tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240938112024-03-13T05:02:23.501-05:00Touch the Earth FarmPart farm journal, part spiritual journey, Touch the Earth Farm blog chronicles one family's adventure of living with the land.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-28702538133698558642011-04-18T09:44:00.002-05:002011-04-18T09:47:11.053-05:00For SaleYes, folks, our lovely beyond-organic farm is for sale. As difficult as it is to say goodbye, we are all looking forward to moving somewhere to reduce Jim's commute. Please spread the word if anyone you know is interested in a homesteading property in Maryland.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing the adventure!Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-72928140270349103832010-02-11T09:02:00.000-05:002010-02-11T09:03:15.510-05:00For Entertainment Purposes Only:<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wq58zS4_jvM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wq58zS4_jvM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-43240611011837118432010-02-10T13:03:00.003-05:002010-02-10T13:22:08.428-05:00Thank you, Sir; may I have another?Getting crushed by yet another winter storm. We have more than 12 additional inches on the ground now, and the snow is up to my crotch. Granted, I'm not all that tall at 5'3.5", but still!<br /><br />Farm dogs are now in the mud room. Piggies are now in the barn. High tunnel dug out yet again, but without collapsing this time (hopefully!). Jim went out last night to clear it off, and I was out again this morning at around 5:30 am. By that point we'd already had 10" of snow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S3L2-AB8QLI/AAAAAAAAB0M/fUEj1Z9-WOg/s1600-h/IMG_6548.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S3L2-AB8QLI/AAAAAAAAB0M/fUEj1Z9-WOg/s320/IMG_6548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436679245210075314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S3L2-UGxKxI/AAAAAAAAB0U/COfekKES-_g/s1600-h/IMG_6552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S3L2-UGxKxI/AAAAAAAAB0U/COfekKES-_g/s320/IMG_6552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436679250599029522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S3L2-_cXnUI/AAAAAAAAB0c/Y1lL_vi76E0/s1600-h/IMG_6559.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S3L2-_cXnUI/AAAAAAAAB0c/Y1lL_vi76E0/s320/IMG_6559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436679262232354114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S3L2_LIeZaI/AAAAAAAAB0k/VUEzeNL32Gw/s1600-h/IMG_6561.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S3L2_LIeZaI/AAAAAAAAB0k/VUEzeNL32Gw/s320/IMG_6561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436679265370138018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S3L2_iPM92I/AAAAAAAAB0s/Pn4nXQMyemY/s1600-h/IMG_6566.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S3L2_iPM92I/AAAAAAAAB0s/Pn4nXQMyemY/s320/IMG_6566.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436679271572371298" border="0" /></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-75309598975921114022010-02-07T17:59:00.003-05:002010-02-07T18:10:49.755-05:00Blasted by yet another storm!More than 24" this time around and yet another high tunnel collapse. Thank you Jim for digging it out again! The animals are all faring well--gotta love the hardy heritage breeds! And I'm mighty glad to not be milking in this weather, though the kiddos are definitely missing the milk.<br /><br />Frosty Moo:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S29HIY4b8RI/AAAAAAAABzE/b44EzFjliLs/s1600-h/IMG_6484.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S29HIY4b8RI/AAAAAAAABzE/b44EzFjliLs/s320/IMG_6484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435641484703166738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Frosty piggies:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S29HIgHV1lI/AAAAAAAABzM/Ga64g3L9DEw/s1600-h/IMG_6491.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S29HIgHV1lI/AAAAAAAABzM/Ga64g3L9DEw/s320/IMG_6491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435641486644729426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Collapsed tunnel from the inside:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S29HI_eEczI/AAAAAAAABzU/5GCbB7vuB_0/s1600-h/IMG_6496.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S29HI_eEczI/AAAAAAAABzU/5GCbB7vuB_0/s320/IMG_6496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435641495061558066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Digging out:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S29HJe0fGcI/AAAAAAAABzc/8mIESvZlYQY/s1600-h/IMG_6504.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S29HJe0fGcI/AAAAAAAABzc/8mIESvZlYQY/s320/IMG_6504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435641503477078466" border="0" /></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-81598485326841695742010-02-03T12:54:00.006-05:002010-02-03T13:12:55.017-05:00Facebook stole my soul.Well, not really, but that's where I've been hanging out during the limited amount of computer time I have. The great thing about fb is that I can chat while baking or doing other housework, and the short little bursts lend themselves more to my lifestyle than blogging these days, it seems.<br /><br />I want to thank all of you who have reached out to check in--I'm really humbled by the care and consideration.<br /><br />I haven't lost interest in the farm blog, but we've had a difficult year here, and I find it hard to be inspired to write about the farm when life itself is in limbo. Jim quite understandably grew tired of his hellish work commute, and we've gone back and forth over the past six months or so about whether we should sell the farm, whether he should quit his job, and any number of other potential solutions. We've decided to stay put for a while longer and find ways to feel less tied down by the farm, so we're in the market for a good farm sitter if you know any.<br /><br />Of course, the fact that we've all gotten into skiing/ snowboarding this winter has helped make our decision easier as well. Being 15 minutes from the slopes has its appeal! We just need to free ourselves more for summer beach trips that will help feed our souls.<br /><br />We've gotten lots of snow this winter season, which has been wonderful, but unfortunately brought the collapse of one of our high tunnels and the loss of a litter of piglets. As with everything in life, there are ups and downs.<br /><br />I'll post more pictures and updates soon, but for now, a teaser photo of some of the animals enjoying the snowy day.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S2m67srzs-I/AAAAAAAABy8/pPYDQuzhXDM/s1600-h/IMG_6303.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/S2m67srzs-I/AAAAAAAABy8/pPYDQuzhXDM/s200/IMG_6303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434079960169165794" border="0" /></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-13588394458695624112009-07-26T13:49:00.005-05:002010-08-17T08:40:54.139-05:00My New Stove!Yay! I'm so pleased! It's obviously not hooked up yet—hopefully it will be by October. We still need to build a hearth, pipe it, and possibly plumb it as well, as it has a rear water reservoir for heating water.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Smyl6kcipGI/AAAAAAAAByc/S7avRaY-c84/s1600-h/IMG_5085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Smyl6kcipGI/AAAAAAAAByc/S7avRaY-c84/s320/IMG_5085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362843681925801058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Isn't it pretty? Makes my farmhouse kitchen feel complete, and I can't wait to cook on it this fall and winter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Smymi21eBmI/AAAAAAAAByk/BDbUJ9pFLpw/s1600-h/IMG_5087.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Smymi21eBmI/AAAAAAAAByk/BDbUJ9pFLpw/s320/IMG_5087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362844374056961634" border="0" /></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-36502130196383325362009-06-20T09:35:00.007-05:002009-06-22T06:07:45.984-05:00Down Side of Farming<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sjz0UDG0nkI/AAAAAAAABxc/_LvsSAS3j7o/s1600-h/IMG_4198.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sjz0UDG0nkI/AAAAAAAABxc/_LvsSAS3j7o/s200/IMG_4198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349419082677788226" border="0" /></a>We finally had 5 turkey poults hatch out yesterday only to lose 4 of them to a damn raccoon last night. I was so psyched to post about the success today and even got some photos last evening. There was no sign of the rest of the babies, but there was the unmistakable sign of coon scat. Grrrrrrrr.<br /><br />We lost our first goat this spring as well. Poor little Cocoa, on top of the truck cap in the photo, was down one morning when Jim went out to feed everyone. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sjz1bmyWLyI/AAAAAAAABxk/mmpXKoQbGO8/s1600-h/IMG_3132.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sjz1bmyWLyI/AAAAAAAABxk/mmpXKoQbGO8/s200/IMG_3132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349420312026296098" border="0" /></a>Her pupils were fixed and dilated and she was having convulsions. I was positive she'd been poisoned somehow, because it was so sudden, but I just couldn't figure out how. I scoured the area they'd been and couldn't find any sign of diarrhea or vomiting, which would've been likely with some of the known problem plants. But nothing, and this was fast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sj0mpDeAlII/AAAAAAAABxs/jEB-0nCL1LY/s1600-h/IMG_4132.