It is January. The Christmas tree and decorations have been taken down and we're ready for winter.
I say ready for winter because it doesn't really feel like winter has started. We've had a few days of double-digit, below-zero weather, but they have been tempered by double-digit, above-zero weather. This week is a case in point. Today temperatures were -8C and the forecast for Friday is for temperatures to be +8C. We've had more rain than snow and certainly no weather for winter sports like skating, skiing or snowshoeing.
Rob and I just returned from a walk around the fields. Already, less than a month after the winter solstice, the days are getting longer. It was still dusk when we returned to the house. Monday night was the full moon.
The mild weather has made keeping chickens relatively easy. They continue to go outdoors for at least a few hours most days. We've had only a handful of days where we experienced their water freezing. We keep a heat lamp over it and on really cold days we fill it with warm water in the morning and again at night. They are producing seven or eight eggs most days.
I made bread on the weekend with help from Jess. It made me wonder if I could use the crock pot to proof the dough instead of sitting it on the back of the oven. A little research showed I could do more than proof the bread, I could actually cook it in the crock pot!
So that's what I did today. On my lunch I quickly whipped up the dough (less than 15 minutes) and then placed it in a heat proof dish raised up inside the crock pot with a little bit of water in the base. I have to say I'm quite pleased with the results. The bread is light and airy. It tastes like my wheat germ was a little old. I'm already thinking of a couple of modifications to try the next time -- molasses instead of honey, seven grain cereal instead of rolled oats and wheat germ. The bread cooked for three hours on high. The only down side is it doesn't really brown.
I don't know if raising chickens and baking my own bread makes me a homesteader or not, but I'm still having fun. The Stokes seed catalog has already come in and I'm already keen to start picking out what I'm planting this year. I really am looking forward to gardening and doing more canning. I love this feeling of self-reliance I even recycled the Christmas tree by cutting the branches off and putting them over the remaining turnips and the garlic I planted last fall.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christmas Morning
The sky is brightening and the eastern horizon is tinted with pink. Snow fell on Friday and still blankets the ground. From the kitchen window I watch the early birds, small finches and chickadees, eating at the feeder. They flit from the branches of the evergreens I set up earlier this fall. Five trees form a crescent around the feeder, designed to give the birds protection from the elements and a place to perch as they feed.
In the living room, the windows are painted with the fanciful etchings of Jack Frost; fans and swirls carved in ice crystals on the glass. In the corner is a balsam fir we cut two weeks ago from the "Choppings". Its branches are airy and light leaving lots of room for the dangling ornaments to catch and reflect the glow of the lights.
It is Christmas morning and I'm waiting for Rob to wake up and reflecting on our blessings.
We spent last evening with his some of his family in Riverdale. Tomorrow we travel to Pictou. Today we'll have lunch with Wally, Jen and the kids.
Newman is in the barn crowing. Our flock of hens is giving us between six and eight eggs a day. We're constantly amused by their antics.
I hear stirring upstairs. It's time to start our day...Merry Christmas.
In the living room, the windows are painted with the fanciful etchings of Jack Frost; fans and swirls carved in ice crystals on the glass. In the corner is a balsam fir we cut two weeks ago from the "Choppings". Its branches are airy and light leaving lots of room for the dangling ornaments to catch and reflect the glow of the lights.
It is Christmas morning and I'm waiting for Rob to wake up and reflecting on our blessings.
We spent last evening with his some of his family in Riverdale. Tomorrow we travel to Pictou. Today we'll have lunch with Wally, Jen and the kids.
Newman is in the barn crowing. Our flock of hens is giving us between six and eight eggs a day. We're constantly amused by their antics.
I hear stirring upstairs. It's time to start our day...Merry Christmas.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
November on Farm
I tried to post this a week ago.
It is November 13 and I just returned from my garden plot with a handful of finger-size carrots. I planted these as part of my late season replant either the end of August of early-September. They haven't had a lot of time to grow and certainly with the cooler, shorter days they won't get much bigger. However, I'll be able to harvest them until the ground freezes, at least another few weeks, perhaps a month. Meanwhile, the carrots I picked this afternoon will become part of this evening's supper.
The carrots fared much better than the beets and turnips which I planted at the same time. The turnips are little bumps and the beets aren't even big enough to harvest the greens. I could possibly fashion some type of shelter for them, but I don't know if I will this year or not. When we replace some of the windows I'll salvage the old windows and storms and create cold frames to extend the harvest season.
I just finished reading "The Good Life" the story of Helen and Scott Nearing and their sixty years of self-sufficient living. They are considered pioneers of the movement and while I do not subscribe to all of their philosophies, the foundation of what they created can serve as a blueprint to all of us who want to live a simpler, more self-sufficient life which is less tied to money and our reliance on fossils fuels and more to the season, what we can provide ourselves and finding a healthy balance.
