Wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!! Your support of the farm this year was a real Blessing both financially as well as spirit lifting with the praise and encouragement so many of you offered through the year. For many years my contracting business has subsidized the farm's cash flow needs. This year, for the first time, things were reversed and the farm took over the lead. We owe thanks to many of you for this! Maybe after this year I can finally retire and become a full time farmer.
A little Farmer Philosophy:
Most of us have been affected by the financial problems of the country and I know it has been real tough on many folks. Even if we've escaped the worst its hard to not be concerned about others and wonder if we're next. As an unwise old man I still have some words of wisdom so I'd like to say; if we didn't have it so good for so long we wouldn't know that things are bad now.
I think back to when my parents worked as migrant farm workers and drug me and my brother around from place to place. Actually we didn't know we were in tough times and just enjoyed all the different places and homeless camp outs and wild harvest treks as great adventures. The hardest part was whenever we had to go to a new school, at least two or three times a year. We always had to deal with the school bully and his pals. My Brother and I learned if we joined up as one to appose them with a rowdy counter attack it was a little easier to get them to avoid us. I guess they still have serious bully problems in schools today motivated by new social problems. When I was a kid it was just because you wore glasses or your name was weird like "Angell" or you were a new kid.
We also found out that whenever we were really in trouble and down and out someone or several folks always stepped up to help us out, wherever we went and my folks were the same to others. Maybe if things get real tough with the economy more folks will join up together to help each other out instead of relying on the government, the banks and the insurance companies. When we finally settled down on a ranch in Montana for a few seasons it was great. The local one room school house only had three kids including us so there wasn't a bully issue. Just a spoiled boss's son to deal with. I heard later that the local ranch community kept my folks on through the Winter so the school wouldn't close. The next two years there were about a dozen kids; one for each grade. The very same school house is on display as a museum today in Deer Lodge, MT.
I guess I'm trying to say we should always remember to be thankful for our Blessings. The greatest being the reason for this season, Our Lord's arrival!
CSA and Farmer's Market News:
We'll be at Millwood next Wed. 2-6pm. The word is that a new location for the Farmer's Market at Perry Street is being worked out with promising progress. After New Year's both the Winter Markets will resume the normal schedule. First week after New Years I'll be processing Berkshire Pigs and soon after we'll have retail cuts of pork at the Markets again.
Farm News:
Had a Christmas calf born this morning. Can't tell you if its a girl or boy cause when I tried to look the Momma came after me and actually butted me in the top of my head when I was bending over to take a look. Good thing a have a hard head! Actually I think she was taking it easy on me and just trying to warn me away. This a good sign showing that the Mother worries about her new baby and will defend it. All the movies and cartoons always show a Bull as the danger one in pastures to watch out for. This is actually a myth as most Bulls are very docile. The real danger is range cows with new calves especially and even older calves if your a stranger. Once I had a cow lift up my whole body with her head and toss me about 20-30 feet. Then she proceeded to pounce up and down on me with her front hooves. If my dog didn't jump in after her I probably wouldn't be here today. Good thing I have a cushion around my belly.
All the new piglets doing fine. Had a chance to catch up on mixing feed last week during the warmer weather. All the snow melted and formed ponds in the holes the pigs dug. Haven't seen any of them wallowing. Must be still to cold but it hasn't stopped them from going back to their "Turn Over Every Rock" they can find game. I'm letting some of the little ones venture outside now. Even though they have short thin hair they handle the cold real well. Its because they have a layer of fat at least an inch thick and the little guys have a warm up station that serves hot milk. The older feeder pigs all join up in the larger huts and keep each other warm in a big pile. Some how the smaller ones learn to avoid getting squashed. They can't do this very well in an industrial hog house cause their kept on concrete floors in small group pens. Right now we have 34 feeder pigs and 33 piglets. The late Gilt that my wife talked me into keeping is finally starting to show early pregnancy signs so their may be hope for her yet.
OTHER NEWS:
We were invited by the Wild Sage Restaurant (located on corner of Lincoln and 2d downtown)for a Christmas breakfast. They hosted the Red Cross and all the funds donated for the food went to them. Mark Peterson of KXLY was there doing interviews and weather news. He spotted my wife and focused in on her. It was because "SO" was wearing bright Christmas colors. So she was a TV star for awhile! Maybe some of you saw her.
