG implementation. No one would argue the importance of food safety. But in this legislation is written the language to put all Farmer's Markets under monthly inspection and mountains of paperwork, and put ALL small farms that sell anything food or animal under the random and constant scrutiny of the Federal Government. Talk about record keeping....!

We have to fight ignorance with facts. The fact that small, organic farmers are helping preserve and secure the food system. The fact that small, organic farms support both the community and the farmers themselves. The fact that hobby farms support diversity of species, heirloom and heritage varieties, and traditional methods. The fact that family farms would never poison the food system - the same food system they eat from. The fact that small farms are healthy and sustainable agriculture.

But we also need another "fact" - we need a measurement. A definition. You can't seek relief from the government and its regulation unless you can tell them exactly what you need. How do we define "small/ (organic) family/ hobby/homestead farm"?

What definition do we use? Is it acres planted? Is it the amount of food produced? Is it the number of animals raised? Slaughtered? Sold?

I've talked to folks who stay below the organic certification radar by producing less than $10,000 of sales. I've talked to legislators that want to consider anyone raising 10 or fewer pigs and cows as "exempt" from slaughter regulations designed to monitor the big guys. I've heard of insurance companies dropping policies if the owners sell so much as one dozen eggs. I know farmers that strive to stay completely "off the grid" personally, but support themselves through barter and cash sales. 70% of all small farms can't support themselves completely and rely on a second income source.

So, how do we define ourselves? How do we identify the threshold at which government record keeping and inspection keeps the food supply safe yet does not drown the small farmer? I'd love to know what you think. But more importantly, let your Representatives know.

HR 875 needs more work. And I'm not the only one who thinks so...

Snippets

2009-03-09T04:55:00.000-07:00

Just a few snippets of stuff to show you...

For those of you following the bee saga, (and there are a bunch so I will report back as often as I can) the hive is all put together. It took two days, mostly because there were LOTS of parts, but I have two hive bodies, two supers, a hive-top feeder, and a ten frame set up. (That means constructing 40 frames, with brittle tissue-paper waxed foundation that tears if you breath wrong...)

But as I worked, I began to really enjoy it, and part of the experience was the smell. The fresh cut pine boards and beeswax foundation gave off a really nice aroma. I am very happy I chose the wood bodies vs. polystyrene, and wood frames vs. plastic. I think the bees will be happy, too.

Madison's California cousins were here last week, and I forgot to share some photos. Here is one taken by my brother-in-law (an awesome photographer) and pretty much sums up what the week was about:

And I found a really neat picture of Madison's Japanese cousins that my brother had posted on Flickr:

I wish I could tell you the circumstances of the photo - usually they are two very happy country boys decked out in tye-dye everything, but I am still waiting for the explanation myself...

And maple season is officially underway here in the Northeast.

Yesterday I spent all afternoon helping a friend chop wood, load sap, and boil, boil, boil...My early small runs were turned into thick syrup for breadmaking, and I did them here at the house. This year the bulk of our sap will be cooked over there...wish I could do an aroma blog - you would LOVE the smell of boiling sap!

Apparently, the bees are the smart ones...

2009-03-02T06:40:00.000-08:00

Saturday was my beekeeping class at BetterBee in Greenwich, NY. We are going to try one hive this year, and see how it goes.

My experience with the staff was my first clue...

Me: I am here to pick up my equipment order that I placed a month ago when I signed up for the class.

(Note: Actual Bees come in May, but you have to assemble equipment, paint it, put it in place and read A LOT before they get here...)

Staff: I'm sorry, the order is all in stock except one item, so we can't give you the kit.

Me: What is the backordered item? Can I take the frames, etc. today and get started on assembly, since I am here with the truck?

Staff: The backordered item is the hive tool.

(Note: You need the hive tool for actually working the hive once the bees have arrived and are setting up shop. )

Me: Well, that's OK, I'll get that item when I come and pick up the bees. Can I pay and take the rest of the order now?

Staff: No, because I can't figure out how to make a notation on the computer that you have taken your items without the hive tool.

Me: Can you print out my receipt and write a notation on there with your signature, verifying that all I need to receive is my hive tool?

Staff: No. But let me see what I can figure out; I think I can figure out a way to give you all the hive parts now, and then ship the protective clothing, smoker and hive tool when it arrives if you will pay the extra shipping.

I ponder the idiocy of this woman while she happily pounds away on her calculator, computer keyboard, and paperwork, and find myself standing next to a display of items in the company store, including a bunch of hive tools for sale as individual pieces.