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sj0mpDeAlII/AAAAAAAABxs/jEB-0nCL1LY/s200/IMG_4132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349474419133682818" border="0" /></a>The other day, I think I found my answer in the potato patch. Loco jimsonweed. I could be wrong, but the symptoms certainly fit. Goats are usually really good about not eating things that are poisonous to them as long as they have plenty of other browse and grass. I'm not sure how or why she ate it, as they'd been rotated to a fresh paddock. It was young when she ate it, but she was tiny, so it wouldn't have taken much.<br /><br />I don't think I would have identified it without the telltale flower, and the plants in the pasture never mature enough to flower before being mowed. I knew we had some horse nettle and some other nightshade, which is what I thought this was, I'm sure, but there's a distinct difference in the flower. After doing some research, I found that supposedly the drought we had a couple years back brought this plant back into prominence regionally. One more weed id under my belt, but at what a cost.<br /><br />At any rate, losing animals is the down side of farming, and I really hate this part.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-59418415688213872292009-06-17T06:26:00.004-05:002009-06-17T11:44:26.581-05:00Whipping Cream, Whipping GardensWhipping gardens back into shape, that is. I was on a tear yesterday and got so much done, and it felt so good! My energy levels have been kinda low lately between my allergies and cold of some sort I think, though it all just blended together. It felt great to really accomplish a lot.<br /><br />My day started around 5:45 am with coffee, morning news reading, email and facebook play. Before going out to milk I got 3 pounds of butter made and kneaded bread dough for its first rise. I even got the kitchen mostly cleaned up. Then I went out to milk and feed the animals. Came back in to process the milk.<br /><br />The rest of the day was spent trying to catch up on garden work that's been put off because of all the rain we were having. The ground finally dried out enough this weekend to get a tiller in the gardens and take care of some of the weeds and prep the soil for new plantings where I ripped out old.<br /><br />Knowing the rain was coming again, I was a planting fool! We have another week of rain in the forecast, so I got as much in as possible. I planted the Amish paste tomatoes that had been languishing in seed flats. I don't know how they'll do at this point, but they've gotta be happier in the ground than in the seed tray. Here's the final tally:<br /><br /><ul><li>around 75 Amish paste tomatoes<br /></li><li>around 15 or so nasturtium plants</li><li>half a row each of parsley, basil, and dill seedlings</li><li>seeded half a row of cilantro<br /></li><li>2 rows of edamame<br /></li><li>3rd and final planting of sweet corn</li><li>several rows of dent corn</li><li>~40 lbs of seed potatoes, the last yukon golds</li><li>scattered amaranth seeds</li><li>scattered insectary herb seeds</li><li>1 row of moon and stars watermelon</li><li>1 row of strawberry watermelon</li><li>1 row of Hale's best muskmelon</li><li>1 row of edisto muskmelon</li><li>half a row of calendula</li><li>half row of sunflowers</li><li>oh, and the sweet potato slips—forgot those<br /></li></ul><br />Along with planting, I got most of the garden weeded. (We won't speak of the onions and carrots.) I was out there in my bathing suit, trying to get rid of this silly farmer's tan I'm sporting at the moment where I have tan stripes on my legs between the tops of my tall boots and bottoms of my shorts, belting out songs from my i-pod shuffle. It was the perfect day for working. Overcast, not too hot or muggy. Once I really started weeding and working up a sweat, the bugs were irritating, but that kinda goes without saying around here in the growing season.<br /><br />I was too busy to take pictures, but I'll try to get some today if I can. Right now, I'm pleased as punch watching the rain come down and water all that in. A week of rain right now with moderate temperatures seems like a blessing for the garden and all the remaining lettuces. There was, of course, still more to be done before I collapsed in the shower at around 7:30 last night, but there's always more to be done. All work and no play makes Danielle a very cranky girl.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-66934959515822011382009-06-12T07:49:00.006-05:002009-06-12T12:53:59.581-05:00And the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down....What three weeks of rain will do to a garden....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SjJPV_pKHvI/AAAAAAAABxE/IgdaC_6M-Z4/s1600-h/IMG_3460.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SjJPV_pKHvI/AAAAAAAABxE/IgdaC_6M-Z4/s200/IMG_3460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346422946922110706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and to the weeds...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SjJQwrTzMvI/AAAAAAAABxU/4M8-7IRgceA/s1600-h/IMG_4118.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SjJQwrTzMvI/AAAAAAAABxU/4M8-7IRgceA/s200/IMG_4118.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346424504831914738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The onions are in there somewhere. Yes, I'm whingeing about the weather. We've had so much rain that the ground is completely saturated and unworkable. I can't plant, cultivate, till or weed. I have a cover crop that I wanted to till in before it went to seed, but that's looking like it may not happen. I have loads of stuff that needs to go in the ground and more stuff that I really need to direct seed. I have a late planting of potatoes that desperately needs planting. Not to mention the incredibly favorable conditions for disease. Ugh. With dry one can at least irrigate; with rain, there's nothing to be done but float away.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-55732384940474970142009-06-10T07:24:00.001-05:002009-06-10T07:24:41.181-05:00Wheeeee! New Camera!I'll be playing with it all day today.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-12840200766784043192009-06-05T17:16:00.001-05:002009-06-05T17:17:43.174-05:00My Camera Is On the Fritz...... and it's crampin' my style. More posts soon, promise.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-4007507118332747792009-05-30T18:04:00.004-05:002009-05-31T11:37:58.592-05:00Fancy FeetLast week (or was it the week before?) Bella had her hooves trimmed by our traveling hoof trimmer. He pulls the table behind his truck, and it's pretty cool. The cow walks into it like a chute/ stanchion; he locks her in place, straps her in, and the table lifts her in the air. She most definitely does not appreciate this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SiG746wWlfI/AAAAAAAABw0/Qoi4iIkKiL8/s1600-h/IMG_3465.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SiG746wWlfI/AAAAAAAABw0/Qoi4iIkKiL8/s200/IMG_3465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341757219557250546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />She doesn't look happy, does she? But see how those front hooves are starting to touch? That's not good for her feet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SiG74zTScqI/AAAAAAAABw8/pRxgf9HWey8/s1600-h/IMG_3464.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SiG74zTScqI/AAAAAAAABw8/pRxgf9HWey8/s200/IMG_3464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341757217556296354" border="0" /></a><br />Last year we had the trimmer out sometime in the summer, and I was worried the whole time that she'd miscarry from the stress. Neal said he didn't think she'd ever had her feet trimmed, so this was all new to her. This year, I knew I wanted to have her hooves trimmed before I tried to get her artificially inseminated (AIed). The fact that she doesn't walk on concrete here means that her hooves grow really fast.<br /><br />She handled it better this year than last, perhaps because it was familiar to her. I kept telling her how lucky she was to be going in for a pedicure since I've never had one.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-63078980794352386142009-05-15T06:42:00.011-05:002010-08-17T08:41:30.461-05:00Independence Days UpdateWeekly updates, it seems, are more than I can do in this busy, busy season. Besides, if I did hold myself to that standard, chances are I wouldn't blog about anything else! We have another rainy week ahead, so expect a spate of posts over the next few days as I run through my backlog of topics.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Plant:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sg1ce6Vg19I/AAAAAAAABwI/KPcE7VFarxQ/s1600-h/IMG_3444.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sg1ce6Vg19I/AAAAAAAABwI/KPcE7VFarxQ/s200/IMG_3444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336022819629225938" border="0" /></a>Direct seeded: 4 varieties of bush beans (provider, rocdor, royal purple, contender) and 2 rows of red core chantenay carrots down in the market garden.<br /><br />Transplanted: ~ 300 tomato plants to the market garden (green zebra, Cherokee purple, striped German, Brandywine, sungold, sweet olive and gold nugget); Egyptian walking onions, shallots, thyme, citrus thyme, rhubarb, horseradish, and black raspberries to the front garden. Set in plants from Edible Landscaping—4 hops vines, 3 filbert trees, and 20 asparagus crowns.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sg1dhF28poI/AAAAAAAABwY/mfiY4JzxxUw/s1600-h/IMG_3446.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sg1dhF28poI/AAAAAAAABwY/mfiY4JzxxUw/s200/IMG_3446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336023956593616514" border="0" /></a><br />Seeded in flats: calendula, evening primrose, pennyroyal, saltwort, fennel, lovage, peppermint, hyssop, arnica, marshmallow, paprika chili, Thai chili, and chamomile.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Harvest:</span><br /><br />Spinach, lamb's quarters, kale, broccoli raab, lettuces, carrots, radishes, thyme, citrus thyme, oregano, tarragon, chives, rosemary, sorrel, horseradish, cilantro, parsley, eggs, milk.