Farm update… what’s getting planted, what’s growing
Mid-April, and beautiful weather makes it real tempting to plant faster than planned. After all, the sooner we get things planted, the sooner they can grow, and the faster we can have a greater assortment of veggies for Farmers’ Market, right?
Not so fast, rookie.
It might be 80 degrees in the afternoon, but with blue skies, not a cloud in sigh… the temperature can easily drop below freezing by dawn of the next morning. All it takes is a storm moving east hundreds of miles away and let it’s little cold tail swing through the atmosphere… and boom, we’re below freezing.
At over 5000 feet elevation, the surface cools much faster. Add to the fact there is next to no concrete or blacktop, no large trees, or massive shrubs, and the air simply goes up, up, and up. The faster it leaves, the colder it gets. And… that can happen in any month around here, even June, July,and August.
So, we are plodding along, following the planting plan, and hope to have a bumper harvest in July.
Here’s what’s growing. We have little leaves showing on the Savoy Cabbage, Red Cabbage, and Broccoli. The celery is peeking up. I no longer need a magnifying glass to see them. Also,the cauliflower is breaking through the planting medium.
We had purchased several plants (not organic, and to be planted in a separate area or pots) a couple of weeks ago. Sadly, we left them in the greenhouse (unheated), and they got frosted pretty badly. They included several kinds of mint, some strawberries, an artichoke, and some basil. Some of these plants were to be transplanted into Cindy’s aquaponics setup.
Speaking of her aquaponics project, she has peppers growing, and lettuce coming up through the pebbles. All the goldfish have been transferred from the house aquarium to their new home in a very large tank (better than 100 gallons). They don’t seem to mind the colder temperature. Once I’m done with the south bed (seedlings), she will rebuild the old blue barrel system, giving her even more room.
The sheep are raising their young very nicely. We ended up with one “house lamb”, who is back in the big pen but is getting a couple bottles of milk each day. We had to rebuild the lamb feeder as the little lambs got to where they could jump over the top… not good!
We got five “dogie” lambs for our efforts at the neighboring sheep ranch. They’re occupying a small garden area adjacent to the chicken pen. We built them a little pen using pallets, and then covered a portion with plywood and a warm blanket hanging to the ground. That keeps the wind at bay.
We have three lambs pre sold, are keeping a couple of ewe lambs, and one ram lamb. That means that right now, we have 12 lambs available for sale. They should reach 100 lbs in July.
There are still four “springers” to lamb. Hopefully with the warmer weather, the survival rate will be better. There are never any guarantees as to what a first-time lamb will produce. We hope for twins, are ecstatic if we get triplets, and satisfied if we get a single, healthy lamb that they feed.
In the goat department, we have three one little boy for sale from our Pygmy goat. His daddy is a Nubian/Boer cross. I would think he could be a very tasty spit-roasted treat.
Among the Nubians, we have three little boys, each of whom are available for sale.
We sold “Buttercup” our cow. Some folks in Enterprise were looking for an animal to add to their freezer. They also happened to have a Beefmaster bull that is about 12 months old. He will come to our farm and breed Coco,the heifer calf. They’re about the same age, so this should be a real adventure.
They were first going to pick up the cow last Saturday, but we had a snow storm. Here, not there. That’s right, we got more than 5 inches of snow and 17 miles down the road, they got nothing.
We did move her on Sunday. It only took 3 of us in the pen to encourage her to the trailer. I got the “Coco” duty. My job was to keep her separated from her mother… not a particularly easy job. Thankfully, she chose to stand back and not push me around as usual.
We’re continuing to plan for and source our high tunnels. Since it’s acceptable for us to install them ourselves, we are being extra careful to get the best deal possible, not necessarily the lowest price, but best overall deal. The NRCS requires a 4 year warranty by the manufacturer.
We have neighbors who are building hoop houses as a side business, but we can’t use them as they source the pipe for the supports separate from the cover. The nice thing though, is they have offered to help us. We’ve already made some changes in our plan based on what they’re doing for a neighboring farmer. We’re going to install separate frost-free hydrants in each tunnel with their own shutoff valves.
Lastly, I’ve been cleaning animal pens, stacking the manure and spoiled hay for future use in compost and erosion control. Sure glad we have the only man around… John Deere to help with that task. The cow pen is done, except for adding some sand back to the pen. The French Alpine Goat (who we think is pregnant) got her pen cleaned last week after a second escape. No, she didn’t go over the fence, she climbed out her little window… no more window to watch the other goats. An extra piece of plywood keeps her pretty secure.
Looking forward to May when the patio furniture goes outside.
