I always get excited about sharing of the kefir grains, I have often thought it would be wonderful if one of my neighbors would be interested in having kefir. I received a request this week from one, who lives on the same gravel road I live on. She is on Facebook asking her questions and sharing with her friends. I will be following what they are doing and this gives me an opportunity to learn more about kefir. I look forward to the day when I can milk one of my girls and have fresh milk from our farm to make kefir with but first things first, she needs to be bred and that I think will happen this fall. But this is another decision which will add to my daily to do list and I have to be sure this is a good decision for me.
We have a had an interesting week as the weather has been rainy, muggy and changing almost daily. Some of the dreaded chores were started this week, Taking all of the rugs outside and washing them, washing windows, a new wood rack was installed by the house so we can stockpile more wood when the weather is going to be bad. We needed to stop and do these chores. We have kept up with everything which needed to be completed on a daily basis.
IN THE KITCHEN
All canning was put on the back burner, I made bread, a wonderful garlic bread which makes a good tomato sandwich, cucuzzi bread and sourdough. I have made two different soups, tomato with pepperoncini peppers, lots of garlic and onions, the second soup was a vegetable beef. I had thought I was going to can some of the soup but it was eaten up. All day Saturday there was a brisket slow roasting while we were outside working.
ON THE FARM
Trees are being dropped and firewood split. The goats have been out cleaning off as much land as possible. There is only around 2 more months of leaves for them to munch so I am trying to get them out of the pasture and into the woods daily. Some of the beds in the garden need repair, portions of the trees being dropped will be used to repair beds.
IN THE COOP
Blanche is laying again, her feathers are coming in, I have no idea if this was a false molt or not. With the mother hens being small cochins the little peeps are catching up and are almost as tall as the mommies. There have been several broken eggs in the nests, I am trying to see who is doing this, we have been trying to collect the eggs about 3 times a day. Somehow I need to sit up camp at the coop and see who is in the nest when this happens. The ducks are just as happy as 2 ducks could be, the only change is momma duck is laying some in the afternoons. It used to be her egg was in the nest every morning. I enjoy using the duck eggs in the kitchen, scrambled or in a baked items, the richness it adds is very pleasing.
Our spring born peeps are big chickens and stay with the older girls all of the time. We think they are a pair but are still waiting to be sure. They made the adjustment of moving in with the flock rather well, the only problem is night time roosting. We have high poles with steps for the girls to get up to the poles. They watch the others do this, we have never had a problem with any of the girls getting the routine down until now. One of them was setting on the low step which is not a good place for a chicken to roost at night and Mr. Bootsie was showing her where to go next. Much to our surprise she moved to his hand and grabbed on. He gently lifted her to the height of the roosting pole and she stepped onto the pole. I suppose she will be expecting this elevator service each evening.
IN THE GARDEN
Garden is slowing down, fall garden is coming up. My voles are busy cutting the beans off at the ground. We have not caught a raccoon this week, there seems not to be any damage from them. Of course, all of the corn has been destroyed. I am getting over how upset I was when my purple broad beans were cut off, this one I am not sure if it was vole of raccoon. I will just have to buy corn for the girls another winter. We are picking tomatoes, all sort of peppers, beans (string and butter), squash and cucumbers. I must say we have had a good harvest.
IN CLOSING
My thoughts are moving to fall and winter, what we need to accomplish before the weather changes. What do I need to do for the animals? How much hay do we need to have on hand in case of bad weather? It seems when I think I have everything figured out there is a new concern for us to tackle. For the next few weeks, I shall be finishing up the canning, planting more fall/ winter garden and getting my little peeps ready to take the world on by themselves. Reintroducing the momma hens back to the flock may be the biggest challenge on my list for a while. Have a good week and come back now!!!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Triple Creek Farm, August 17, 2013
I have always been told you are never too old to learn, as you know we have been sharing the garden with raccoons, Mr. Bootsie purchased a new trap this week so we could have one a backup. The new trap was set, raccoon caught, our contact was called and before he could arrive the little darling was gone. It had escaped from the cage, after carefully checking the cage there was a weakness in it and the little pest had eaten his way out of the metal cage. The escape hole was not large, it was about the size of a softball. I have always been told they could get into a chicken house through a hole about the size of a man's fist and now I do believe this. I have always tried to keep a close eye on the chicken coop to be sure there is no damage to the outside boards, now I will be checking this as I have seen first hand how easy it is for them to get through a small hole.