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Preserve:</span><br /><br />Still eating down reserves. Made and froze butter.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Manage:</span><br /><br />With some volunteer help, we got one of the high tunnels cleaned out and ready for cover cropping, which I'll hopefully get done this weekend. Meanwhile I'm trying to stay on top of the weeds in the market garden with all this rain and dealing with flea beetles. Grrrrrr.<br /><br />Continuing managed intensive grazing—this is primarily Jim's thing, and he gets total credit for staying on top of the frequent moves.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prep:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sg3r7tPuuoI/AAAAAAAABwg/RG_FiKwpBu0/s1600-h/IMG_3430.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sg3r7tPuuoI/AAAAAAAABwg/RG_FiKwpBu0/s200/IMG_3430.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336180544494287490" border="0" /></a>Our silver fox rabbit doe, Jewel, gave birth to 7 kits the other day. While she did all the work, it does bode well for the beginnings of our breeding program. Silver Fox are meat rabbits listed on <a href="http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/programs/ark_product_detail/the_silver_fox_rabbit/">Slow Food's Ark of Taste list</a>. They will be both human and pet food, letting us reduce our dependence on commercial pet food even further, which should be healthier for both the dogs and the cats and lighter on the earth besides. I know some people will have a problem with that, but I can guarantee that these rabbits will have a better, healthier life than anything that goes into the commercial foods.<br /><br />Set up <a href="http://touchtheearthfarm.blogspot.com/2009/05/busy-as-bee.html">three bee hives</a> in the hopes of maintaining at least two hives on our property.<br /><br />Continued working on our "<a href="http://www.eartheasy.com/grow_garden_insectary.htm">insectary</a>" around the gardens to encourage beneficial insects. ATTRA has a great <a href="http://www.blogger.com/attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/farmscaping.pdf">pdf publication on "farmscaping"</a> for beneficial insects for those who'd like to read more about this idea.<br /><br />Our <a href="http://touchtheearthfarm.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-new-cookstove.html">cookstove</a> arrived this week, so we'll be working on the install over the next few months to have it up and running for fall burning season.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Store:</span><br /><br />Added more bread flour, as we really blow through it quickly here. I still have my hi-gluten bulk flour, but it's twice as much as the King Arthur brand I use on a regular basis, so I try to stock up on K.A. whenever it's on sale.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Add: </span><br /><br />CSA delivery to four families: eggs, mixed baby greens, lamb's quarters, head lettuce, broccoli raab, radishes, carrots, spring garlic, horseradish greens, oregano, sage, parsley, cilantro, rosemary.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cook:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sg3wEAyKG1I/AAAAAAAABwo/vntwm7sowSw/s1600-h/IMG_3400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sg3wEAyKG1I/AAAAAAAABwo/vntwm7sowSw/s200/IMG_3400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336185085224426322" border="0" /></a>I found a bag of roasted red peppers in the bottom of the freezer, so I made some roasted red pepper cous-cous to go with an herb roasted chicken and sauteed lamb's quarters seasoned with sea salt and spring garlic. Quite tasty.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Learn:</span><br /><br />Julia and I learned more about rabbits and "kindling" (what it's called when rabbits give birth). Did you know that baby rabbits only nurse about 5 minutes a day and that mama doesn't sit on them or near them for warmth? Neither did I, but we do now.<br /><br />I'm hopeful that our first time mama knows what she's doing. She's pulled off some fur for the nest, but not a ton. The babies seem to have nice, rounded bellies from what I can see, so that's a good sign. I'll continue to monitor them over the next couple of weeks.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-33842879503682759182009-05-14T07:06:00.003-05:002009-05-14T07:19:32.881-05:00I can bring home the bacon...Fry it up in a pan....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgwKlo9o2VI/AAAAAAAABvw/7uevBWbQxJ8/s1600-h/IMG_4024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgwKlo9o2VI/AAAAAAAABvw/7uevBWbQxJ8/s320/IMG_4024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335651300294580562" border="0" /></a><br />This is Jules's first rabbit of the season; she's quite a good shot.<br /><br />Last year she got one while wearing a bikini:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgwMIUnNj8I/AAAAAAAABwA/mLtlXEnl6rg/s1600-h/IMG_1568.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgwMIUnNj8I/AAAAAAAABwA/mLtlXEnl6rg/s320/IMG_1568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335652995638857666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here's one of my favorite photos—target shooting in a leopard suit:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgwMIL2G4zI/AAAAAAAABv4/tbsIJrtRzwQ/s1600-h/IMG_0853.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgwMIL2G4zI/AAAAAAAABv4/tbsIJrtRzwQ/s320/IMG_0853.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335652993285415730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Julia plans to sit for her hunting license this year and head out deer hunting on kids' day. Jim has modified a deer rifle for her (or some such thing). I really don't know what I'm talking about, but since he's not posting these days....Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-19448636010946390392009-05-13T06:18:00.004-05:002009-05-14T06:29:06.861-05:00Busy As A BeeAs I think I mentioned in an earlier post, both my hives from last year were deadouts this winter, which really sucked. They starved with frames full of honey just inches away, so bee numbers rather than honey stores was the culprit. Thinking I wasn't supposed to open the hives until the first nice day in late winter/ early spring, I missed the opportunity to move full honey frames in closer to the brood nest where the bees could reach them, likely preventing them from starving as they refused to leave the brood nest.<br /><br />There were a couple other things I could have done, too. First, knowing that one hive was weaker than the other, I could've combined the two hives and their honey stores going into winter, and there's a good chance that I would have had one strong overwintered hive this spring. Second, although my mentor suggested that I could leave the screened bottom boards all winter, I could have put the <a href="http://www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/186610.html">IPM board</a> in to reduce drafts, especially considering the way the wind whips across the pasture up there. Third, we could have parked our mobile coop on the west side of the hives for the winter, creating a bit of a windbreak for them. Hindsight is, as they say, 20/20, and the only way I know of gaining experience is by, well, gaining experience, sometimes the hard way.<br /><br />The good news is that my bee inspector checked both hives and declared them free of disease, which means that I now have all that stored honey (probably 70 lbs or so, all without any artificial feeds or treatments) to help establish the new packages I installed last weekend, eliminating the need for any artificial feeding again this year. So, all is not lost, though the nucs I got last year were a much better start than packaged bees, and I'm sad to have lost them.<br /><br />The packages I installed have a couple of things going for them, however, even if I do need to be on the lookout for mite and beetle problems. First, the bees themselves supposedly came from a bee yard that hasn't been treated in 7 years—I'm not sure exactly where, but I'll post once I find out. Second, the queens I installed come from hygienic queen stock from Bee Happy Apiary in Vacaville, California, which will hopefully give the hives a leg up against mites. (For a list of hygienic queen dealers <a href="http://www.glenn-apiaries.com/queenproducers.html">click here</a>.) I'm considering requeening either later this year or definitely next year if they overwinter with a local source of hygienic queens: <a href="http://www.vpqueenbees.com/">VP Queen Bees</a>, who raises without treatments and, I think, using <a href="http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnaturalcell.htm">small cell</a>, which I use as well.<br /><br />Installing the package:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgqvF-NDX3I/AAAAAAAABvI/IHeVkp1kshI/s1600-h/IMG_4033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgqvF-NDX3I/AAAAAAAABvI/IHeVkp1kshI/s320/IMG_4033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335269225705725810" border="0" /></a><br />I installed three packages last weekend using a place and wait technique that's a bit gentler on the bees than shaking them into the hives. Basically as you can see, you remove five of the frames in a deep box and place the package directly inside, place your queen cage between two of the center frames, open the package, and close up the hive. Come back in the late afternoon/ early evening and most of the bees will have moved out of the package and into the frames on their own. Remove the package and set it in front of the hive overnight if there are any remaining bees, replace the remaining frames, close up the hive, and you're done. Easy on bees and beekeeper alike.