The Farm Report

It's been a while since I did a post entirely devoted to the progress and activities of our farm, so today's post is entirely devoted to the homestead.  This summer has brought us so much, a bounty of everything from activity to new life.  And as tired as I am, I am also grateful for it.

For the past few years I have sprinkled sunflower seeds around the yard and this year, after having given up on ever seeing these light-craving creatures succeed in my shady yard, two bloomed right next to each other and I basked in their glow while they lasted, then let them drop their seeds in this sufficiently sunny spot hoping there will be more next year.

Mr. Bleu and I made great strides on building our greenhouse/conservatory through June and mid July, but as the days got hotter earlier, and all these blasted rocks never got any lighter, we decided to put it on hold until things cool off a bit.  It's a solid start to the foundation, and yes, we did haul each of these rocks up here from around the property, so I am excited to see how this goes and hopeful that the final project will match my vision.

We moved our garden spot this year to allow the previous place to rest and replenish and we experienced quite a bounty harvest in butternut squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

Funny thing is, I don't really like butternut squash, so I am hopeful that many of the people in my life will either like them or be interested in trying them so that I may share this abundance I have rather than trying to find a place to cold store them for the winter.

As much as I have enjoyed the summer, I don't think I could ever match the exuberance of my flock of chickens.  They have to winter in their coop to keep them safe from the various crafty predators that roam these woods, so when summer comes, they run and stretch their wings with vigor each morning, glad to have plenty of space and fresh scratching ground.

For me it is more of a chore to try to find their eggs around the yard.  This year their favorite spot has been underneath the cilantro.

Our attempts at hatching chicks were less successful than we had hoped.  Although we did manage to hatch eight from the first batch and then a second batch that only yielded two chicks,  those silly first eight birds including this adorable little satin hen, were all gobbled up by something or other forcing us to return them to their coop before summer ended this year.

The piglets all found good homes and it was quite an adventure to capture them all, but they were eating more than we could afford and it was to the point of either feed them or feed us.  I think we made the right call.  The two chicks that survived the predators did so because they took up residence with the pigs, even sleeping between the adults at night and scratching for their daily grain while hiding under the female like she was an enormous mama hen.  I was surprised that the pigs seemed right at home with the chicks, but they all got along quite well and even now, spend most of their time together.  If only I'd known we had guard-pigs, I would have put all the chicks in there with them.

One last small triumph to report is that the chicory that I dug up from the roadside two years ago has finally taken root and produced lovely blooms in my herb garden all summer long.  

I love watching them bloom in the mornings because they change so quickly.  These photos were taken just minutes apart, but you can see how they go from buds to blossoms almost instantly.

That's all to report on the farm, I suppose.  It doesn't take up much room here on the blog, but oh my it certainly has filled our lives this summer to watch it all unfold.

Happy Hen Mamas

With the last of my fall sewing projects done just in time for spring, I'm glad to have simple cotton dresses like this Selkie inspired number for all the warm work days ahead.  Farming is hard but honest work; there is no veil between you and where your meal came from.  Not only does your success at providing homegrown meals largely depend on factors outside your control, like the weather, but much of farming means that we walk the line where life and death converge.  

It's difficult to care for these animals without growing to love them.  It's even harder when you've come to love them to let them go.  That's why springtime on the farm is the very best time of year.  This is the time of all new life, renewed hope, and a fresh promise of all possibility.  When they hurt, I hurt for them.  And, when my animals are happy I cannot help but feel their joy and celebrate with them.  

This spring four of our hens have become broody.  If you're not familiar with poultry, it means their biological clocks are ticking and they're baby crazy.  That's a great thing for any farm wanting to expand as ours is; the only trouble is that our mean rooster is so old, he's shooting dust.  Sorry for the expression, but it's accurate and it presents quite a problem for our farm.  

When a hen gets broody but doesn't see any results for her efforts, she will eventually give up and she may never become broody again.  Which is what happened with one of our broody four.  After about 24 days, she gave up with no babies to show for all her work.  We couldn't let that happen to the other three, so we ordered enough baby chicks to keep each hopeful mama busy and content.  And what good mamas these ladies have been.

The best way to fool your birds is to simply wait until they have gone to sleep for the night.  Once our hens were dozing, we went out and removed the eggs from underneath them and replaced them with fluffy little chicks.  In the morning they woke up and gladly accepted all the chicks as their own and have been busily caring for them ever since.  Incidentally, this is a great way to introduce any new birds into the flock.  Just slip them in the house at night and by morning the birds will think they've always been part of the flock.

While these busy hens are building our flock, the other gals have been chipping in a little and provide us with some extra eggs to make up the difference.  It's all part of a natural rhythm of peak and decline in egg production.  They production builds from an egg or two, then for a while we'll be getting over a dozen eggs a day, and then it will all taper off again until eventually the hens enjoy a brief cessation of egg layers so the ladies can rest and recover.

Of course, there are ways to increase production and delay or deny the cessation of egg laying, but I believe that natural systems such as this are in place for an important reason and I don't tamper with them.  Instead, I think it's best to plan for the excess and preserve as much as possible.  That way nothing goes to waste and I don't burn out my hens by never giving them vacation time.

So, we've been busy dehydrating all those eggs to save up for the lean times when the hens don't lay at all.  You may think dehydrated eggs aren't very appetizing and I'd agree with you 100% if you're trying to rehydrate them for a breakfast burrito.  They have a strange and very unappetizing fishy flavor.  However, when used in baked goods like cookies and brownies, they're great and I swear they make cookies extra soft and fluffy.   So, I suppose it works out that we all get a sweet reward, and that's probably the best I'm going to do at wrapping this post up.

Shopping Info: Dear Stella Digital Little Fawn & Friends Autumn Ferns & Leaves Willow from Fabric.com

Some Bunny New on the Farm

“There is so much in the world for us all if we only have the eyes to see it, and the heart to love it, and the hand to gather it to ourselves--so much in men and women, so much in art and literature, so much everywhere in which to delight, and for which to be thankful.”~from Anne of the Island

First of all, his name is Fluffy and yes, he does know how adorable he is.  He is shy, but he likes a cuddle now and then and a good scratch between the shoulders.  

The season of thankfulness is upon us, so I am thankful that he didn't mind coming with me on my outing today.  In fact, I think he enjoyed a little time in the grass and for my part, I was thankful for the company.  He's less boisterous than the dogs, less chatty than the cats that typically  join me whether or not they're invited.

I'm thankful for the breathing space this little hilltop farm affords us all and thankful we have so much space we're able to share it with these animals that bring such joy to our lives.

Today's outfit is one of my new autumn favorites.  Nothing in the outfit itself is new, rather it has been put together from some of my old reliable pieces, it combines some of my favorite fall colors in a warm, layered look.  

The tan beret matched the tan skirt, and the rust top with its floral print brings a little visual interest.  Add the tween trench coat with the corset tie back which always gets compliments when I wear it, and some black tights and boots, and I'm all set for a walk in the chilly autumn air.  Of course, Fluffy always looks warm and stylish in his fur coat.

Outfit Info:  Top is old from Shein, Skirt is old from LOFT, Coat is from Victorian Trading Co.  Boots are old by Steve Madden