IN THE KITCHEN
The smells of the kitchen have been wonderful this week, there was sourdough bread, cucuzzi bread, corn bread, refrigerator pickles, salsa and meals with fresh veggies from the garden. Taco's with fresh salsa, tomatoes freshly picked. eggs with spinach and feta cheese, spinach and artichoke pizza, the last of the spring cabbage with potatoes, sides of cucumbers which are sweet and soured. The tomato sandwich on homemade bread. Sweet cucumber relish waiting for the winter when there will be bowls of beans topped with a spoon of relish. The dehydrator has been busy drying all of the different varieties of squash I grow. Mr. Bootsie commented that the kitchen has been none-stop all week, there was always something smelling wonderful when he came in for a glass of water and/or a snack.
ON THE FARM
A chill in the air has one thinking of fall and the need for fire wood. The serious gathering of firewood started this week. We knew where they were trees which were dead and it was just the process of going into the woods to get them. We have been watching one very large tree which died, Saturday morning when I was on my walk I knew it was time this tree has to come down. Before nightfall this large tree was one the ground, with a smile on our face knowing we no longer had to be concerned about this tree falling during a storm, the gathering process will begin and this will be added to the wood pile.
I am trying to get the goats out on their walks because the leaves will be falling in a few weeks. I want them to enjoy as much of the greens as we can get into them. They are now choosing where they wish to munch when out of the pasture.
IN THE COOP
Never count your chickens, last Sunday was not one of my best days. I lost one of my layers after sharing with you how many hens were laying at this time. I tried my best to save her but I think she was very tired and needed a long rest. We care about them and do everything we can for them but this is just a fact of life and we have to allow the cycle of life to take care of matters out of our control. I am going to control how many girls I have in the coop as I have no egg customers and I really am not planning on going into the egg business. If someone comes by and there are extra, I share. Little ones are growing and so cute, there were outside playing in the dusting bowl and chicken tractor, how they enjoy being out of the coop. Right now we, always, are there when they are out of the coop just incase something goes wrong.
IN THE GARDEN
The raccoon salad bar is keeping me busy. They have found every ear of corn, I will not be growing corn in the teepees next year, The raccoons can climb the teepee poles and get all of he corn, the problem is they tear down the beans and other things growing on the teepee. Another lesson learned this year, I do hope this problem is under control but I must be pro-active. I pulled out one row of green beans vines as the pole beans are producing quite well. I planted a new one which was called a butter bean in the seed book but I knew from the seeds it was a snap bean. I really like this one and I am thinking it may be a bean I add to my planting if the taste is what I am looking for. Tomatoes started coming in good this week, I picked two baskets one day. Cucumbers are slowing down, I have been feeding but the night temperature is dropping and I am sure this affects them. The climbing squash have grown over the tunnel, as one of them is 100+ days to produce, they are keeping us in squash at this time of the year. Fall garden is being planted and I am remembering how the voles munched many of my plants last year so I am trying to plant a little extra for them. My beets have been feeding the voles from underground and the raccoons above the ground, somedays I wonder if I am ever going to win.
IN CLOSING
This week the temperature dropped for a few days, just a tease I am sure, fall is my time to the year. I can get outside and work. I look forward to getting more things in order this year as I have made some decisions which will make my tasks easier in the future. I am excited to have the cold tunnel ready to be covered and I can plant in it this year. The lettuce is up and I will be planting more. I look forward to having my own lettuce and spinach this winter. These chilly evenings we took a little while to light a fire in the fireplace, have a nice cup of tea, reflect and dream about our little farm. Are we where we had hoped we would be? I have no idea, but where we are today is special, I see us being able to live off the land a little more. This pleases me, oh, so much.