Staff: Your total today will be $311. 08, and with an additional $18.00 shipping I can mail the protective clothing, smoker and hive tool when we have everything in stock.

Me: Why can you only give me half the order now, when only one small piece is missing? And how did my total become $311.08 when the entire package is listed in your catalog for $259.00?

Staff: Well, we actually do sell the hive parts and the other items as two separate packages in the catalog, so I can order it that way and "trick" the computer into printing out a receipt that shows you received your hive parts and still need to receive the other stuff.

Me: And the $311.08 total?

Staff: Blank look, lots more pounding away on the calculator and keyboard.

Me: According to my math, the total with taxes should be $284.94. I am not paying additional shipping, I will pick up the protective clothing, smoker and hive tool when I come in May to pick up the bees.

Staff: (amazed) You're right!

This whole mess has taken almost a half an hour already, I give up and leave the shop with my receipt, walking by the pile of hive tools...to pick up my ready-to-assemble hive.

I realize the pile of parts has no real resemblance to the kit picture in the catalog, but I am convinced I can follow the directions and assemble the hive...

Cat: You're kidding, right? There are no instructions here!
Me: Shut up. We can figure it out from the catalog and pictures. First step, nail the big pieces together, then we worry about the small stuff. What does the catalog say about nails?

If I follow the catalog text, I use 7d nails. If I read the note, I DO NOT use 7d nails, I use 1-1/4" nails. (But I can order both from the catalog!) And, drat! no hint about how many hive bodies the 1-1/4" nails will assemble...Do I dare turn to page 28 for information on frame nails, whatever those are?

Me: Is it me? I am beginning to think bee stings may be the least of my worries...

Sheep?

2009-02-25T06:09:00.000-08:00

Michelle wondered if I still had any sheep. Well, you don't see much more than this these days...
It's kind of too cold to sit with anybody as Ole Man Winter gives us his final blast...and it's the goats that want all the attention, anyway!

So I've taken the leap and begun to play with my fleeces. The first one is an uncoated shearing from Victoria (I think), a ewe we no longer have. I don't know where it falls on the VM scale, but working with it has definitely triggered my latent OCD, so it's going to be pretty VM free by the time I get done with it...

First, I laid it out on the table to get a look. Thankfully, no poo tags or really bad stuff:

(ahh...the bouquet of lanolin....)

And then two hot soapy soakings and half a dozen hot water rinses in the tub. (Before you say it - we have a front loader that won't allow mid-cycle openings of the drum...so this is all we have.)

And now for the drum carder...which is a mystery to me as well...but we're trying nonetheless...

I picked this up at the NYS Sheep and Wool festival last fall.

My impressions so far is that it seems rather unevenly paced as I try to fill the larger wheel, but I have cleaned it off and sent the wool through a second and even a third time. The result is lofty, but lighter than the rovings I have purchased.

We break out the spinning wheel...yikes!

Braided Ear Warmer

2009-02-04T09:08:00.001-08:00

Here's the "down and dirty details" for those who were asking...

I knit this with a locally produced yarn, and although it came to me natural, I couldn't resist dying it, so into the pot it went with the Avocado dye, and due to the lanolin and nature of the wool - we got the lightness and variagation...

I would say this yarn knit up like a heavy worsted or even Aran weight. Gauge is not really important (sorry, knitting police) as you are just knitting it long enough to fit around your head, but play with it, that's where the fun is...

Size 8 needles and a cable needle

Less than 100 yards of yarn

CO 23 stitches. I like to use the German Twisted cast on for almost anything...but you decide.

Abbreviations:

K=knit

P=purl

C2B=hold 2 stitches in back with cable needle

C2F=hold 2 stitches in front with cable needle

KCN=knit off the cable needle

Row 1: (right side)

K3, P1, [K2, C2B, K2, KCN] P1, K1, P1, [K2, C2B, K2, KCN] P1, K3

Row 2: (wrong side)

P3, K1, [P6] K1, P1, K1 [P6] K1, P3

Row 3:

K3, P1 [C2F, K2, KCN, K2] P1, K1, P1 [C2F, K2, KCN, K2] P1, K3

Row 4:

P3, K1 [P6] K1, P1, K1 [P6] K1, P3

Repeat Rows 1-4 as many times as necessary to fit around the head in question. Finish with a wrong side row. Bind off in knit. Sew ends together. Viola! You are warmer for the barn chores, and stylish besides!

I did it again...

2009-02-04T07:49:00.001-08:00

I did it again....waited WAY too long between posts. But I have been busy, I promise...