<br /><br />Installing the queen cage:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgqvGBA35AI/AAAAAAAABvQ/R4ZkDIgHITo/s1600-h/IMG_4036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgqvGBA35AI/AAAAAAAABvQ/R4ZkDIgHITo/s320/IMG_4036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335269226459948034" border="0" /></a><br />Opening the package:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgqvGeqzscI/AAAAAAAABvY/WoZ9-MqRoH4/s1600-h/IMG_4039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgqvGeqzscI/AAAAAAAABvY/WoZ9-MqRoH4/s320/IMG_4039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335269234420462018" border="0" /></a><br />Closing up the hive:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgqvGQX7PxI/AAAAAAAABvg/Jtlns9v6VQs/s1600-h/IMG_4043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgqvGQX7PxI/AAAAAAAABvg/Jtlns9v6VQs/s320/IMG_4043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335269230583168786" border="0" /></a><br />Finishing touch, a brick on top:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgqvG3E3JuI/AAAAAAAABvo/4ce1ZYxqcdw/s1600-h/IMG_4048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgqvG3E3JuI/AAAAAAAABvo/4ce1ZYxqcdw/s320/IMG_4048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335269240972191458" border="0" /></a><br />We use an old piece of carpeting to set our hives on for weed suppression; it makes maintenance and mowing easier. When I came back that evening, I installed five frames of new small cell foundation. The five frames that were in the hive when I installed the package included both open brood comb, pollen, and plenty of capped honey. Between the queen and the frames of honey, I'm hopeful that the bees will want to stick around. I'll be checking on them today to be sure that they've freed the queen from her cage.<br /><br />**UPDATE: Only one of the hives had released the queen, so I released the other two into their respective hives and closed up. I'll be checking on them in a week or so, depending on the weather, to look for signs that the queens are accepted and laying.<br /><br />Also, by way of clarification, it was the queens who came from a yard not treated for the past 7 years, so all those good genetics will be passed on to my hives.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-18332046733405545662009-05-05T05:57:00.005-05:002009-05-05T15:35:25.439-05:00Independence Days UpdateSharon over at Casaubon's Book is starting a new <a href="http://sharonastyk.com/2009/05/04/independence-day-update-1/">Independence Days Challenge</a> for anyone who would like to sign up, though it's run pretty informally. I'm not going to keep count, personally, since it's really an ongoing thing and the counting just adds pressure.<br /><br />It's been two weeks since I last posted an update, and we've gotten lots accomplished. And many more things have been left undone due to rain, illness, and just lack of time! We had a quick cold, which knocked me out of commission for a couple of days, not to mention a week of 90° + days. Though I gave it a valiant effort, working in 90° weather with a fever of 102° just didn't cut it. I gave up and sat on the couch watching <span style="font-style: italic;">Battlestar Galactica</span>, my new favorite netflix get.<br /><br />I also managed to travel up to Lebanon, New Jersey, to give a talk at an unschooling conference, which was loads of fun. I got to talk farming with folks from New York state and a woman from Trinidad y Tobago. Very cool. Hopefully we'll have lots of farm visitors over the next few months. I learned about qigong and even had a brief healing massage. Yet again I discovered the truth of the notion that we are always exactly where we need to be. I got home in time to harvest for my CSA and transplant some more herbs to my new front garden before the rain set in. Whew! It's been a full two weeks!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Plant:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgCbn4-4RrI/AAAAAAAABu4/MJUbE1qFdPI/s1600-h/IMG_3387.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgCbn4-4RrI/AAAAAAAABu4/MJUbE1qFdPI/s200/IMG_3387.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332433068419991218" border="0" /></a>Transplanted: chives, sage, thyme, salad burnet, yarrow, heartsease, echinacea, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries to the front garden. Set in roses that arrived and some rhubarb that I bought on the spur of the moment at the feed store. Divided and dispersed wormwood, bee balm, lemon balm, horehound, feverfew, and mullein in the front from last year's plantings. I had more stuff planted, but unfortunately Jim, in his overzealous desire to try out his new tiller, tilled it under in the kids' garden where I'd healed them in last year. *sigh*<br /><br />Seeded in flats: Amish paste tomatoes, basil, dill, parsley, borage (both white and blue), calendula, lemon grass, nasturtium, asclepius, winter savory.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Harvest:</span><br />Asparagus, lettuce, swiss chard, spinach, kale, carrots, radishes, turnips, endive, tarragon, sage, cilantro, thyme, sorrel, chives, eggs, milk.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Preserve:</span><br />Still using down stores. Kids found some frozen strawberries, which were a great treat as we impatiently watch the blossoms turn to tiny green berries. Made butter.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prep:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgCdAcQ0rjI/AAAAAAAABvA/E4EstnoSKh8/s1600-h/IMG_3385.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgCdAcQ0rjI/AAAAAAAABvA/E4EstnoSKh8/s200/IMG_3385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332434589718982194" border="0" /></a>Continued to work on front herb/ edible garden, spreading ~5 yards of topsoil/ compost mix to ammend the soil and mixing peat moss where the blueberries and cranberries will grow. Ordered 2 varieties of cranberries, 3 varieties of filbert, 20 asparagus crowns, weeping mulberry, and 4 hops vines from <a href="http://www.ediblelandscaping.com/">Edible Landscaping</a> in Afton, Virginia. My patio peach was out of stock, unfortunately. They're a great little company that I've been ordering from for about 6 or 7 years now, and they've always made good on their plants.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Manage:</span><br />Potted up about 150-200 tomato plants and have about 100 more to go, but I ran out of yogurt cups.<br /><br />Found the market garden again, which is being taken over by chenopodium seedlings. Guess what CSA will be getting this week? Also sprayed and covered crops to combat those damn flea beetles.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cook:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgAsPrzw8-I/AAAAAAAABuw/yQoONIWiNUM/s1600-h/IMG_3374.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SgAsPrzw8-I/AAAAAAAABuw/yQoONIWiNUM/s200/IMG_3374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332310606776169442" border="0" /></a>The first of our asparagus has come in, and we've been loving every bit of it! In fact, I loved it so much that I added 20 crowns to my order for the front garden. The ferns are so pretty, and one can never have too much asparagus!<br /><br />We had chicken, asparagus, chevre sandwiches on homemade bread—all zero mile. The chips are store bought, as we've run out of our storage potatoes and the store bought potatoes just don't fry up well for chips. Or anything much for that matter. Yuk. I'm always reminded how easy it is to eat seasonally when you're used to fresh food.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Add:</span><br />CSA delivery to four families: mixed greens, spinach, chard, head lettuce, radishes, carrots, turnips, spring garlic, chives, thyme, tarragon, cilantro.<br /><br />Shared bedding plants and berries with neighbors.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Learn:</span><br />Learned about <a href="http://www.qigonginstitute.org/main_page/main_page.php">qigong</a>, an Eastern meditation through movement practice that focuses on energy flow in the body.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-85473529013420934822009-04-25T06:03:00.002-05:002009-04-26T06:35:03.089-05:00Grow Your OwnI'd venture to guess that most folks reading this blog have a pretty good grasp of why buying local food is good for the earth, good for your health, and good for the local economy. Many probably even buy into the whole food security issue. Now, here's one more good reason to grow your own.<br /><br />California is dealing with serious drought conditions. If it continues to worsen, food availability across the nation may be affected, considering that California supplies about half of the nation's produce. The governor declared a state of emergency in February, as three years of low rain and snow fall have produced one of the state's most severe droughts on record. 600,000 acres have been taken out of production in Orange Cove, California, alone, where the unemployment rate is at 25%. In the Westlands Water District that includes Fresno and Kings County officials estimate that 300,000 acres of lettuce, tomatoes and other crops will not be planted this year due to drought. Some experts predict that the total acreage left unplanted this year may go even higher than 850,000.<br /><br />A recent release of federal water supply to ease drought conditions has brought the area water allowance up to around 30% of its typical allowed water usage under existing contracts, up from the 10% it was getting before federal intervention. Still too little, too late to help most farms in the region, which could seriously affect pricing and availability of produce and other products like orange juice or wine. <br /><br />To read more, check out <a href="http://www.water.ca.gov/drought/">California's Department of Water Resources</a> and <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/us/22mendota.html?partner=rss">this article</a> in the <span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span>. I'll be following this story closely. Seems Great Depression 2.0 also has a ready-made Dust Bowl 2.0 in the making.