Thanks for dropping in, take care of yourself and I look forward to visiting with you again real soon.
IN THE KITCHEN
The smells of the kitchen have been wonderful this week, there was sourdough bread, cucuzzi bread, corn bread, refrigerator pickles, salsa and meals with fresh veggies from the garden. Taco's with fresh salsa, tomatoes freshly picked. eggs with spinach and feta cheese, spinach and artichoke pizza, the last of the spring cabbage with potatoes, sides of cucumbers which are sweet and soured. The tomato sandwich on homemade bread. Sweet cucumber relish waiting for the winter when there will be bowls of beans topped with a spoon of relish. The dehydrator has been busy drying all of the different varieties of squash I grow. Mr. Bootsie commented that the kitchen has been none-stop all week, there was always something smelling wonderful when he came in for a glass of water and/or a snack.
ON THE FARM
A chill in the air has one thinking of fall and the need for fire wood. The serious gathering of firewood started this week. We knew where they were trees which were dead and it was just the process of going into the woods to get them. We have been watching one very large tree which died, Saturday morning when I was on my walk I knew it was time this tree has to come down. Before nightfall this large tree was one the ground, with a smile on our face knowing we no longer had to be concerned about this tree falling during a storm, the gathering process will begin and this will be added to the wood pile.
 |
| Orange mushrooms growing around the base of the tree |
I am trying to get the goats out on their walks because the leaves will be falling in a few weeks. I want them to enjoy as much of the greens as we can get into them. They are now choosing where they wish to munch when out of the pasture.
IN THE COOP
Never count your chickens, last Sunday was not one of my best days. I lost one of my layers after sharing with you how many hens were laying at this time. I tried my best to save her but I think she was very tired and needed a long rest. We care about them and do everything we can for them but this is just a fact of life and we have to allow the cycle of life to take care of matters out of our control. I am going to control how many girls I have in the coop as I have no egg customers and I really am not planning on going into the egg business. If someone comes by and there are extra, I share. Little ones are growing and so cute, there were outside playing in the dusting bowl and chicken tractor, how they enjoy being out of the coop. Right now we, always, are there when they are out of the coop just incase something goes wrong.
IN THE GARDEN
The raccoon salad bar is keeping me busy. They have found every ear of corn, I will not be growing corn in the teepees next year, The raccoons can climb the teepee poles and get all of he corn, the problem is they tear down the beans and other things growing on the teepee. Another lesson learned this year, I do hope this problem is under control but I must be pro-active. I pulled out one row of green beans vines as the pole beans are producing quite well. I planted a new one which was called a butter bean in the seed book but I knew from the seeds it was a snap bean. I really like this one and I am thinking it may be a bean I add to my planting if the taste is what I am looking for. Tomatoes started coming in good this week, I picked two baskets one day. Cucumbers are slowing down, I have been feeding but the night temperature is dropping and I am sure this affects them. The climbing squash have grown over the tunnel, as one of them is 100+ days to produce, they are keeping us in squash at this time of the year. Fall garden is being planted and I am remembering how the voles munched many of my plants last year so I am trying to plant a little extra for them. My beets have been feeding the voles from underground and the raccoons above the ground, somedays I wonder if I am ever going to win.
IN CLOSING
This week the temperature dropped for a few days, just a tease I am sure, fall is my time to the year. I can get outside and work. I look forward to getting more things in order this year as I have made some decisions which will make my tasks easier in the future. I am excited to have the cold tunnel ready to be covered and I can plant in it this year. The lettuce is up and I will be planting more. I look forward to having my own lettuce and spinach this winter. These chilly evenings we took a little while to light a fire in the fireplace, have a nice cup of tea, reflect and dream about our little farm. Are we where we had hoped we would be? I have no idea, but where we are today is special, I see us being able to live off the land a little more. This pleases me, oh, so much.