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Categories: New Home in Beryl, Uncategorized Tags: aquaponics, dogies, ewe lamb, farm, goats, high tunnel, kid goats, organic vegetables, pygmy goats
Milking a goat – lots to learn
Now we’re milking the one goat who was clueless. Our multicolored goat (Annie), is now nursing all four babies, as the black one (Posey), remained totally uninterested in her babies.
Let me tell you the tale of our first milking…
We gals don’t have a ton of experience. Yes, our mentor has taught how to milk, and we’ve taken care of a couple of her goats a few times over the past four years. We also are getting adept at stripping ewe (sheep) teats for new lambs.
None of that set us up for the first milking adventure.
Here are the players. The goat… Posey, who is totally clueless, a screwball, and the daughter of a ding-a-ling, who turned out to be one of our mentor’s best milk goats.
Bev, who prefers working in the garden and taking care of our administrative needs. She’s also the one who works a part-time job driving school bus.
Cindy, who’s always up for an adventure, loves animals, has mothered everything from chipmunks to raccoons and foxes. She’s a former Park Ranger, cop, commercial pilot, and all around fun gal.
Me (Shari), who learned to milk cows as a kid, but hadn’t done anything like that for better than 50 years. Remember, I’m also the most obese of the group.
The site:
The goat pen, the alley way, and the goat stanchion, which is bordered by hay bales.
So, the day after the goats were born, we thought we’d best be getting some “first milk” (colostrum) from Posey. Her babies really needed it, even though Cindy and I had put the little babies on teats as soon as we got them dried off after they were born. We weren’t real sure Annie would continue to take care of all four, and Posey, was just standing around yelling her fool head off.
Cindy went into the pen to get Posey by her collar while Bev and I made sure the milk bucket and stanchion were ready. That was as simple as ensuring the big eye bolts were handy for the head lock, and there was food in the hay tray.
We got Posey out of the pen without much drama. Since we don’t leave the sight or smell of the other goats, they don’t get all upset. Well, Posey thought she should visit Zena (in another pen), and Apollo, the ram in his pen before going anywhere with us.
“Oh hell, as long as I’m out, let’s go visit the cows, too.”
After a few minutes, we got her turned the right direction towards the stanchion. That’s when the fun began…
She had been up on this stanchion late last summer to kind of get the hang of the whole thing. She wasn’t real keen on having her teats touched at that time, but at least she mostly jumped up and stood still.
This time, she must have known things were different. The brakes went on as soon as she got to the stand. Bev had positioned herself at the head of the gate, and was offering hands full of nice green alfalfa. Cindy and I were attempting to lift her front legs onto the floor of the stanchion. No go for several attempts.
Finally, after nearly choking her by pulling on her collar, we got both front legs up… now to get the most important part up… her rear end and legs. She weighs better than 100 pounds, and I’m sure most is in her hind quarters, especially when she isn’t wanting to climb upon something.
She firmly planted her hind feet, stiffened her front legs and refused to move. I had her by the collar, trying to get her head as far as the head stall, so Bev could take over. Cindy was very carefully pushing from behind and trying to find some leverage that would tip her point of balance in our favor, when suddenly she hopped up on the stanchion, nearly sending Bev through the adjacent fence.
Quick, grab the bucket before she changes her mind!
I sat my fat butt on a bale of straw and reached under this very nervous goat. She’s rocking around and picking up her feet, much like our mentor’s goats did for us when we milked them. They knew we were rookies. After quickly massaging Posey’s teats, I went for the first squeeze.
Whoa! Where did that foot come from? Where’s the teat? Cindy’s got the solution. She picks up the nearest hind foot and holds it firmly so I can begin this milking process.
She has nicely formed lengthy teats. Each one fits across the width of my hand perfectly. I begin to squeeze from the top of the teat down, finger by finger, only to realize I’m shooting the milk directly into my jacket sleeves. Geez, it’s below freezing out here. Long sleeves are necessary.
So, I check my position and go at it again. Squirt! Right onto the front of my jacket. By then, Bev is laughing so hard she’s about to pee her pants. Posey seems to be enjoying the hilarity and starts really moving around. Cindy’s still pushing on Posey’s butt trying to keep her forced into the head stall and still holding the leg up, just in case Bev lets go of her collar.
By the fourth attempt, I’m putting the milk into the bucket, one squirt at a time… not even attempting to milk with two hands this time. I’ve got milk on me, milk on Cindy, milk on Chewy our farm dog, and milk all over the stanchion. Fortunately, I’ve also got milk in the bucket.
After about 10 minutes, Cindy and I trade places and she finds out what I’ve been going through. Milk all over the place again. Of course that means, I’m pushing on Posey’s butt while holding her right rear leg up.
By now, Posey has run out of food up front and is quite tired of our antics. She’s getting harder and harder to keep in position. We’ve got about 6 ounces of “first milk” which we’ll freeze for use next year.
