Wild Raspberry Picking

Saturday we suited up for our first foray into the bushes and brambles in search of wild black raspberries. We were not disappointed. We gathered about a gallon in an hour or so before the kids were too tired to continue. We left about half of the trail and berries untouched until next time.

My plan, in my head and heart, is to create a u-pick berry farm in the coming years consisting of at least black raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries. Many years ago my father attempted growing some hybrid black raspberries. They did well for a year or two before succumbing to root-rot. 

My plan as of today is to propagate and grow about an acre of black raspberries using the wild variety. While this does have its shortcomings, mostly size, it does offer some advantages including a natural resistance to disease, abundance of berry patches already existing on the farm for cuttings, and knowledge that the soil is right for berry growth if the current raspberry and blackberry patches are any indication.

Stay tuned as this plan hatches. In the meantime we'll post here the progress, problems, and "fruits" of our labor. We may even have a few berries to spare for our faithful blog followers!

Washed raspberries ready to eat and to flavor some raspberry gelato!

One of our dedicated pickers. He dove right in and picked like a machine...only eating a few along the way.

Delicious raspberries pre-wash.

The picking crew braving the thorns, dogging the bugs, and beating the birds to the berries.

A grand view of our home from the high hill above. The path also doubles as a sledding trail in winter.

It's looking like a great year for elderberries too!

A short pause to take in the view while picking.

 

Spring has sprung!

Spring has sprung around Amazing Grasses and not a moment too soon.  The chickens have been needing more and more fresh grass and only now has Mother Nature provided enough to keep up with these hungry ladies.

They've been in the hoop-house since late fall and I think they'll be glad to get back on to pasture.  Plenty of fresh water, sunshine, and available greens, worms, and bugs make the hens happy and our customers happier!

If you look closely at the pictures above you may notice that some of our hens sport stylish red anklets.  These plastic bands tell us that the hens wearing them are nearing two-years-old and theoretically their laying will begin to slow.  We haven't seen it yet but it will happen.  When it does, we'll sell these hens to folks who just want to have chickens or a few eggs now and then.

This morning the boys moved the eggmobile within the confines of the electric poultry netting and began preparing it for the season.

The eggmobile is a mobile chicken coop that allows us to move our hens to fresh grass every 7-10 days.  This is good for the hens since they get a fresh area to pick, find bugs, and play.  It is good for the ground since it won't be picked bare and won't be overloaded with nitrogen from their manure.

Over the next day or so they will allow the hens to get accustomed to the eggmobile again.  Once they are roosting in there rather than the hoop-house, we'll move them out into the lush green field and they'll forget all about that plastic winter home.

Hoop-house B.C. (Before Chickens)

Once the chickens are out of the hoop-house, we'll start seed beds in there for the summer garden.  The hoop-house and the area to the left of it in the picture will all be garden filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and more.

Hershey at 6 months.

Hershey is now 6 months old and Josie is still giving about 2 gallons a day for our family.  The cream has really started to increase as she has access to more and more fresh grass.  Hopefully we can get back to making our own butter once again!

That's all for now, enjoy the weather and stay tuned to more great stuff from Amazing Grasses including some Pastured Pigs this year!

Let's Talk about Eggs and Molting

A molting chicken, not ours, poor thing.

Let's talk about molting. Every so often chickens molt or loose and regrow most of their feathers. It's a process that takes some time 4-6 weeks. During this time most of their energy and their protein intake goes toward feather production leaving little for egg production.

What does that mean for us? Our disheartened little farmers have about 100 laying hens and are getting about 12 eggs a day. Yikes!! However, this spring they'll probably be getting 70-80 eggs per day. What does this mean for you, our awesome customers? Eggs are in short supply and are on a "if we have them, you can get them" type sales program.

With half of the layers being pullets (young layers) the production should pick back up within a week or two. The eggs will be slightly smaller but they'll be back to normal soon.

Now, before you go running off to the grocery store, this is a good post offer points to ponder -

Factory Farm

1) How are factory chickens treated? - In order to get production year-round of perfectly sized and weighted eggs a few things must be done. One of those things done that we don't do and don't agree with is installing a light. Egg production, like other things in nature is regulated by light. An artificial light can be installed to keep production up but this burns the chickens out and isn't health for them. It isn't health for us either actually...

