Winter is Here

Winter really snuck up on me this year. The beets (and extra beds of beets) I'd put in due to our mad love for pickled beets froze into the ground and were covered with snow. The lovely braided chains of about 10 varieties of fat garlic bulbs needed sorting and planting, and kept getting put off to the "next weekend." A couple dozen cloves made it into the ground....I managed to hack into the frozen earth and haphazardly put in about a quarter of the bulbs I'd planted last year. Within days of planting they too were blanketed with snow. No time to add a layer of hay for extra insulation, the garlic now carries the same "wish and prayer" of protection as my lovely roses and strawberry beds. I guess we'll be growing that "Darwin-ian" garden Shermen had been promoting, (and I'd been scoffing as laziness) survival of the fittest.
Now it is time to do the "indoor stuff." Paint and drill the dried gourds from two seasons ago. Peruse seed catalogs and plan for the next season. Fantasize about building greenhouses and cold frames. Rue the waste from the recent season, "I could be eating beets from our garden right now, if I'd only....." then quickly smack those thoughts right out of my head.
This year I've decided the garden is for PLEASURE. Big ideas about total self-sustainability, feeding our family and more, participating in farmer's markets and starting CPA's of our own....gone. (for now.) I get enough stress from the work week, our untidy house and unfinished business of a million varieties. Freaking out because the tomatoes and berries are (literally) hen-pecked, the cukes aren't pickled and the basil isn't pesto'd.....over. This year I'm growing more flowers and things we can eat as we stroll through the beds. Snap peas and strawberries. Things that give pleasure right where they are.

Like Lambs to the Slaughter

Our lambs have been safely delivered to the processor, we are using Wisconsin River Meats out of Mauston. They will be ready for pick-up in the form of chops and steaks in about a week. I think I'll take their pictures down in my classroom, kind of unappetizing.

Bye Bye Sheep

Erik, Hilda and Matilda just headed off to their new home. Their new owners seem like lovely people, very informative regarding the art of sheep raising- (shepherding?) We learned a lot and definitely plan to try again in the future. The key to successfully raising stock such as sheep, (as Shelly our new friend informed us,) is to be prepared PRIOR to acquiring the animals.
She also told us about a wool festival near West Bend area end of October, which we hope to check out. Another note, according to Shelly and a couple other people who called regarding the Craigslist post selling the sheep, it is very likely that Erik is California Red, but the two ewes are not typical representatives of that breed.

Sheep "Going Rogue"

Just as good fences make good neighbors...good fences also make good farmers. Here you see our California Red sheep, Erik, Hilda and Matilda, enjoying our tender yard grass and moments away from nibbling (and trampling) the last beet crop. Erik, Hilda and Matilda are lucky we are not gun owners.

We used the electric line-wire fencing to enclose our sheep grazing area. The fence had been working fine so far this year, after we figured out using weed killer on the fence line is not bad land stewardship. As Mom says, "even the UW extension uses Round-up!" Round-up is animal safe, only stays in the ground a few days, and is Kaaren's new best-friend. The wire-line fence was inexpensive, relatively easy for (Shermen) to install, and doing the job of keeping the sheep in. Last winter, our ewes (Hilda & Matilda) lambed 2 males. Shermen and I castrated the lambs ourselves, using the rubber band method with a tool from Farm-n-Fleet. I thought the job went swimmingly, the boys appeared untraumatized, and we even gave them tetanus shots to prevent infection. Apparently, (we later found out from the sheep shearer man) we missed the actual testicles?testes? and merely trimmed up the sacs a bit. While the little rams were probably still rendered sterile, (due to the killingly close proximity of sperm to body heat,) around August they started getting that adolescent flood of male hormones which rendered them impervious to our silly little wire line electric fence.

Wire line fencing snaps easily, and also stretches. The little fiberglass posts that support the line bends and the little yellow plastic things that attach the line to the post detach with just a moderate amount of pressure. You can mend the snapped fence line with little crimpers, but then you have a weak point. I'm not sure, but numerous repair points in a line probably inhibit the electrical flow also.

There is a better type of electrical fencing called "webbing" which is made of material similar in appearance to a dog's leash, but also much more expensive. Plain old woven wire fencing, about 4 feet high is also effective for sheep, doesn't require electricity to work, but does require metal posts for support. At around 5$ a post, this can become a pricey process.

