Wednesday, July 31, 2013

WE ARE STILL HERE!!!!

What an eventful turn of events we have had in the last three weeks! Bitty Kit had a litter of kittens, the goats that were introduced to the Buck at zero hour turned out to be primed and ready, so we have had an avalanche of babies. We will soon have goat milk everything in the market. We have a new addition to the EBMC, the Elite Bovine Milker's Club. Clementine has found her niche amongst the Divas and the Snooties here on the farm. She is a gentle, shy, Jersey from the Diamond B cattle company in Decatur. She is standing back in the trees in the photo. They have such great cows. No more limits on cow milk for a while. It will soon be time to turn some of the girls dry, to prepare for impending Spring births, so Clementine will help fill the gap. We hatched out some baby chicks, they all survived and are growing, as we lost some of our older hens in the heat, this should help our egg production this fall.  The summer crops are dwindling down, as the relentless heat and the voracious grasshoppers take their toll. Although we will be picking okra and black eyed peas" till the Cows Come Home" which will be each and every night for the next little while. We got snookered on corn and the watermelons, due to the late planting, and the bugs. Better luck next year. We have gotten a sweet surprise in the form of some peaches and pears in the orchard, as well as some apples. The honey harvest is progressing along, the bees have certainly done their part this year. We planted pumpkins, but the grasshoppers have eaten the seedlings as they pop from the ground, so pumpkin season will probably be a bust this year. We will try again next year. We have just put some of the best ground beef we have ever had in the freezer, so we will have it in the market for sale. Canning season is under way, so watch for pickles, jams, sauces, in the market, also. Most important of all, my search for a future daughter in law has been suspended as the Farmers Son may have found a candidate!...... She is pretty shiney, and lo and behold, her family are farmers. A very good prospect I might add.
 If he doesn't goof it all up, he may just have someone to be along side him in his future farm ventures.  MARKET HOURS: Friday and Saturday from noon until 4:00 PM. Special appointments can be made throughout the week for dairy pick up. From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!!!

Monday, July 8, 2013

WHERE HAVE WE BEEN ????

This is the time of the year when the days just blend together with continuous watering, picking, preparing produce for market, or CSA shares, sun up, to sun down a constant flurry of activity here on the farm. I have been spending a good share of the days, in my own make shift steam room and sauna, as I have 3 canners going to preserve part of this years harvest. I should have the softest, most supple skin! The berry picking season was a good one, we are making plans for next year. The self serve produce table has been great success, with the only big problem being keeping the baskets full for a good selection for those who stop to shop. The Farmer is preparing the soil for the pumpkins, soon to be planted. The melons should be on this week, there are so many that I am sure the Farmers Son will be wheeling and dealing. The sweet corn has taken a couple of hits from the grasshoppers and worms. We are just chopping off the top part with the worm so don't be alarmed at headless corn. The fall baby goats should be here starting around  August 1. Should be plenty of goat milk this winter.  The honey will be ready to harvest in the next couple of weeks. The animals are spending the days going from shade tree to shade tree trying to keep cool. As I go to the field this morning, I will update what is available in the market this week. From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!!!