tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60448476834655951562024-03-05T05:42:13.225-08:00Walter Moore FarmFelicia Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244036393375353054noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-41084434350904509052017-04-22T12:59:00.002-07:002017-04-22T12:59:41.160-07:00Family Farm Day 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are so excited to kick off our farm opening with Family Farm Day! We wanted to celebrate our family farming here in Middleton for 50 years. Walter and I have farming deep in our roots, but I am the third generation to be here on this land, and it's exciting to me! We hope that you will bring your families' to enjoy a day the farm! </div>
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Come out and feed some animals, maybe try your hand at goat milking or roll in the mud with the pigs! Take a ride on our hay wagon to see the cows, or try out our new barrel train. If you get to hot picking in the garden we'll have a water slide here for you to cool off! There will be a whole hog roasting for lunch while it last! </div>
Felicia Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244036393375353054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-31953588867237536542017-03-01T00:01:00.000-08:002017-03-01T07:10:48.147-08:006 Tips to Get You Gardening<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This time of year I get really excited about spring coming, and although my to do list doubles daily--</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">it's still an exciting time of year. One of my favorite things is gardening! Here's a quick run down of how to prepare for your soon-to-be garden! </span></span></div>
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETBpjKtcogjxdQxoogCo9sIw5vzSDAZ7eO76pco4oDJral3ur9-j0E0tiPh7iQURUKFfZGM802mTmlP5w8U6wiSxndV7vo7znpPtZgzx2vYkVRUKp5ng_cI028CTC6ejceRWmkHe-76wQ/s1600/20150717_122237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETBpjKtcogjxdQxoogCo9sIw5vzSDAZ7eO76pco4oDJral3ur9-j0E0tiPh7iQURUKFfZGM802mTmlP5w8U6wiSxndV7vo7znpPtZgzx2vYkVRUKp5ng_cI028CTC6ejceRWmkHe-76wQ/s320/20150717_122237.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>#1 Plan out your garden- </b>I'm a lister, (and after 3 kids it's the only way I can remember anything anyway) so it's a good thing I like to do it. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Take some time to plan out your garden on paper. This will save you time and money when you get ready to set out your plants. Make a list of what you would like to grow, and determine how much room you have to work with. Configure your row spacing, length, and plant spacing. Your rows should be far enough apart so when the plants grow larger, you can still till between the rows if you use a tiller. I found this chart on </span><a href="https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/plant-spacing-chart.htm" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Gardening Know How</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> for a guide on plant spacing. Also consider </span><a href="http://www.almanac.com/content/companion-planting-guide-companion-plants" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">companion planting</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/gardening-techniques/healthy-soil-crop-rotation-zmaz10fmzraw" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">crop rotation</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. By planning out what you want to plant you can decide how much seed to order, how many plants to buy, and if it's more effective to start your own plants or just buy them ready to set out!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>#2 Order your seed-</b> This is my favorite part! I sometimes have trouble picking because I want them all! If you do proper planing though it will make it so much easier to only buy what you need. I order my seed from <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/" target="_blank">Southern Exposure Seed Exchange</a> (SESE for short). SESE has a good selection of heat and drought-tolerant plants that we need in our area. Also, <a href="http://www.rareseeds.com/" target="_blank">Baker Creek</a> has a BEAUTIFUL catalog! And <a href="http://www.tomatogrowers.com/?gclid=CI7yvJvas9ICFVK4wAodOOYEoQ" target="_blank">Tomato Growers</a> has a good selection of hybrids if you prefer those varieties. I order from them all! (I have a seed addiction, admitting it is the first step right?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>#3 Prepare your soil- </b>While your waiting on the seed to arrive you can prepare your soil. The best thing you can do is take some soil samples which we did through our <a href="http://extension.msstate.edu/" target="_blank">local extension office</a>. It's not hard and it only cost $7 per sample for us. It takes a few weeks to get your results back, but you will get a detailed list of what you need to apply to your soil. The general rule is to apply your lime in the fall, because it takes time to react with the soil. It's a more complex process than I can get into here but if your soil has a balanced pH then it will absorb the fertilizer better. Don't worry though: you can still apply your lime! It might just take time before you see the results. I don't use a lot of commercial fertilizers in my garden because we have an awesome supply of natural fertilizers here. Just be sure when using compost you've given it plenty of time to cycle so it doesn't burn up your plants.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UiaX-AUdTXPeUouPgCEsbyozxlFCndEQfIeBc2t1Oiv2bHi01wotkAWgZLRk5aPUKdThrx4_L8CBju4B4895LOfnuyQuOMGLdRRM2hFxh82K1tBZcmGZvJR7YS_U1yPF8wABKp7StFXs/s1600/20151221_131619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UiaX-AUdTXPeUouPgCEsbyozxlFCndEQfIeBc2t1Oiv2bHi01wotkAWgZLRk5aPUKdThrx4_L8CBju4B4895LOfnuyQuOMGLdRRM2hFxh82K1tBZcmGZvJR7YS_U1yPF8wABKp7StFXs/s320/20151221_131619.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iYiPeabOl3xJxxHZ0tROEHo8grkXEx8yFoKMR8JfYRvUZqaAhnK2aZ4Dq49U4aw70DwtGxIJM5brmeB-OWJqVvD_Qoj8U20SoH4GrL_eBRC2U5f0mkH0-gpOzcCVwfYS-4RD6hxDXpPi/s1600/20151225_201251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iYiPeabOl3xJxxHZ0tROEHo8grkXEx8yFoKMR8JfYRvUZqaAhnK2aZ4Dq49U4aw70DwtGxIJM5brmeB-OWJqVvD_Qoj8U20SoH4GrL_eBRC2U5f0mkH0-gpOzcCVwfYS-4RD6hxDXpPi/s320/20151225_201251.jpg" width="180" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>#4 Start some seeds- </b>Different areas will need to start seeds at different times. Find out when the average last frost date in your zone is by using this <a href="http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/" target="_blank">usda zone</a> finder. Most seed packs will tell you when to start your seed, and some will tell you to start weeks before the last frost date. Check out my post on <a href="https://waltermoorefarm.blogspot.com/2017/02/seed-starting.html" target="_blank">Starting Seed</a> for more in-depth details about successfully starting seeds.</span><br />
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<b>#5 Weed Control-</b> This is always the biggest failure for me. I let weeds overtake my garden before I get to enjoy the first tomato! This year I'm going to fight those weeds with a better mulching system. I plan on using wheat straw to mulch around all my plants--and do not use just any hay or you will deposit seeds from the hay for next years garden! (personal experience!!) I'm also experimenting with flame weeding and sterilizing seed beds with plastic. If you would like, you can treat your dirt with products like <a href="https://www.gardenworms.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=117" target="_blank">Premerge</a>. I haven't used these products but it sure is tempting sometimes. Whatever you do, if you can take some time now to combat weeds you will be thankful later!</span><br />
