Farm Day 2013

 

We had some great help doing chores Monday evening, June 17th. We hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did! If you weren’t able to come then, come along now and enjoy!

Enjoying some turtles and other things while waiting to get started

                 

The first chores: to carry the chicken scraps (strawberry stems) and horse carrots and then we were off…

    

Getting the milk cows in from pasture, prepping, and milking were next. Anyone that wanted to could try to milk by hand also!

       

Next Stop: the pigs and rabbits  The little pigs are on a compost bedding pack until old enough to go out on grass. The bunnies’ cages hang over the pigs’ pen There were some newborn babies. The the older meat rabbits are in a hare pen is out on the grass.

   

   

The broiler chickens need to be fed, moved, and water checked.

    

    

Out to check on the big calves and move their polywire to give them a new section of grass.

   

 

                                                                                                                       

The sow (due to farrow soon) needed fed and ducks got to demonstrate their flying abilities!

    

The hens need fed, water checked, and eggs gathered

  

  

Checking on the horses and feeding them some carrots

   

Then we went up to the house for refreshments that included garden mint tea, homemade ice cream, and watermelon! Horse rides, playing and visiting were enjoyed.

  

    

As the sun set we bade fond farewells to our friends and passed out prizes. Thank-you for coming!

Some misc. picts.

   

      

  

   

  

FARM TOUR 2013

 

Come on out and help with chores!…or just walk along side…

June 3rd    6:00 p.m.

Enjoy the animals, learn more about pasture farming, connect with other patrons and your farmers, prizes, refreshments, fun activities.....

Grand Prize: November Pasture Turkey

Please RSVP if you are planning to attend.

Rain/mud date: June 17th

 

Last week the first cutting of hay was baled. We did it a little sooner than usual to get the extra growth away from the grass we interseeded this spring so that it could have a chance to grow. Baling is always an exciting time. The leaves of the alfalfa provide the nutrition and protein for the cows in the winter. The goal is to keep as many of them on as possible.

           

The Garden is slow in coming along! This year we are giving the hoop house a rest from tomatoes. We were finally able to get tomatoes planted outside!  The cold wet weather gave us some very poor germination of peas, beans, and potatoes, but first spring treats are ready this week…lettuce, radishes, spinach..etc..

 

We had to work through a power outage on the farm. Thanks to Wright Electric we got up and running the next day. The boys were able to get  reaquainted with milking by hand.

A big highlight of May was the Family Economics Conference in St. Louis. Meeting and listening to author, speaker, and pasture based farmer, Joel Salitin  there was exciting to all of us. His books on sustainable pasture farming have help and inspired us a lot over the years.

  

 

Honey comb from a hive on our farm.

 

Yeah for lovely spring days!

  

 

Reminder: Turkey orders need to be in by June 1st.

OUT TO PASTURE!

Everyone is excited to be out to pasture. The spring grass provides unsurpassed nutrition for them and thus for us!
  
The egg mobile is repaired and now back in use, following the cows! The egg yolks will take on a bright orange color..a sign of the boost of nutrition that comes from the pasture.
  
The broilers are out in the fresh air, sunshine, and pasture. They also get a gmo free feed mix. Beside them is what the boys rigged up to haul their water.
      
Clarabell a cut heifer calf enjoys a lovely spring day. We wish you a lovely spring also!

Spring Activity!

Broiler chicks arrived on a very cold morning. It was a challenge to get them warmed up after their trip and we did have some losses.                       

We soon modified the pen, adding a ceiling to it to keep the air warmer around the chicks.

 

 

We spread Planters II all around the farm. It is a natural fertilizer found only in the Rocky Mountains. It helps build the soil life.

  

  

April  5th we were finally able to get some garden planted..lettuce, peas, potatoes, spinach, kohlrabi, onions beets…..the hens that were out seemed just as delighted as we with the new garden…we are waiting to see how much damage they did! These same hens are giving us lots of eggs…so guess we’ll have to forgive them.

Special grasses were interseeded in the pastures to make good grazing for the cows. Below the tractor is ready to go out!

  

The puppies all have homes waiting for them. They follow their mommy around so cutely. The newest babies on the farm are bunnies. Titus is planning on raising meat rabbits and his first batch was born!

  

 

We are all waiting for the grass to grow. Right now it is very important to keep the cows and horses off the grass to let it get a good start for the season ahead. The cows try to escape to their pastures when ever possible! They love to graze. We have had to buy hay in as the grass is so late in coming.

 

Precious Charity and all of us wish you a pleasant week!