We walked around the fields this afternoon. It was a beautiful, sunny day. I kept an eye out for fir boughs for a wreath, and we noted several apple trees we'll try to prune the winter, with the idea of improving their bounty. It just to goes to show, while one harvest season winds down, we can start planning and preparing for the next.
It is November 13 and I just returned from my garden plot with a handful of finger-size carrots. I planted these as part of my late season replant either the end of August of early-September. They haven't had a lot of time to grow and certainly with the cooler, shorter days they won't get much bigger. However, I'll be able to harvest them until the ground freezes, at least another few weeks, perhaps a month. Meanwhile, the carrots I picked this afternoon will become part of this evening's supper.
The carrots fared much better than the beets and turnips which I planted at the same time. The turnips are little bumps and the beets aren't even big enough to harvest the greens. I could possibly fashion some type of shelter for them, but I don't know if I will this year or not. When we replace some of the windows I'll salvage the old windows and storms and create cold frames to extend the harvest season.
I just finished reading "The Good Life" the story of Helen and Scott Nearing and their sixty years of self-sufficient living. They are considered pioneers of the movement and while I do not subscribe to all of their philosophies, the foundation of what they created can serve as a blueprint to all of us who want to live a simpler, more self-sufficient life which is less tied to money and our reliance on fossils fuels and more to the season, what we can provide ourselves and finding a healthy balance.
We walked around the fields this afternoon. It was a beautiful, sunny day. I kept an eye out for fir boughs for a wreath, and we noted several apple trees we'll try to prune the winter, with the idea of improving their bounty. It just to goes to show, while one harvest season winds down, we can start planning and preparing for the next.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Thanksgiving
The leaves are changing color and reflect their autumn raiment on lakes and streams; brilliant burning reds and crisp bright oranges. This morning their reflections were softened by a soft curling mist, rising through the morning air. It is a beautiful day, following a gorgeous weekend, following a brief period of downright chilly weather (we had flurries and hail on Thursday last week).
The pigs are now butchered. We hired out the job to a mobile butcher and he dispatched the pigs on Thursday last week. The barn yard seems far less interesting without their antics. We visited Ross Farm Museum on Monday and watched their Berkshires for awhile. They have a sow which is probably twice the size of our Berkshire. Her piglets are the size of Labrador retriever puppies. Such a contrast.
The pig carcasses were taken to a meat cutter who lives a few kilometers away. He's letting the sides of pork hang until today when he'll cut them up. We should have it in our freezer this afternoon or tomorrow. We sold one side, our first "commercial" farming effort. It should pay for the cost of butchering and cutting the two pigs.
We're left only with the laying hens. Sunday we returned from visiting my family to find an egg in the pen. A lovely, light brown egg. A second was laid yesterday. We think it may be one of the Rhode Island Reds. Now with the pigs out of the shed, we're converting the space to a chicken house. Rob started making two nest boxes yesterday and I reattached the shingles the pigs pulled off. I'm short shingles as they cracked a number of them. I'll filled in the gaps on the inside to stop drafts and predators. We hope to move the chickens into their new digs by Wednesday, as the beautiful fall weather is slated to change to rain.
I dug up the raised bed yesterday, leaving the carrots and turnip to continue maturing. Where I grew lettuce during the summer I planted two varieties of garlic. If they do well, I'll harvest it early next summer.
All in all, we feel our first season of farming was successful. And we're looking forward to the cooler months and planning for the next season.
The pigs are now butchered. We hired out the job to a mobile butcher and he dispatched the pigs on Thursday last week. The barn yard seems far less interesting without their antics. We visited Ross Farm Museum on Monday and watched their Berkshires for awhile. They have a sow which is probably twice the size of our Berkshire. Her piglets are the size of Labrador retriever puppies. Such a contrast.
The pig carcasses were taken to a meat cutter who lives a few kilometers away. He's letting the sides of pork hang until today when he'll cut them up. We should have it in our freezer this afternoon or tomorrow. We sold one side, our first "commercial" farming effort. It should pay for the cost of butchering and cutting the two pigs.
We're left only with the laying hens. Sunday we returned from visiting my family to find an egg in the pen. A lovely, light brown egg. A second was laid yesterday. We think it may be one of the Rhode Island Reds. Now with the pigs out of the shed, we're converting the space to a chicken house. Rob started making two nest boxes yesterday and I reattached the shingles the pigs pulled off. I'm short shingles as they cracked a number of them. I'll filled in the gaps on the inside to stop drafts and predators. We hope to move the chickens into their new digs by Wednesday, as the beautiful fall weather is slated to change to rain.
I dug up the raised bed yesterday, leaving the carrots and turnip to continue maturing. Where I grew lettuce during the summer I planted two varieties of garlic. If they do well, I'll harvest it early next summer.