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<b>#6 Set out your plants-</b> Now the fun part! Put some plants out! This time of year I'm already getting cooler crops out. I like to direct sow my root crops--like carrots, beets, radishes, ect. Lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage are plants that I generally start and then transplant. <a href="http://www.almanac.com/content/starting-seeds-indoors" target="_blank">Check out this article</a> and date calculator for when to plant. I've already started my peppers and tomatoes in the greenhouse, too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hope you enjoy these 6 quick tips on getting your garden going this spring! </span></div>
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<br />Felicia Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244036393375353054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-87137321452173083972017-02-28T20:39:00.001-08:002017-03-01T07:12:44.775-08:00Seed Starting<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I had a week to recuperate and clean house before I started thinking about my garden. It's one of my favorite things in the spring, and as soon as I get the new seed catalogs I'm making a list (love my list) of what I want! I have a small seed hoarding problem. I do generally pull out last year's leftover seed and figure out what I already have, before I order more--but hey, it never hurts to order more! 😁 You can read about how I get my <b><a href="https://waltermoorefarm.blogspot.com/2017/03/6-tips-to-get-you-gardening.html" target="_blank">garden started here</a></b>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhho15ihyphenhyphenlRDsXCgE4fVjwOPQFuQ9eFIrehKDT7YvYP1l0DYHPmPAhXs2YVN5yNHJWtzAejwlFDob1p0Pc32MpCWHff478IAtRjZkLwQyTCUwWQ0iFYLIF70xBSolxHf4L2oXdZ2cnWD6V/s1600/blog22817.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhho15ihyphenhyphenlRDsXCgE4fVjwOPQFuQ9eFIrehKDT7YvYP1l0DYHPmPAhXs2YVN5yNHJWtzAejwlFDob1p0Pc32MpCWHff478IAtRjZkLwQyTCUwWQ0iFYLIF70xBSolxHf4L2oXdZ2cnWD6V/s640/blog22817.gif" width="630" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOZZeWIMvnCCuwmOdWaCOtEUPUPfOZxkZm_MUjIKKdf-RGDh3I1K7jSSjOzNHrUkIl0Jl2lZkqoIrzz4HbsZTJseGRUFMzMRTQINO-0pkl6PeWEGhtqv6NsVWVxH-ohKkZ6TT-uU6YV_W/s1600/20170120_140539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Soil-</i></b> After you order your seeds from your favorite seed company, (top of my list is <a href="http://www.southernexposure.com/" target="_blank">Southern Exposure</a>) you want to look for a good soil to start them in. What you can find in your area will vary and the cost will vary, too! Get what you can afford, but this isn't a place you want to skip out if at all possible. Name brands like <a href="http://www.promixgardening.com/en/" target="_blank">Pro-Mix</a> and <a href="http://www.lambertpeatmoss.com/" target="_blank">Lambert</a> are big locally. I found Bonnie's seed starting mix at our local Co-op for about $30 for a 3.8cu ft compressed bale. This is a bathtub full of potting soil, not what most people need, but you can find smaller bags of stuff to fit your needs. Seed starting mix isn't just dirt: it is mostly composed of peat moss, perlite, and/or vermiculite. It's just what those little seeds need to get a good start so you will have a healthy plant! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOZZeWIMvnCCuwmOdWaCOtEUPUPfOZxkZm_MUjIKKdf-RGDh3I1K7jSSjOzNHrUkIl0Jl2lZkqoIrzz4HbsZTJseGRUFMzMRTQINO-0pkl6PeWEGhtqv6NsVWVxH-ohKkZ6TT-uU6YV_W/s1600/20170120_140539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOZZeWIMvnCCuwmOdWaCOtEUPUPfOZxkZm_MUjIKKdf-RGDh3I1K7jSSjOzNHrUkIl0Jl2lZkqoIrzz4HbsZTJseGRUFMzMRTQINO-0pkl6PeWEGhtqv6NsVWVxH-ohKkZ6TT-uU6YV_W/s320/20170120_140539.jpg" width="179" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Containers-</b><i> </i>This is the fun part! I start my seeds two ways, the bulk method (putting all your seeds in one tray and dividing them after they have a few leaves developed) and individual plugs (each seed has its own container). I really don't have better results with one or the other. In the bulk method it seems to be easier to keep your moisture even, but it's a little more work to divide the seedlings. I do prefer to start with this method because it saves space and soil. When you germinate in a full sized pot, it takes up a lot of space and sometimes they don't sprout which means you have wasted a pot and soil. Get creative with your containers, there are a ton of cheap ideas on <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=seed%20starting%20containers&eq=seed%20starting%20con&etslf=12151&term_meta[]=seed%7Cautocomplete%7C0&term_meta[]=starting%7Cautocomplete%7C0&term_meta[]=containers%7Cautocomplete%7C0" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Z2i_0ohlnswwkaNaFYZNUzXt5k1mNtT1e-STC-7gMyZWtponyHml51rAWFCX2D-bUCY2r9FPBa4NcDYNfVEWeHsI-BMiT6yYkLZUmy2cbLBzMCmwdRN0F8tK2ybAEGBoxS911NQQl5sf/s1600/IMG_20170226_204413_382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Z2i_0ohlnswwkaNaFYZNUzXt5k1mNtT1e-STC-7gMyZWtponyHml51rAWFCX2D-bUCY2r9FPBa4NcDYNfVEWeHsI-BMiT6yYkLZUmy2cbLBzMCmwdRN0F8tK2ybAEGBoxS911NQQl5sf/s320/IMG_20170226_204413_382.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Heat-</i></b> Okay, this is where I failed big when I first began starting my seeds myself: heat. I can't stress this point enough: you have to get those temps up around the clock to get your seeds to germinate! I began with a small green house from Tractor Supply, something similar to <a href="http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/bond-bloom-greenhouse-small?cm_vc=-10005" target="_blank">this</a>, but a walk in. I was all excited and set it up in a good sunny spot and put all my pots with seeds in there, watered, and waited, and waited, and waited. And nothing. My greenhouse was hot in the day time, I had to open it everyday to keep it ventilated--but still no sprouts. Well, the temperature at night was still too low, and I wasn't aware I needed to keep them warm at night too! As soon as I got those little boogers heated up they sprouted within DAYS! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55kQwL-YHpLk9ZEOleRPCx8P54_39TK8CVRwKLBA-YPLLT7yld72DAkNx7ghyphenhyphenk6fE1yRPFE4mN5vFJrkl6Dkha2lQwXQnJijDHFdijvcyBa5kDANw0XySvrsoQhjXscLdhGuLwVhk-orc/s1600/20160410_193541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55kQwL-YHpLk9ZEOleRPCx8P54_39TK8CVRwKLBA-YPLLT7yld72DAkNx7ghyphenhyphenk6fE1yRPFE4mN5vFJrkl6Dkha2lQwXQnJijDHFdijvcyBa5kDANw0XySvrsoQhjXscLdhGuLwVhk-orc/s400/20160410_193541.jpg" width="225" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Light-</b> This is really important once your seeds have sprouted! If you don't get them enough light your plants will get tall and leggy and they can't develop a strong stem to hold themselves up! If you have them in front of a window or where the light source is one-sided: be sure you turn them so they don't lean! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once your seeds have sprouted, allow them to get the third or fourth leaf before transplanting them in bigger pots. From that point give them plenty of light and water, and fertilize them once a week. Certain plants will require more heat than others while they wait for you to harden them off and put them in the permanent home! </span><br />