One of our little farmers

2) You are paying the same price at the store for eggs that you do with us and getting an inferior, and less healthy egg. You may say that Amazing Grasses eggs are $3 per dozen but at Kroger they are only $.99. While this is true, it doesn't reflect the entire price you pay. How can a dozen eggs only be a dollar and the factory farm still make a profit and stay in business? Simply put, the eggs are "cheap" because the feed is "cheap" (often including other chickens, yuck). The feed is "cheap" because it's subsidized by the government. You are the government. So, taxes pay to subsidize the feed that's used to feed the chickens to get the cheap eggs. You paid basically the same price, you just didn't see it come out of your wallet and your cheap eggs really aren't good for you (or the chickens for that matter) which leads me to..

3) If you think pigs should be pigs, cows should be cows, and chickens should be chickens, then support your local pastured farmer who respects the "piginess of the pig" to borrow a phrase from our hero Joel Salatin. Factory chickens never see sunlight, are kept in a cage with a footprint smaller than the size of a piece of 8x10 paper, and have their feed and light tweaked to get the most production out of each bird. Our method isn't perfect but it's what makes the eggs taste great, the chickens healthy, and all of us feel good about how they are treated. We even have a chicken hospital for the weak or sickly birds that need some care!

Anyway, if you are still reading, all of this is to say that egg production is a little slow but rather than mess with what God has given us, we're going to respect the natural rhythm of things. Thanks for your patience and continued support.

Pastured Eggs really are good for you!

Oh BTW, some may say an egg is an egg. Those of you reading this know that's not true, at least if you've had our eggs. Are our chickens affected by the environment? Absolutely, in fact there some receipe books (mainly French) that call specifically for Spring Eggs, Summer Eggs, or Fall Eggs. These chefs know that depending on the time of year and available foods for the chickens the eggs can be very different in taste, color, and nutrients. The egg is truly incredible!

Our production method, portable coop, fresh pasture, plenty of sunshine and bugs.

A good weekend!

I've been on this homemade bread kick lately which is weird since I've been anti-gluten for some time.  However, it hasn't been bothering me lately, no headaches.  I'm not sure if that is because my allergy shots have knocked something out of my system or because the bread is real.  I mean there are like 7 ingredients and all of them are pronounceable.  

I've also been on a no-processed food kick and have lost 4 lbs and feel much better.  Anyway, a good weekend always begins with homemade french-toast with real maple syrup.  I can't get over this stuff.  I'm going to be looking all over the farm for Sugar Maples and probably even hit up my grandparents farm.  This stuff is amazing!  

After breakfast, a hike is in order to check on various things and to get some great sunshine.  I put Bella in a backpack and Daniel walked with me...

The bees are doing fine.  Dad lost all his hives over the winter so these are brand new.  Hopefully this great weather for the next week or so will give them a boost.

Rosie and Samson came out to check on us but they didn't get too close.  Rosie is expecting within the next couple of weeks and doesn't like to move to far or too fast.

I found one of our farm hands (bees) working hard.  Look at those pollen sacks.  Don't destroy those dandelions!  Those are great for the bees.

Life revolves around food, period.  I stopped at the local meat shop and picked up two pounds of great bacon.  I made some in the skillet so we'd have some bacon grease for cooking at other times.  I also cooked some in the oven.  I really can't decide which I like better.

Breakfast is served.  Can't wait to have our own pigs to match the other homemade or homegrown stuff.

In the afternoon we went looking for mushrooms and all we found was this frog, do you see him?

The sunshine and fresh air was too much for Bella on this trip.  Here she is in a backpack on her big brother, sound asleep, yet she never dropped her flower.

The boys gave the layers bracelets and here you can see them showing them off.  For those who are wondering, we have Red Star layers.  These are the best layers we've ever owned.  The bracelets help us to keep their ages straight from year to year so we don't get the new flock confused with the old one.

Daniel was super excited to harvest our first mess of asparagus.  We'll wait until we get some more and then grill it.  I can't imagine cooking it any other way.

Anthony climbing one of our hop poles.  Oh to be young and nimble once more.

