Farm Fodder

Baby goats hopping all over, bees flying around the bee yard (apiary), cow and dairy goats in milk.
The list goes on, but these are the first signs of life after a long winter.

About 2 weeks ago, on a Sunday, my bees were flying all over trying to find food. I fed the hives and thought how wonderful spring will be… If the hives take off, we’ll have lots of honey. Of course, I have o do my fair share… I have to feed pollen patties and sugar water now, if I want that queen laying lots of eggs. And I want that queen laying lots of eggs NOW! In 2 months the honey flow will most likely be on, so I want a bunch of field bees out there collecting nectar for honey.

We had twins from a goat that weekend, and last week, we had 3 goats kid. So, we are up to 6 baby goats jumping and running all over the place. We have 2 more due in April, so that will bring us up to anywhere from 8 to 10 kids!

Although it is good news that Monsanto pulled this variant of GM (genetically Modified) corn, it is disturbing that it was done in secrecy.

All documentation was pulled by Monsanto, and there was no press release by wither the regulators or the “applicant” (Monsanto) and all evidence of testing has been pulled as well.  No paper trail of any kind left behind.

Also, you won’t find this on in the news bytes from any of the major US media moguls.

It seems that there is a “kiss and don’t tell” attitude where high-powered, mega-rich corporations are adored and catered to by the press (advertising revenue) at the sake of the safety and well being of the general public.  We truly live in a nation that now bows to the idols of fame, fortune and power at the expense of the rest of society.

You may read the entire article here:

http://www.gmfreecymru.org/news/Press_Notice9Nov2009.htm

Around 11:30 AM today, I asked Marilyn come out and check the cow because she had stuff “hanging out”.
I thought she was in the throws of calving, but a thorough inspection proved that she had already had her calf – and we found it frozen on the ground.
We spent the better part of 3 hours trying to warm her up and get her little heart going, but were unsuccessful.
We lost the little calf.

Fern, our cow seemed to be doing fine, but we’ll continue to watch her for the next couple of days.
We milked her out this afternoon and will start the milking regime in the morning.

We were taken by surprise, since we bought her in October and did not know for certain when she was due to calve, since she was already bred when we purchased her. The man we bought her from told us that the vet said she was due in February or March.
We always watch the breeding of our goats, so we know when they are due.

So, instead of a beautiful, bouncing little calf to play with, I dug a small grave and buried her.

We were all sad today, but hope springs eternal, with the anticipation of baby goats within the next 2 weeks. And as long as Fern is healthy, we will breed her for a fine calf next year.

–Pat

Our little “hobby farm” can generate a lot of busy work.

Since the weather cooperated this past week, and warmed the soil to the point of thawing out, I was able to dig post holes and cement some fence posts in the ground for a much needed fenced “alley” from the cow pasture to the barn.
I still have to hammer in some metal posts, and buy 3 gates, but once I do, I can finish up that little project rather quickly.

The reason I need to get that done before the barn addition is because our “expectant mother” cow needs to learn the routine of going to the barn for milking – and to learn that there are treats for those that perform their duties when requested to do so.
But, since she is not used to walking on a lead rope, we need to coax her into the routine, and set a gentle rhythm that she can be happy to follow. But, since she is not halter or lead rope trained, we need a fenced walkway to keep her from bolting off down the hill, which could potentially render harm to her, her baby, or to one of us.

Once I finish that project, I still need to mount her stanchion where her stall in the barn will be, mount the hay rack for her, build the stall with 2 gates, put the roof on the barn addition, put the siding on it, and then, of course, build the other stalls for the rest of the goats.
I say “the rest of the goats” because I just built a new stall for our 2 goats that are ready to kid in the next 2 – 4 weeks. The cow is due to calve in late February – early March, there are 2 more goats due in April and 1 due in May.

Add to that the blueberries that need to be cleared of late-summer weeds and rows/blueberry plants mulched, along with raised garden beds made, a goat paddock finished for the buck and wether (male and fixed male), housing moved from their current paddock to the new one, the ground for the entire goat paddock where the buck was to be rotovated (rototilled) and amenities added to the soil, more compost bins made, front garden beds made, fruit trees to be pruned, sprayed with dormant oil (for bug protection) and fertilized, asparagus fertilized, movable chicken houses made for our hens, the greenhouse soil to be turned under, more seeds to be planted, tree stumps cut out, the drive going up the hill to be bladed flat and about 3 – 4 tons of gravel put down on it, items planted in the old chicken house (where the turkeys were), beehive equipment to be made, repaired and readied for new bees, feeding of bees still alive and well, and the list goes on, and on, and on….