We are knee deep in the home renovation situation, and out of $$$. The guy we bought the sheep from doesnt want them back, as he has switched to a strictly dairy stock of sheep. The little rams are safe and cozy in the barn, fattening up on a diet of strictly corn and grain, getting ready for market. (A pure grass diet may be healthier but is less palatable for most people.) Erik, Hilda and Matilda are in the front yard nibbling on our willow.

Craig's List posts ads for free.

Outdoor Sink / Work Station

This outdoor sink / workstation may not look like much (cuz I made it myself....) but it has been wonderful for keeping the canning / preserving part of gardening from totally trashing our kitchen. Having a countertop, an old sink, and the composter right there together, my first batch of pickled beets was just a completely different experience. No sand in the kitchen sink etc. It makes a great potting station also because I can just sweep leftover soil off the counter.

Those rubbery, flexible buckets were a great find. I can wedge the little one under the drainspout of the sink to catch the runoff water for my flowers. I bought them at the garden expo in Madison, WI last year. I bought 3, one in each size.

Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas - Succulent Garden

For the past couple of seasons our family has agreed to a spending “cap” for holiday gifts. Homemade gifts may not necessarily end up being less expensive, but are definitely more meaningful than another scented candle; (unless, of course, it’s a homemade scented candle.) Last year I made little jars of a homemade bath soak which recipients seemed genuinely pleased to receive. It was a fun and inexpensive way of telling family and friends you rarely see that you love them.
I’ve started some succulent gardens and plan to spend the next couple months looking around for unique containers. Hopefully, by the time December rolls around I’ll have some lovely succulent container gardens to give as gifts.
Succulents require soil with excellent drainage. You can always just buy some specialty mix, or just make your own. I did a little research and the “recipes” can get pretty crazy. I mixed up a bag using approximately equal parts of potting soil, sand, perlite and peat moss.

Credenza Before & After

I finally got around to sanding, priming, "re-finishing" our cool old credenza.
The top of the credenza is a blue enamel. For the front and sides I used Behr's glaze mixed with Behr's Antique Brown over an undercoat of umber brown, for the darker panels I glazed Behr's Toffee Crunch over the Antique Brown. I "scumbled" some gold trim detail, put a layer of glaze over it, then scumbled another layer of gold over that. The pretty blue flower pulls are from Anthropologie.

Canning Time

Last year Sherm bought me a copy of "Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving"....(I know, how romantic!!) The man knows what I like, I guess. This year I've vowed to try something beyond sweet/dill cucumber pickles and beets. First effort was last nite....a mixed veggie hot pickle, looks yummy. Sitting on the couch hearing those lids popping as they sealed, fall is coming soon.

Next in the canner will be tried and true sweet pickle cukes using spice mix from Wal-Mart...then Aunt Clara's pickled beets. Last year I tried my own version of canned beets. Yesterday I dumped about a dozen large jars of flaccid, pinky-pale, inedible beets into my composter. This year I'm using Auntie's recipes....whenever Mom slips us a jar we devour them immediately.

Auntie Clara's Pickled Beets

Boil beets till tender, submerge in cold H2O, slip off skins and cut into chunks

Mix and heat to boil 2 cups sugar, 2 cups H2O, 2 cups cider vinegar

Put beets into mix and boil 10 minutes

Pour into hot jars and seal...be sure to wipe the rims of the jars before putting on lids, leave about 1/2 in head room.

Mom swears thats it.....not boiling bath necessary.

Garlic Scapes

Our garlic has started shooting out these lovely garlic scapes. Apparently they are quite delicious, and must be cut so the plant puts it's energy into producing bulbs. I've been putting it off because they are so graceful and lovely to look at. I think some of the kidney shaped swirls echo the organic shapes in a Joan Miro painting. Today is the day.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2005-10-01/Garlic-Scapes.aspx

School's Out For Summer!!!

My "to-do" list = totally Martha but my sentiments are all Alice.

Water- Starting a Rain Garden, Building a Wall

I was so excited to start my new rain garden, did a little web research, checked out some pictures, ran home and started enthusiastically digging. Next day at work, I did a little more research, actually read a bit this time and realized I'd put the rain garden too close to the house. This is bad because the water seeping down can mess up the foundation. Ugh, back home, fill in hole and dig again this time further from house and with far less enthusiasm. Filled it in with a few Irises and some Millet and tried to convince Shermen it was a good idea.