<br /><br />It's not too late to start a garden for those who haven't gotten around to ordering and starting seeds. Buying vegetable seedlings from the nearest garden center is a great way to go, especially when just starting out, as it frees you from starting those seeds in the depths of winter when few folks are thinking about gardening at all. Most of the garden centers around here are watching their vegetable starts fly off shelves, as more people turn to gardening as a way of easing grocery bills. Turns out, the summer garden may be a good plan in terms of availability as well.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-12687415351677425342009-04-20T07:02:00.010-05:002009-04-20T11:24:55.786-05:00Bustin' SodMore than a year after making my front garden plans, we've finally broken ground. Below is my sketch, which is not drawn remotely to scale. It's more of a vision than an actual plan, and I've already made several changes, but hopefully this will give you a sense of what I'm going for with the herbs and edibles. Our front yard is fairly shallow, sloped, and close to the street, making it relatively useless as yard space. My goal is to eliminate as much of the turf as possible, but I'll be leaving all the paths in grass.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeySuvZxBoI/AAAAAAAABt4/n34rg_T4qtQ/s1600-h/IMG_3269.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeySuvZxBoI/AAAAAAAABt4/n34rg_T4qtQ/s320/IMG_3269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326793790968628866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sexm4EHrKxI/AAAAAAAABtw/oi5sW7KQuBw/s1600-h/IMG_3260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sexm4EHrKxI/AAAAAAAABtw/oi5sW7KQuBw/s200/IMG_3260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326745572637092626" border="0" /></a> Jim brought the tiller around to break up the bigger areas, but the spiral paths require quite a bit of hand work. We tilled several bales of peat moss into the bed closest to the porch to lower the ph for the blueberries and <a href="http://www.ediblelandscaping.com/plants.php?func=view&id=106">cranberries</a>. I planted five blueberry bushes there this weekend that I purchased locally—<a href="http://www.waysidegardens.com/gardening/PD/48239?cid=wpp000035">Sunshine blue</a> and Bluehaven, varieties that will stay more compact than most, topping out at around 4 feet. We already have six bushes that I planted along our property line when we moved, so hopefully we'll have plenty of blueberries! I've also started to transplant strawberries for ground cover, and I have four hop vines on order for training up the patio pillars. Up towards the house in between the Hollywood juniper and mugo pine, I planted two ground cherries, pretty flowering shrubs that produce a profusion of sour cherries.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Seyd_45x8-I/AAAAAAAABuA/bo87yheUOnU/s1600-h/IMG_3261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Seyd_45x8-I/AAAAAAAABuA/bo87yheUOnU/s200/IMG_3261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326806180204508130" border="0" /></a>In the bed toward the street, I divided and transplanted several lavender plants, and I ordered some rosa rugosas to fill the area between them. I miss my roses from the old house, and I'm so excited to have some again. I ordered one <a href="http://www.heirloomroses.com/cgi-bin/browse.cgi?page=item&cat=13&item=122">"new dawn"</a> climber for against the house; two gallicas—<a href="http://www.heirloomroses.com/cgi-bin/browse.cgi?page=item&cat=6&item=404">"apothecary's rose"</a> and <a href="http://www.heirloomroses.com/cgi-bin/browse.cgi?page=item&cat=6&item=504">"rosa mundi"</a>; and three <a href="http://www.heirloomroses.com/cgi-bin/browse.cgi?page=item&cat=19&item=596">"jens munk" </a>rugosas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Seye5rgzNEI/AAAAAAAABuI/_XCnMCeWIGs/s1600-h/IMG_3265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Seye5rgzNEI/AAAAAAAABuI/_XCnMCeWIGs/s200/IMG_3265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326807173042484290" border="0" /></a>We transplanted three of our grapevines that weren't performing well in the kitchen garden out to the front and set in some oregano for ground cover. We'll also be transplanting lots of raspberries and blackberries to create a hedge along the property line. The center of the spirals will feature a sage bush, and I have several starts from last year that I can transplant once I get the soil conditioned. I'll also be spending most of today and tomorrow seeding flats for out front. Tree-wise, I planted a witch hazel this weekend, and I have a weeping mulberry and a dwarf patio peach on order, as well as three varieties of filbert to anchor the front left corner of the yard.<br /><br />Should keep me busy this year, huh?Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-62841668268781692752009-04-15T13:31:00.009-05:002009-04-15T15:34:31.146-05:00Too Late!<p>Madeline wrote: "I get an apron?! I had forgotten that beautiful offer. :) Listen, as someone who hates her sewing machine more than you, you are off the hook (or tension:) if you want. Play with all those animals instead."</p><p>Well, my dear, it's too late. They're already done, or nearly so. I still need to get ribbon or some such to make the tie.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeYpYUrPWUI/AAAAAAAABtQ/Fs2tac3cvhA/s1600-h/IMG_3254.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeYpYUrPWUI/AAAAAAAABtQ/Fs2tac3cvhA/s200/IMG_3254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324989107255859522" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br />For those outside the loop, Madeline had this beautiful skirt that she picked up somewhere but was not happy with, so she wanted to pass it along to me. I also thought the skirt was lovely but knew from many fitting room experiences that these style skirts always look much better on the hanger than they do on me. But I took it anyway because I thought it would make a beautiful apron, and I liked the idea of sister-aprons on two unschoolin' farmin' mamas.<br /><br />When I got home, I picked out the stitches along the side seams of the skirt to create two apron bottoms. I chose some vintage chenille fabric that I salvaged from an old bedspread. We don't know where it originally came from, but we found the spread in Jim's grandfather's old boarding house at the beach just before he sold it. I worked parts of it into Julia's baby quilt and the quilt square we made for Hannah Jenner's quilt.<br /><br />The lace was hand-<del>tatted</del>crocheted by my great-grandmother, who would be tickled, I think, at the idea that her lace now graces two farm-house aprons made from scraps of an old chenille bedspread from a boarding house and a re-purposed skirt. And Madeline, if you give me any grief about using the lace, I shall assign you to read the short story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker if you haven't already, in which case, there you go.<br /><p><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeYpE3qE12I/AAAAAAAABtI/zRABfMyFDUw/s1600-h/IMG_3256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeYpE3qE12I/AAAAAAAABtI/zRABfMyFDUw/s200/IMG_3256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324988773048833890" border="0" /></a></p>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-73611321925670583752009-04-14T11:45:00.006-05:002009-04-14T13:17:30.772-05:00Independence Days UpdateThe older and wiser(?) I get, the more my mantra becomes "everything in its own time."<br /><br />Homesteading means a never-ending list of tasks that need doing. My to-do list never gets shorter—the moment I cross off one item, at least two more are added. Some things, like getting to the post office to mail out several packages that I owe folks, seems nigh on impossible because it means leaving the farm and all the things that need doing here. And, of course, why go when I still haven't finished that one thing that I need to mail out—might as well wait and mail everything at one time. I'm getting there, plugging away, and <a href="http://barn-raising.blogspot.com/2009/04/easter-scrapbook.html">Madeline's pretty Easter apron</a> has re-motivated me to finish the apron I'm making for her.<br /><br />The rainy spring days are helping as well. Although I admit to secretly hating to sew. Well, not so much hating to sew as hating my machine that always bunches up because the tension isn't right or some such issue. The minutiae and the attention to detail drive me batty. But rest assured, I will be seated at the sewing machine over the next week, trying to complete all the projects I've been putting off because what else is one to do on rainy days while waiting for the plants (and weeds!) to grow?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Plant:</span><br /><br />More direct seeding in the market garden: leeks (which I accidentally dug up and planted over because they didn't get written on my garden plan. grrrrrr.), batvian endive, red Russian kale, Swiss chard, rouge d'hiver lettuce, salad bowl lettuce, drunken woman lettuce.<br /><br />Jim got ~ 75-100lbs of potatoes, Yukon golds and red nordlands, in the ground with some help from the kids.<br /><br />I transplanted ~ 500 seedlings to the market garden: napa, savoy, early Jersey Wakefield and red acre cabbages; windsor and de cicco broccoli; radicchio; red giant mustard; black seeded simpson, winter density, red salad bowl, red lollo, and speckled bibb lettuces.