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<br />Felicia Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244036393375353054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-87647460811745936652017-02-16T08:22:00.000-08:002017-03-01T07:13:58.662-08:00Let's Celebrate!! <div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHav_m1YsW7uOV1dY1TB1UavKfRzcSZ7yIQaQVtcPVjCS_latR0E7fUT2iLxMTBKRskBjM5ypAt_TZGnv69KK2kf3b3I8DEeJXE5xdKLXLlZlBB4ZjmjfnDGX9KvKw1KuDs-M2uHeezYf/s1600/20160831_162722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHav_m1YsW7uOV1dY1TB1UavKfRzcSZ7yIQaQVtcPVjCS_latR0E7fUT2iLxMTBKRskBjM5ypAt_TZGnv69KK2kf3b3I8DEeJXE5xdKLXLlZlBB4ZjmjfnDGX9KvKw1KuDs-M2uHeezYf/s400/20160831_162722.jpg" width="224" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today would be my Papaw's (Walter Elmo Moore) 87th birthday!! He is the one who bought this farm we now call home, in 1967. That was 50 years ago! It has deep meaning to me, that I'm the third generation to work this land and repair these fences (joking fencing isn't fun). Walter (Coleman, the hubs) and I truly enjoy the lifestyle we have here, even though its hard work it is so rewarding. Our children, (the fourth generation) can't even begin to understand the blessing they have yet, but hope is to sustain this farm for them! We have an open door policy, and always love visitors but this year we are even more excited to focus on sharing farming with our community! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Cbgpmf64CQI-3i1meOm38dQVeh_aBzswCLtuRv5YFGRRxECHOKconXq67IxjLK6eJ5C_mTVX_zT0lR0gyNuw1wMwpXXwzHJl9vgbmqzNUJ8kP9kTedIfJOqfi3i9j9MrlPb_q5FtjymF/s1600/20160421_172205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Cbgpmf64CQI-3i1meOm38dQVeh_aBzswCLtuRv5YFGRRxECHOKconXq67IxjLK6eJ5C_mTVX_zT0lR0gyNuw1wMwpXXwzHJl9vgbmqzNUJ8kP9kTedIfJOqfi3i9j9MrlPb_q5FtjymF/s400/20160421_172205.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We are OPENING to the PUBLIC!!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This kinda sounds silly, all typed out here, but that's the best way I know how to say it! We love our farm, and we love that we can grow our own food, and work with our hands, and take care of animals. We do realize this doesn't work for everyone, so we want to be able to share with you the enjoyment! I'd love to share some of the hard work too, but I doubt people would be so excited about that! There is a lot of planning and paperwork (yuck!) going on over here, so we could use a lot of prayer that God will lead us in the right direction with things! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusAVXi2XSQDwzGj6LpcCA7kqYk67TlAOKG1n5eaL8yrotHJWPJj-s9ylin86wqjIu3gpK2Z4YmZRCka1DjeK6aeSeIaPZCkeBtL5FHOE02rtHGTK2V2cPaudd0hXb-OE7A89b1fPDp6Ny/s1600/20160726_212822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusAVXi2XSQDwzGj6LpcCA7kqYk67TlAOKG1n5eaL8yrotHJWPJj-s9ylin86wqjIu3gpK2Z4YmZRCka1DjeK6aeSeIaPZCkeBtL5FHOE02rtHGTK2V2cPaudd0hXb-OE7A89b1fPDp6Ny/s320/20160726_212822.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We want you to be able to come and bring the family for a fun and educational experience. Pick your own vegetable from the garden, or just buy some from the farm stand. We will have plants for your own garden if you enjoy gardening yourself. See first hand where your food comes from, take a ride out on the hay wagon to look at the cows and pigs. Pet the goats, and feed the chickens!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> This fall, come visit us for your fall decor! We'll have pumpkins and a corn maze!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">JUNE 24th 2017</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">FAMILY FARM DAY</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Come out a celebrate 50 years of family farming here in Middleton! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>My dad's big 60th Birthday!! Cupcakes, BBQ, and a water slide for the kids! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">We are super excited about that we have planned! There will be NO ADMISSION or PARKING CHARGE to visit the farm!! We will have to cover our expenses though, so we will have tickets to adventure the corn maze, and ride the hay wagon in the fall (or we will be broke and you can't come back next year).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Keep an eye out!!! We look forward to seeing you! </span></div>
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Felicia Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244036393375353054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-40460280398178790572016-09-12T20:51:00.000-07:002016-09-12T20:51:52.998-07:00Manic MondayAfter a fun filled weekend helping my in-laws at the Germantown festival, I had to make a run to the processor with our hefty batch of pastured pork, and pick up the last batch! It's a long trip, we left the house at 8:30 and didn't pull in the drive til around 4:30! We stopped once on the side of the road to pee, three times for snacks, and once to get another cooler because 2 hogs filled up the entire truck bed of coolers and then some! While we where out we did do some educational things, like read road signs, meat scales, write weights, and learn how to quickly pack meat in coolers! So nice on days like today, we can take field days! I thought it was fascinating today, while we waited to unload are ethically raised pork, they meat processor was disposing of the interior parts that generally don't get taken home by the customers. It was some what smelly, but they take them somewhere for dog food? So if you pass a some what stinky 18 wheeler dump truck... <br />
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Some weeks seem like they just get slammed with things though. I sat down to write a follow up post about my Menu Monday, or whatever I titled the last post but haven't fully summed it up. So far, we are doing fairly well, we have only missed 2 nights menu meals, eating out one of those! I did find a few kinks in the system I should work out better for the next 2 weeks? I'd love some input on a few things, like the grocery list- do I include things like spices, milk, butter, ect.? I have those in my home all the time, and who its almost impossible to calculate cost when you only use 3 tablespoons of flour?? <br />
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<br />Felicia Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244036393375353054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-74669155209769465542016-08-29T22:21:00.000-07:002016-09-01T16:37:14.070-07:00Whats for dinner?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Fold laundry, pick up the house, tackle 2nd grade, head outside to do chores, and the next you know its 8 o'clock and everyone is screaming 'what's for dinner?'. Anyone else have this issue? It seems to be a fairly common issue with busy working moms and here, we work with the daylight so its dark before we even stop to think about eating and then all our meat is generally frozen. I tried getting several things out of the freezer and keeping them in the fridge, and then we end up not eating them because who really wants to start cooking dinner at 8:30? I end up throwing away half of it because I can't remember how long it has been there! I could eat a bag of popcorn every night and be satisfied, although eventually I'm sure it would catch up with me. And then there is the case that all to often we find ourselves eating out which isn't healthy and cost a fortune. All the while, we are working in our garden, canning, or working with our farm fresh meat animals so that we can be healthier?? So explain to me how that works?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have found when I take the time to plan out a menu and buy groceries we do a whole lot better, I also do pretty good spending a whole day cooking and freezing several meals, as long as I remember to get them out of the freezer in time! Until I run out of menu items and someone complains about eating the same thing every week. My kids love hamburger helper style meals, and they are quick and easy, my six years old loves to cook them, but yet again this isn't on the healthy side, surely its better than eating out though?