Meanwhile, Shermen is building the cool sandstone wall on East side of house along the drainage ditch he dug last year to keep water away from house / foundation. It looks cool already, can't wait to see it when all the Creeping Thyme, Creeping Jenny, Phlox, Scotch Moss and others start to fill in. I topped off the ridge with some Daisies, decorative grass and Calendula. Should be absolutely lovely in a few weeks.

Kittens and Chicks

Julie, daughter of Maude and still essentially a kitten herself, finally had her kittens. 5! Born Thursday May 21st sometime in the PM, in Kaaren's luggage, relocated to cozy towel lined box.

Wednesday May 20th I picked up the new chicks for Mom and I. Barred Rock, Auracana, Light Brahma and Golden Queen. Thought I was doing great this year, really becoming an adept Poultry Farmer, because I didnt "lose" any due to drowning, overheating or just weak chicks the first few nites. I didnt have a chick feeder tray, the ones with the holes in them to keep the chicks from standing in their food tray. I was using a small household serving tray, and it seemed to work just fine aside from the chicks throwing their feed all over. Then we had a cooler nite and the chicks crowded onto the tray and one of the Barred Rocks was trampled to death. The Barred Rock must be a more fragile breed, I remember that was what I lost last year.
On May 29th I noticed I lost 2 more chicks....another Barred Rock and a Light Brahma....not sure why this time, they werent trampled, cold or overheated, and they had food and water. The only thing I noticed was the food was getting low, and the chicks had to reach down into the holes of the feeder to get at it....possibly the two that died werent able to reach down that far? Or possibly just weak chicks, which does happen.

Chick tips:

1. Do not put water dish under heat source, they will crowd under heat source and chicks can drown
2. Do not put heat source too low, chicks can become overheated and die
3. Do not use dish with any sort of depth, chicks will crowd in it and trample eachother
4. I read not to feed chicks the layer mix, it can mess up their reproductive system, use starter grower feed
5. Make sure the chicks can reach inside the holes of feeder trays to the food, if food levels get low, some may not be able to reach all the way down to reach the food.

Sexy Tractor

Shermen is now the proud owner of a very hot old Farmall International.

Sheep Bloat: Cause, Symptom, Cure

Our usual winter sheep feed is a round bale of hay, supplemented with feed mix prepared by a local mill and purchased in 500 lb minimums. We ran out of the mix, so I grabbed a bag of cracked corn from Farm-n-Fleet to tide us over until I could get back to the mill. We were feeding the sheep about 2 large coffee containers full of cracked corn with a bunch of dry hay once daily. At the end of the bag of corn, we poured out the remainder for the sheep to eat up, about twice to three times the usual amount. Bad move. Apparently, sheep are extremely sensitive to any changes in their diet. The next day, a Sunday, I noticed one ewe standing away from the group, totally uninterested in eating. Her shoulders were sort of hunched up, and her head kept drooping down, her ears were droopy, her eyes glassy and she kept slowly closing then snapping them open when she brought her head up. She still ran from me when I tried to catch her, but had very little energy and once caught, was very docile and didn't really struggle to get away. Closer inspection revealed a rock hard and bloated tummy, that sounded hollow when tapped, and when moved, you could hear water gurgling around inside.

I researched the web and the text book the FFA teacher at school loaned me and learned that she probably had "bloat." She had "feed bloat" caused by excess fermentation of grain intake. The other kind is "frothy bloat" caused when sheep are released onto full green pasture, covered with dew sometimes, and they gorge themselves on green material after winter of dry hay. Both are very dangerous for the animal and can be fatal. It was Sunday, and I didnt have any large animal vet contacts, so we gave the treatments found on the web, (below) and hoped for the best.
The next day, Monday morning, I checked in before work, and the ewe was now down, with her head up, but wouldnt get up at all. At work I was finally able to get in touch with a large animal vet, his opinion was dire. He confirmed that it was probably bloat, and had same advise for treatment that I'd found on the internet (below.) He was very kind, but predicted she would probably be dead by the time I got home from work. His only suggestion was to continue to treat and wish for the best. I raced home during my lunch and ran up to the sheep barn still in my "teacher clothes" to check on my sick ewe. She was up and active, her tummy flatter and much more pliable, and she was eating hay! I gave the whole group a quick dose of the dry baking soda per the vets advise, and Hilda (the sick ewe) one more big drink of the soda water mix.

