Magic sheep?

Or just a stupid shepherd. 

Yesterday, I put the sheep at the far end of the garden. You can see it here at the end, near the road. It's a pretty big area where we used to have hundreds of strawberry plants. Now there are 6 apple and 3 pear trees. And lots of grass. 

So I got my husband to stand by the gate that goes out the driveway and then when the sheep go in, to get behind them and make sure they go straight and not detour into the garden. Where I have cabbage and broccoli. Well, of course they did exactly that. And ate about 6 of the cabbage plants in about 5 seconds flat. We did finally get them all down there and the gate shut. Darn sheep.

Then after taking hubby back to his truck in Atlanta, I got some fence and more posts. I did this this morning. Put fence all along the garden down to the bottom yard. The sheep can mow all this for me. 

BUT, after a few minutes of the sheep being up here, I saw 2 lambs in the garden. I thought they must have gone under the fence. So got them back over and checked the fence. I really didn't see any place where they could get under. So a little while later, I'm standing out there watching them and saw one of the same lambs, Biatrix, go right through the fence into the garden. Like magic, right through the fence. I ran and got her out again and really looked close where I saw her go through.

And this is what I found. A little opening just right for a lamb to walk right through. What about that? I had to use this piece of older fence to get it all the way to the other fence. And forgot there is this little opening in it. SO, I got another little fence piece and fixed that little problem. Darn shepherd!

Milking Zarah. Or not.

So this is what Zarah's udder looked like this morning after putting the kids up for the night. And Ella Belle was out this morning. Apparently she had just gotten out. If you look real close or zoom in, you can see her teats. About maybe 1 1/2" long and the size of a pencil width. I could get 1 finger plus the thumb on them. She was tight as a drum. And SO hard to milk. I have not even attempted to milk her since I had wormed her with the Dectomax 4 weeks ago. And it has a 32 day milk withdrawal time.

So, between her kicking and raising her feet or else just plain sitting down like a dog on top of the bucket, I was plum worn out. She did not like this or want anything at all to do with it. I even tried to get Ella to come in and nurse some. But what happens when you actually WANT a kid to nurse on the stand?? Nothing. She ran around and played hide and seek and "catch me if you can", which of course I couldn't in the milk room. Too much to get behind and under. So, after about 20 minutes of me not wanting her to think she was gonna win this first round, I quit. Went and got Ira Joe out of the stall. They both tried to nurse but she only stood still for a few seconds. They did some more for a little while, while I watched. I sure don't want Zarah to get mastitis.

So, a few days ago, a friend in Tn. called about a milking machine she had just bought from a man near her up around Nashville. He makes these machines. For $175.00. Everything except the battery, which is only a little more. She milks about 9 goats and she is loving this machine. It filters and cools the milk. Really nice. Well, when she called, I thought I didn't need a machine. But after this morning, I called the guy. I told him about Zarah's small teats and he said he didn't think the suction things would stay on such small teats. But he said he'd look for a smaller size. Because I think I really want one now. Just for Zarah. Because I am worn out and it was NO fun at all. For her or me. And I don't want her to hate this.

So my 1st day of April has not turned out so good. Like the guy suggested, get the kids up on the stand and let them nurse some milk out, then try again. Sounds like a plan, if the kids will do it. They should be hungry enough to. I was so hoping that Zarah would take after her mother Abby. Maybe next time? She is a first freshener.

Easter

Easter Sunday was a day of sunshine and rain. Off and on again. I saw lots of little green plants coming up in the garden, like collards, kale and mustard. Some lettuce and radishes too. I always like to see that. I was getting a little worried that I planted too early. But with all the rain and sun, things just happen.

I would have liked to have had lots of flowers on the table. But the daffodils started blooming way back in Jan. so none of them. But did find lots of henbit, which I was excited about for the bees. But they don't really stand out in vases. I have lots of dandelion though, but didn't want to take too many. I put those on the runner along with yellow Peeps. I just love yellow and white in early spring. 

This is one of my ram lambs I had butchered a month ago. I marinated it in olive oil, crushed garlic and fresh rosemary overnight. Then put it in the oven at 400 for about 35 minutes, then turned it down to 200 for a few hours, Took it out and let it rest for about 30 minutes. It was SO good. I didn't think anyone would eat any, but it went pretty fast. It's like good roast beef. Red in the middle and tender and so juicy. It was a 6 pound leg. I have another one in the freezer. But was very happy how it turned out.

And here are the grand kids. Coryn is on the left. She's 11. Chloe is in the middle. She'll be 14 the end of May. And Kansas will be 10 the end of April. So we decided to let them all hunt eggs. I wanted to hunt eggs too. I still love doing that. It's so fun.