Wishing You Joy and Happiness for the Holidays,
Gary
Monday, January 4, 2010
Farm News Dec 16th, 2009
Introduction:
Well a white Christmas came a little early so I guess we better enjoy it. It could be all melted by the 25th. Heard snow blowers and snow mobiles engine noise echoing in the wind all day yesterday.
CSA News:
Received the first membership Form last Friday with an advance for the whole year. Nice Christmas present to us.
Still working on a Meat CSA Proposal. Working out a plan that is legal with the government is difficult. So far it seems that a Meat CSA Share will have to include the minimum of a 1/4 Beef and 1/2 Hog with at least 20 Chickens and a turkey. If someone is also a Produce Member they would get a second turkey; one from each CSA program. Doing it this way, the meat could be processed locally under WA State Custom Processor rules.
I would store the meat and distribute it over 5 Summer months. If someone wants meat over the Winter as well I would recommend a pre-order for custom locker meat. Joint 1/2 share memberships would reduce the cost for individuals. This plan would provide about 250-300 lbs total or 50-60 lbs a month of meat for $1,250 payable at $200/mo with an initial non refundable membership deposit of $250.
This plan would allow folks with a limited freezer space to enjoy fresh local healthy meat at a reasonable price. I will need a minimum of 8 membership shares to make this plan feasible. Please let me know your interest. More details such as an example of what you get in a Monthly delivery is still to come.
Other Farm News:
Started out Monday to get a 5 ton load of feed grain to mix for for the pigs before the weather gets below freezing again. My Mixer-Grinder doesn't do to well when it's frozen. Didn't count on how slippery the melting snow was at the surface. "SO" decided she had cabin fever and wanted to come with me along with the three house dogs. Slowed to go around a corner on the gravel road about 5 mi.'s from the farm. Before I knew what happened the grain trailer slid off the road over the side onto the edge of a large ditch with about a 10 foot drop off and drug the back end of the truck off the side to the edge with it. The ditch had about a 10 foot drop. After spending about an hour trying to disconnect the trailer with out success. I was dreading the reaction I would get when I had to tell my wife we'd have to walk home in the snow.
As I looked up towards her in the truck I saw all three dogs watching me through the back window with what I would have to call a scornful hurry up look. Then a minor miracle happened! A county snow plow hooked up on the front of a giant road grader showed up and stopped in front of me. The driver jumped out and hooked up a tow cable as big around as my arm and pulled us out truck and trailer in one move. I've lived out here since 1983 and had many perils from the snow over the years and I have to tell you I've never had any complaints with our county road department. We're taken care of far better than what I've seen for city folks in Spokane. I now had earned a little wisdom or common sense and decided to go home and try again another day! Thank you Lord and the snow plow driver "Mick". I've been told God looks out for orphans and idiots. I think that includes me on Monday! And quite a few other times in the past too!
All the new piglets are doing fine. No new calves in the deep freeze. However; I went out to feed the cows this morning, in a hurry just before leaving for the Market at Millwood. I left the gate open to the pasture and raced off with the tractor to get the first bale of hay. When I turned around and looked back I was faced by a long row of cows walking through the gate down the drive way past the house in my direction. Well guess who was leading them? I think some of you will remember the pet heifer , "Curly", that my wife raised from a baby last Summer; who grew up in the front lawn.
She has no natural fear of me, the dogs or the area around the house. Yep. She was their leader. As I drove through them to the pasture most turned and followed but when I went back Curly and some of her yearling buddies were enjoying themselves munching on things in the garden and here and there around the house. One seemed to like munching up a bowl of dog food. Guess I can't claim she is totally grass fed anymore. Well, I led Curly back through the gate and chased her a ways. Guess this was a signal to the dogs it was okay now to chase the rest of the calves and soon they came ripping past the house and green houses through the garden and back to the gate and into the pasture. Just another morning of farm antics. Its what keeps life on the farm exciting and interesting.
Hope you enjoyed the Ranch Ramblings for this week.
Gary
Well a white Christmas came a little early so I guess we better enjoy it. It could be all melted by the 25th. Heard snow blowers and snow mobiles engine noise echoing in the wind all day yesterday.
CSA News:
Received the first membership Form last Friday with an advance for the whole year. Nice Christmas present to us.
