Shots On The Farm

The girls went out with their cameras' and took a few shots around the homestead.  I thought I'd share them with y'all.  The ducks are a recent addition and quite fun to have around.

The IRS Got Caught

All I can say on this one is that it has been a LONG time coming.

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Seattle OK's Minimum Wage Hike To $15

Some people have no idea what they are doing.  They never stop to think about consequences nor do they seem to care.  Friends, this is NOT a good idea.  It will destroy small business, raise the cost of living even higher and force larger companies to stop hiring-period.  Let's think this through people!

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A Great, Productive Day On The Homestead

I was fortunate to get several tasks completed on the homestead today.  I was able to get half the day off from work as part of my holiday (us little people that work in retail had to work on the holiday), so I came home early and went (you guessed it) right to work.

My gorgeous wife had a couple of things for me to do right away, so I set in on those first.  I needed to repair one side of our chicken coop from when our bull got out one night and used it as his scratching post.  He tore off almost one whole side of it.  That didn't take too terribly long as I had the material I needed on hand.  I didn't even have to cut anything-BONUS!

The other thing she wanted me to do is to air up the tires on her garden cart.  That didn't take but a couple of minutes.  I then got Polly out of the barn (Polly is our DR Power wagon) and air up her tires.  I loaded her up with firewood I had cut from a tree that fell during a storm (the same tree the destroyed the fence mentioned in another post and let the bull out to wreck the chicken coop-see how this all ties together?)  With Polly loaded I set in to splitting the wood and wound up splitting a half a cord before I ran out of gas for the splitter.

All said and done, I had a pretty productive day on the homestead.  It sure is a nice feeling having some things out of the way and knowing that the firewood situation for this season is all but taken care of.  So, what's going on at your place?

Let's Talk About The Weather

We have enjoyed some very nice weather the last few days.  Yesterday the temperature reached 80 and today it is currently 74.  Nice indeed.  Yesterday I didn't get the chance to enjoy it much as I was at work all day.  Those are the days a person regrets having an indoor job.  Today, I broke a sweat cutting some firewood.  Yes, I am still working on that both for next season and the remainder of this one.  I don't think we will need much more this season, but we are in for some cold weather yet.  The weather man is calling for some rain tonight and tomorrow, hopefully it is a sign of things to come this year.  We had 2 years of drought and I'm not sure I can stand another.  The great thing is that I can feel spring in the air!  I am ready, are you?

Chick-Chick-chicken Time!

It is the time of year that we should be ordering our broiler chickens.  I have to be honest here-my heart does not seem to be into raising these chickens.  Oh we're going to do it, but I, kinda, don't want to.  I think I'm getting lazy in my old age.

Joking aside, what really has me bumfuzled is the cost of feed.  We sell many of the birds, keeping enough for ourselves, but it is getting harder to turn a profit.  We buy a ton of feed at a time, supplemented with grass in chicken tractors.  Last year, when I went to buy feed it cost $400 for a ton.  It's still cheaper using our custom mix than buying Purina junk, so it worked out, but I haven't checked on the price of things yet-so I'm dreading it.

In the end, I need to quit lollygagging and get the order in for the birds.  No matter what, they are still the best tasting, best for you chickens around.

I've Been Thinking

I need to start by saying that we had a picture perfect day here in the Ozarks.  The temp was a mild 73 degrees, cloudless skies and very light breeze.  Not bad, eh? 

We, as a family, spent the bulk of the day out of doors, performing menial tasks around the homestead.  The first thing we did was to move the cattle "back home" from across the road.  Our small paddocks have recovered nicely from the forced over grazing that occured last year due to the drought.  That went well, although the cows had to take a little trip around the house before going into the paddock.

