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PIGLET!

We knew it would happen. After a week of beautiful weather another hard snowstorm was expected. We’d been on high alert for one of our younger gilts to farrow. As the days ticked by we just knew she would do it as soon as it started snowing. Lo and behold, she did.

Monday morning I went out to do my normal checks and feeding and there was the tiniest little piglet shivering in the hay. I grabbed it up and stuck it in my coat to go inside to warm up. Then I turned on the heat lamp (which was not on before for safety reasons) and went out to check on Mama. She had another piglet (3x larger than the one in the house) that was stillborn. I couldn’t save it. No others.

I’m not sure what it is about my guinea hogs but they have TINY first litters. Tu-tu just had 3 babies her first time around. She did have 8 the second time though, so there is hope. This mama had 2 and was done.

I sat out in the barn with the piglet in my coat debating what to do. Do I decide it’s too cold out and keep the piglet as a bottle baby? I know the risks involved in that. I called a few friends and asked opinions. Most told me to give mama the piglet and let what happens happen. So I did. Oh the angst. I was just determined that our 3rd farrowing be successful. I checked mama and baby often. The tiny little piglet was staying under the heat lamp and mama was laying in front of it which helped block any drafts. I put hay all around them. Still, I did not expect it to survive.

I went out the next morning sluggishly. I did not want to have to pick up another dead piglet. To my utter amazement the piglet was alive. Same with the next day, and the next. The weather has warmed back up now and mama and baby are doing just fine. It may be the smallest piglet ever but it makes my heart feel light!

Bee more careful!

I went to check the bees to see if they needed fed. Lots of dead ones all around the hive. I unwrap it and press my ear to the hive to listen. Silent, feels dead. So, I decide it’s time to open it up and get the honey out before anything else beats me to it. Surprise, bees are alive and I’m an idiot. Luckily it wasn’t that cold outside and I put the lid back on but….I admit, I ran from some super angry bees. I obviously need to work on my bee detective skills. 😉

New Additions

We had a problem this year. Mainly that neighbors dogs broke in and killed most of our chickens and peachicks. Suddenly we were down to 2 chickens, when it was decided 6 were needed to supply the family with enough eggs. What to do.

In comes the wonderful community we have around us. We were given 3 chickens. Happiness.

Then 4 egg laying ducks were given to us. Then a little call duck drake was given to my daughter. Suddenly we had geese. Then yet another egg laying duck was given to us.

There we were, completely without poultry and BAM, plenty of birds meandering the farm.

Now this has had an impact. The pond has been completely free of birds for the year. I had grasses and reeds growing. The pond was actually clear most days. The pigs were enjoying it and digging it out like crazy but otherwise, a healthy ecosystem.

The ducks didn’t make that big of an impact. The initial 4 were young and did not create that much of a mess. The geese, now they were a problem. I did not even consider how quickly and completely they could destroy all green matter around the pond. The grass, pretty much non-existent. All of the plants growing up around the pond, destroyed.

I was a little discouraged by all this. I was thinking about how tasty those geese would be. However, I think they can stay. They’ve started venturing out of the fenced pond area and onto the property as a whole. Our acreage can certainly withstand the appetites of two Sevastopol geese. In fact it was a beautiful morning, looking out the windows and watching our chickens, ducks, geese and peafowl wandering the property finding food.

Look at that fat pig!

Indeed I still haven’t fed anyone. I won’t until all the green on our property is gone. I will feed through the winter only. Even without feeding I have fat animals. Happy animals. Healthy animals. It has been a beautiful season with the animals.

Futility of Mulching

Nebraska must love me. They have to with all the mulch I’ve put out to blow their way. I’m not quite sure why I still bother. I suppose it’s foolish hope.

There is a reason mulch is praised so highly in Permaculture. Natural mulching is the ideal. Having enough plants and trees that their own natural growth patterns create the detritus that cover the ground. Living the dream.

I’m not living the dream. I’m living the dead land, high wind, low precipitation life. As such I keep spreading mulch out around the property. Then I watch it blow away, to Nebraska. *sigh*

So drumroll please, I’ve mulched the cider orchard. I am about to share my magical mulching secrets.