Still working on a Meat CSA Proposal. Working out a plan that is legal with the government is difficult. So far it seems that a Meat CSA Share will have to include the minimum of a 1/4 Beef and 1/2 Hog with at least 20 Chickens and a turkey. If someone is also a Produce Member they would get a second turkey; one from each CSA program. Doing it this way, the meat could be processed locally under WA State Custom Processor rules.
I would store the meat and distribute it over 5 Summer months. If someone wants meat over the Winter as well I would recommend a pre-order for custom locker meat. Joint 1/2 share memberships would reduce the cost for individuals. This plan would provide about 250-300 lbs total or 50-60 lbs a month of meat for $1,250 payable at $200/mo with an initial non refundable membership deposit of $250.
This plan would allow folks with a limited freezer space to enjoy fresh local healthy meat at a reasonable price. I will need a minimum of 8 membership shares to make this plan feasible. Please let me know your interest. More details such as an example of what you get in a Monthly delivery is still to come.
Other Farm News:
Started out Monday to get a 5 ton load of feed grain to mix for for the pigs before the weather gets below freezing again. My Mixer-Grinder doesn't do to well when it's frozen. Didn't count on how slippery the melting snow was at the surface. "SO" decided she had cabin fever and wanted to come with me along with the three house dogs. Slowed to go around a corner on the gravel road about 5 mi.'s from the farm. Before I knew what happened the grain trailer slid off the road over the side onto the edge of a large ditch with about a 10 foot drop off and drug the back end of the truck off the side to the edge with it. The ditch had about a 10 foot drop. After spending about an hour trying to disconnect the trailer with out success. I was dreading the reaction I would get when I had to tell my wife we'd have to walk home in the snow.
As I looked up towards her in the truck I saw all three dogs watching me through the back window with what I would have to call a scornful hurry up look. Then a minor miracle happened! A county snow plow hooked up on the front of a giant road grader showed up and stopped in front of me. The driver jumped out and hooked up a tow cable as big around as my arm and pulled us out truck and trailer in one move. I've lived out here since 1983 and had many perils from the snow over the years and I have to tell you I've never had any complaints with our county road department. We're taken care of far better than what I've seen for city folks in Spokane. I now had earned a little wisdom or common sense and decided to go home and try again another day! Thank you Lord and the snow plow driver "Mick". I've been told God looks out for orphans and idiots. I think that includes me on Monday! And quite a few other times in the past too!
All the new piglets are doing fine. No new calves in the deep freeze. However; I went out to feed the cows this morning, in a hurry just before leaving for the Market at Millwood. I left the gate open to the pasture and raced off with the tractor to get the first bale of hay. When I turned around and looked back I was faced by a long row of cows walking through the gate down the drive way past the house in my direction. Well guess who was leading them? I think some of you will remember the pet heifer , "Curly", that my wife raised from a baby last Summer; who grew up in the front lawn.
She has no natural fear of me, the dogs or the area around the house. Yep. She was their leader. As I drove through them to the pasture most turned and followed but when I went back Curly and some of her yearling buddies were enjoying themselves munching on things in the garden and here and there around the house. One seemed to like munching up a bowl of dog food. Guess I can't claim she is totally grass fed anymore. Well, I led Curly back through the gate and chased her a ways. Guess this was a signal to the dogs it was okay now to chase the rest of the calves and soon they came ripping past the house and green houses through the garden and back to the gate and into the pasture. Just another morning of farm antics. Its what keeps life on the farm exciting and interesting.
Hope you enjoyed the Ranch Ramblings for this week.
Gary
Farm News Nov 12th, 2009
CSA News:
Turkeys go to the processor tomorrow along with geese and ducks. Please return any coolers you may have when you pick up the bird. You have all been great, there's just a few left out there.
I'm thinking strongly about starting a CSA for meat next Spring. It will include: Angus grass fed beef, Berkshire free range-pastured pork, free range chickens, turkeys and an occasional exotic meat like goat, rabbit, or duck. All will be grown on this farm. Delivery will be monthly with a variety pack of about 50 Lbs per share. . Prices will be between wholesale custom processed meat and USDA retail quantities. Membership tentatively will be $300 to cover administration, storage, processing, delivery, etc. It will be for 6 months, renewable in the fall to continue through winter for another 6 months. Please let me know what you think of this idea.
Production This Week:
So will be at the farmer's market of Millwood, 2-6pm - Wed and Community Bldg, 11-5 pm - Thursday pm.