All in all, we feel our first season of farming was successful. And we're looking forward to the cooler months and planning for the next season.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The Full Cupboard
Tonight my kitchen is filled with the fragrance of vanilla, cloves and cinnamon.
I am canning pears for the first time.
It is a rich, spicy aroma reminincent of Christmas cookies baking and oranges stuck with cloves. It makes me look forward to winter and evenings when I can enjoy the foods I've put away this fall.
The pears are the latest in my efforts to stock the pantry instead of relying upon the grocery store. To date I've made two batches of salsa, chokecherry jam and blackberry jelly (the fruit I picked along the edges of our fields). Tonight's efforts netted three large jars of pairs and one small. I think I will probably make more, but use the middle-sized jar the next time. Rob isn't the biggest fan of fruit and the large jars will be too much for one sitting.
I feel really good about our efforts this year. Our goal is to eventually produce half of what we consume. Although we were late starting this year and the garden was small we're pretty pleased with ourselves.
We put butchered 26 chickens this fall and our freezer is now full of poultry. The meat kings ranged from a low of seven pounds to a high of just over 10. The cockrels from the layers weighed in around four pounds each. We cooked two earlier this week and enjoyed them for supper. The meat was darker than grocery store fare, and I felt it was more flavorful too.
The pigs are weighing in around 200 pounds each and I expect we'll have them butchered in another few weeks.
Plus, from the garden, we enjoyed lettuce, peas and beets. I was also able to grow a good crop of onions and shallots. I planted a late crop of carrots, beets and turnips, we'll see, I may yet run out of growing time.
The hens should start laying soon. I expect to see the first egg in the next two to three weeks.
As apple season kicks into full gear I'll acquire some fruit and makes apple sauce, as well as freeze some for pies later on.
This winter I'll be looking at the seed catalogs with new purpose as I plan for next year's bounty.
I am canning pears for the first time.
It is a rich, spicy aroma reminincent of Christmas cookies baking and oranges stuck with cloves. It makes me look forward to winter and evenings when I can enjoy the foods I've put away this fall.
The pears are the latest in my efforts to stock the pantry instead of relying upon the grocery store. To date I've made two batches of salsa, chokecherry jam and blackberry jelly (the fruit I picked along the edges of our fields). Tonight's efforts netted three large jars of pairs and one small. I think I will probably make more, but use the middle-sized jar the next time. Rob isn't the biggest fan of fruit and the large jars will be too much for one sitting.
I feel really good about our efforts this year. Our goal is to eventually produce half of what we consume. Although we were late starting this year and the garden was small we're pretty pleased with ourselves.
We put butchered 26 chickens this fall and our freezer is now full of poultry. The meat kings ranged from a low of seven pounds to a high of just over 10. The cockrels from the layers weighed in around four pounds each. We cooked two earlier this week and enjoyed them for supper. The meat was darker than grocery store fare, and I felt it was more flavorful too.
The pigs are weighing in around 200 pounds each and I expect we'll have them butchered in another few weeks.
Plus, from the garden, we enjoyed lettuce, peas and beets. I was also able to grow a good crop of onions and shallots. I planted a late crop of carrots, beets and turnips, we'll see, I may yet run out of growing time.
The hens should start laying soon. I expect to see the first egg in the next two to three weeks.
As apple season kicks into full gear I'll acquire some fruit and makes apple sauce, as well as freeze some for pies later on.
This winter I'll be looking at the seed catalogs with new purpose as I plan for next year's bounty.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
September Already
It is September again. A year ago today we took possession of the farm. Our only regret is we didn't do it sooner, a decade sooner. We love this lifestyle, we love this property.
We've had successes and failures. We read a lot of books and struggle to find the best way to do things. The Internet is a favorite resource answering many of our questions and our local co-op is on a first-name basis with Rob.
We've survived the first year with our enthusiasm intact, and that alone says a lot.
We've cut down saplings, raised chickens, our pigs are thriving, we have a great crop of onions and we're getting a wood stove next week.
We've lost three chickens (one was crushed as a day-old chick, one was a meat bird who died of heat stress and the third was our silver-laced Wyandotte who we had to put down because her neck was suddenly twisted and she couldn't hold up her head; the last one was the hardest as she was a beautiful, gentle bird).
The garden was a small version of what I planned. We weren't here enough early in the spring to get it ready and then the wet weather played havoc as well. But the onions and shallots did well. The lettuce flourished and we're now feeding it to the livestock because it has gotten too big. I have beets and tomatoes and cucumbers as well. The late carrots and turnips are growing and hopefully will be ready for a late fall harvest. I've learned mulching works well, but the site we're currently using probably doesn't get enough full sun. We'll look at relocating it for next year.