So we had a great day together. My youngest daughter Abby and her husband rode their motorcycle down to Pensicola, Fla. for the weekend so they missed us. We really missed them too. But Abby will probably come tonight for left overs. Mom made a Watergate cake that was SO good. And I made banana pudding, my husband's favorite.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. And have a great week too.

These pigs

So I have had these pigs 2 weeks now. It's been pretty good so far. I haven't fallen down in their pen. They haven't bitten me. Or chased me. Or gotten out yet. And I do believe Joe, the white one, is almost as big as Bob now. But I am wondering if he can see. He's got really small eyes. That I can barely see. Smaller that Bob's eyes, and his are small too. They just look weird. I don't think I've noticed pig eyes before, but I think they should be bigger. It doesn't seem to be affecting his ability to get around. Or eat. Because he's all over and eats like a pig. I don't know. Maybe they are supposed to be small like that.

I'm giving them lots of the fermented grains. Plus lots of scraps, goat milk and the bread from the bakery in Chatt. And their yard is a mud pit now. I need to add the other panel soon. I can't imagine feeding these guys for 5 more months. Ugh. But if it keeps going like this, I might be ok. But, they are still small at the moment.

2 classes today

This was a busy day for me. But I have learned SO much.


This morning was a class on native pollinators. Since I'll be getting a hive of honey bees in a few weeks, I need to learn about them. And what they need to keep them here. And healthy and full! We have a farm in Rossville, Ga. called Crabtree Farm. It's been there for 15 years this year. They are basically a teaching farm. Lots of apprentices and volunteers. It's a great place. They are breaking ground in a few weeks on an education building to be opened in September.

I'll have to absorb all the things David Reed spoke about. He has several hives here on this farm. I went out after the class and just stared at the hives. Bees were buzzing all around them. These are in a little field of henbit, which I need to plant at my place. I have some, but not like this.

If you look close, you can see the bees on the hives. They were all over today. I just love bees.

Then this afternoon, a class on fermentation. We all got to get our hands in the veggies and make some for ourselves. I have already made plenty of different fermented foods for us. But learned a few techniques to make things faster. And I got some water kefir grains and some Piima culture!! I am so excited about this. I have been wanting some water kefir grains. I got to taste some that Ann Keener brought. It was SO good and refreshing and light and summery. I have already got mine started.  Also got the Piima started too. Not too sure about how to do this though. Need to read up more about it. It's like yogurt, from what I understand. A little like kefir too.

This is one of the teachers, with his hands in the cabbage and beet kraut. I love this stuff. I made mine with just cabbage and beets. I am excited about getting some more fermented veggies back on the counters! It just makes me feel good, seeing all those jars of fermented goodness on my kitchen counters. And it's SO good.

Not to get my leg of lamb marinating in some good olive oil, garlic and fresh rosemary for tomorrow's Easter dinner.

Good Friday

I was out early this morning and noticed the beautiful sunrise. Started taking pictures. When I came in to download them, I saw this one. I saw the thorny branch hanging down and thought of the thorns that were made into a crown and put on Jesus' head when he was crucified. Just kind of fitting for a Good Friday sunrise. Because we all know what happened the next few days!

I hope and pray that you all have a wonderful weekend but especially, a wonderful Easter with family. Take time to remember why we celebrate Easter. And just marvel in God's grace and goodness.

I think my dogs like bread...

                                                         

Chickens. In a tractor.

I went out last night and put the chickens in their new home. They like it. I put a nest box way in the back. It had a chain to hand the waterer on. I love that. So it looks like it will take a few days to eat the grass down. Then I'll move them forward every few days. I hope I get some eggs again. I may even get a few more hens. I really don't need the rooster, so will probably sell him. He's just taking up room. And I don't want to hatch any for chicks. I am really liking this set up a lot.

A little green

I was looking out in the garden for some signs of anything popping up out there. And I found these. Some radishes. If anything would be coming up, it would be the radish. I have 5 different kinds planted. I did see some lettuce too. But as cold as it's been, it might be a few more weeks before I see anything else.

There are a lot of turnip greens and collards coming back from last year though.

It's a beautiful day today. And for the next few days. Then rain on Easter Sunday.

Chicken tractors

I am really excited about these chicken tractors. A friend who bought some of my Freedom Ranger meat birds has several tractors he made and is not going to have chickens anymore. So he is bartering the tractors for chickens. And will even come butcher them too! 