She'll have fresh potatoes, carrots, and beets as well as some salad mix and swiss chard. Also winter squash, chickens, beef, and a little sausage. Next week we will be delivering the turkeys in the afternoon at the Community Bldg (Unless you make other arrangements.) on Thursday the 19th. All the turkeys and geese are sold out but I can't remember who ordered one of the geese. The following week we'll have more chickens being processed so I could make special arrangements to deliver some fresh for those who don't like turkey. Also have some ducks available.
Farm News:
We have been driving the tractor that we have been working on. My Grandson and his friend who was helping did a great job under some pretty adverse conditions! I'm not just talking about the cold; can you imagine having to deal with the interruptions of some old guy with endless words of wisdom and advice?!
My granddaughter called to check on the calf that was born when she came to visit. They had quite an experience playing with it as a little fur-ball. Well the calf is just fine and the mother, a first calving heifer, has figured out it belongs to her and now they are well bonded. I call the calf Speedy . It is the only baby calf right now and seems to enjoy racing through all the other cows in a road runner lickity-split style of her own. She needs some other little ones to play with. Hope that happens soon before the weather gets too bad.
I moved the new sows out on to pasture with their liters of piglets. The pasture is shared with other feeder pigs several months older. Never fear, one of the sows has a scraggly ripped up ear from some earlier fight. I call her Scruffy. As soon as any of the other pigs came within 10 feet of her babies she was pouncing on them with all fours till they ran off for safety of life and limb. It wasn't long before the older feeder piglets learned to stay clear and all was peaceful again. This has always been my experience with pigs when they have plenty of room like ours have on pasture. After a few days their all friends and seem to thrive on being in a diverse social group. This is even true when you add other species.
Recently we had cows, pigs and goats sharing the same pasture. It's odd watching cows graze on a pile of hay (we feed 800 lb round bales) while the pigs are busy digging tunnels through the hay under their feet. It must be symbiotic because later you can see cows relaxing while the chew their cud with pigs cradled up alongside of them snoozing. The goats just seem to hang around watching and being aloof about it all.
Guess I better wrap these "Ranch Ramblings" for now.
Thanks! Gary
Turkeys go to the processor tomorrow along with geese and ducks. Please return any coolers you may have when you pick up the bird. You have all been great, there's just a few left out there.
I'm thinking strongly about starting a CSA for meat next Spring. It will include: Angus grass fed beef, Berkshire free range-pastured pork, free range chickens, turkeys and an occasional exotic meat like goat, rabbit, or duck. All will be grown on this farm. Delivery will be monthly with a variety pack of about 50 Lbs per share. . Prices will be between wholesale custom processed meat and USDA retail quantities. Membership tentatively will be $300 to cover administration, storage, processing, delivery, etc. It will be for 6 months, renewable in the fall to continue through winter for another 6 months. Please let me know what you think of this idea.
Production This Week:
So will be at the farmer's market of Millwood, 2-6pm - Wed and Community Bldg, 11-5 pm - Thursday pm.
She'll have fresh potatoes, carrots, and beets as well as some salad mix and swiss chard. Also winter squash, chickens, beef, and a little sausage. Next week we will be delivering the turkeys in the afternoon at the Community Bldg (Unless you make other arrangements.) on Thursday the 19th. All the turkeys and geese are sold out but I can't remember who ordered one of the geese. The following week we'll have more chickens being processed so I could make special arrangements to deliver some fresh for those who don't like turkey. Also have some ducks available.
Farm News:
We have been driving the tractor that we have been working on. My Grandson and his friend who was helping did a great job under some pretty adverse conditions! I'm not just talking about the cold; can you imagine having to deal with the interruptions of some old guy with endless words of wisdom and advice?!
My granddaughter called to check on the calf that was born when she came to visit. They had quite an experience playing with it as a little fur-ball. Well the calf is just fine and the mother, a first calving heifer, has figured out it belongs to her and now they are well bonded. I call the calf Speedy . It is the only baby calf right now and seems to enjoy racing through all the other cows in a road runner lickity-split style of her own. She needs some other little ones to play with. Hope that happens soon before the weather gets too bad.