Thanks for dropping in, take care of yourself and I look forward to visiting with you again real soon.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Triple Creek Farm, August 10, 2013
It seems to me that I was just posting the week in review yesterday and already it is time for another weekly review. I really do not understand where the days are going. Am I that busy or am I just contented with life? I really do think I am contented with life and trying to do so many things the days are just flying past me.
IN THE KITCHEN
All of the pickles were finished this week and are now setting in jars on the pantry shelves. Apples were dehydrated and packed away in jars. The baskets of fresh produce are coming in from the garden. I am freezing butter beans every other day. Salads for many meals made with just picked veggies, spinach with pasta or eggs is a welcome meal. I can say we have eaten our share of fresh veggies this year. I am having a tomato biscuit every chance I get. I baked 2 pans of biscuits one morning this week. I made the wonderful zucchini crisp for the second time and it was just as delicious as the first time.
ON THE FARM
We are out looking for any place the raccoons could have a den. Anything we find is being destroyed. We are clearing out a lot of the bottom brush or undergrowth in the woods. We understand we came into their woods and disturbed the animals but I do not want to have to worry about the animals were are caring for. The wild animals are not very nice to domestic animals. There has been a lot of wood collected for fires, outside fireplace and wood stove. Grass to be cut and shrubs to be trimmed seems to keep everyone busy. I decided one evening to try taking the ladies out for a walk. I was very pleased as I picked up my herding stick and started moving they fell in line behind me and off we went. They did very good, eating a little here and there and staying very close to me. I am enjoying being able to take them on short walks. I feel this was progress for me, I am learning how to handle the goats.
IN THE COOP
I had a wonderful treat Friday afternoon, Aurora the mother hen with attitude went out of the brooder, I slipped in and held one of the baby chickens, 3 weeks old and the first time for me to hold one of them. She watched me and was in the spring position all the time the little one was in my hands, I carefully replaced the chick in the brooder, Momma was pleased and went outside for the first time since she started setting on the eggs, 6 weeks she has stayed with the eggs and/or chicks. What a wonderful momma hen!!! Smokey Lonesome has been leaving the brooder for a few minutes for about 2 weeks. There will be no more baby chicks until next spring. I am thinking about getting things in order for winter and baby chicks are not part of the program. The egg production is starting to slow down and I see no sign of the spring born chicks thinking about working, they are have so much fun finding their place in the pecking order. I had 11 full-grown hens, 2 of which are momma hens, 2 molting, there are 7 laying at this time. The ever faithful duck is delivering an egg a day which equals 2 hen eggs.
IN THE GARDEN
I had a wonderful treat Friday afternoon, Aurora the mother hen with attitude went out of the brooder, I slipped in and held one of the baby chickens, 3 weeks old and the first time for me to hold one of them. She watched me and was in the spring position all the time the little one was in my hands, I carefully replaced the chick in the brooder, Momma was pleased and went outside for the first time since she started setting on the eggs, 6 weeks she has stayed with the eggs and/or chicks. What a wonderful momma hen!!! Smokey Lonesome has been leaving the brooder for a few minutes for about 2 weeks. There will be no more baby chicks until next spring. I am thinking about getting things in order for winter and baby chicks are not part of the program. The egg production is starting to slow down and I see no sign of the spring born chicks thinking about working, they are have so much fun finding their place in the pecking order. I had 11 full-grown hens, 2 of which are momma hens, 2 molting, there are 7 laying at this time. The ever faithful duck is delivering an egg a day which equals 2 hen eggs.
IN THE GARDEN
This was our harvest on Saturday, August 10, 2013, I am one happy gardener! With the voles, raccoons, opossums, stink bugs, horned tomato worms and a number of different types of beetles we seem to be having a nice harvest on a daily basis. The garlic has dried and is now stored for me to start drying to make powder, choose the sets for this fall, we plant in October, and maybe preserving some in exciting new ways. Fall garden is slowly being planted, I started planting a few things in the tunnel, the cover is off and the climbing squash plants are growing all over it. There are a few upgrades I would like done to the tunnel, I am hoping these can be finished in time to close it up for the winter.