This is the biggest one. The whole top opens with a small door at the end. It has 4 wheels. There are roosts in the back too. And tarp over the back end. Also a chain to hang a waterer. I'll use this one for my 4 laying hens and the rooster til I get meat birds. Right now, I will pull it around in the front yard where all the tall winter grass is. The hens have been in the coop since I started the garden. And I have probably gotten 5 eggs since. They do not like being cooped at all. And protest by not laying eggs. They will  be happy when they get in this. I'll have to wait til tonight to put them in it.

This is another one. He has about 3 more like this we need to go get. I'll have to put roosts in this one.

It opens at both ends. Not near as big as the other one, but will be fine for my hens when I get the meat birds. I'll have to put a nest box in it too.

I think this is a pretty good deal. And to get help butchering is icing on the cake! These are all really built to last a long time. Made with treated lumber. I hate to cage chickens, but if I want a garden, it has to be this way. And I think the meat birds will grow faster too. I'll get 25 at a time. Probably every month.

Now we need to go get the rest of the tractors.We could only get one at a time in out big truck.

Winter's hanging on here.

It's cold out there! This is from this morning. There's no snow on the ground here, but on the car and the house, you can see it. We had snow flurries all day yesterday too.

Husband is home this week on vacation. He made a fire in the fireplace last night. So it's nice and toasty in the house now. And we actually kept it going all night. It sure uses a LOT of wood though.  When we were using the wood heater, one of those yellow wagons full would last 3 days. With an open fireplace, we've already used almost 3 wagon loads since last night. Not very economical, or as warm, but still nice. And I love to see smoke coming out of the chimney. It's so messy though.

So no spring here. Not for another few weeks. All that work and hurry I did to get the garden started, I think was for nothing. Because it's been in the 20's and 30's at night and only in the 40's during the day since. If anything does come up, it'll be a miracle. I have really never planted anything this early anyway. I guess I was just worried about getting things ready for the markets in April. And got a fever blister too. My 2nd ever in my whole life. Not fun.

I know it'll be hot and dry one day soon. But right now, it's still winter. And March. It was 20 years ago this month that we had a huge blizzard here. We lived in Flintstone then and only had dogs and cats. And only one freezer. The power was out for a few weeks. It was really nice though. Because neighbors were so nice and we got to know a lot of them. Everyone's been talking about another blizzard. Who knows?

Spam

And not the kind my husband loves to eat.

I noticed on my last post that there were 3 really strange comments from an anonymous commentor. Then when I checked a little later, those were gone but 3 more were there, different comments but still anonymous. So I deleted them. Then deleted the whole post. I haven't seen them anywhere else here.

Then I was over on another blog and noticed she had some of the same strange anonymous comments too. She deleted those as well.

So has anyone else been getting crazy strange comments that have absolutely nothing to do with the post? I hope it's not some sort of virus that's going to affect bloggers who comment on my blog. I'm so sorry if it does.

I am working on a post about the fermented grains and my milking does. It's coming, just taking pictures and getting some comparisons. But so far the 2 milk does are loving this grain! And milk production is up!

Bees. And keeping them.

Last night, I went to my first ever bee keeping class. The guy I'll be getting my hive from was the speaker. I could have listened to him all night. But I had to leave at 8:30 because I still had a goat to milk.

So now, after hearing him, I think I am more nervous and anxious than ever. I don't really think I was nervous before. Just more excited. But now I am just plain ole scared! Not OF the bees themselves. I love bees. Always have. I can sit right in the middle of a corn field and pick beans and listen to them buzz around me all day. I love them! They are awesome amazing little creatures. And I learned a lot about them last night. But even Eddie, after years and years of keeping bees, doesn't know all there is to know about them. They are just plain awesome!

I am more afraid of KEEPING bees. The responsibility of having those beautiful bees here, on my property. And keeping them healthy and happy. I so hope they will be happy here. There is so much all around here for them to keep busy. 2 whole mountain ranges, woods, forests, fields, ponds... SO much for them in this valley. So not really worried about that too much.

I'm not even afraid of being stung. Because Eddie says we WILL be stung. But it is good for arthritis. Which a few of my fingers are starting to feel. So maybe I won't wear gloves.

So this is where I will keep the hives. Up at the top of the hill, in that corner. It's a North-West corner, so they will be protected from winds and have the afternoon shade from the west. There is a lot of wild mint over in the pasture to the left. I heard mint keeps mites away? I will probably put some pots of mint in the bee yard. Since my goats are in this pasture, I'll fence in this corner.

I have always wanted bees here. And especially now, since every year I have seen fewer and fewer bees here on my property. Since I am organic and don't use any chemicals, I think they'll do a great job pollinating all my apple and pear trees. And my gardens. I think I'll go up to an organic farm in Tn. and get some of their organic open-pollinated corn and plant that in the other garden area, just for them. I will also plant lots and lots of flowers for them to enjoy.