First I put a collar around all of the trees again. I take them off in the spring because the trees are so small and the collar covers them completely.

Next I water the trees well. It hasn’t rained in months. The cider orchard trees were planted so I can water them, they are expensive.

Next I rip open the glorious bags of mulch. These bags come from my former boss’s residence. I happen to know they are completely organic so I feel no guilt in using the leaves and clippings from their lawn.

I piled the leaves high. I figure if they’re going to blow away best to give them a sufficient mass to move.

I give it a few weeks, or days, depending on wind speeds. I’m happy right now, though.

Save

Staying at home isn’t as relaxing as I thought it would be.

Ok I never thought it would be relaxing. I’m a busy woman and I had projects lined up as far as the eye could see. Still, I thought I’d be able to accomplish things. I suppose I am but it really doesn’t feel like it. Today I ran errands and cooked. That’s it. Where are my beautiful tomato seeds sprouting? Where is my remodeled kitchen? Well that’s a mess. Missing one wall and adding 4. Small walls though, really small ones. I will explain that later.

This rambling has a point I’m sure. Maybe it doesn’t. I’ve been so busy doing I’ve barely had any time to talk about it. Everything is going well. The pigs are growing by leaps and bounds. I still love them. B.L.T. is going to be a biter though, I can tell. He’s already at my legs. I keep something between us usually.

The children are fighting like cats and dogs. Arguing every little thing. Even having full blown arguments about whose mother I actually am. Still, they’re a joy.

I’ve been experimenting with home made bread a lot lately. I haven’t found a recipe I love yet, but I’ll get there. I’ll share it when I do.

As I write this I’m thinking about the wall I need to prime for painting. The shelves I need to stain for the new pantry. The faucet and sink I need to complete before I can move the fridge. Ok. Ok. Must not think about the mountain of tasks and focus on the wonderful things around me. Sounds of our children laughing while they color side by side. The smell of fresh brownies come out of the oven, just waiting for ice cream. The warmth of the gigantic hairy dog at my feet. My life, it’s wonderful!

I quit my day job

I have worked full time for an amazing couple for the last six and a half years. I love my job. It’s varied and interesting. I’m the only employee so I have an amazing amount of freedom to do whichever task I would like to do at a given time. This job has enabled me to buy hundreds of trees and bushes. This job has been something I’ve truly loved.

So, why am I leaving? Our kids. They have been happy in their childcare center and I have been happy with it as well. That is no longer the case. I do not want to move them to a different center. Our oldest will be in kindergarten next year and he does not take to change well. When we weighed our options it became clear that the best thing to do was stay home with our children.

However, I see it more as the eventual career shift we knew I’d be making happening just a bit faster than planned. We always knew that when the farm was stable I’d quit to farm full time. We aren’t there yet. We only have 5 acres planted, so many more to go. My time has been quite stretched though. There were times this spring when I wasn’t sure I could do everything I was doing. I am relieved to know that I will not have to split time between the farm and my day job any longer. I’m also relieved to have before and after school care figured out for our Son.

I’m not all that sure how I will do things yet. Daughter doesn’t much like being outside. I’m not sure where she gets that from. So I’m not sure how I’ll manage all my chores with her. I’m excited to figure it out though. I’m excited to start a new chapter of our life. I’m excited to be able to devote my time and attention to our trees and plants.

She fell in some mud at the barn and was SOOOOO mad!

Things will be slower now. I’ll be growing more from seed. I’ll be grafting from the trees I have established already. I’ll be more restricted with financial resources. I’ll be so freed up on my time though, I think it will even out. I can finally dig that pond we need for irrigation and the pond we want for swimming. I can build more Kraters. I can build a giant hugelkulture to block wind where it’s needed. I can do so many things now.

So this winter I’ll be focusing on the house. It has been sadly neglected and I fear I am going to be purging vast amounts of useless stuff. I’ll be turning our unfinished basement into a winter play area for the kids. I’ll be finishing the kitchen (I hope). I’ll be very busy this winter.

So stay tuned for interesting things to begin happening on the farm!

Also, pig pets!