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This fancy new printer I got comes with some cool auto print things and with a push of a button or two it prints out a blank calendar! So AJ say, "mom, this is our menu planner, right?". Hmm, okay sure lets try it! Here is where I started:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Its not really as easy as just throwing some meals on paper. If you want to be successful you need to half way know your schedule. I know there are some days we will be out all day and I don't want to come in an cook and clean up a huge meal. We cook for the kids at church on Wednesday night, so I don't need a meal then. Saturdays, we spend the day generally working on the farm, so I want something quick and easy. Okay you get the point. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">*disclaimer* no judging about what we eat! I'm not a health coach, a dietician, or anyone who is qualified to put meals together for others. Eating these foods could cause weight gain, illness, fullness, happy husbands and children, or even death. I am not responsible. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Since we got that out of the way here is where you can get a downloadable copy of the <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByHCqZP82F_IUUJ3cUdQWWlFWTg" target="_blank">September Menu</a>. The grocery list include all your main items, but double check cause </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can't be responsible</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> if I forgot something and you have to go back to the store... happens to me ALL the time. I didn't include staple kitchen items, like butter, spices, and such. I split it into two list because I like my produce fresh, most people get paid twice a month, and that's about how many times I want to go grocery shopping with three kids in a month. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByHCqZP82F_IRlZZMm1QSVYyUnc" target="_blank">first list</a> is for the 1st-16th and the <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByHCqZP82F_IWnFHaWswRE11VjA" target="_blank">second list</a> starts for the 17th and continues til the end of the month.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This seemed like a good place for me to start and share my experiences, cost, failures, and insight as I go. I categorized a few things to help myself out. I will also try to get some links together for some of these meals! So here is to my first MEAL MONDAY! Even though I didn't finish it til Tuesday morning! </span></div>
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<br />Felicia Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244036393375353054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-14080921788274155852016-08-28T18:08:00.001-07:002016-08-28T18:08:38.592-07:00Where does time go? <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My laptop crashed about 3 months ago, and I finally broke down and got a new one. So excited because I got a great deal, and got all the programs I use.... Office, and Photoshop (yeah, my list is long). I also got a cool new printer cheap with the purchase, which I think I am most excited about. Any way, I thought it prime time to revamp the web page, catch up on my record keeping, and try this blogging thing again. Please, don't expect greatness, and you will not be disappointed!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I was thinking of addressing the situation of how fast time passes.... yes exactly like how its been two years almost since I sat down to write a post. Maybe I'm just not as good a keeping up with things like this as I would like to be. Since school is starting back it requires me to sit in the office/school room and gives me more time to focus on things like accounting, records keeping, and perhaps blogging. Then again time just seems to slip right through, while my hands are busy with three children and a full time farm with me as the full time employee. My husband has a full time job so he works around the clock, he says he gets a break when he goes to his actual paying job. One day I do hope we can sustain ourselves on our farm income, *sigh* one day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Okay, so to actually make a point with this post instead of just rambling on... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">...and the point was where does time go, and now its been </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">six hours</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> since I started this post... so yeah point made... time to milk the goat, and do bedtime chores.</span> </div>
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Felicia Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05244036393375353054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-8188041955787735182015-01-22T18:52:00.000-08:002015-01-22T19:34:24.014-08:00Happy Girl and Happy Goats! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I posted this picture on Facebook and Instagram yesterday, but I didn't have space to tell the whole story. I also didn't think it was enough for a blog post, but the picture itself got a lot of feedback, so here it goes:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been having some awesome weather here in Tennessee. I have come out of my semi-hibernation this week to tackle outdoor chores that are long overdue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I've have been assembling the second greenhouse that I purchased in the fall, and I have been getting things in order for my spring gardening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, we were out in the Upper Hog Lot (all of our pasture have names) where were electrified the fence. The goats stay there, unless they are wreaking havoc in the Barn Lot. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was moving some chicken hoop coops around and I caught a glimpse of something in an adjacent pasture (Pine Pasture).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a large coyote, and it had just crossed over the property line to eyeball the goats. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, like I said before, we had electrified the Upper Hog Lot fence line back in the summer, but pesky little kids (goats, not humans) don't seem to be affected--they would find all these cracks between and under the gates. They would wander all around in adjacent pastures. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily, they were behaving when the coyote came around. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though I was at a distance from the house and I didn't think I could make it back to the Upper Hog Lot before the coyote left, I had to try.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It never occurred to me that a predator would ever have the chance to get that close to my goats. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both of my children were with me, so I asked my daughter AJ to watch the coyote while I ran to the house... I literally ran. And did I mention that I was way out of shape from semi-hibernating?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My children were at a safe distance from the coyote, so I felt like I could leave them there... with 14 goats, a dog, and a blind pony.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Running back, I saw that the coyote had moved and was heading in the exact direction where the kids (goats, not humans) normally play. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The beast paused, and I found a good place to sit down. Or, should I say I found a good place to almost pass out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I couldn't stop panting enough to get a steady shot, so the coyote was able to start walking off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tried to whistle, but I didn't have enough air yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Guess who stepped in to save the day? My brilliant five year old, AJ! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She and her brother were still up the hill playing, when she decided that "she had to do something". So, she howled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Awooo!" She called, stopping the coyote in its tracks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I made the best shot of the year! AJ was so excited when she saw it drop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Mommy!!" She screamed with glee. "That was the first coyote I ever killed--I mean, <i>helped you</i> kill."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm still laughing about that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She couldn't wait until we could go check it out! And then she talked about it for hours. It makes me excited to get her out into the woods to deer hunt!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The coyote was a pretty good sized dog, probably one of the ones I had shot at but missed during deer season..But this made for a better story!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In other farm news, is this goat ever going to kid or what? She did manage to get up on her own once today. The kids are still moving around inside of her, and she's still eating/drinking...but come on already! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No kids (goat or human) will be injured or die in the result of the predators death. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I thought I would talk a little about Broiler chicken again, if you read my previous post about our attempt with the black broiler you might remember that we still don't have any fresh chicken for the freezer. So I thought I'd start a series about the batch of broilers we are raising now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year we bought all our meat chickens from the local tractor supply 'Chick Day's', since that isn't going on now I had to search out somewhere new to get some chicks! We found a pretty good deal over at <a href="https://www.purelypoultry.com/" target="_blank">Purely Poultry</a> on their house Cornish Cross day old chicks. I am very pleased so far with the results. We made it over 2 weeks without loosing the first bird! Then when we had single digit temps we had a mini dooms day, even with a second light we still lost 6 birds over the course of 3 days. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we first got into chickens the last thought that went through my mind is, 'boy, I'd sure love to kill all these chickens and eat them for dinner'. No- I wasn't about to eat that, it was my pet! It didn't take long to become over run with roosters though, and I think most chicken people can relate to that problem. Although some find better options than eating them, we where fairly used to eating wild game, like dove, ducks, and deer, and luck me, my husband doesn't mind killing and cleaning them. Yes, he is the best! I only get the chicken after its completely gutted, and feathered. The only thing that looks different than a whole chicken from the grocery store is those bright yellow feet! After a few rooster population control meetings, we realized it just not worth the cost and work, what you get from layer roosters. We still really liked the idea of raising our own chickens, knowing what they where eating and the condition that they lived would be far better than anything we could ever buy at the grocery store. No hormones, no antibiotics, non-GMO feed, plenty of room, and real sun light! Following in the foot steps of a friend who had just finished their first batch of Cornish Broilers, we attempted it last spring. You can <a href="http://waltermoorefarm.blogspot.com/2014/11/past-broilers-future-chicken-and.html" target="_blank">read more about that here</a>, as well as the failed attempted with the black broilers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We received 30 chicks on December 18th, all in good health. We start them on a none medicated 18% chick starter. They are kept in a brooder box, with heat light, off the ground. I have never had any issues feeding them all they will eat. Some say they can over eat and die and I could see that being totally possible, but personally we haven't seem to have any problems, especially at a young age. This past week I switch them over to a Non-GMO 22% Broiler feed, they seem to be doing well with that, not quite finishing off the 7lb feeder as fast as the other feed but I'm sure in a few days that will change. These birds progress so fast a few days and everything about them can change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are moving them to a larger brooder box today, because I'm expecting the second round of birds to come in this week. The plan is to process somewhere between 25-30 birds every 4 weeks or so, we let them grow to about 8 weeks normally. Depending on what other big farm projects we have going. It takes a full days work to clean and process them. Last spring the most we did in one day was 15. We have some awesome friends that normally come over and help my husband butcher and clean, but *sigh* I watch from the kitchen window, alone. Ok- sob story over, the hub's messed up and helped me do the last couple last time, and now I can't do it without his help!! It just goes so much faster with some one else, although normally he's like 'would you just be quite and work'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll be back to report on this in a few weeks- </span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-61694935392781502492015-01-13T16:58:00.000-08:002015-01-13T17:33:28.688-08:00In the Kitchen<div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have this obsession with mason jars... I know its a problem but I just really can't find a good stopping point with collecting more. I love to find a sweet deal on them, and better yet be given a box! After canning over 500 jars this year of different things, I just don't know how many I will need... you know?? I have them tucked away in every corner, cabinet, hiding place and boxes in the attic, plus they are on shelves all around the house holding things or just hanging out looking pretty! I have a small collection of the antique blue ones, and I also have the anniversary collection, blue and green ones- but now look what they have gone and done! A new color! ohhh.... ahhh...</span></div>