I moved the new sows out on to pasture with their liters of piglets. The pasture is shared with other feeder pigs several months older. Never fear, one of the sows has a scraggly ripped up ear from some earlier fight. I call her Scruffy. As soon as any of the other pigs came within 10 feet of her babies she was pouncing on them with all fours till they ran off for safety of life and limb. It wasn't long before the older feeder piglets learned to stay clear and all was peaceful again. This has always been my experience with pigs when they have plenty of room like ours have on pasture. After a few days their all friends and seem to thrive on being in a diverse social group. This is even true when you add other species.
Recently we had cows, pigs and goats sharing the same pasture. It's odd watching cows graze on a pile of hay (we feed 800 lb round bales) while the pigs are busy digging tunnels through the hay under their feet. It must be symbiotic because later you can see cows relaxing while the chew their cud with pigs cradled up alongside of them snoozing. The goats just seem to hang around watching and being aloof about it all.
Guess I better wrap these "Ranch Ramblings" for now.
Thanks! Gary
Farm News Oct 28th, 2009
Introduction:
This Newsletter has its origins in the CSA Newsletter from the Summer of 2009. A lot of the CSA customers asked me to continue the newsletter. It's an informal dialogue of farm life, farm production information, and a farmer's perspective on past and present events impacting daily events and life on the farm.
Several folks have been added to the original CSA Mailing List because you have been a recent customer of the farm or you have expressed an interest in the events at the farm. If you don't want to receive it just send me an e-mail and let me know.
CSA News:
Everyone has been great about returning the coolers! Thanks! Several of you have asked if we plan to continue the CSA again next year. Yes we do but we're not sure of the delivery points because the market locations could change.
Farm Products Available:
We'll be at the Millwood Indoor Market 12-5 pm and at So. Perry 3-7 pm or until we freeze out as its supposed to get below freezing by sundown. This is the last time at S. Perry St. We will be moving to the Community Building next week at 24 W. Main from 11 to 5 pm.
This week we'll have : salad mix, swiss chard, carrots, beets, squash, eggs, beef, and chickens. Sorry we only have a little sausage left from the pork. Won't be able to re-stock utill December. Will have a beef carcass available next month. If no advance orders occur we plan to package it in split half quarters, as sales have been good in this size packages. A few turkeys still available for Thanksgiving.
Farm News:
Rain, rain, rain and more rain!!! The driveway turned into a small creek; solid water 10 foot wide for about 150 ft stretch. It was so muddy going up to the barn, had to use 4 wheel drive and splattered mud all over.. The tub in my feed Grinder - Mixer is like a big pot full of water. (Didn't expect all this.) Felt like a mud hog sloshing around in the lower pasture and in the dry lots; Huh! Did I say dry lots?. Every hole the pigs have made all Summer is filled with water. Mud wallow paradise for them! All our vehicles got a free car wash but if you used them it didn't last long. Grass started growing and the cows took off and left the hay for greener pastures' so to speak. Trouble is some didn't stop till they visited the neighbors.
Could have been the fault of hunters I heard firing out near my East fence where the cows got out. I don't know what they were hunting but sometimes it sounded like a gun battle with M-16 automatic rifle fire I used to hear in Vietnam. Still bothers me after all these years! I was a little worried about what could have happened to some of the missing cows until I located them. Well had a good time Sunday morning gathering them all up and bringing them home. It wasn't really that hard; as soon as they saw me they started bellowing and came running. Had to lead them back in through the gates in the pig pasture which also now has the goats. Strangely the pigs just stood by along with the goats and just watched the spectacle of the cows following me. That was a welcome surprise to me. Soon as I got them all joined up there was a feeding frenzy as all the calves got matched up with their Moma's again. Fun to watch! Well, the fresh cool wet day was just great!!! Loved it!!! Lord please send more of the rain! This farm is classified as a dry land farm. It relies on the storage of water in the soil for next years crops. Of course any rain we get in season is also a blessing.
Still working on the tractor. Fired off the engine yesterday and that was good until the hydraulic pressure build up and it started squirting and raining oil in several spots. We had to remove all the oil lines to separate the tractor for the clutch repair. A couple more leaks and we'll give it another try tomorrow. About now I'm starting to wonder if it wasn't better back in the days when I was a kid on a ranch in Montana where we used horses for about everything. At the time I thought it was great. My version of a kid's pony ride was sleeping on the back of a 2000lb plus work horse as it wandered home at the end of the days work. It wouldn't dare break down on the way home like a tractor or truck, or it would miss its feeding of oats. I wonder if that's why they never dumped me on the way home as well.