Otherwise it was a very typical Saturday around here.  My lovely wife spent the day in the garden, preparing and planting to keep her family fed.  The kids and I put our new log splitter to good use and got a bunch of wood split and stacked for next winter.  My wife and I planted a couple of Goji bushes in a corner of one of the paddocks in keeping with our sustainable, permaculture course of action.  I have decided to let all the corners of the paddocks "go" with growth of various plants and herbs for food value to us, the animals and the wild thins like rabbits, birds and bugs.  It is that way in God's creation and so it should be on the farm.

Now to the title of this post.  My wife was working diligently in the garden when I walked by.  She stood up and said, I've been thinking...

Those few words usually mean more work for me.  They are usually followed by their cousin words like, what if we did this over there...?  or, why don't we do that in the area over there...? 

Sure enough, it was as I suspected.  Truly, I don't mind so much, after all, it is about keeping us all fed.  Really, these thypes of ideas she comes up with are all about survival.  In order to survive natural disasters or government meltdown you need to have a plan.  My wife's are ususally pretty darn good, so I go along.  I'm the labor behind the brains, you see.

SO, what's going on in your neck of the woods?

Permaculture Ideas On The Homestead.

Happy Ressurection day to all my freinds out there.  He is risen, He is risen indeed.

Out here on our little homestead I have mentioned some new things that we are trying.  We made an effort toward a couple of those thins this weekend.  The first is our new bee hive.  I made a top bar bee hive that, unfortunately, I am not happy with as it is-from a craftsmanship standpoint, not functionality.  I am not liking the way it fits together right now, so I will probably take it apart and adjust and correct a couple of things.  That seems to be my M.O., make a project a lot harder and longer than it needs to be.  Once complete, and we have our own bees, it will go a long way toward our permaculture, sustainability endevours.

Another thing we did, as per a decision I made regarding the pastures, was to plant some berry bushes in one pasture corner.  The plan is to plant something, or let go, the corners in all the pastures.  The idea behind all of this is really old school knowledge, that God's world works together.  Thus by leaving some small places for the birds, bees, rabbits and quail, among other things including bugs,  we are re-creating a natural, cohesive environment and micro-ecosystems.  It is simple, the birds that will be attracted help to eat the bugs and flys, beneficial bugs are also attracted.  Quail that have a habitiat are beneficial because they eat the seeds of unwanted weed plants, not to mention their food value in a crisis situation.  So we have decided to let the corners go or add to them.  Right now, I have one corner with blackberry brambles in it-I'm gonna let them be.  In another corner, we planted two Currant bushes for food, medicinal, health and natural value.  I think this is a step in the right direction.  A direction that farmers in Europe used to practice everywhere.

What are you doing on your place that you can share?

A New Raised Bed Garden-Hugelkultur, Or, Hugel-Culture

We made a Hugelkultur (think huegel-culture) bed today, one of the many preparedness things you can do on your property.  In case you don't know what this is, or means, here is a definition taken from Wikipedia:

"The practice of making raised garden beds filled with rotting wood.[21][22] It is in effect creating a Nurse log, however, covered with dirt.


Benefits of hugelkultur garden beds include water retention and warming of soil.[23][24] Buried wood becomes like a sponge (material) as it decomposes, able to capture water and store it for later use by crops planted on top of the hugelkultur bed.[25][26]

The buried decomposing wood will also give off heat, as all compost does, for several years. These effects have been used by Sepp Holzer for one to allow fruit trees to survive at otherwise inhospitable temperatures and altitudes."

We did this with sustainability in mind and yet another way to provide food, not just for ourselves, also for our animals.  The thought is that as costs continue to rise and the possible impending doom, we need to find sustainable ways to provide for oourselves.  If this interests you a bit, I encourage you to do some more research on the subject, starting on youtube by searching for a man named Sepp Holtzer and watch a few videos.  Once you have done that you will find a plethora of information on the subject.  Let me know what you find out and we can share information.

Come Swale Away

It is interesting how just one word or two can change your entire perspective on something.  In reality, we all have prejudices that taint how we see things and react to different problems and circumstances.  Some call this being stuck in a box or a rut.  There are many boxes in all of us.