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Harvest:</span><br /><br />Red Russian and vates kale, lettuce, spinach, endive (batvian and frisee), escarole, swiss chard, cherry belle radishes, turnip greens, green onions, spring garlic, carrots, arugula, thyme, citrus thyme, tarragon, oregano, sage, cilantro, parsley, chives, early Jersey Wakefield cabbage, milk, eggs, last 2 geese.<br /><br />Here I am during evening milking. We use a milk machine and milk twice a day, approximately 11-11.5 hours apart.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeTP2D-nX4I/AAAAAAAABsI/xv_i5ASFm-A/s1600-h/IMG_3020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeTP2D-nX4I/AAAAAAAABsI/xv_i5ASFm-A/s320/IMG_3020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324609187146588034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Preserve:</span><br /><br />Mostly still working at using down our stores, but I preserved a couple pounds of butter.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prep:</span><br /><br />Not much on this front. Mostly, we're in the process of pulling together some orders for the farm, so I should have more to report on the next update.<br /><br />We've been without our second fridge for a couple months now, and that's going surprisingly well. Our inside fridge is packed, and it can be annoying trying to find things, but the stuff outside in our big cooler is doing quite well. The frozen juice containers keep things nice and cool; the trick is remembering to swap them out. Of course, the garage still stays pretty cool because the nighttime temps are low. I'll let you know how things go in the summer.<br /><br />Our first round of turkey poults will arrive later this week, so I'll be prepping the brooding equipment for them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Manage:</span><br /><br />As you know, I've sheared the sheep, and we've taken down the high tunnel plastic.<br /><br />Big Boy and Maya, our tamworth pigs, are out on their first pasture paddock, which they'll till up over the next month or so. They're so good at rooting and plowing that we use them for tilling new garden beds and for rennovating our pasture. We put them in places that are overrun by weeds or generally not doing well. They till, and then we replant with a pasture mix.<br /><br />Before pigs:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeTI-aGmGkI/AAAAAAAABr4/SKvFw53ZNLI/s1600-h/IMG_3136.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeTI-aGmGkI/AAAAAAAABr4/SKvFw53ZNLI/s320/IMG_3136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324601633943198274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After pigs:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeTI_CxfJeI/AAAAAAAABsA/DQO5y95Qej4/s1600-h/IMG_3139.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeTI_CxfJeI/AAAAAAAABsA/DQO5y95Qej4/s320/IMG_3139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324601644860515810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We've also moved Bella and the goaties out on pasture, though Bella is still splitting her time between there and the barnyard, depending how wet the pastures are and how quickly the paddocks recover. The sheep and chickens will go out this weekend, I hope.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cook:</span><br /><br />No good photos this update. I'll try to be better about it!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Add:</span><br /><br />CSA delivery to four families: eggs, spring salad mix, escarole, spinach, kale, carrots, radishes, thyme, citrus thyme, tarragon, oregano, chives, green onions, spring garlic, baby cabbage, sorrel.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Learn:</span><br /><br />Julia and I have been learning about breeding bunnies, and we put her Silver Fox rabbits together for the first time on Easter. With any luck we'll have our first litter in about a month.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-44285343343788490302009-04-12T07:04:00.005-05:002009-04-12T07:10:52.230-05:00On Lambs and LawnmowersEarly spring rains and everything is finally greening up around here. While the neighbors were firing up their gas guzzlers this holiday weekend, we had a little help from our furry friends. Yes, that's Daisy in the background, and little ram lambs kept trying to run her off, feeling all big and bold until she turned and looked at them. Then they'd bounce back to mama with silly little jumps that put Pepe le Pew to shame.<br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeHZPxylQ9I/AAAAAAAABrw/MSbn4tePv_8/s1600-h/IMG_3230.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SeHZPxylQ9I/AAAAAAAABrw/MSbn4tePv_8/s320/IMG_3230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323775099615396818" border="0" /></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-59757593296991845462009-04-06T10:48:00.008-05:002009-04-06T11:29:27.133-05:00Shearing TimeAnd every muscle in my body is sore. Wrestling three sheep will do that to a body. Some readers might remember that I took a shearing class last year in the New Zealand shearing method, so that's kinda, sort of what you're seeing below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdooISBi0RI/AAAAAAAABpo/-m0wPUX03AI/s1600-h/IMG_3063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdooISBi0RI/AAAAAAAABpo/-m0wPUX03AI/s320/IMG_3063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321610032434041106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdooIxptuKI/AAAAAAAABpw/2r5o2XNBss0/s1600-h/IMG_3065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdooIxptuKI/AAAAAAAABpw/2r5o2XNBss0/s320/IMG_3065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321610040924027042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdooJEiwTWI/AAAAAAAABp4/_J5PxFinNjs/s1600-h/IMG_3067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdooJEiwTWI/AAAAAAAABp4/_J5PxFinNjs/s320/IMG_3067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321610045995109730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdooJJqCL9I/AAAAAAAABqA/8DnAomTrcXE/s1600-h/IMG_3070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdooJJqCL9I/AAAAAAAABqA/8DnAomTrcXE/s320/IMG_3070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321610047367819218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdopRIXC_9I/AAAAAAAABqI/aOJZJt0jnrM/s1600-h/IMG_3074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdopRIXC_9I/AAAAAAAABqI/aOJZJt0jnrM/s320/IMG_3074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321611283970326482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdopRQcrNEI/AAAAAAAABqQ/R8f-onuugYk/s1600-h/IMG_3078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdopRQcrNEI/AAAAAAAABqQ/R8f-onuugYk/s320/IMG_3078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321611286141416514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdopRpNSgcI/AAAAAAAABqY/O7xBHomHjFU/s1600-h/IMG_3079.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdopRpNSgcI/AAAAAAAABqY/O7xBHomHjFU/s320/IMG_3079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321611292787769794" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, now I'm starting to work up a sweat! Time to shed some layers. Esther's not very happy about shedding her extra layers right now, but she will be soon enough.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdopRt__60I/AAAAAAAABqg/YCno_X_LYgU/s1600-h/IMG_3084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdopRt__60I/AAAAAAAABqg/YCno_X_LYgU/s320/IMG_3084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321611294074202946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdoqMb_6H8I/AAAAAAAABqo/FxvBX2v-RdQ/s1600-h/IMG_3085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdoqMb_6H8I/AAAAAAAABqo/FxvBX2v-RdQ/s320/IMG_3085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321612302854266818" border="0" /></a><br />You can see Esther's neck and head behind my leg. Her fleece is very nearly off by this point, as I work on her last leg:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdoqMgQvtWI/AAAAAAAABqw/kYLYa5m6rYU/s1600-h/IMG_3097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdoqMgQvtWI/AAAAAAAABqw/kYLYa5m6rYU/s320/IMG_3097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321612303998629218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdoqMqU0wKI/AAAAAAAABq4/OdAl8zWvYmk/s1600-h/IMG_3099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdoqMqU0wKI/AAAAAAAABq4/OdAl8zWvYmk/s320/IMG_3099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321612306700091554" border="0" /></a><br />Two shorn sheep back in with babies and feeling much happier:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sdoq5HGfZ7I/AAAAAAAABrY/n-SYg2bRhDg/s1600-h/IMG_3121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sdoq5HGfZ7I/AAAAAAAABrY/n-SYg2bRhDg/s320/IMG_3121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321613070338844594" border="0" /></a><br />And then, there was Candace, who flat out refused to cooperate for a second year in a row. She stayed on her rump about long enough for me to trim her hooves, and then it was a friggin' free for all!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sdoq5FAitLI/AAAAAAAABrQ/i5KNoE4QhKU/s1600-h/IMG_3110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sdoq5FAitLI/AAAAAAAABrQ/i5KNoE4QhKU/s320/IMG_3110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321613069777024178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sdoq4lSkCGI/AAAAAAAABrI/_3wsrO71Jic/s1600-h/IMG_3109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sdoq4lSkCGI/AAAAAAAABrI/_3wsrO71Jic/s320/IMG_3109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321613061262674018" border="0" /></a><br />It took both of us some serious wrestling to get her shorn, and I ended up shearing quite a bit with her standing up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sdosq4CWA7I/AAAAAAAABro/KrcjR9UZCC8/s1600-h/IMG_3111.