Went for a walk checking the pig fence after the wind storm that ripped through with the hardest rain. The older pigs are winter ranging in an area with timber and its common for a tree or limb to fall and knock out the fence. Well while I was going along I heard a pig or two barking and grunting calling each other. Soon the sound was closer and as I looked around behind me there was the strange site of a single file line of all the sows following me as I walked down the fence. Didn't know what else to do but just finished walking the fence as they all kept following me. Were they keeping me company, curious or just wanting to make sure they didn't miss out on any feed I might come up with? You be the judge!
We'll see what adventures are in store for next week! One of you said they liked my "Ranch Ramblings". Might be a good name for this newsletter.
This Newsletter has its origins in the CSA Newsletter from the Summer of 2009. A lot of the CSA customers asked me to continue the newsletter. It's an informal dialogue of farm life, farm production information, and a farmer's perspective on past and present events impacting daily events and life on the farm.
Several folks have been added to the original CSA Mailing List because you have been a recent customer of the farm or you have expressed an interest in the events at the farm. If you don't want to receive it just send me an e-mail and let me know.
CSA News:
Everyone has been great about returning the coolers! Thanks! Several of you have asked if we plan to continue the CSA again next year. Yes we do but we're not sure of the delivery points because the market locations could change.
Farm Products Available:
We'll be at the Millwood Indoor Market 12-5 pm and at So. Perry 3-7 pm or until we freeze out as its supposed to get below freezing by sundown. This is the last time at S. Perry St. We will be moving to the Community Building next week at 24 W. Main from 11 to 5 pm.
This week we'll have : salad mix, swiss chard, carrots, beets, squash, eggs, beef, and chickens. Sorry we only have a little sausage left from the pork. Won't be able to re-stock utill December. Will have a beef carcass available next month. If no advance orders occur we plan to package it in split half quarters, as sales have been good in this size packages. A few turkeys still available for Thanksgiving.
Farm News:
Rain, rain, rain and more rain!!! The driveway turned into a small creek; solid water 10 foot wide for about 150 ft stretch. It was so muddy going up to the barn, had to use 4 wheel drive and splattered mud all over.. The tub in my feed Grinder - Mixer is like a big pot full of water. (Didn't expect all this.) Felt like a mud hog sloshing around in the lower pasture and in the dry lots; Huh! Did I say dry lots?. Every hole the pigs have made all Summer is filled with water. Mud wallow paradise for them! All our vehicles got a free car wash but if you used them it didn't last long. Grass started growing and the cows took off and left the hay for greener pastures' so to speak. Trouble is some didn't stop till they visited the neighbors.
Could have been the fault of hunters I heard firing out near my East fence where the cows got out. I don't know what they were hunting but sometimes it sounded like a gun battle with M-16 automatic rifle fire I used to hear in Vietnam. Still bothers me after all these years! I was a little worried about what could have happened to some of the missing cows until I located them. Well had a good time Sunday morning gathering them all up and bringing them home. It wasn't really that hard; as soon as they saw me they started bellowing and came running. Had to lead them back in through the gates in the pig pasture which also now has the goats. Strangely the pigs just stood by along with the goats and just watched the spectacle of the cows following me. That was a welcome surprise to me. Soon as I got them all joined up there was a feeding frenzy as all the calves got matched up with their Moma's again. Fun to watch! Well, the fresh cool wet day was just great!!! Loved it!!! Lord please send more of the rain! This farm is classified as a dry land farm. It relies on the storage of water in the soil for next years crops. Of course any rain we get in season is also a blessing.
Still working on the tractor. Fired off the engine yesterday and that was good until the hydraulic pressure build up and it started squirting and raining oil in several spots. We had to remove all the oil lines to separate the tractor for the clutch repair. A couple more leaks and we'll give it another try tomorrow. About now I'm starting to wonder if it wasn't better back in the days when I was a kid on a ranch in Montana where we used horses for about everything. At the time I thought it was great. My version of a kid's pony ride was sleeping on the back of a 2000lb plus work horse as it wandered home at the end of the days work. It wouldn't dare break down on the way home like a tractor or truck, or it would miss its feeding of oats. I wonder if that's why they never dumped me on the way home as well.