I was told that the first year, I won't get honey. But that's fine with me. I will let the bees have all they need. I am not really concerned with getting honey. I just want the bees here.

I would LOVE to hear from all you bee keepers out there. Anything about bees. Your first experience with bees.

Leibster Award!

Well, I feel honored to have been chosen for a Leibster Award by Sandra over at Clearwater Farm Journal. Thank you Sandra! I'll try to do this right but probably won't. Yours looked very professional.

So I have to nominate 5 other blogs with a following of less than 300. So these are the bloggers I am nominating:

Aubrey at: http://thisblessedlife-aubrey.blogspot.com
http://goodgoats.blogspot.com  She has helped me a lot with great advice on goats.
http://katiegirlkate.blogspot.com
http://mybarefootfarm.blogspot.com
http://hammockhavenfarm.blogspot.com

Here are 5 random things about me:

I love the color green.
I was born in California.
I hate winter.
I can be really lazy.
I am getting bees!

And here are 5 questions I have to answer for Sandra:

I am reading a Book of Bees.

My favorite thing to do on a weekend is going to market on Saturday and sitting out under my shade tree with a good book on Sunday, listening to the birds and my sheep munching.

If I could travel anywhere, I would go to Ireland. But I am waiting on a bridge! Because I ain't flying clear across the ocean to get there.

My favorite season is Spring because I can get back out in the dirt and get the gardens going again. And there are baby lambs and goats!

I think my hobby would have to be fermenting. Anything!

So for those who I have nominated, you'll have to do the same thing. And here are your questions to answer for me:

How long have you been farming? Or homesteading?
What got you started farming or homesteading?
What's your favorite part about farming or homesteading?
What's your most dreaded part of it?
What do you most LOVE about it?

I think that's all. Now I have to go tell all these wonderful bloggers that I have nominated them too.

Happy Spring, y'all!!! Go enjoy the day. I am going to a bee keeping class tonight!

Pigs. And fermenting grains.

 Last night, I got my daughter heather and grand daughter Kansas, to help me take 3 16' fence panels out back to make an outside yard for Bob and Joe, the new piggerators. It sure is good to have help. Because I have drug those panels all over this place and they are very awkward. So it made doing this so much easier on me. So got that little job done in half the time it would have taken to do it alone. Thanks girls!!!

So let the boys out this morning. They immediately went to doing what pigs do best. They rooted all over the place. This will be all mud in just a few days. I have 1 more panel that I can use to expand the yard some more later.

Of course, all the critters wanted to meet the new guys and welcome them to Outback Farm. I have an album on my Outbackfarm Face Book page if you'd like to see the sheep and goats meeting them too. It's so funny to see the sheep's reactions! The goats have seen them since Sat. since they've been in the barn with them. In this picture, you can see that first stall is where they've been. The goats have the rest.

Bubba ad Stella wanted to come say hello too. They are so funny, those dogs. In everybody's business all the time.

A few days ago I started some grains to fermenting after seeing a blog post over at www.tosingwithgoats.
I hope these are doing what they're supposed to be doing right about this time. It's been cold at night so maybe they're a bit slower going?  The bucket on the right I had just stirred. On the left I had not yet. I had started with the left bucket full. Then had to take out half of it because it had expanded that much. I hope it works because I really want to feed them this way since they are used to eating brewery grains. So if anyone else does this, does it look right to you so far? It was Monday when I started this. It's got cracked corn, wheat, whole oats and some rolled barley.

After the storm

 Today, we were supposed to get some pretty severe storms heading our way. Out here in this cove, we don't see a whole lot of really bad weather like they might get 20 miles North of us. We're in a valley with lots of little ridges and hills. We had been getting some rain during the day, but I kept wondering where all that bad weather was.

Then, about 4:00, it started getting really dark. I could see toward the east, over Pigeon Mt. the sky was so dark. Crazy clouds. It got so windy all of a sudden and lots of rapid lightening, so close together and really fast. The wind was crazy. Trees nearly sideways. Then really hard rain, then hail. For about 10-15 minutes it went on like this. So scary. I said I bet there was a tornado somewhere close, with all that. Then, just as soon as it started, it was over. Still. No rain. No wind. Nothing.

Then this. It was bright, the sun came back out. Beautiful. It got a bit foggy to the North East. Surreal.

Then out back, looking West, was the prettiest blue sky with pink wispy clouds. Hard to believe it had just been crazy storming  a few minutes earlier.