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sdosq4CWA7I/AAAAAAAABro/KrcjR9UZCC8/s320/IMG_3111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321615024800007090" border="0" /></a><br />We did finally get her shorn and back out on the winter pasture as we wait to see whether she will lamb or not. She didn't look terribly pregnant to me, but she has another month or so within the realm of possibility.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sdor5_6OPeI/AAAAAAAABrg/m_HXu_nyR5E/s1600-h/IMG_3130.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sdor5_6OPeI/AAAAAAAABrg/m_HXu_nyR5E/s320/IMG_3130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321614185099836898" border="0" /></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-34720972523052909062009-03-31T15:02:00.013-05:002009-04-01T11:41:46.761-05:00So Long High Tunnels<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdJ3q9LWVJI/AAAAAAAABog/RxSVmUCF1HA/s1600-h/IMG_2920.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdJ3q9LWVJI/AAAAAAAABog/RxSVmUCF1HA/s200/IMG_2920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319445689738351762" border="0" /></a>We got the high tunnels down this weekend in between rain storms, and I have the plastic drying on the driveway as I type. As you'll see, we didn't get it down soon enough to avoid the bok choi or the tatsoi bolting, but everything else seems to be doing well. The February planting of turnips, radishes, kale and beets are doing well, and everything else is green and growing.<br /><br />Early spring here in Maryland is a tricky season. We can be 70° F one day and 42° the next with night time temps still dipping into the 20s° occasionally. Cold season crops don't like high tunnels in hot weather, and that's one of the drawbacks of our homemade tunnels: the sides don't roll up, and the end venting is inadequate at best on warm, sunny days. (I need to get me one of those <a href="http://fastgrowtheweeds.com/2009/03/19/well-how-hot-is-it/">cool thermometers</a> that El has.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdJ9cBTJQVI/AAAAAAAABoo/SkqebIXe-BA/s1600-h/IMG_2921.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdJ9cBTJQVI/AAAAAAAABoo/SkqebIXe-BA/s200/IMG_2921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319452030216520018" border="0" /></a>You can see the tunnel skeletons in the background of the picture above, but that's our neighbor's house in the photo, not ours. This is our house, looking pretty barren at the moment. It sits directly in front of the barn, and it's a nice, short walk out there for winter chores. Soon, we'll be moving all the animals back out onto our rotational pastures.<br /><br />You can see the tunnel frames in the foreground. These lean against the side of the barn until they're needed again. The <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdKCagkkGLI/AAAAAAAABow/SRVGbbVDDSo/s1600-h/IMG_2928.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdKCagkkGLI/AAAAAAAABow/SRVGbbVDDSo/s200/IMG_2928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319457501809481906" border="0" /></a>advantage to taking the plastic down, besides prolonging its life just a bit is that it helps prevent salt build up in the soil by allowing the natural rains to thoroughly flush it. Our tunnels are up between November and March. Plus, our summers get so hot that without being able to roll up the sides, we'd be hard pressed to grow much of anything in there. I'll be using the new tunnel again with shade cloth to try to grow lettuces through the summer.<br /><br />My plan with the tunnel to the right, our first one, is to plant a buckwheat cover crop, till it in, <a href="http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74145.html">solarize</a> the soil, and have it ready for planting late fall/ winter crops by August. I've been dealing with some pest and lettuce disease issues in parts of it, so I'm hoping this will eliminate much of that non-chemically while also improving the soil. I'll till in the buckwheat, and the solarizing will help break down the organic matter, making its nutrients more available for the plants. <a href="http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/em/em8693/">Buckwheat</a> is a fast growing crop, so it suits my needs particularly well here, in addition to being good at taking up phosphorous in the soil, one of the problems with Maryland soil in general, and mine in particular. So, it'll satisfy those fellas in charge of <a href="http://touchtheearthfarm.blogspot.com/2008/02/nutrient-management-planning.html">nutrient management planning</a>.<br /><br />I thought I'd post a photo of our set up for folks to see. If you click on the photo, you'll be able to see the captions I photoshopped in:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdOUdVed6NI/AAAAAAAABo4/XEVNhZN8Jo4/s1600-h/IMG_2932.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdOUdVed6NI/AAAAAAAABo4/XEVNhZN8Jo4/s320/IMG_2932.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319758816556738770" border="0" /></a><br />Our lot is shaped like a giant L: you're looking at the short part of the L and the long part extends out to the left past the market garden. I would guesstimate that the house, barn, and two winter pastures take up about 1.75- 2 acres; the rest we use for the market garden and summer rotations. Here's a picture of the kids and the dogs running through those pastures back in December:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdOWtnOicmI/AAAAAAAABpA/XJSB5tx0slI/s1600-h/IMG_3491.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdOWtnOicmI/AAAAAAAABpA/XJSB5tx0slI/s320/IMG_3491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319761295222927970" border="0" /></a><br />That's the mobile chicken coop off to the right side looking like a solar panel.<br /><br />And here are some parting shots of the tunnel plantings:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdOYSR8AjQI/AAAAAAAABpg/Wt7IeVO3UI4/s1600-h/IMG_2898.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdOYSR8AjQI/AAAAAAAABpg/Wt7IeVO3UI4/s320/IMG_2898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319763024674852098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdOYSD1gnCI/AAAAAAAABpQ/1P_gY5tLmgg/s1600-h/IMG_2895.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdOYSD1gnCI/AAAAAAAABpQ/1P_gY5tLmgg/s320/IMG_2895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319763020889496610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdOYSAvvONI/AAAAAAAABpY/Di9BV3pPjtI/s1600-h/IMG_2896.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdOYSAvvONI/AAAAAAAABpY/Di9BV3pPjtI/s320/IMG_2896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319763020059982034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdOYRgUiPtI/AAAAAAAABpI/61kLdSF10ZY/s1600-h/IMG_2893.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SdOYRgUiPtI/AAAAAAAABpI/61kLdSF10ZY/s320/IMG_2893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319763011355950802" border="0" /></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-40419651856463123452009-03-23T05:56:00.005-05:002009-03-23T14:49:40.144-05:00Independence Days UpdateOkay, it's been so long since I posted on my independence-oriented doings that I've forgotten the categories and what week we're on at this point. Maybe we could now call it the sporadic independence days, or SID for short? This covers the last month or so...<br /><br />A quick confession: I haven't been posting as much in part because work has stepped up, but also because I lost my camera battery charger and am at a loss without photos. *sigh* I kept hoping it would turn up, but nothing. I guess I'll have to suck it up and buy a new charger. In the meantime, I'll try to get Jim to take some photos for me and upload them later.<br /><br />Update: My honey's so sweet. He read my blog post at work and sent me some photos already!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Plant:</span><br /><br />First sowing of radishes, beets, turnips and kale is already up and growing nicely in the high tunnels, which will be coming down in the next few weeks.<br /><br />Seed trays have germinated and live in my <a href="http://touchtheearthfarm.blogspot.com/2008/04/farm-happenings.html">mobile greenhouse</a>, allowing me to roll them into the garage on cold nights to protect against frost. Don't worry, it's <a href="http://touchtheearthfarm.blogspot.com/2008/04/offense-punishable-by-gods.html">anchored to the truck</a> this year and performing beautifully. I don't want to jinx myself, but I ought to actually know which tomato and pepper plants are which this year. Imagine that! I have two varieties of broccoli, several lettuces, cabbages, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and Julia's seedlings out there now, all doing well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/ScfnnOrEGWI/AAAAAAAABoQ/UupnoZFqIV8/s1600-h/IMG_3944.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/ScfnnOrEGWI/AAAAAAAABoQ/UupnoZFqIV8/s200/IMG_3944.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316472546273794402" border="0" /></a>This past week, I began direct seeding the market garden, which Jim tilled for me with his new tiller, making for some lovely garden soil. While I hope someday to get away from tilling, breaking new garden out of weedy old pasture can be back-breaking work, and right now, I welcome the tiller. The kids and I laid the drip tape irrigation this past week, and yesterday I began laying some polymulch for designated working paths.<br /><br />I've seeded 2 varieties of carrots, several varieties of onions, second sowing of turnips and radishes, 3 varieties of kale, spinach, peas, beets, lettuces, and 2 varieties broccoli raab. Jim and Julia got 4 rows of Russian banana fingerling potatoes in yesterday.