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.
Daffodils blooming, robins sparring, and buds appearing on trees are usually sure signs that spring is approaching…and so is the first goose egg. Now that more geese are laying, I’ve been able to set the first group of the year!
Continue reading “In The Incubator: First Pilgrim Goose Hatch of 2023”Living in the “country”, I’m surrounded by sounds, most of them natural and enjoyable (cattle trucks and vehicles missing mufflers are notable exceptions). In fact, sometimes I need to take a moment to soak in those wonderful sounds and let the gratitude that there are still song birds to be heard suffuse me.
Continue reading “Around The Farm: The Ebullience of Birdsong”
Unless you’re one of the (very few) very rich people out there, you’re likely feeling the pinch (bite) of rising prices. We definitely are. If you’re a bargain-hunter, you already know to comparison shop…but did you know that the same farm store may have different prices based on location?
Continue reading “Watching The Bottom Line: TSC Prices Can Vary By Store Location”
Unless you’ve been living underground, you’re probably aware of the disastrous consequences the holiday storm wreaked (yes, wreaked, not wrecked!) on many areas of the country. People have died because of the bitterly cold temperatures, though there are stories of everyday heroism worth celebrating (juxtaposed with stories of shocking callousness). While small farmers may not make the news, I’m sure that many animals – including wild animals – also lost their lives or suffered injury during the brutal cold because this was a cold that had to be experienced to be believed.
Continue reading “Farming In Winter: Deadly Cold (Long Read)”
Winter is tap, tap, tapping at the door – officially, still a couple of days away, but the temperatures here suggest that it has arrived already. As the daylight hours decreased and our layers molted, egg production dropped off. Way off. While I’m sad that the days of bountiful eggs are over for the year, our French Black Copper Marans have resumed laying (apparently not put off by the freezing temperatures) and I think you’ll agree that their eggs are cause for celebration.
Continue reading “Farm Fowl: Cheered By Chocolate (Eggs)”
My “project” olive egger chicks are a week and a half old now, and ready for some outside adventures. To be clear, this doesn’t mean that they can be outside at night yet – they still need supplemental heat – but with the unseasonably warm weather, they can be in a (secure) tractor during the warmer parts of the day. Recently, they had some “first” experiences – each time, a new world opened up for them…and I was there to share it.
Continue reading “Musings: The Distraction Of Fall Chicks”