I do not like to kill things. I am even squeamish about stepping on bugs. So, I'm not sure why I did not hesitate a few weeks ago when Jill suggested we invest in some meat chickens. Why not? Sure, neither of knows a thing about slaughtering chickens, but that's how you learn. And besides, Jill watched a YouTube video.
The last time we went to the feed store, The Littles decided they wanted some baby chicks to add to the flock. "Fine," I agreed. "But no need to buy them. We have a henhouse full of chickens and a fine, handsome rooster. Let's just hatch some of our own eggs."
So last Sunday, when we went down to the henhouse to gather the eggs, we let two nest boxes set.
When Jill and I began to work together on our Charming Farming project, "That's how you learn!" quickly became our motto. Being new to, well everything, we had (have) a lot to learn. It is not in my nature to jump into things feet first. I tend to hang back, wait for a safe opening, and then dive in enthusiastically. Jill, on the other hand, is definitely a feet-first kind of girl.
For weeks now I have promised LC I would write for our blog! Computer issues and the busyness of life have kept me from following through. Not procrastination, I assure you.
Anyway, back to chickens. First of all, I feel it is important to tell you, I grew up on a farm. A cow-calf operation in the beautiful hills of North Georgia.
Those of you who read my post, Bee Not Afraid, know that in fact I am - afraid of my bees, that is. Fortunately Big Hal isn't and has been dutifully feeding them all winter. Apparently, he has done a great job.
On the first warm day of spring I spied bees buzzing here and there about the farm, and took that as a good sign that our bees had survived the winter.
Check out Charming Farming’s article. This is a great resource for information on different types of goats….
Hi Friends! I’m excited to announce that my good friend Jill and I have started a new blog called Charming Farming. Our purpose is to promote a community of women who are engaged in agriculture. It doesn’t matter if you farm for a living or if you just have a little garden patch or a few backyard chickens. We want to exchange stories, ideas, photos and questions. So please join us, and invite your charming and farming friends to join us too.
For now, I will reblog Charming Farming posts here, but in time, I will shift everything over to Charming Farming See you there!
It has been a while since I’ve done one of these 7 QUICK TAKES, but today is a snow day, so I’m taking advantage of the extra time…
1. SNOW DAY!!!
One of the great things about living in Arkansas is the way we handle (or don’t handle) snow. Here in Northern Arkansas, we get just enough snow that everyone owns a sled and a decent pair of snow (or farm) boots. But we don’t get enough snow to be really equipped for it. In other words, at the first sign of a flake, we all rush to the grocery store to stock up on batteries, bottled water, and junk food. And when it hits, whether its 1/2 an inch or a foot, school is closed, businesses shut down, church services are cancelled, and we all get an unplanned staycation. When the snow started Wednesday during school, chaos ensued. Parents showed up at the school in droves to extract their children lest they be stranded. Those children (and teenagers) who remained could not be restrained from jumping up to look out the window every 30 seconds to check accumulation amounts. The excitement was electric. In the end, school was dismissed at 12:45, the roads remained clear, and we received little to no accumulation. However, by the next morning it had sleeted just enough to give us the rest of the week off! Here’s the way things look at our place…
2. BABY BUNNIES DUE ON SUNDAY!
We are expecting a litter of rabbits on Sunday. This is particularly exciting because this doe, Penelope, is a first-time mother, and this will be our first litter of Flemish Giants. We are also a little nervous because this is our first time to breed a doe that has never kindled (had babies) before. I’ve heard horror stories of first-time rabbit mothers eating their babies. What a ghastly surprise that would be down at the barn.
3. TURNS OUT, I HAVE A (DEEPLY) HIDDEN TALENT.
Okay, not really. For my mother’s birthday this year, I bought us a class at a place called Painting with a Twist. We attended a Paint Your Pet workshop. I sent them photos of our dogs, and when we arrived, they had sketched each of them onto a canvas for us to paint. It was a lot harder than I thought, and the instruction was minimal, but it was incredibly fun. However, in retrospect, as much as I love our French Bulldog, Lily, I wish I had painted my rooster or a buffalo. How cool would that have been! Still, for someone who can’t even draw a straight line, I was pretty proud of my finished product.