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<tr><td><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.freshpreservingstore.com/skulist/Pre-Order%20New%20Heritage%20Collection%20Jars/632810-632817" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/10898048_779500548764603_5825341342179736219_n.jpg?oh=376bf2d63d0f21558afc54602816c333&oe=553812BA&__gda__=1429743332_587e0fe39e4d3b03668c447ca397124f" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="http://www.freshpreservingstore.com/skulist/Pre-Order%20New%20Heritage%20Collection%20Jars/632810-632817" target="_blank">Pre-Order Here!</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hit a double with with our cost effective meal last night! Poor man's supper never tasted so good! White beans and cornbread, and wild duck! I didn't think that white beans would be a meal I wanted on the menu much but with the grilled, bacon wrapped, cream cheese and jalapeno stuffed wild duck... Really need I say more? To top it off I found this tasty cornbread recipe on Pintrest from <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/offsite/?token=727-195&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisgalcooks.com%2F2012%2F10%2F07%2Fcast-iron-buttermilk-corn-bread%2F&pin=249949848040897244" target="_blank">This Gal Cooks</a>. It was a big hit! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thisgalcooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Cast-Iron-Buttermilk-Cornbread-from-www.thisgalcooks.com-cornbread-castironskillet-wm.jpg" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="290" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/offsite/?token=727-195&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisgalcooks.com%2F2012%2F10%2F07%2Fcast-iron-buttermilk-corn-bread%2F&pin=249949848040897244" target="_blank">Yummy Recipe Here</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As far as the rest of the week goes.... well-</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight: <a href="http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/main-course/pasta/tortellini-crock-pot-meal.html" target="_blank">Tortellini & Spinach Soup</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow: Loaded Baked Potato (I cook for the youth at church!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thursday: Spaghetti & Salad</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friday: L/O</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday: L/O</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok. that's as far as I got.... I have to work my part time job Friday & Saturday so I'll have to think twice as hard to have a meal ready the hub's can heat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whats your favorite meal to leave the husband in charge of?? </span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-70707966953237995462015-01-11T20:19:00.000-08:002015-01-22T19:06:55.476-08:00Frozen Farm <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So in my struggle to be a better blogger, I thought I'd have a farm photo shoot on the coldest day of the year! Had to share this photo bomb by Jenny James.... Have you ever seem a goat who's horns grew so strange? </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bPYCzaZJs0/VLLrjhHCzDI/AAAAAAAAA-I/aU_gIP2t7lM/s1600/waltermoorefarm1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bPYCzaZJs0/VLLrjhHCzDI/AAAAAAAAA-I/aU_gIP2t7lM/s1600/waltermoorefarm1.gif" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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For some of my family this is only something to laugh at, but it’s been the
coldest this week on the farm the pond has a couple of inches of ice on it. The
low hear Wednesday night was 9. What is so sad about all this is that its dry
cold!! No snow! If it’s going to be this cold I want snow!! </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">This
cold just creates some extra work for us making sure all the animals are
snuggled up and warm with hay, lights, and have fresh, thawed, drinking water.
Rabbits have been the hardest thing to water, but I'm going to hopefully fix
all that with an automatic watering system, insulated... Everything else you
just have to take the wood splinter and bust the ice in the trough or on the
pond. Not before taking a quick slide across.... A very swallow spot of course!!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--RSTaJrhhMk/VLLtuGYRYWI/AAAAAAAAA-U/sh57Gika3Ug/s1600/2015-117.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--RSTaJrhhMk/VLLtuGYRYWI/AAAAAAAAA-U/sh57Gika3Ug/s1600/2015-117.gif" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is a quick picture of the piggies we are raising. Ain't those hams looking tasty? We have been raising these pigs since August and its been a pretty enjoyable experience. When my dad told me the stories of how my Papaw used to have a dozen sows, and over 100 piglets at a time I thought he was nuts. I'm starting to think that pigs would be so much easier than goats!! </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8DGZ3CSmznE/VLLtyVKHK2I/AAAAAAAAA-c/bR1TS-3oczQ/s1600/2015-105.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8DGZ3CSmznE/VLLtyVKHK2I/AAAAAAAAA-c/bR1TS-3oczQ/s1600/2015-105.gif" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So much so that we picked up a couple new babies last weekend!! Look at these cuties!! We got two Hereford gals, and four more to feed out. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eoTN_mj43_w/VLLzL-m8KAI/AAAAAAAAA-s/MPNzTVdkt6Y/s1600/2015-089.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eoTN_mj43_w/VLLzL-m8KAI/AAAAAAAAA-s/MPNzTVdkt6Y/s1600/2015-089.gif" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That kinda wraps up the week here, its been cold and everything frozen. Today its wet, right above freezing, so everything is horribly muddy. I dread even going out. Thoughts of spring and gardening bouncing around in my head bring joy and dread at the same time. I'm not going to lie, I've gotten pretty lazy over the winter, and there is still so many projects I need to do before spring that I should even have time to sit down a throw this sloppy post together!! </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Build shelter for the goats, so I can lock them out of the barn lot</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chicken proof garden fence, so I can have a few tomatoes this year</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fence of greenhouse, to keep goats and chickens out</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Run watering system in greenhouse</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plant fruit trees</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Order seeds</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Build compost bin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finish rabbit poop collect thingy</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so on.... Whats your get done before spring list look like?</span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-90043034679526219722015-01-11T14:34:00.000-08:002015-01-13T15:06:14.377-08:00New Year, New System<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">Starting the New Year
seems like a good time to start new things. Like better record keeping. This
shoe box full or receipts just makes for more work at the year end farm finance
meeting.... ugh. That doesn't need anything to make it more exciting! I've been
working on a couple spread sheets to better organize things. It's still a work
in progress but I think I'm going to test it out with all the info from 2014 I
have piled in a note book style calendar. I can't give any fancy figures for
last year, but hopefully this year, I will be able to!</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">A few things I want to
really work on this year are:</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">Reading my entire
BIBLE</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">Life on farm, with
kids and a husband is ridiculously busy & chaotic, but foremost I have to
put my Savior. Building a better relationship with Christ starts from reading
my Bible daily. So this year I want to challenge myself to read the WHOLE
Bible. I know it might be a challenge; honestly I can't even sit down a write
about all the chaos once a week! </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">Meal Plan</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">I love to cook, but
sometimes I get so busy I can't do anything until my kids
start complaining or my own stomach starts growling! I want to figure
out a better system to plan out meals that are healthy! Some way to keep
up with what I've cooked what meals pair well for the week, etc... This is
also going to be an important part of my thing, hopefully reducing the grocery
bill.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">Reducing Debt</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">Because who really