IN CLOSING
At the end of the day, I can smile and say this was another day we have learned something or completed another project on the little farm. Over the last few weeks we have been learning about the wild animals their habits, how to work and farm with them. I see the storage pantry filling with goodies from our garden. I complain about the loss to the animals, wind and other issues we cannot control. As I watch the pantry fill I realize maybe sometimes these things happen for a good reason, I really do not know where the time would come from for me to do more. As I put this week to bed, I think I shall also put the farmer to bed, I am starting to realize I need rest. I understand why winter comes for I shall prop up my feet in front of the wood stove, taking care of my responsibility of watching the fire burn, I will put a pot of our beans on the stove and remember the goodness of this summer.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Triple Creek Farm, August 3, 2013
I have learned so much this week, as a child there were things I was not involved with and, today, I really do not have any knowledge of dealing with some issues. I have been thinking the blackberries are getting black but what is happening to them, the storms have taken down the corn but there seems to be additional damage when there is not a storm. I had asked Mr. Bootsie to set traps because some of the cabbage heads had been eaten and green beans plants were being eaten. I did not put all of this together until the traps were set and a raccoon was caught. A second raccoon was caught and the traps are being set each evening. Saturday morning, there was an opossum waiting for us in the trap. Corn for the chickens will not happen this year, it was corn for the raccoon and I am hoping I can save some of the tomatoes because I do need to can some of them. Our garden is in the middle of the woods and I know I am taking a chance. There is a huge logging operation going on just a mile or so away and I am sure we will be having the animals from the woods come to our woods.
IN THE KITCHEN
There are pickles everywhere, I have 3 different varieties on the counter working. There are 6 pints of sweet pickle relish on the shelf, this is one of my favorites and I am so excited seeing it setting on the shelf just waiting to be eaten. Friday morning, I was working 3 different batches of pickles, the lime pickles were jarred after boiling in the syrup for 35 minutes, hot water bath and to the cooling counter. The icicle pickles were drained and fresh boiling water was added for the last time, Saturday the syrup will be made. The sweet chunky pickles had the syrup drained, reheated to boiling and poured over the cucumbers. The pantry is looking and smelling like a pickle factory.
I have been dehydrating squash and pickling some peppers. Butter beans are going into the freezer, I am treasuring each and every one I harvest. This is our first year to have a harvest of butter beans on the farm. Oh, how I have missed my fresh picked butter beans in the freezer all year long.
ON THE FARM
Mr. Bootsie dropped a tree which has bothered me from the time we moved here. It was such a pleasure to see it go down. The large pine will be used to repair the bridge on the farm road. I am so pleased we are using the trees to repair the bridge and not purchasing 6 by 6's. There will be garden borders if we need them. One morning this week he was working on clearing the bottom of the woods where the goats have been munching, spent one afternoon finishing up the barn as now we know what changes need to be made. The goats were busy eating all of the leaves he is bringing to them. They love pine so I am sure they will be glad to see the top of pine tree come their way.
IN THE COOP
Blanche went from wanting to set to molting. My beautiful girl is not so pretty. Feather is molting but I am hoping her molt will be easy this year as last year she lost almost every feather. Spring peeps are now staying with the big girls all day long, eating from the same bowls and starting to take an interest in the pecking order. The splash maran is starting to look like a turkey as she is so large. One night this week she struggled getting on the roosting post. Chicken diet? I am not sure how to make changes in how she is eating. The little peeps were 2 weeks old on Friday and Saturday, they are growing and feathers are starting to come in. How quickly they change!!!
IN THE GARDEN
I fed the squash and cucumbers and they are starting to produce a small amount. I am hoping I will have a few blackberries but I need to repair the damage done by the raccoons. They have torn the vines down and broken them so badly, I know I would be pruning out this growth during the winter so I am having an early start. They have eaten all of the sun gold tomatoes, corn and cabbage. The Italian squash is coming in and the squash bugs seem not to be able to do the amount of damage to the plants they do to summer squash plants. I am watching and still taking out any I see. I have been pleased with the number of summer squash I collected this year, the cucumber harvest has been excellent. Now I am looking for the pepper harvest as the plants seem to have settled in for the summer. All of the potatoes have been dug and cleaned, I am going to can some of the potatoes for winter storage.