4. I’M REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY TIRED OF THE PARANORMAL TEEN ROMANCE GENRE.
I write for another blog called What Kids Are Reading that reviews popular YA books. This blog is not about what we wish kids were reading. Otherwise, I would be reviewing Anne of Green Gables and Oliver Twist. As a 9th grade English teacher, I wanted to at least be able to enter into a conversation with my students about their books choices. But recently when I tried to read Beautiful Creature. I just couldn’t do it. Why isn’t the cool new teen genre Historical Fiction?
5. MY LENTEN READING HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS BLESSING.
I am reading Consoling the Heart of Jesus by Father Michael Gaitley, and I cannot recommend it enough. Fr. Gaitlely combines the Divine Mercy with Ignatian spirituality and the teachings of Saint. Therese of Lisieux. The result is life altering. (If these Quick Takes were in order of importance this would be #1.)
6. I’M STILL TRYING TO PERFECT MY CHOCOLATE, PEANUT BUTTER QUINOA BARS
Maybe it’s time I accept the fact that I can’t combine all new healthy food obsessions with chocolate. I have spent untold hours concocting coconut oil chocolate smoothies, coconut oil chocolate bars, coconut oil chocolate ice-cream topping… you get the idea. Truth is, most of these experiments have been delicious. Quinoa is proving to be much more difficult to disguise with chocolate.
7. I’VE STARTED A FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MY CONFIRMATION CLASS...
And for the rest of the youth in our parish. I’m hoping this will be a good way to enhance our religious education program. My goal is to post prayers, Catholic trivia and teachings, reminders, and links. I would appreciate any suggestions – especially good websites and blogs for Catholic teens.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. God Bless!
We haven’t gotten much snow in the Southern Ozarks this winter. In fact, the dusting we got this morning has been about it. But that was just enough for me to snap this photo. By noon all the snow was gone, so I am happy I got the shot.
I’ve been feeling especially grateful for all the blessings of farm life lately. It has put me in mind of the following prayer…
Bless, O Lord, Almighty God,
this farm.
May health and purity,
goodness and meekness
and every virtue reign here.
May all those who dwell here
be filled with faithfulness to Thy law
and with thanksgiving to God,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
May this blessing remain on this farm
and all who dwell here.
Through Christ our Lord.
Linke to: Prairie Homestead Barn Hop
For months now I’ve been trying to convince Hal we need some fainting goats. I think they are a hoot. He, on the other hand, does not think hilarity is a good reason to invest in livestock. And he has a point. After all, I’m not even sure we could show these at the county fair – I’m fairly certain judges deduct points if your animal pitches over during the judging.
Oh well. It doesn’t matter because I now have a different criteria for choosing livestock. I have discovered the American Livestock Breeding Conservancy, and I am fascinated. This is a nonprofit group that is dedicated to, “ensuring the future of agriculture through genetic conservation and promotion of endangered breeds of livestock and poultry.” In other words, the ALBC encourages farmers to raise animals that are at risk of extinction. Their efforts help to ensure not only America’s agricultural heritage, but also genetic diversity in livestock and poultry.
It’s a noble cause and you can read more about it on their website. The animals they feature are some of the most beautiful and interesting (and just plain cute) livestock I’ve ever seen.
There’s the adorable Poitou Ass
The comical Dutch Belted cow
The gorgeous Hackney
and the aptly named Large Black pig
…
Honestly, I could spend hours on their website just browsing and reading about the dozens of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, rabbits, and poultry they promote. I haven’t joined yet because technically we are not breeders of rare livestock. Bison have long since been removed from the endangered list. But we have chosen our next rabbit breed…
The beautiful Silver Fox
Isn’t he stunning. This is a gentle, larger breed known for the unusual the silvering it its fur. We hope to have a trio (two does and a buck by spring). We will be raising them to show and sell, and as usual, I’ll post pictures. Wish us luck!