Went for a walk checking the pig fence after the wind storm that ripped through with the hardest rain. The older pigs are winter ranging in an area with timber and its common for a tree or limb to fall and knock out the fence. Well while I was going along I heard a pig or two barking and grunting calling each other. Soon the sound was closer and as I looked around behind me there was the strange site of a single file line of all the sows following me as I walked down the fence. Didn't know what else to do but just finished walking the fence as they all kept following me. Were they keeping me company, curious or just wanting to make sure they didn't miss out on any feed I might come up with? You be the judge!
We'll see what adventures are in store for next week! One of you said they liked my "Ranch Ramblings". Might be a good name for this newsletter.
Farm News Oct 20th, 2009
INTRODUCTION:
This Newsletter has its origins in the CSA Newsletter from the Summer of 2009. If you would like to review past copies you can find it on my Facebook at the web site rockyridgeranchspokane.com. Many of our CSA Members asked me to continue the Newsletter. It's an informal dialogue of farm life, farm production information, and a farmers perspective on past and present events impacting daily events and life on the farm.
CSA NEWS:
Please return your coolers and any plastic boxes to the Farmer's Markets or when you pick up your turkey which we plan to deliver on Nov 19th. We will advise further as time approaches and hope you all can continue to visit us at the Winter Markets or make a trip to the farm. Mid day Saturdays are usually best times to visit.
Farm Products Available:
"SO" will have the following to Market at Millwood on Wed, 12-5 PM and S. Hill , 3-7 PM this week. Beets, Carrots, Potatoes, Fresh Eggs, Salad Mix, Swiss Chard, Winter Squash, Fresh Frozen Chicken, Grass fed Angus Beef and Free Range Berkshire Pork.
CSA Members please remember that although your deliveries are finished for the year your membership still entitles you to 10% discount off your purchases. We also have wholesale Beef and Pork available for order for your freezer. Some turkeys are still available as well.
Farm News:
Our two Grand Daughters were able to visit a couple days this last weekend. Ages 9 and 10. They were at the Farmer's Market awhile on Thursday. It was a little scary to them as they didn't arrive utill after dark. It seems their Dad told them about learning to drive when he was little on the county dirt road that leads about 5 miles to our farm. They wouldn't give up nagging me till I let them try to drive home like their Dad did when he was little. So if your are ever driving on Oehlschlaeger Road that dead ends at our farm, watch out for novice driving Lessons. Its surely not legal but its how I learned to drive as well as my three sons and two Grandsons. How do you think farm kids learn to drive well enough to operate a tractor at 10 to 12 years old?
One of my new breeding Heifers had perfect timing and had her first calf the night before, so the girls had quite an experience fussing over the little new born that was also a heifer. We expect 8 - 10 more very soon. They also had fun with the baby chicks and the 3 week old piglets. And of course they had to ride a horse. Wish we would have had more time with them!
I sent in my paperwork to be a Certified American Berkshire Breeder. I'll be the only one in the Northwest. These heritage pigs have a more detailed pedigree and birth registration than most people. They even require DNA blood samples. It goes back to the mid 1800's. My first two registered Sows have been great Mothers. I'm sure you've all heard about my pet Boar named "Resurrection" or "REX" for short. Might be because my genetics were saved from hogs that lived back in the 1950's, that escaped industrialization.
Had to send off three old cows who have served the farm well. Due to the realities of the economy I cant afford to carry them through retirement as I have always done in the past. I should ship more of them but after several weeks of pondering I just can't let any more go. I'm still not sure how I'm going to find the resources to feed them all. Field crop production this Summer was the worst I have seen for nearly 20 years. So hay is a financial problem for many this year. We have beautiful yearling calves this year which I attribute to my new young bull, "Big Chunk"! He's the kind of bull I've always dreamed of having for this farm. I carry a photo of him in my bill fold. Many of you have seen him on our market posters.
Tractor repair still in progress. Delayed by the clutch bell housing cracking when we re-tightened it during final assembly. What a disappointment. Well since a new one would cost more than the tractor is worth we decided to get it welded. We'll be holding our breath worrying about that weld holding for a long time! Meanwhile I'll be looking for another tractor the same model to rob the clutch assembly off of it.