The egg-mobile is off to a good start.  It will be 8x20 on a hay wagon frame and be completely self contained.  We're under a little pressure to get it done because our broilers will need the current coop as a brooder in about a week.

Thanks for looking and reading all the way through.  We're slowly making our farm into something beautiful and we're glad you are along for the journey.  If you are interested in stopping by or getting any of our eggs, chickens or other offerings, just let us know.  740-324-0702

The Struggle is Real

This is my normal view most days.  I wasn't made for this.  Looking at this picture right now makes me physically ill.  My head spins, my stomach is in a knot, my throat is dry.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful to have a job and one that keeps our heads above water.  But I wasn't made for this.  I don't think anyone was.  It's literally soul killing.

I do enjoy meeting new people and talking to folks and trying to help them any way I can.  I enjoy my co-workers.  But my love is not here, my heart is not here.

My only hope is that this is one of those posts that I'll be able to return to years down the road and say 1) God had me there for a reason
2) Although it felt like an eternity, it was only for a little while,
3) I never have to worry about going back to something like that ever again.

Of course when your dream is to farm full-time, write,and live off or rather in and on the land, being in the heart of the city is akin to a type of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual prison.  After all, that's why folks flee to our area on the weekends and for extended vacation.  Their hearts are calling them to return to nature, to peace, to quiet.

It is difficult to cultivate a farm life when 2 hours per day are spent commuting and 10 hours are spent sitting or standing or drinking coffee.  It is difficult but not impossible.  I've not given up hope but instead have become more creative and always keep the dream before my eyes.  It's the only way anyone makes a dream reality.  It's the only way to influence and change the future.

When I think of how things are, darkness enters my mind.  When I think of how things could be and will be, light and joy enter in.  I'll continue the with those thoughts.

This blog is about our little farm and it's growth.  Unlike the rest of the internet or Facebook, not every day is smiles and happiness.  There is real struggle, trials, sadness, loss as well as joy, victory, and peace.  Not every post will be smiles but not every bad day lasts, thankfully.

Hey, thanks for reading this far.  Here's what I hope one day is my normal view...

Rolling Library Carts

Rolling bookshelf, library cart, wheeled bookcase, homeschool mobile-education-unit. Whatever you want to call them, it's fine with us. They are now available to order for only $150 unfinished or $165 finished, painted, etc. Sturdy construction that will stand up to years of use at an affordable price. The newer models have 3 in rubber wheels with 110 lb weight rating. Contact us to order or to discuss customization (pencil holders, chalkboard paint, names, etc). Shelves 33x11, unit is 38.5 inches tall on top of wheels.

Email jimmaster43138@yahoo.com or call 740-324-0702

New poultry netting and wired chickens.

We've been in the process of selling our laying hens to our boys.  We are doing this because 1) I don't have time to care for them and I'm tired of fussing the boys to do the chores. 2) We are too cheap to pay them allowance so we'll let them earn their own money.

I started to regret this decision when I figured up how much they were bringing in per month but it's too late now to get the hens back.  

The ladies have had the run of the farm all winter and our deck, patio, and flower beds bear the proof.  Now that our thoughts are turning toward green, the garden, and flowers, it's time to get them under control.  I'd rather not have a toddler running barefoot through, well, you know...

I invested in a 164' section of electrified poultry netting and a solar charger/battery.  This set up will allow us to place it out in the field once our fabulous egg-mobile is constructed.  The fencing is light-weight and easy to move and use.  It will keep the chickens (soon to be 100) in and predators out.

When the fencing arrived we decided to go ahead and place it near the permanent coop (soon to be brooder-only) to see if we could begin containing the hens.  Once the fence was set up and tested, the hard way, we let the hens out.  The experiment was working great until one of the hens got zapped and then all heck broke loose.

Chickens with their flight or flight instinct tend to flock together and flee together.  Before we could do anything the entire flock was running head-long into the opposite side of the yard only to get zapped again and so it continued back and forth like a terrible, live pinball game until they decided to go over.  All but 4 or 5 hens fled to the pine trees.  We turned off the fence and opened all the doors.

The next day was better, a few zaps but no mass hysteria or escapees.  We just hope the eggs these last few days will be shockingly good or at least soft cooked..