Welcome to the Farm Circleletter! In this, I hope to simply share with you what is going on around the farm, how the animals are doing, what the children are up to and any other news around here. I want this to be a place you can feel free and safe to ask any questions you may have, about our farming or methods or anything else. It is our desire to be as transparent as we can because we highly value the trust you place in us to raise your food well.
Mostly, I also want to thank you for your patience with us as we are in the middle of raising more product and while the store is looking a little empty right now, rest assured there is more coming!
Hot, hot, hot - that well describes the last few days!! I am one of those strange people that actually enjoys the heat because it's a sign of summer and heat like that, along with some rain, makes things absolutely shoot out of the ground! How do you feel about summer and heat?
There are some added challenges when it's hot, such as making sure everyone has the water and shelter from the sun that they need. This morning our helper and I spent awhile stringing new fences so we could give the cattle access to a shadier part of the field - very important for them.
It's sometimes hard to be enthused about evening chores when everything you move or touch becomes wet with sweat:) but usually it cools down somewhat by evening and oh joy, the mornings are refreshingly beautiful!
We intentionally wait to move the meat chickens until it's a little cooler, just to make it easier for them. We've got some nice looking chicken coming! The next little chicks will be ready to move out to the field just as soon as these are done.
And so the cycle of farming continues.
The milk cow Kelle and her calf Humphrilda (lovingly named by Talyia - the girls take turns to name the calves) are doing very well. I'm happy that I'm able to have some milk as well as having her calf have some but Kelle seems quite intent on keeping most of the cream for her calf (very normal), so we're not getting much of that! We are also eagerly awaiting the next calf, from our 2nd cow.
On Saturday, our helper and Jesse spent over 2 hours sorting and getting pigs into the proper place for loading first thing Monday morning. By the end, I was starting to wonder, "Do we even like bacon anymore? Are we sure this is worth it?":) Loading is always a little anxiety-inducing, because first of all, we're sending pigs to the processor, a little sad, but very grateful for the nourishment they provide. Secondly, because pigs can be hard to convince to go somewhere they don't want to go and we always feel sorta like, "Will this work the way we want it to or will we have pigs all over the property?" Eventually it went the way we wanted it to:)
Last week we also put in the small squares of hay into the barn that we usually get. We do not make our own hay because we don't have enough acreage but we have some friends who were making hay and happy to share. I love everything about hay making! the good fresh smell! the sweat and toil of getting into the barn. the working together as friends and neighbours because putting up hay is a lot of work! And then going into the barn afterwards and smelling the hay --mmm, we should charge for that experience:)
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