Thursday, December 15, 2011
Plans for 2012
We're getting ready for a new farming season in 2012. Come read about us on the new blog at http://humblebee-farm.blogspot.com/ and see what we're up to!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
We're Moving!
Hi. Check out our new blog. We're moving from BC to Nova Scotia and blogging about farm life and life on the road with 4 kids and 7100 km to go! For more details on moving and how our plans and trip are going check in daily.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Lambs!
Well, the groundhog predicts another 6 weeks of winter. We're in Canada and it's the beginning of February so what do we really expect? That said, one of the most joyful signs of Spring arrived at our farm last night, our first lambs. Born to our big white ewe that we were sure was having triplets, were 2 lovely lambs yet to be named and sexed. Mum and babies are doing well and we'll get pics for you today too.
Tomorrow is a big day. The calves are doing fine again after the attack of bloat and tomorrow they're getting banded (castrated using an elastrator) and tetanus shots as well as worming. It'll take Deanna, myself and Steve to do it so it should be an interesting few hours. Afterwards we'll get them in a clean stall then let them eat until they feel better. They're ready to be outside now so since the weather is so amazingly nice this winter we'll get some fence up and build a 3 sided shed for them.
More later.
Tomorrow is a big day. The calves are doing fine again after the attack of bloat and tomorrow they're getting banded (castrated using an elastrator) and tetanus shots as well as worming. It'll take Deanna, myself and Steve to do it so it should be an interesting few hours. Afterwards we'll get them in a clean stall then let them eat until they feel better. They're ready to be outside now so since the weather is so amazingly nice this winter we'll get some fence up and build a 3 sided shed for them.
More later.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Who's In The Barn
Well, first there are the chickens. Layers and a few meat birds who aren't doing so well. I think that raising them on pasture during the warmer months is definitely the way to go. Layer chicks though are doing great and will start laying by Easter or sooner.
Then come the calves. Yes you heard me right...I finally got my cows! No, they're not dairy calves, they're boys so just for eating unless Steve gets his way about having a pair of oxen. We have 4 calves we got for free and we bought them home from the dairy farm where they were the end of season stragglers, in the back of the van. Now they're growing like weeds, must be all that calf milk replacer they drank from bottles for 8 weeks. They're weaned now and eating grain and alfalfa hay. Drinking lots of water too. Their names are Spot, Hamburger, Chris, and Baby (aka Corry).They're Holstein boys which are not really a meat breed but hey, the price was right and the experience has been invaluable.
Next come the goats. 3 Nigerian Dwarf Goats. A billy and 2 does.. Yes they've got horns, they're little, but they are great milkers so I'm told. We got our billy goat to them in December so late spring should herald the arrival of kids and the start of milking. That should be another adventure.
Speaking of babies, our 4 katahdin sheep are here in the barn, owing to an escape attempt last week. They are in a double stall, bedded down with lots of good hay and water. The biggest girl and unquestioned leader of the flock bagged up last week, that is, her udder began to swell, which is a sign of impending motherhood. We would normally breed our sheep so as to be having lambs in the warmer weather but these girls came to us already bred. They are nice sheep, shedding so no shearing is necessary, and have twin lambs frequently. Katahdin sheep are a meat breed.
So, that's a who's who in the barn. As you can see, things are progressing nicely.
Elizabeth
Then come the calves. Yes you heard me right...I finally got my cows! No, they're not dairy calves, they're boys so just for eating unless Steve gets his way about having a pair of oxen. We have 4 calves we got for free and we bought them home from the dairy farm where they were the end of season stragglers, in the back of the van. Now they're growing like weeds, must be all that calf milk replacer they drank from bottles for 8 weeks. They're weaned now and eating grain and alfalfa hay. Drinking lots of water too. Their names are Spot, Hamburger, Chris, and Baby (aka Corry).They're Holstein boys which are not really a meat breed but hey, the price was right and the experience has been invaluable.
Next come the goats. 3 Nigerian Dwarf Goats. A billy and 2 does.. Yes they've got horns, they're little, but they are great milkers so I'm told. We got our billy goat to them in December so late spring should herald the arrival of kids and the start of milking. That should be another adventure.