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Harvest:</span><br /><br />We've been harvesting all winter out of the <a href="http://touchtheearthfarm.blogspot.com/2008/04/signs-of-spring.html">high tunnels</a>, which are just the most amazing things. Everyone should have a small one in their backyard. Really.<br /><br />Right now, we have all of the following available for harvest: spinach, kale, swiss chard, carrots, arugula, lettuces, 2 varieties of endive, escarole, turnip greens, thyme, citrus thyme, sage, rosemary, chives, salad burnet, parsley, oregano, tarragon, rosemary, sorrel, cilantro. The bok choi and tasoi have long since bolted, and the beet leaves are just too tough now, but Bella and the chickens appreciate them. Outside the tunnel, the kales are coming back, as are some of the napa and savoy cabbages and green onions and volunteer spinach. We'll see on the overwintered beets and carrots.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Preserve:</span><br /><br />Still working on that country ham cure from December; it should be finished this week and ready to hang and age. I also preserved several half gallons of Bella's colostrum in the freezer for emergencies. Other than that, I'm working on using up my stores to make room for a new year.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prep:</span><br /><br />Jim pulled a new fenceline at the top of our property, and he bought a pull behind tiller for the tractor, which will make life much easier for both of us. He also put a load of Delaware eggs in the incubator, so we'll see what comes of that. It's a home-made incubator, and so works questionably at best. We have a new heat regulator, so maybe that will make a difference. Last year we had no luck with the Ameraucana eggs we put in there, but they could have been sterile.<br /><br />On the safe side, I placed my poultry orders, and I'll be adding Bourbon Reds to our heritage turkey line up. I also ordered more Ameraucanas because everyone loves the colored eggs and some Buff Cochins, who are supposed to be good broody hens, since I've had no luck getting any of my existing hens to go broody.<br /><br />I also ordered three new packages of bees and picked up some new wooden ware that I need to start assembling. Unfortunately, both my hives were deadouts due to low numbers. They starved with plenty of honey just inches away. Very sad. If I'd combined the two hives at the end of the season, I think they would've made it through. My bee inspector came out to inspect the hives and declared them free of any disease or problems, so I'll be able to use all those frames of honey to help establish the new bees without artificial feeds, I hope.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Manage:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/ScfnmmINT6I/AAAAAAAABoI/OuYE8rTAc_w/s1600-h/IMG_3935.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/ScfnmmINT6I/AAAAAAAABoI/OuYE8rTAc_w/s200/IMG_3935.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316472535390179234" border="0" /></a>We're starting to get everyone off the barnyard and out onto pasture. This weekend, Jim divided the turkey shelter (which they never use, but roost on top of) into 3 parts, making a nesting space for each hen. At this point, they're still not laying, but they should start soon.<br /><br />This week, I separated Maya from her <a href="http://mdfarm.blogspot.com/2009/01/winter-piglets.html">two remaining piglets</a>, who are more than thriving—they are fat little snausages. I'm working on reconditioning her, as three litters in a year took too much. She's in heat again and spending lots of time right next to the fence, but we're planning on keeping her separate from Big Boy until mid-summer for a fall litter. Two litters is plenty per year... if we could just get the pigs on board with that, we'd be good to go.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SceYhZuxcmI/AAAAAAAABoA/Yfcf3MuqooY/s1600-h/IMG_3916.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SceYhZuxcmI/AAAAAAAABoA/Yfcf3MuqooY/s200/IMG_3916.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316385584744329826" border="0" /></a>We've also had two out of three of our sheep give birth, and we have 4 little boy lambs. They're all just about ready to move back out on pasture in another week or so. Right now, they're up in the barn safe and snug. It'll soon be time to think about shearing.<br /><br />And speaking of births, Bella's calf Daisy is doing beautifully, so we'll be looking for a home for her soon and trying to plan next year's calving. I've been watching Bella closely, trying to detect her heat cycles, made all the more difficult because she's a lone family cow. I'm planning to AI, but I still need to figure out all the logistics of that one. She's coming back into condition nicely, especially now that I have her salt levels worked out, and once the spring grass comes in, she'll be good to go. Of course, she's shedding that winter coat like crazy and looking kind of spotty, but still much sleeker than she was.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cook:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SceXfkS6FII/AAAAAAAABn4/WXPdva4nXpE/s1600-h/IMG_3946.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/SceXfkS6FII/AAAAAAAABn4/WXPdva4nXpE/s200/IMG_3946.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316384453708878978" border="0" /></a>While I'd really like to work on cooking new things, sometimes that's just beyond what I'm capable of in a week, especially busy weeks. Heck, I feel good just getting dinner on the table most nights! So, I'm turning this category into a zero mile meal challenge, and this week's props go to Jim who made a delicious chicken giambatto last night and actually got photos. It featured our chicken, sausage, onions, some of the last of our yukon gold potatoes, and garlic. I made some Southern-style turnip greens cooked in our salt pork to go with the meal and, of course, homemade artisan bread with Bella's butter. Yum!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Add:</span><br /><br />CSA started back up the first week of March, and I've been pleased so far with what we've had to offer folks for so early in the season. This past week we distributed eggs, spinach/ kale mix, swiss chard, spring greens, arugula, carrots, tarragon, thyme, and oregano.<br /><br />I'm still trying to find a food pantry that accepts fresh foods, and I'll be stepping up those efforts now that the season is picking up.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Learn:</span><br /><br />Well, I'm still learning lots of things, but this week I'll be working on organic fruit management. I have everything in place, have pruned and cleaned the beds, and now need to figure out the spraying schedule for the Surround kaolin clay. So, that's what I'll be focused on for the next week or so.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24093811.post-80282294766045623562009-03-16T14:59:00.003-05:002009-03-16T15:17:26.571-05:00Lamb WatchWell, today was our first official day of lamb watch, and yet again before I have a chance to post, there are babies! There was sweet little furry head out there to greet me this morning when I went to milk Bella. I fed and watered everyone as usual, milked, and went back inside to process the milk and tell the kids.<br /><br />While I was back out giving Bella's calf, Daisy, her morning bottle, Jules came out and exclaimed that Faith had twins. No, there was only one when I looked. But Jules was sure that she saw two fluffy white heads, and she was right. Faith gave birth to the second little boy while I was giving Daisy her bottle!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sb6yWvP120I/AAAAAAAABnY/YOVlBxL8GuA/s1600-h/IMG_2881.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sb6yWvP120I/AAAAAAAABnY/YOVlBxL8GuA/s200/IMG_2881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313880714053540674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We went out together, and Jules helped me to dip the navels in a gentle iodine to help prevent infection called navel ill/ joint ill, which is just nasty and not worth dealing with when it can be prevented with good hygiene. One of the umbilici was too long, so I shortened it a little bit by teasing it off jagged like with my nail before dipping, which is supposed to be better than cutting to prevent bleeding. All went well; though Faith is still very skittish and uncooperative, she let me handle the lambs.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sb6yV1E_2aI/AAAAAAAABnQ/Q_qR0bwqVP4/s1600-h/IMG_2883.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sb6yV1E_2aI/AAAAAAAABnQ/Q_qR0bwqVP4/s200/IMG_2883.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313880698438801826" border="0" /></a><br />Jules and I went to collect siblings and Sam's lasso to bring them all up to the barn where it's clean and dry. At first, I tried just picking up the little boys, hoping Faith would just follow, but of course that would've been too easy. It took me about 5-6 tries with the lasso before I got her, and she fought me the whole way up to the barn. Sam held the lasso while I push/ dragged Faith, and the girls brought up the rear with the babies. Whew! Next year I'll need to figure out some system for all the births.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sb6yW6lwVDI/AAAAAAAABng/p9pBj6uc9V0/s1600-h/IMG_2886.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OflU6wtHtiE/Sb6yW6lwVDI/AAAAAAAABng/p9pBj6uc9V0/s200/IMG_2886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313880717098243122" border="0" /></a><br />Mama and babies are doing well. Faith passed the placenta and has nibbled a bit. Both boys have nursed multiple times, and seem nice and strong, though we'll be keeping a close eye on them for the next few weeks.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07687340159825245112noreply@blogger.com7