wants debt?? I know sometimes it can't be helped! This year, I really want to
focus on paying down our house. This means I'm going to have to cut back on all
my expenses. Deciding if it's a need or a want. I'm an "on-the-go" mom;
I like to get out- shop for deals, eat out, and burn too much gas! If I'm not
on the go it’s because between hardware store visits I'm working on some
projects. I may go into more details later, because I could talk forever about
how I know I need to save more and spend less.... but talking is one thing.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">Record Keeping</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">So, like I said above,
end of year farm finance meeting.... blah. Besides finance my records are just
jumbled all over my calendar. It would be so much easier if it was all but into
a nice spread sheet. This is what I have worked on the last three days. Rabbit
records, goat records, cow records, dairy yields, egg yields, garden yields... OK you
get the idea. I'm pretty good at this for a week, and then it goes down the
drain from there. So I really want to do a better job this year.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">Improving Our <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Homestead</st1:city></st1:place></span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">Besides record
keeping, I want to work this year and improve the functionality of our farm. I
want to be able to create a mission statement of what we want to accomplish and
stand for. How we plan to accomplish all this and where we would like to be in
five years. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13.5pt;">So my husband pointed
out that on several occasions I have these bright ideas, and
the meal plans last about two weeks, budgets get shot in the foot with the
first unexpected flat, my record keeping normally makes it till March,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span aria-haspopup="true" id=":z.3" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1">SOOOO</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>sorry
I get busy<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span aria-haspopup="true" id=":z.4" role="menuitem" tabindex="-1">hun</span></span>! </span>I guess we
will see what happens this year!! </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-87877416981211296902015-01-02T18:06:00.004-08:002015-01-13T14:32:14.640-08:00Ready Or Not Here Is 2015<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ready or not, we are in a new year! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe I can be a better blogger... HA!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm still recovering. Seriously, my kids have turned into some strange hooligans, my house is suffering, and the laundry pile... let's not speak of that mountain. I don't even have the brain power to put sentences to write a half way interesting post. Oh, well!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone have a BLESSED NEW YEAR!!! </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Jv9Hf5bO4E/VKdOc5dH4lI/AAAAAAAAA9E/xMBxVMkqgUo/s1600/family-photo-edit1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Jv9Hf5bO4E/VKdOc5dH4lI/AAAAAAAAA9E/xMBxVMkqgUo/s1600/family-photo-edit1.gif" height="512" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credits to Elisha Hill of I Spy Photography.</td></tr>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-57823633910815962032014-11-10T20:44:00.003-08:002015-01-13T14:28:44.512-08:00Past Broilers... Future Chicken and Dumplings<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This past spring we took on something new here on the farm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The broiler chicken. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have raised chickens for several years, and sometimes we have too many roosters, so we have eaten them. Finally, I came to the conclusion that they just were not worth my time at all for the amount of meat that came off them and the pain it was to butcher them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then we ended up home to two accidental broilers. A friend purchased them as chicks, but she knew she wouldn't have the heart to butcher them. This was my first experience with broilers, and we didn't really treat them any different than any other chicken. We didn't give them any extra feed, we just let them free range with all the others. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think when we finally decided to butcher them they where well beyond the 6 week growth peak, but because they were easy to butcher and they gave enough meet, we decided to try again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We just bought the Cornish X that were in stock at the local Tractor Supply. The plan was to get several smaller batches before we had to butcher the first batch. I knew once the butchering process began I wouldn't want to buy anymore to grow out. We ended up with 2 batches of 15 about 3 weeks apart. We fed them a 20% feed (which we paid entirely too much for per bag) at Tractor Supply, and it was the only non-medicated fed we knew of at the time. I did eventually start buying it for a lot less at my local Co-op. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We free ranged the chickens, and I think they got about 7 lbs. of feed a day and then they were on their own. By the time we made it to butchering day I think we had 12 the first time and 11 the second. Normally we lost one or two in the first two weeks. Then sometimes we would lose them after they got bigger. One ended up in a pot of chicken spaghetti because we had a minor accident while moving their pen, don't let your four year old be the watch guard..."back up! back up!" doesn't fix things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had a community butchering day, our friend brought over his broilers that they raised off the ground their whole life. These stark white beauties outweighed our free rangers just a little. They all had clean white feathers too, and our poor free range birds looked like we gave them mud baths! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Going through all this past history, I wish I had pictures, but I don't, it leads me to say... the new broilers are here! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> This fall we are going to try something different! I've ordered 25 black broilers, they are supposed to be bred to be a better pasture raised bird, with less chance of heart attacks, leg issues, or Ascite (fluid in the body cavity). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before I had time to fully finish this post, my broilers are 10 weeks old. (A great place for a shout out to those ladies that Blog... I can't seem to get a grip on it!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, here is my thoughts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't like em. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm sure that everyone has a different experience and I'm sure that coming from different facilities may have a difference in stock, but I don't like em. I ordered two Brahma rooster with the 25 black broilers and until about the 3rd week I couldn't tell a single difference in size. I moved them to the grow out pin at 4 weeks, which is on the ground, and several days later they started dying like no bodies business. Our friends also got 25 to raise and around this same time they started loosing them for unknown reason, but theirs where off the ground. I put them back up, I switched to medicated food for a time (something I never did with the Cornish X), I just don't know. I didn't do anything any different. So at 10 weeks, they are the same size as the Brahma rooster, look just like Black Australorps, and I think I have 8 surviving. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tell me about your experience and favorite broilers to raise! </span><br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-19683850704691468792014-09-04T10:00:00.000-07:002014-09-04T20:56:35.653-07:00Oink! Oink!!<div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This year we are going to raise six pigs to market size!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Please meet Bacon, Hamlet, Sausage, Pork Chop, Barbecue, & Princess.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On our last adventure with pigs, we raised three pigs who weighed up to 300lbs each. I did have a cost analysis after we took the pigs to slaughter, but I moved and had a baby since then so I'm fairly clueless as to where it is... </span><br>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">FOUND IT!! Whoop! Whoop! Happy dance! I typed it in an excel spread sheet, luckily, but it doesn't look like I finished it. Bummer! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last time we started, we got two Duroc crosses piglets, and added a boar about half way through the process. We fed our pigs corn, the pig feed that the local store carried, scraps, pumpkins, and loads of free day old bread. It was a trial and error kind of project, and we also decided to cut a boar at about 150lbs... I say we, but really it was my husband and his friend. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Did you know that pigs can be some of the loudest farm animals when they want to be?? We got a little smarter this time and had them cut when we bought them. We went with a White Chester mixed with Yorkshire this time, and they are all between 6 and 8 weeks old weighing in at an average of 20lbs. As for their diet, we checked around at our local feed stores and the only thing they have in stock for pigs is a medicated corn or soy based feed, which we did not want to use. I did finally find a mill that provides a non-medicated, corn and soy free feed which I could buy in bulk and save money! It includes sunflowers, barley, wheat, and oats. We plan to pasture raise these pigs, and supplement them with a non-GMO feed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've started the pigs off in our summer garden spot, since it's overgrown and dried up... totally different story. I'm hoping that the pigs will root it up and fertilize it really well for next year. They've been in there a week and I can already see where they are tilling the soil! I plan on planting some winter crops like turnips in our other garden spot to feed the pigs as well as our family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If this post seems choppy, it's because I had to rewrite it! I wrote the original, and I thought I had saved it, but I guess I didn't. I barely remember my name on a daily basis much less what I blogged two nights ago! </span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-28666903619959581852014-08-26T12:44:00.001-07:002015-01-13T14:21:52.527-08:00Monday Monday<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's hay season again around here, our second cutting for the year. It's looking really good for us too! I spent most of the day cutting our second batch (of the second cutting) and we got the last of the first batch baled up! 106 rolls already!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been the hottest this week than it's been all year--103 degrees was the heat index yesterday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Since it's late, I'm tired, and I'm posting from my phone: I'm just going to share some pictures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh- and I only had a gazillion problems with the mower today. The section of pasture I was cutting is one of the roughest and bumpiest on the whole farm. All the extra bouncing took a toll on a lot of things, by the time I had finished my mower looked like this-</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a few more from previous days-</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodnight!! </span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-48145375198273767502014-08-21T10:00:00.000-07:002015-01-22T19:06:18.954-08:00The First Kid<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some excitement that went around the barn-lot last week! We had our first ever baby kid!! Lucy, who is the most annoying goat you'll ever meet, was the first to kid! This sweet baby girl shares a birthday with my husband's sister, and my friend's husband, so we named her accordingly! Welcome to the farm Jenny James!!</span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6044847683465595156.post-64061336141834496772014-08-20T21:41:00.001-07:002014-08-26T12:57:30.959-07:00How We Got Here<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SrS8t8_MuQk/U_VzVcc1AcI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/dwQjFwxUYkQ/s1600/howwegothere.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SrS8t8_MuQk/U_VzVcc1AcI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/dwQjFwxUYkQ/s1600/howwegothere.gif" height="424" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess I should make my first post
about how we got here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story could really be as long as
you wanted, from back as far as my childhood, heck, to even before I was born...
but don't PANIC--I don't have the time to tell it all! I've got 23 minutes for
my creamed corn to finish processing and then I'm hitting the sack!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> My Papaw bought the first part of our
farm in 1967; he raised my dad and aunt here for most of their lives. His
father was a farmer, who came and helped him get a lot of things started. They
built the barn and an old wooden wagon that we still use to this day. At some
point, he bought some an adjoining land to create what we have today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Papaw took a
break from farming and moved back to the big city at some point, only returning to the farm life after he retired. One of
my favorite mottos he had was 'work smarter not harder'. I remember those
weekend trips when would come from the city to visit the farm. Back then, the
only animals at the farm were a stray dog and some cows. Yet, it was always so exciting, there
are firefly's out here...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My family moved from the city out to
the farm when I was ten years old. I learned to drive a tractor only a year after we moved, and by thirteen I was already raking and hauling hay. I was my Papaw's 'right hand man'. When I grew up
and had to get a paying job and college education, I wasn't always able get home to
help on the farm--but I never forgot how to work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2006, my Papaw passed away, leaving the farm to my Dad. Yet after many years driving to the city to work a desk job and then driving back to work the farm, he decided to go ahead and move back to the city, passing the torch to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily, I married a
wonderful cornbread raised man, and we moved our little family here in November of
2013. It’s been a journey to say the least. We moved in, hosted Thanksgiving, two weeks later had our second child, and have been wide open ever since.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That pretty much sums it up. I
couldn't imagine life any other way right now. And I'm so proud to be able to
raise my children here, and teach them how to work.... There goes my timer!!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a Blessed Day!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Felicia <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0