Speaking of babies, our 4 katahdin sheep are here in the barn, owing to an escape attempt last week. They are in a double stall, bedded down with lots of good hay and water. The biggest girl and unquestioned leader of the flock bagged up last week, that is, her udder began to swell, which is a sign of impending motherhood. We would normally breed our sheep so as to be having lambs in the warmer weather but these girls came to us already bred. They are nice sheep, shedding so no shearing is necessary, and have twin lambs frequently. Katahdin sheep are a meat breed.
So, that's a who's who in the barn. As you can see, things are progressing nicely.
Elizabeth
A New Beginning
Yes, it's been a while.
Here are the latest updates:
We're moved! Now in Hilliers, BC near Qualicum Beach.
Still Renting
Still doing Appliance Repair
Still raising kids...
And more animals! Details to follow tonight! And goodness, I must get some pics posted!
Here are the latest updates:
We're moved! Now in Hilliers, BC near Qualicum Beach.
Still Renting
Still doing Appliance Repair
Still raising kids...
And more animals! Details to follow tonight! And goodness, I must get some pics posted!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Fall in all her splendor
We've had a busy month canning, picking, freezing and getting things ready for winter. It's also been the forst time in a long time that I've not had children at home during the day. Somehow though the days just continue to fly by. I've got paperwork to get caught up and of course every mothers nightmare...the laundry mountain!
We're planning on moving some time in the next 6 months so the beginnings of organizing outgrown clothes and unused items is beginning. The plan is to rent the local community hall in November or December and have a whopping garage sale, and I mean the sale to end all sales! It's going to take a lot of prep work though and the time to start is now. I'm sorting each load as it comes out of the dryer and hopefully it will mean better organized drawers and closets in the near future.
One of our Silkie hens hatched a chick, yes, just 1. So a little fuzzy ball is cheeping and following mama all over the yard. He's so cute and we named him Chicklet.
Our meat birds are scheduled for the chop on Oct 13th, seems like an ominous day doesn't it :) and we'll take in our excess roosters at the same time. That's if Steve can let them go, he's gotten quite attached to them. This should give us approx. 18 chickens for the freezer and 6 to sell. Or there abouts. I'm toying with the idea of raising one more batch before we move but honestly I think it might be time to concentrate on other things.
We're looking at buying a house in Whiskey Creek with our mothers. We'd have the basement and half the yard so it would give us about a half acre to play with and also a greenhouse and a workshop. It's got 2 wells and also a greenbelt behind the property with a creek running through it so Steve is happy. Now we have to work on the financing end of it and get jobs for Mum or Joan so that they can sell their house in Calgary and buy here.
Read a good quote on the Mormon Messages channel on YouTube I'd like to share with you:
"The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy".
Just a thought for this cool and beautiful Sunday.
The garden needs cleaning up quite badly and the winter veggies are of course still in. I'm planting the seedlings into the greenhouse today.
We're planning on moving some time in the next 6 months so the beginnings of organizing outgrown clothes and unused items is beginning. The plan is to rent the local community hall in November or December and have a whopping garage sale, and I mean the sale to end all sales! It's going to take a lot of prep work though and the time to start is now. I'm sorting each load as it comes out of the dryer and hopefully it will mean better organized drawers and closets in the near future.
One of our Silkie hens hatched a chick, yes, just 1. So a little fuzzy ball is cheeping and following mama all over the yard. He's so cute and we named him Chicklet.
Our meat birds are scheduled for the chop on Oct 13th, seems like an ominous day doesn't it :) and we'll take in our excess roosters at the same time. That's if Steve can let them go, he's gotten quite attached to them. This should give us approx. 18 chickens for the freezer and 6 to sell. Or there abouts. I'm toying with the idea of raising one more batch before we move but honestly I think it might be time to concentrate on other things.
We're looking at buying a house in Whiskey Creek with our mothers. We'd have the basement and half the yard so it would give us about a half acre to play with and also a greenhouse and a workshop. It's got 2 wells and also a greenbelt behind the property with a creek running through it so Steve is happy. Now we have to work on the financing end of it and get jobs for Mum or Joan so that they can sell their house in Calgary and buy here.
Read a good quote on the Mormon Messages channel on YouTube I'd like to share with you:
"The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone, but the things you do for others remain as your legacy".
Just a thought for this cool and beautiful Sunday.
The garden needs cleaning up quite badly and the winter veggies are of course still in. I'm planting the seedlings into the greenhouse today.
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