All farmers have to talk about the weather. After a frigid week we've had several real nice heavy rains. The dust is all settled and the cattle are back out on pasture slurping up grass seed and forage grain seed sprouts. Animal aromas are strong in the air but at least the source stays put instead of blowing in the wind. The flies and yellow jackets are gone but the blue aphids have arrived. I love the crisp bright early mornings and the fresh smells which I enjoy, with my coffee cup in hand, as I cruise the pasture checking the cows and their pregnancy progress. More piglets next month too. I'll keep you all posted.
Have a Good Week! Gary and So
This Newsletter has its origins in the CSA Newsletter from the Summer of 2009. If you would like to review past copies you can find it on my Facebook at the web site rockyridgeranchspokane.com
CSA NEWS:
Please return your coolers and any plastic boxes to the Farmer's Markets or when you pick up your turkey which we plan to deliver on Nov 19th. We will advise further as time approaches and hope you all can continue to visit us at the Winter Markets or make a trip to the farm. Mid day Saturdays are usually best times to visit.
Farm Products Available:
"SO" will have the following to Market at Millwood on Wed, 12-5 PM and S. Hill , 3-7 PM this week. Beets, Carrots, Potatoes, Fresh Eggs, Salad Mix, Swiss Chard, Winter Squash, Fresh Frozen Chicken, Grass fed Angus Beef and Free Range Berkshire Pork.
CSA Members please remember that although your deliveries are finished for the year your membership still entitles you to 10% discount off your purchases. We also have wholesale Beef and Pork available for order for your freezer. Some turkeys are still available as well.
Farm News:
Our two Grand Daughters were able to visit a couple days this last weekend. Ages 9 and 10. They were at the Farmer's Market awhile on Thursday. It was a little scary to them as they didn't arrive utill after dark. It seems their Dad told them about learning to drive when he was little on the county dirt road that leads about 5 miles to our farm. They wouldn't give up nagging me till I let them try to drive home like their Dad did when he was little. So if your are ever driving on Oehlschlaeger Road that dead ends at our farm, watch out for novice driving Lessons. Its surely not legal but its how I learned to drive as well as my three sons and two Grandsons. How do you think farm kids learn to drive well enough to operate a tractor at 10 to 12 years old?
One of my new breeding Heifers had perfect timing and had her first calf the night before, so the girls had quite an experience fussing over the little new born that was also a heifer. We expect 8 - 10 more very soon. They also had fun with the baby chicks and the 3 week old piglets. And of course they had to ride a horse. Wish we would have had more time with them!
I sent in my paperwork to be a Certified American Berkshire Breeder. I'll be the only one in the Northwest. These heritage pigs have a more detailed pedigree and birth registration than most people. They even require DNA blood samples. It goes back to the mid 1800's. My first two registered Sows have been great Mothers. I'm sure you've all heard about my pet Boar named "Resurrection" or "REX" for short. Might be because my genetics were saved from hogs that lived back in the 1950's, that escaped industrialization.
Had to send off three old cows who have served the farm well. Due to the realities of the economy I cant afford to carry them through retirement as I have always done in the past. I should ship more of them but after several weeks of pondering I just can't let any more go. I'm still not sure how I'm going to find the resources to feed them all. Field crop production this Summer was the worst I have seen for nearly 20 years. So hay is a financial problem for many this year. We have beautiful yearling calves this year which I attribute to my new young bull, "Big Chunk"! He's the kind of bull I've always dreamed of having for this farm. I carry a photo of him in my bill fold. Many of you have seen him on our market posters.
Tractor repair still in progress. Delayed by the clutch bell housing cracking when we re-tightened it during final assembly. What a disappointment. Well since a new one would cost more than the tractor is worth we decided to get it welded. We'll be holding our breath worrying about that weld holding for a long time! Meanwhile I'll be looking for another tractor the same model to rob the clutch assembly off of it.
All farmers have to talk about the weather. After a frigid week we've had several real nice heavy rains. The dust is all settled and the cattle are back out on pasture slurping up grass seed and forage grain seed sprouts. Animal aromas are strong in the air but at least the source stays put instead of blowing in the wind. The flies and yellow jackets are gone but the blue aphids have arrived. I love the crisp bright early mornings and the fresh smells which I enjoy, with my coffee cup in hand, as I cruise the pasture checking the cows and their pregnancy progress. More piglets next month too. I'll keep you all posted.
Have a Good Week! Gary and So
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