Kitties

One of my co-workers had a kitty who had kittens two months ago. Well, they were fine with a couple of the kittens becoming barn kitties and let us pick a couple out. So we did, and are excited/happy to have our new future mousers on the farm.

We made a safety spot for them in one of the stalls. Unfortunately they are much bigger then when we first saw the kittens. Long story short the spot I thought would contain them doesn't. So we have a large pet carrier they are staying in when we are not there, and let them run about when we are. After a week we'll just get rid of the carrier, but want to ensure that they know the barn is they're new home first. They fell in love with the blankets, and spent all day yesterday sleeping and cleaning themselves on them.

They are the first pets in our marriage. Of all the animals we have had none of them were really pets. All the pigs, chickens, etc. have a potential date of sale or processing- so it is really nice having something we can cuddle, and see grow with us on the farm.

I'll stop kitty talking now- I do have a bit of work to do-like building application, ordering in greenhouse film, more cutting. A farmer friend Two Mountain Farm gave some good advice when I mentioned I wouldn't get much work done yesterday because of the kittens. She said that they are "soul work" and I couldn't agree more. Feel refreshed.
Zac

Chickies!

Chickies in Brooder!!!!!!

Our first batch of chicks came in today. This seems as another one of those landmarks of the season- starting first tomatoes, piglets, first baby chick order, first tomato, first cornish game hen dinner...mmmm

So we got 100 of these little buggers in. Jack bought 20 of them to raise on their farm. So I have 70 left. At the end of two weeks they will get moved to the "half way house" which is a small coop outside that can be completely covered and heated if needed, but otherwise the little chickies get access to fresh grass, and to explore their little world- thus we call it the "half way house". After that they get moved straight out to the fields until yummie time.

We do not have a set date for market day with these birds. I just grab birds that look the biggest, and go from there. Sometimes I overlook a few and the next week we get some real monster sized birds at the market. (Our largest last year was a 13 pounder that snuck in and lived with the turkeys.)

But alas, I am quite excited about seeing our new property and these quick growing, manure making, heavy pooping, grass grazing, meat producing, juicy, delicious, savory, gourmet chickies come in. They fix up the pasture very nicely. They can deweed it, fertilize it, scratch open crowns of plants to grow thicker, and at the end of it all you get three meals out of each one. The only real problem with them is they can be finicky- as little stress as possible the better. So I am going back over to the property now to check on them, and probably to spend the night with them. Come on over if you want, otherwise the 80 chickies and I will just spend the night staying up late and gossipping and what not.
A couple hens decided a pail full of roofing nails was a good spot to use as a nest. I said our hens were antibiotic/hormone free- not smart...
Zac

Ode To the Ugly-Old Tractor

You are ugly,
No doubt from the faded paint,
That was once called international red,
And now that is pocked with surface rust,
And areas where I began to reprime you,
But left before we were finished.
I found a more engaging chore elsewhere.
You've been rewelded,
Several times and in many places,
So that now the arms on your three point hitch,
Do not lower as far as I would like when I use my tiller.
You putter because your carburetor needs tinkering,
But I am not skilled enough to let you breath properly,
So in fourth gear and high range,
You put put up a hill,
But still you run a log splitter,
And start nearly every time I need you.
Your back differentials lock,
Which has saved both of us,
Several times- even yesterday.
You're older than me,
You're older than my mother-
I only wish you had a bucket,
Because there are still some rocks
In that field.

Well, thanks for reading the impromptu Ode to the Old-Ugly Tractor. I like my little tractor. It gets the job done, and needs little tinkering in between. It is tough too. I need to tinker with the hydraulics at some point this year, and get some help with the carburetor. Other than that she runs beautifully- starts- stops, and pulls whatever in between.

Plus, it was simply built, which helps with my limited mechanical experience. On top of that we just set aside money last year to pay for it, and the payment didn't break our back- $1500. I didn't think that was bad considering it doesn't have any major issues. Ugly though isn't it? I think I grabbed the best of its charm in the evening sunlight against the old house. Oh yea- International Harvester- supposed to originally be a B257 Diesel- rebuilt to a 354 I think gas job.
Zac

Lydia

This is Lydia. My grandfather and I went and looked at her a couple weeks ago. We both wanted her, and he ended up buying her. We brought her home last week. So the secret is out- we have a milk cow again, but.....She is a heifer- She isn't bred yet so we are looking at nine months before we'll have milk again. That is pretty good for me this summer because I think a milk cow would be the straw that broke the Zac's back if he had to milk this season.