IN CLOSING
Busy, I am putting in my hours saving the harvest as well as keeping up with my daily chores. I am really pushing hard. Late nights and early mornings, make for long days but the harvest time is a short time and in a few weeks the garden will be slowing down and I shall have time for an afternoon nap. I am Thankful I have been able to save the results of our garden. We have shared with others, put lots in our pantry and of course, enjoyed so many fresh veggies. Was it worth all of the hard work, being challenged by the wildlife and Mother Nature? Yes, and if I am able I will do it again. There is nothing more rewarding than raising children and having a garden. I think I have been rewarded because we had a wonderful crop and the babies just keep on coming. But my special happiness comes when my Wee Folk are running through the garden looking for carrots, onions, tomatoes and lots of veggies, even the ones they really do not enjoy. I tell them they are all beautiful flowers, the fruits of the plants and each is special just like all of us. So my special friends, so nice of you to stop by for a visit, come again real soon!!!
ON THE FARM
Mr. Bootsie dropped a tree which has bothered me from the time we moved here. It was such a pleasure to see it go down. The large pine will be used to repair the bridge on the farm road. I am so pleased we are using the trees to repair the bridge and not purchasing 6 by 6's. There will be garden borders if we need them. One morning this week he was working on clearing the bottom of the woods where the goats have been munching, spent one afternoon finishing up the barn as now we know what changes need to be made. The goats were busy eating all of the leaves he is bringing to them. They love pine so I am sure they will be glad to see the top of pine tree come their way.
IN THE COOP
Blanche went from wanting to set to molting. My beautiful girl is not so pretty. Feather is molting but I am hoping her molt will be easy this year as last year she lost almost every feather. Spring peeps are now staying with the big girls all day long, eating from the same bowls and starting to take an interest in the pecking order. The splash maran is starting to look like a turkey as she is so large. One night this week she struggled getting on the roosting post. Chicken diet? I am not sure how to make changes in how she is eating. The little peeps were 2 weeks old on Friday and Saturday, they are growing and feathers are starting to come in. How quickly they change!!!
IN THE GARDEN
I fed the squash and cucumbers and they are starting to produce a small amount. I am hoping I will have a few blackberries but I need to repair the damage done by the raccoons. They have torn the vines down and broken them so badly, I know I would be pruning out this growth during the winter so I am having an early start. They have eaten all of the sun gold tomatoes, corn and cabbage. The Italian squash is coming in and the squash bugs seem not to be able to do the amount of damage to the plants they do to summer squash plants. I am watching and still taking out any I see. I have been pleased with the number of summer squash I collected this year, the cucumber harvest has been excellent. Now I am looking for the pepper harvest as the plants seem to have settled in for the summer. All of the potatoes have been dug and cleaned, I am going to can some of the potatoes for winter storage.
IN CLOSING
Busy, I am putting in my hours saving the harvest as well as keeping up with my daily chores. I am really pushing hard. Late nights and early mornings, make for long days but the harvest time is a short time and in a few weeks the garden will be slowing down and I shall have time for an afternoon nap. I am Thankful I have been able to save the results of our garden. We have shared with others, put lots in our pantry and of course, enjoyed so many fresh veggies. Was it worth all of the hard work, being challenged by the wildlife and Mother Nature? Yes, and if I am able I will do it again. There is nothing more rewarding than raising children and having a garden. I think I have been rewarded because we had a wonderful crop and the babies just keep on coming. But my special happiness comes when my Wee Folk are running through the garden looking for carrots, onions, tomatoes and lots of veggies, even the ones they really do not enjoy. I tell them they are all beautiful flowers, the fruits of the plants and each is special just like all of us. So my special friends, so nice of you to stop by for a visit, come again real soon!!!
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