We have been doing a little reading and research in the area of permaculture.  The word permaculture seems to carry varied definitions, but the gist of it is farming in a way that is in harmony with nature.  I prefer to say that it is a method of farming in tune with God's creation.  But permaculture isn't the word I want to talk about here.

The word I want to talk about is harvest, but first, I have to explain why.  In Austrailia, farmers use what are called swales to capture run-off.  In essence, a swale is a trench dug in a srtategic place on the property.  Now, we live in the Ozarks and it is difficult to find a completely flat place anywhere.  So we have run-off, which, in times of heavy rain or snow melt, can take a bunch of land with it.  This has become a concern for me and I have often tried to think of ways that I could stop the errosion.  But here is the cool thing.  I heard a gentleman explain that digging swales is for "harvesting" water, not stopping run-off.

Can you see how the word "harvest" can change the way you think about rain?  The idea is to trap the water in a place that will hold it for a whaile and slowly distribute it down slope to "feed" the soil in an area that would normally not get fed due to the rain water just running away and collecting in a low spot.

The concept of harvesting water has gotten me thinking differently about rain water.  Now I am looking carefully at the land.  Now I try to see the slope and low spots and determine where the water is going to try to catch it before it gets there.  I have even dug three small swales and am looking forward to digging more.  The potential to grow grass for the cattle in areas that are light on vegetation is tremendous.  This has got me excited.  Go to Youtube and look up "swale", there are a bunch of videos on the subject to learn more from.  Here is a teaser:

Eating Squirrels?

I am giving some serious consideration to hittin' the woods and knock off a few squirrels.  The woods are loaded with them, so I could stand to thin out a few.  What this got me thinking about is in the area of preparedness and survival.  Yes, you can eat squirrels and they are very tasty if they are done right.  Simply put, squirrels are a ready, and abundant, source of protien for the freezer should the need arise.  Many people say they won't eat them, or even think about eating them, but if you are hungry, you might reconsider that.  Not to mention it is a fun way to spend an afternoon with the .22.

Problems Finding Pecans?

Major drought in the US is affecting this years pecan crop.  I am a produce guy and we haven't gotten any pecans yet.  We were thinking that Missouri pecans would come through, but I have a feeling they went to other places-farmers seeking a good profit.  Read more...

Heating With Wood On The Rise

I read an article the other day that has kind of got my dander up.  What else is new right?  Anyway, I can't post a link to it as I actually read this one in a real live, local newspaper-verses the electronic kind I usually read.

The gist of this one was that the consumption of wood for heat and the use of wood stoves and furnaces are increasing dramatically throughout the country, which stands to reason as conventional energy sources continue to get more and more expensive.  The article highlighted a man in Maine that has added a wood stove to his house to supplement the heat bill, saying that wood is readily available and cheaper than the standard.  Good for him, I thought.  We heat with nothing but wood and enjoy it very much and doesn't cost us anything other than fuel and oil for my chainsaw.  We love it.

Then I get to the part of the article that had quotes from environmentalists and EPA people.  I will spare all the details, but suffice to say that the idea is being put forth that we "need more regulation" to meet the rising demand for wood heat.  The translation is that they are worried about all the "toxins and pollution" that is being put into the air from all those chimneys out there.  Then there is the risk to health through the "carcinogens and carbon monoxide" being spewed forth from the burning of trees.  Some states have even banned or severely limited the use of wood for fuel and heat.  So what's next?  You know that if the ideas are being put out there, it is only a matter of time before they start trying to pass new legislation, ultimately resulting in a dictation of how you use your land and heat your home.  This is concerning to me.

I remember reading an article a while back that stated new scientific reserch had indicated that the reason for droughts and lack of rain and the so called "warming up" of the earth were a result of a LACK of wood burning chimneys.  Supposedly, wood puts out smoke, which carries tiny particles into the atmosphere, which gets hung up in the air, which collect moisture, which form clouds, wich drop rain.  I believe it.  It makes sense to me.  Maybe the good people of Texas need to burn more wood.  Or maybe they should burn more wood in California so Texas can get some relief.  I'm just sayin'...