I'll keep looking for a cow that will be freshening this Autumn, but at the very least raw milk is on the horizon for us. Plus, isn't she a cutie? (Well she is in the barn, and I took the pic before she had time to do up her hair and makeup, but still isn't she a cutie?)

Have a fun drizzly day!
Zac

50 Dollars!!!

Picture of Our Ladies on the new farm. Hello Ladies. Looking mighty good there on that grass.

This morning I searched around on the Department of Agriculture website trying to find out how to register our farm name. Silly me did not realize it was through another division of the state government. Silly me did not realize that there was a fee associated with the registration. Fifty dollars!!!

Eek. That is like- a lot of eggs or 4 rabbits- or 2+ weeks of vegetarian CSA shares. I woke Marianne up 15 minutes early to let her know the news. She was more startled that I was waking her up though...The good news is that Sun Hill Farm-which was the winner of the votes- is not taken. (Sunny Hill was a close second, followed by That's a Good Looking Sheep and Ate the Deer that Ate the Lettuce....Farm) There were several inactive accounts with "Family Heirlooms" in the name. We thought that was a unique name and I was surprised to see it had been used previously.

I do like the name Family Heirlooms. Family and Friends are very important to me. Relationships can take so many forms and they are all blessings. I have two wonderful friends at CSC whom I have had dinner with throughout the year on my breaks. I was sad to see them go for the summer, and to not have a season long of conversations, and dinners. Just as we miss the market goers in the summer who delight us with stories and thanks for the produce on Saturdays- or friends from high school which come up once a year to see the farm. I went to Connecticut to get my knees checked out (they cleared whew) and met a friends dad who I hadn't seen in 6 or so years. It was wonderful to see him, and talk the through the evening.

So I would like to make sure everyone knows that they are welcome to come down to the farm-for a stroll or what have you. If we're too busy you'll know, but that will still be alright.
Goodnight-Hope all is well with everyone-
Zac
Zac Plowing up new garden. About half the area will be in cover crop- some in strawberries and the rest for the CSA/Market.

A view of the Weekend

I had a most lovely and pretty productive weekend. Marianne and I spent most of it together including sleeping over the new farm for a night where her perfected art of stealing the blankets are no longer cute. I plowed up about half of what I wanted to get done. My grandfather gave me a 'crash course for dummies who have been hanging around with him for a few years but for some odd reason didn't notice things' course on plowing. I ended up doing a great job, but he showed up and showed me how to do a great job and faster. I looove my grandfather.
The aim is to have half the tilled area into cover crop this year. We're going to try hairy vetch, oats and peas mix, and then till it later.
I also got to try out my new chainsaw. The first day Marianne and I were over there we were cutting down saplings that had started to take over part of the field. We were using bow saws and clippers and suddenly I had a "what the hell are you doing you own a chainsaw" moment. I have those moments often. Like every time I try cutting into a steak that is overcooked...

We also moved our ladies over to the new farm. This was the second time we had to crate them up and put them on the truck. I am sure all their squaeking meant they were sick of it and better be the last. So Saturday night ended at around 9:40 placing the last of the hens inside the portable pen at the new farm before we tucked off to sleep.

Off the farm not much is happening. I've been out straight except for the mini picnic/BBQ on Friday. I have May 6th to June 7th off from work, and hoping to take advantage of that as fully as possible. I was hoping to be working on the house between then, but we really have to think out whether we'll be converting that barn or building a house. Any ideas?

Zac

BBQ Time!

We had our first BBQ at our new place tonight! A good time was had by all: fields were explored, tasty chicken was eaten, potty breaks were taken in the woods, a talented 3-yr old spun stories about the dragon who lives next door, piles of poo as big as a person, and who knows what else! :)

I want to thank everyone who brought extra nibblies and victuals, thank you! :)

We are so excited!!!!

Also a special note to my dad. Thank you for the Weber, the chimney starter, the BBQ tongs, and teaching me some of your BBQ "secrets".