Self-taught farmers confidently raising chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs. Our focus is on practices that are environmentally harmonious and respectful to our livestock. We appreciate the beauty around us, clean eating, fermenting, and responsibly utilizing the bounty of the land. If you like thinking for yourself, continuous learning, and connecting with the homesteader lifestyle, check us out.
It snowed recently – just an inch or so – but it was the kind of snow that makes even the ordinary (or poorly-lit and muddy) look, briefly, extraordinary. It also tells stories of real drama and intrigue, of unseen passersby looking for a meal on a cold night.
Continue reading “Haiku: Concealed And Revealed (Snow Series #1)”
How about a lighthearted distraction? Our ducks love it when it’s warm enough for their kiddie pools to be out, even in winter. Because they’ll bathe as long as there’s water available – even if the temperatures are below freezing – we dump the pools at evening feeding time (and put them away), so that they’ll be dry when they go into their coop at night.
Continue reading “Farm Fowl: Ducks In Pools”
When the weather app says it’s 15 degrees out but feels like 1, you know it’s cold out there…ok, not Minnesota cold, but cold for this area. And it’s a white Christmas – a dusting of snow overnight was followed by snow showers today. Given the precipitous drop in temperatures, it’s a good thing we wrapped all the tractors yesterday.
Continue reading “Farm Life: A Very Chilly Christmas”
Temperatures have been bouncing up and down here, and the last vestiges of snow have been shrinking from the approaching sun. This tiny pile of ice crystals was in a shaded alcove on the exterior of the chicken coop, looking as though it was doing its best to hide. Unfortunately, I don’t think it was successful.
As the temperatures dropped yesterday, we entered the “snow zone”, with possible snow flurries in the forecast. While it doesn’t look like the snow came, freezing rain did, and it created some works of art that I had the opportunity to capture during morning chores.
Continue reading “Eye Candy: Sleet’s Aftermath”
After a spell of strangely mild weather, it’s taken a turn for the worse. Personally, I intensely dislike temperature swings like this because it’s tough on both farmers and their animals…but it does have some redeeming qualities, like the brilliant hoarfrost.
Continue reading “Eye Candy: Frosty Farm Morning”