So what are your thoughts?  Do you heat with wood like we do?  Are you affraid of more possible regulation?

Monsanto To Invade The Produce Aisle At Your Local Grocer.

I am a produce man, it is what I do to pay the bills.  Until now, genetically modified food has been limited to corn and soybeans.  I have know for some time that Monsanto was getting serious about their "Roundup ready" seeds in the grass and legume arena, but now they are attacking even everyday food like melons and tomatoes.  I am really disgusted, so all I can say is that I cannot stand Monsanto and their greed.  Read the linked article.

Factory Farming, Good Or Bad?

Can anyhting good come from factory farming mehtods?  Why do we continue to trust the established methods?  Years ago there was a small farm on every corner, so to speak.  Now we have corporate "farmers" feeding us all.  Oh goodie...

Raw Milk Farmer Calls It Quits

Read this story, it is a bummer for the farmer, yet there is a lot of truth as to the cost of a small farm.  With regulation and subsidies rampant, it is becoming impossible for a small farmer to stay true to their principles and remain small.  I am glad that they decided to opt out rather than cave in, work double the hours and comprimise their ideals.  I hate to see this happen, either way.  The country needs more small producers, not less.

Rain In The Ozarks-Finally.

OK, we got some rain, about an inch and a half.  That is good and there is more on the way.  Praise God!  However, I am looking at the burn up grass in the pasture and it shows no sign of recovery-zero.  So, I have mixed feelings.  In fact, I noticed today that there are signs of erosion where the grass once was.

We have been doing some research on Permaculture and are very interested in swales.  Simply put, they are trenches dug about a foot wide and a foot deep in strategic locations to "capture" rain water and distribute it into the surrounding land.  If the ground ever gets soft enough to dig in again, i will be doing some of this.  I need to do something, the price of feed is killing us.  Any thoughts or experiences?

Homestead Thoughts

I shouldn't have to be feeding hay in July.  I also don't think that I should be paying $3.57 per gallon of gas, either.  It will be neat to see how God works to get us through the winter, which is months away.

What Can You Do With D.E.?

There are several great uses for Diatomaceous Earth but many folks don't really know the "how" part.

One thing you can do is mix 1/4 cup od DE in a gallon of vinegar and pour it on insects and pests, or you can use it as a drench and pour it right down the hole of an ant colony. A great pest barrier is to put petroleum jelly around the trunks of trees and then lightly dust the jelly with DE.  Some use DE to control bed bugs and is safe and effective.

A good tip is that less is more with DE, most times all you need is a bit in the palm of your hand and blowing it onto whatever.  Use DE on your wood pile, under rocks and any other hiding place you can think of.  For a barrier around the house, mix DE with water and spray it around the foundation.  When the water evaporates the remaining DE will be effective for a very long time.

In the garden, dust your plants with it, but make sure to mist the plants with water first so the DE will stick and not blow away or get washed off in the first rain.  Keep in mind that DE will also kill beneficial insects.

You can find DE in health food stores or at farm feed stores.  This has become a must have on our homestead.

What is Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.)?

Interestingly, Diatomaceaous Earth, or DE is used all over by health conscious and all natural minded people for various reasons.  The biggest reasons are for pest control in the garden and on and around livestock.  You might ask, what is it, exactly?

DE is a mined substance from fossilized silica shell remains from single-cellular algae, most commonly called diatoms.  These diatoms turned the silica they ingested into thei shells and are related to crustaceans.

If you use DE, make sure to find the food grade, or GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) for use around the homestead or business.  The DE used in swimming pool applications is not regarded as a good insecticide, and because of its make up, can cause some serious problems if inhaled.  So, make sure to use the food grade DE.

Another problem is that DE is abrasive to the eyes, as well as the lungs, so use eye protection when working with it.  Come back soon to learn about some great uses for the food grade DE.