We let Posey go and find she’s much happier jumping off the stanchion and going back to the pen.
But,she’s not heard the last from us.
Into the pen we go… I grab one goat, and Cindy grabs another. By holding them firmly against the small goat house, the little one’s find there are ready nipples… Dinner! Or is that Breakfast! Here’s the funny part (or is it is sad), the little kids don’t get to suck on their mom’s for much longer than we got to milk Posey.
Maybe it’s a goat thing.
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Categories: Goats, Uncategorized Tags: goat stanchion, goats, kid goats, milk goats
OMG! Kid goats are just too cute!
I was sound asleep when sometime around O’dark thirty, Cindy got me up. This isn’t my idea of a good time… but you shoulda’ seen what we saw. Four precious little kids born to Suzy. She was bred to Apollo, our Nubian/Boer buck.
So we go traipsing out to Suzy’s pen (actually the pig pen… but not yet used). Cindy goes up and over the pallets in her Dr. Denton’s (no boots this time), and crawls into the little shed. We’re snapping pictures like crazy.
I took a minute to check the sheep, and lo and behold, we have a new set of twins. It’s rare for our ewes to have their babies at night. Thankfully these little tikes are in good shape. We’ll wait until daylight to determine the sexes.
Everyone else is calm, cool and collected… well, quite sleepy too, wondering how come their humans are out in the dark, shining lights and taking pictures. As for me, I can’t wait to crawl back into my nice warm bed. After another med change, and an RF ablation on my back, I’m totally enjoying laying in bed, and turning over without the aches and pains.
Ah, daylight now and when we go out, the little kids are already exploring their new world. Mom has gone out with us, and it absolutely amazed at them. As we can, we get one for her to hold and cuddle. We have 3 boys and a girl. Looks like we’ll be keeping the little girl. We may also have to supplement the milk, depending upon how they’re doing in the next day or so.
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Categories: Goats, Uncategorized Tags: goats, kid goats, sheep and goats
Let’s talk quality…
I (Shari) have been in the food business in one way or another for over 40 years. I’ve watched the “natural” and “organic” movements grow and be “taken over” by first, groups of people, who banded together to form organizations offering some type of certification in return for oversight, and then to the Federal Government becoming involved with the National Organic Plan.
As the demand for “organic and natural” food has become greater, larger and larger producers are getting involved. It is through their lobbying that the National Organic Plan is evolving, and some would say, being “watered down” so the lowest common denominator becomes the standard.
As stated in other posts and all our advertising, we grow USDA Certified Organic produce. Our animals are grass-fed (alfalfa, which is technically a legume), but not considered “organic” as our alfalfa producer uses a phosphorous, which is not OMRI approved, along with some other inputs to his fields. He doesn’t like to use any pesticides as it simply drives up his costs.
Over the past few years, there have been a number of “organic producers” who have given up their certifications in protest of what they consider to be a sell out by the USDA to the corporate demands of evermore inert synthetics allowed into the organic pesticides, as well as more synthetics allowed into the organic standards for food processing.
By giving up that right, the creditable ones, like Boulder Belt Eco-Farms in Ohio, are now calling themselves local, sustainable, and diversified which is the proper thing to do. Lucy of Boulder Belt has long been one of my “mentors”. I really appreciate her sincere activism, and the fact that she is willing to sort out the facts from any fear-mongering.
Now, I really don’t agree that just because the federal government has taken over the regulation of organic farms (for a fee), that they actually own the total rights to the word “organic” when used in conjunction with farming.
To me, there is Certified Organic, which means the farm has an Organic System Plan which provides a transparent audit trail for anyone to see. That farm is also subject to both announced and unannounced inspections by a certifying agency. In our case, that is the Utah Department of Food and Agriculture.
Then there is our neighbor (another dear mentor) who has Cricket Song Farm. She had her organic farm long before the government came along and took the word. She now says on her blog that she is “UN certified organic”. She also says her chickens lay tastier eggs than anyone else, including her sister, and can back up the claim in taste tests. She feeds her chickens her left-over goat milk. I can attest to that, as we often help with her chores.
Lately, there is a group of farmers proclaiming they are BETTER THAN CERTIFIED ORGANIC, because of their perception that the USDA National Organic Plan is allowing way too much in the way of things they consider to be outside of the realm of organic.
I’m sorry, but in my humble opinion, there is no way to be BETTER THAN CERTIFIED ORGANIC, when you have no accountability. Without an available Organic System Plan, and the transparent audit trail to back up what, when, where, who, and why you’re doing something, you are asking your customer to just believe whatever you tell them.
In the words of Ronald Regan… TRUST BUT VERIFY, or you’ll be having to say BUYER BEWARE.