The days are already getting shorter and cooler; a sign of the passing season. This month I hope to get some tomatoes and make tomato sauce for the winter ahead. We're also harvesting two chickens a day (thank goodness Wally and Jen loaded us freezer space; we're having a delay in getting our own.) We'll have the pigs butchered late-October or early-November and be comfortable with the fact that we're providing the bulk of our meat.
While I don't look forward to the winter, there is a sense of personal satisfaction with all we've accomplished this year and we'll use the coming months to plan for the next season as well as enjoy the fruits of labours (as well as some farm-fresh eggs as the hens should start laying in another four to six weeks.)
We've had successes and failures. We read a lot of books and struggle to find the best way to do things. The Internet is a favorite resource answering many of our questions and our local co-op is on a first-name basis with Rob.
We've survived the first year with our enthusiasm intact, and that alone says a lot.
We've cut down saplings, raised chickens, our pigs are thriving, we have a great crop of onions and we're getting a wood stove next week.
We've lost three chickens (one was crushed as a day-old chick, one was a meat bird who died of heat stress and the third was our silver-laced Wyandotte who we had to put down because her neck was suddenly twisted and she couldn't hold up her head; the last one was the hardest as she was a beautiful, gentle bird).
The garden was a small version of what I planned. We weren't here enough early in the spring to get it ready and then the wet weather played havoc as well. But the onions and shallots did well. The lettuce flourished and we're now feeding it to the livestock because it has gotten too big. I have beets and tomatoes and cucumbers as well. The late carrots and turnips are growing and hopefully will be ready for a late fall harvest. I've learned mulching works well, but the site we're currently using probably doesn't get enough full sun. We'll look at relocating it for next year.
The days are already getting shorter and cooler; a sign of the passing season. This month I hope to get some tomatoes and make tomato sauce for the winter ahead. We're also harvesting two chickens a day (thank goodness Wally and Jen loaded us freezer space; we're having a delay in getting our own.) We'll have the pigs butchered late-October or early-November and be comfortable with the fact that we're providing the bulk of our meat.
While I don't look forward to the winter, there is a sense of personal satisfaction with all we've accomplished this year and we'll use the coming months to plan for the next season as well as enjoy the fruits of labours (as well as some farm-fresh eggs as the hens should start laying in another four to six weeks.)
Monday, August 8, 2011
Year Two - Still Cancer Free
I had my two-year check up on Wednesday (August 3). It's hard to believe it is just about two years since I had the bilateral mastectomy. I admit to feeling nerves as I waited for Dr. Ginny to complete her examination. But the good news is there is no sign of any lumps or bumps. She thought the reconstruction looked very good.
In farming news, the tractor arrived on Friday. A pretty mid-sized John Deere. We used it on Sunday to take the old hay out of the main floor of the barn. We're going to reinforce the barn in that area in order to store the boat and tractor for the winter.
Saturday I picked the last of the peas and pulled the vines (which I fed to the pigs). I then planted turnips, beets and carrots with hopes of getting a fall crop of each. The rain this morning should help things along.
Jessica and I took our first riding lesson together on Friday evening. She has grown so tall this summer that she has been moved to a larger mount and she has to mount from the ground. I, on the other hand, get to use a mounting block (which after years of riding western, still feels rather foreign).
Also on Sunday, I cleared a bunch of weeds out of the flowerbed by the kitchen wing. I plan on moving everything to a temporary bed this fall to facilitate construction in the spring, but I had no idea of what was actually in there because it was so overrun by weeds and an annoying ground cover. It looks much better now, and I have a much better idea of what I'll need to accommodate in the new bed.
We have Oscar for the week. Wally and Jen are camping with the kids and Max is with Jen's mom.
In farming news, the tractor arrived on Friday. A pretty mid-sized John Deere. We used it on Sunday to take the old hay out of the main floor of the barn. We're going to reinforce the barn in that area in order to store the boat and tractor for the winter.
Saturday I picked the last of the peas and pulled the vines (which I fed to the pigs). I then planted turnips, beets and carrots with hopes of getting a fall crop of each. The rain this morning should help things along.
Jessica and I took our first riding lesson together on Friday evening. She has grown so tall this summer that she has been moved to a larger mount and she has to mount from the ground. I, on the other hand, get to use a mounting block (which after years of riding western, still feels rather foreign).
Also on Sunday, I cleared a bunch of weeds out of the flowerbed by the kitchen wing. I plan on moving everything to a temporary bed this fall to facilitate construction in the spring, but I had no idea of what was actually in there because it was so overrun by weeds and an annoying ground cover. It looks much better now, and I have a much better idea of what I'll need to accommodate in the new bed.
We have Oscar for the week. Wally and Jen are camping with the kids and Max is with Jen's mom.
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