I did hear that there were really strong tornado like winds that did some pretty bad damage to the East of us about 20 miles away. About 4000 homes and businesses lost power from wind damage. So this was a pretty fierce storm. I didn't hear of anyone injured on the news tonight. Just trees down all over.

And all is well with our little piece of the world again. Thank you, Lord, for being with us and keeping us all safe. Again.

Gardens, pigs, kids and more kids

The past several days have been like a whirlwind for me. Rushing around, trying to get the early garden planted. And grass and clover seed planted. Grand kids here. Worked all day Friday. Just running, running running. Trying to beat a rain storm headed our way. It's been sprinkling on and off part of the day so far. Which is fine because I really don't want a flooding downpour like we have been getting all winter. Just enough to get all the things I've gotten planted a good start.

If you can see to the left, which is how I am planting this year, there is collards, kale, mustard, radishes, lettuce, beets, onions, broccoli, cabbage and onions so far to the left of the horribly neglected grape vines. To the right of the vines, my grand daughters and daughter helped plant 5 different varieties of potatoes. 40 pounds worth. An All Blue and a Corona organic and then Kennebec, Yukon Gold and red. So that is my early crops so far. Planted and ready to grow for farmer's markets. And I am pooped! And SO out of shape it's not even funny y'all. I am hurting right now. But not really too awfully bad, like I thought I would be. Gardening gets a person in some really amazing stretches and reaches. It's the best exercise ever.

Also this weekend, I got 2 pigs. They are out working in the goat barn for me right now, mulching up the 6' deep hay mess the goats have wasted all winter. The pigs love this. Keeps them busy and helps me out. Kansas named them Bob and Joe.

Also took the 2 goat kids, Ira Joe and Ella Belle, to get their horns burned off. So that chore is done.

This will be a busy week too. A farmer's market meeting Tuesday evening, a bee keeping class Wednesday evening, and a backyard wine tasting event Saturday evening with some fellow farmers. Sounds like some fun to me!

Garden season 2013. Officially started today.

I got out in the garden today. Finally. Tried to crank the tiller. Nothing. So I had to park her in the sun to warm up. After awhile  she started right on up. And away we went! I got a good deal done. And now I have my seeds ready. But as you can see, I have some unwanted visitors at the moment. If I plant seeds now, they would be all snatched up in no time. So I'll have to wait til they go to bed later. I am swapping a stanchion for a chicken tractor, so they should be in that soon. But right now, they can be out there.

This is my Cub Cadet tiller Cadie. I got her last year, so we are going into our 2nd garden season together. I really like this tiller. Usually just one pull and she starts. I have to go over the ground a lot right now though. It was a little wet so I let it dry out in the sun a few hours, then went back over it again just now.

So I am going to plant some kale, collards, mustard, lettuce, 6 different radishes, onions seeds, Swiss Chard.  Probably a few more things. I'll wait a few more weeks to plant potatoes. I need to get more onions. But I am excited to get going! I knew once I got out there, I would be on the way.

I am also going to get 2 pigs Saturday from a friend in Alabama. I think I am ready for a few more. They'll go into the first big stall in the goat barn and mulch up the 6' of hay in there. It's so deep I hit my head every time I go out there any more. Very irritating for sure. There are 3 more stalls for the goats.

 I sent my application in for the main St. Farmer's market. I so hope I get in. It's on Wed. from 4-6 Spring summer and fall. It's a really good market in downtown Chattanooga. I already know some of the farmers.

So here I go!

Nothing like a little sting in the morning...

to get a gal going. I don't mean a bee sting either. I put a Sting CD in and cranked it up. I love Sting.

I have so much to do and just can't seem to get going lately. So I am making bread, dog food and going to make my first batch of mozzarella later today. I have a guy coming to mow the sheep pasture. All the dead ugly stuff on top so the new grasses can grow. And I have to take little Ira Joe and Ella Belle to get their horns burned off. A friend does this for me because I just cannot seem to do it myself. I can cut off a chicken head and do all that gory stuff, but can't seem to hurt my little kids. She's also going to castrate my 3 ram lambs in a few months too. She will do the cut and pull method, which I prefer over the banding. On the way, I'll drop my soil samples off to get tested. Should know by the end of next week.

It's such a beautiful day and supposed to warm up. I might go get some good garden soil too and start working on the garden. It's still too wet to plow but I can do some raised bed areas for root crops. I need to plant carrots, beets, lettuce, mustard, collards, kale, spinach. It's getting late!

What's going on in your gardens so far? Are you having nice weather where you are yet? These March winds will dry it up here. But we have some rain showers heading our way again.