Planted Something: I'm forcing tulip bulbs, but they're to tiny to bother with a photo right now...just imagine four sprouting bulbs in a purple pot.

Harvested Something: It continues to be eggs, but every day the girls surprise me...someone "new" is laying, can you see? I suspect it is our white Silkie, Sapphire.

Preserved something: In the manner that this refers to storing away food...I baked 7+ loaves of bread. (See the entry under "Local Food") Thank God I was able to control my hunger around the fresh baked bread and most of them got into the freezer...

Prepped something: Right now, the only thing that comes to mind is all the dyeing we are doing to build up inventory, as we are applying to vend at the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair.

Cooked something: Nothing too exciting here; can we just acknowledge that I cook every day, and change this category to Knitted something? (at least that comes with a picture...) I was inspired by my friend Susan's ear warmer, and pulled together one of my own design with mittens, using some local wool that I dyed last year. Funny how last year I didn't like the color or dye job, and this year...go figure.

Managed reserves: This time of year, that means hay. I am still searching for those final 3 dozen bales to get us through Spring. I am reluctant to pay for hay, when my previous employer still owes me money (for which I was planning on getting hay...) but soon I will have to break down and fork over (eek!) $5 a bale....sigh

And my friend Susan is also a farmer who preserves our reserves of endangered and heirloom populations. We visited her about a week ago to see her American Buff geese:

and her Icelandic sheep. Don't they look just like the Shetlands? You have to get close enough to check out the fleece structure to tell the difference.

Worked on local food systems: I've met a Mennonite woman through our local knitting group that makes all her own bread, and WOW! is it good. I had to beg only a little to ask her to teach me, (since baking decent bread has so far in my life been a skill I cannot master) and besides her patient teaching, apparently the secret is using the right flour. She uses Occident flour (which can only be had by waiting till the next trip to Pennsylvania and buying a 50# bag for our house) and Red Star yeast. I was so happy when my stuff rose the first time, you'd think I won the lottery!

It was the start of a wonderful system - we are bartering for even more skills lessons in the future - pickling for dyeing yarn and so on...

Reduced waste/Recycled: Well this category was also satisfied by knitting - I used stash yarn to knit up helmet liners for military personnel. It was a satisfying project, and I encourage anyone with needles and some wool yarn to think about it...

Learned something: No matter how ridiculous it may seem...the cat knows better. I thought she was nuts spending 6 hours a day parked in front of the stove like this:

Until I turned on the self-cleaning feature (which heats up the oven quite hot) and out scurried a mouse. Which she grabbed in her mouth and wouldn't give up until I put a can of fresh cat food down on the floor nearby. And so I was left to capture the mangled, yet still perky, mouse. Which my husband helpfully suggested I could put out in the back hall until he got home to dispose of it. Yeah....well, not actually. The mouse had other ideas and left before DH got home by leaping tall garbage cans with a single bound and scurrying for freedom. Which may have simply meant back where he came from...because guess where Lucky is spending her days???? Hmm....

Do you know any sock knitters?

2009-01-12T05:24:00.000-08:00

Calling all sock knitters! All skill levels are welcome to participate in the First Annual Dyenamics Yarn March Madness Knit Off. So please, pass this along. We are still looking for a few good knitters to fill the ranks of the 64 before the Madness kicks off in March.

It is completely free, yet there are prizes to be won!

It is competitive, yet none of the bitchiness that plagued the Sock Wars!

It is fun, yet does not last forever - so prod those you know to enter, and convince them that the least they can do for you in thanks...is to knit one of the pairs for you!

The view from here...

2009-01-07T19:25:00.001-08:00

...here being vacation. We needed a quick get-away, and we have a bit of a tradition...we've been taking the first week in January in Ft. Myers Beach with my parents for a few winters now, and we figured it would be testing fate to do otherwise...

Besides, we have an excellent farm sitter, and this was the view out the front window the day before we left:

Wouldn't you leave?

My two favorite photos from vacation are kind of different. I took them both on a walking tour of the Audobon Society Cypress Forest preserve outside of Ft. Myers. They have 2.25 miles of boardwalk winding through a cypress swamp and several complementary habitats for endangered and native Florida wildlife and birds.

Here is a close up of some fungi on the boardwalk rails:

And here is a butterfly; dead on the swamp waters, seen from the boardwalk. Even beautiful in death...

I noticed both of these by trying to follow our zen guidance for January - walk slowly through life and appreciate what is. Hmmm...

Favorite saying so far (noticed on a t-shirt of a fellow beach bum):

"Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things"