We are finally making progress on the clean up from last year’s storm damage. The arbor that had been attached to a raised garden bed has been re-built – YEA!! The third of our large garden plots is now established and planted with five rows of potatoes and several of sweet corn. Squash will be […]
The last of the carrots have been dug, garlic along with spring flower bulbs planted, and the garden toys are tucked away for the winter. This seams like a good time to sit back and reflect on the busy year we had on this small scale farm operation. With such good weather in April & […]
March started out more like April this year, with warmer temps and a nice snow melt. We wondered if that was why our flock went through a mild molt. We’ve experienced the fall molt, which is why it’s nice to brood chicks in early May since they pick up the slack in egg production while […]
We’ve had a busy couple of months. In January I took on the role of Vice-Chair of the Green County Democratic Party, and have LOTS to learn. I’m enjoying the challenge but it has taken some of my time from things like perusing Facebook and posting to our blog. It hasn’t been all politics these […]
Winter months can be challenging for chicken keepers. Fresh greenery and bugs are hard to come by. Boredom sets in when our sweet little chickens begin feeling “all cooped up” and bad things can happen . . . as shown in this Far Side cartoon. In my next few posts I’ll share some ideas that […]
Re-purposing is important to me, and by scouring Craigslist, bargain bins, thrift stores and the occasional yard sale I’ve built up quite a supply of “treasures”. Now it’s time to put them to use. In the past I’ve set up at our local art & craft fair. My display of was sparse since I was […]
When we lived in town we attracted a nice variety of birds with our various feeders, small pond, bird baths, and garden. Once in a while during the fall migration a hawk would visit the feeders. I remember looking out the kitchen window in awe of that beautiful bird and feeling badly for the prey […]
After an incredibly busy spring and summer, it was time for our annual fishing trip. Having missed our spring getaway we decided to leave a few days early and visit friends that now live in Michigan. To save on some of the driving we took the car ferry across Lake Michigan. When we boarded the […]
Fall puts me in the mood to work on art and craft projects. The same holds true for Rod, which is why he planned on spending some time in his new work shop building a cradle for my niece’s first baby, which was due September 14th. You’ll notice I said “was“. Rod’s early fall project […]
We like to free range our chickens, but once the gardens are planted they need to be corralled. The 16’x40′ run made of re-purposed dog kennel panels is attached to their coop and covered with a large pheasant net which keeps them safe from various predators. We extend their run with poultry fencing so they […]