I am sure I forgot something, but that does seem to cover most of the late winter, early spring items.

After reviewing the list, I think I’ll go to bed – I am now thoroughly exhausted!

–Pat

Well, the first good snowfall of the year has arrived – I see the snow on the ground as I type this. Not a lot, maybe an inch, maybe two – but it’s enough to cause some strategic maneuvering on my part to get animals fed and watered.

You see, no one ever put in a frost-free water faucet (or ranch bib), because they never had animals to water, or a need for a hose up the hill behind the house.
I’ve been wanting to put one in, but I’m not an experienced plumber, and it would cost a pretty penny (or two) to have someone come up here to dig the 2-ft. deep, 150 ft. long trench and install copper pipe in the ground. I did find a possible solution – flex pipe. I understand that I can use it and it is flexible, so it would work great – I think I will finally have to do it thi spring – after the thaw.

Anyway, I digress…
I currently have to fill 5 gallon buckets with water (from the bathtub) and carry them up the hill.
Considering we have turkeys, 2 sets of chickens (totaling about 90 right now) and a cow, that can be a lot of water to haul.

But the farm sure looks pretty in white. I love the way the trees glisten with snow and ice on the branches – and it sure feels nice sipping coffee by the wood burning stove…

-Pat

It’s been about 2 weeks since I posted anything.
Sorry, for those of you that may actually read my blog.

We’ve been busy every Saturday with craft shows. Tomorrow officially marks the “end of the craft show season” for 2009. We’ll be at Milford High school in Milford, OH.

It’s usually a very good show, but no telling what tomorrow will bring. Things have been slow this year – mainly due to the economy. Add to that the fact that the gym is closed for some kind of repairs/remodel and cold weather (high around 40) and you have the makings of a potentially slow day. I personally hope not. Marilyn has been eyeing a new cream separator (since hers died a few weeks ago, and we have a customer that wants low-fat goats milk). The new one will cost around $400.

All in all though, it may prove to be a nice day – it is the last Saturday I will spend alone with my wife (I mean, without our kids hovering over us – we’ll by no means be alone, with over 1000 shoppers walking past and/or into our booth). We may get a few moments to ourselves to talk about any subject we might wish to discuss –

This evening, I intend to frame in a 6 ft. sliding glass door on the porch. I had removed the rickety old screen door (which was handmade by someone that had the house before us – and was falling apart) and opened the wall up to accept it’s new accommodations last Sunday- and the rain, mist, cold and other things had prevented me from finishing the project. Of course, finishing this up only makes more work for me. I had to tear out some siding and must now procure new siding and frame, install insulation, windows, and siding inside and out to complete the remodel on the porch. We intend to close it in with windows and insulated walls so we can use it as a farm store this spring. So, I have a long road ahead of me…

Enough for now.

–Pat

I hope you’re not counting on fishing for your food as the economy continues to fall apart.

A recent study by the EPA shows that 49% of  500 lakes and streams tested contained high levels of mercury in the fish caught.

And to add insult to injury, 17% were above recommended amounts of mercury and PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls).

So you may need to rethink your plan and become a deer hunter/scavenger – searching for nuts and eggs high in omega 3’s.

Read the story here:

EPA study finds toxic chemicals in fish widespread OneNewsNow.com.

Red Fern is the name of our heifer (soon to be promoted to cow).
We brought her home this past Sunday, and we all had a wild ride trying to get her from trailer to paddock.

She is getting to know us 2-legged critters a bit better, and is calmer with ever visit we have with her. Nathan can now walk up to her very s-l-o-w-l-y and pet her – she loves having her neck scratched – her tongue lolls out of her mouth and she just stands there – a look of peaceful contentment on her face…

We have about 4 months until she calves, and by then we have to have her so accustomed to us that we can lead her to a milking stall and stand. Most of the books and web articles we have read stated that it takes all of 2 months.

I will keep you all posted on her (and our) progress…

–Pat