Treatment for sheep bloat can run to the extreme, in dire cases they suggest puncturing the side of the sheep to quickly release excess gas to prevent death from collapsed lung. Thank god we spotted our bloated sheep in time, and were able to cure the bloat by:

1. 1. Removing all grain feed, replacing with only dry hay
   
   
2. Feeding the bloated sheep mix of baking soda, water and mineral oil- about ½ cup soda, ¾ cup warm water to dissolve soda, plus a couple tbsp mineral oil. I didnt have any large syringes to administer the mix, so I used an old plastic Dasani water bottle.
   
3. Manually massaging, (gently) the bloated tummy to help force out gas
   
4. Encouraging the ewe to walk to help eliminate gas
   
5. Feeding other sheep dry baking soda in a pan, they help themselves to a few bites, to prevent bloat in rest of flock
   

The one good outcome from this scary situation, Hilda the sick ewe, is now much more tame due to all the handling. She is actually eating out of my hand.

Garden Food Preservation and Safety

Last August, the 16th to be exact, my dear Godmother Auntie Clara and Uncle Nick gave Shermen and I a pressure cooker for a wedding gift. It was so appreciated, especially considering I'd started home preservation in 2006 by canning pickles in a water bath using a camp stove. The camp stove / water bath combination really limited what i could safely preserve via canning to pickles or the highly acidic tomatoes. Everything else was blanched and frozen, (taking up huge amounts of freezer space.) One of our frozen favorites was a stewed up batch of tomatoes sauteed with herbs, garlic, onions and eggplant. Even after freezing and reheating, it tasted like summer.
Last fall I was so excited to recreate the recipe, only preserving by canning rather than freezing. My new pressure cooker allowing me to can the non-acidic veggies without worries. However, this winter when we opened a jar of "stewed tom w/eggplant," the smell was just off. The jar was properly sealed, but the fear of botulism caused us to turn to a jar of Prego instead.
Yesterday, there was a great program on Wisconsin Public Radio with Larry Meiller about gardening and food safety. There you can find a link to listen to the actual program. Besides food safety, they all discussed state laws when it comes to setting up "road side stands" to sell produce, and what you actually can sell at produce stands in terms of enhanced, or preserved, produce. I found this particularly interesting because living in a tourism area, I have considered selling preserved items for tourists to take home as gifts / momentos, but wondered about legal issues. Think I'll be waiting a few years on all that.
The website FOODSAFETY.WISC.EDU has tons of information also.

Rain Gardens

The contractors installed the drainspouts on our four seasons room,or solarium, yesterday. My mom suggested putting in a rain garden where the water collects, and it sounds like a great idea to me! The UW Madison Extension has a very informative site, with a pdf manual on how to install your own little rain garden, as well as some great photos of the installation stages, and pages listing WI plants ideal for sunny or shady rain gardens.


http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/runoff/rg/

The plant above is Prairie Smoke, a native to Wisconsin, ideal for rain gardens. Image found on the "Links to Other Rain Garden Sites" from the DNR web-page. http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/runoff/rg/links.htm

Spring on the Farm

Some greatly anticipated changes have occurred out here on the farm. The Vernal Equinox has arrived! Grasses are greening, and there are hardy perennials peeking out everywhere. It's too early to plant (almost) anything, we are still in danger of hard frosts up here in zone 4 Wisconsin; but we have trays of seedlings growing and waiting. So far we have started bushel and dipper gourds, white coneflowers, morning glories, blue corn, and some other items that didn't make it due to our cat Maude living (and having kittens) in the seed starting area. Maude and her babies have been relocated to the pump house, and we are ready to try again.

A few pea and lettuce seeds have been sown, as well as some fragrant oriental lily bulbs. We've split and transplanted some hostas, and they seem to be doing well. It looks like every variety of garlic planted last fall made it through the winter, and the strawberry beds are also coming to life.

The "Four Seasons" room has been installed on the front of the house, and we have really been enjoying it. Enough siding has gone up to really allow us to see how close we are getting to our dream. Walls are being torn down and put back up. The electrical lines outside are going into the ground. Shermen has moved some major earth, redirecting water routes so we never, ever have to deal with a wet cellar again. He has also fortified our driveway, raising it, putting in culverts and drainage fields. The days of parking and walking through knee deep mud in the spring will soon be behind us.

We have decided to have the lambs "processed." After successfully castrating them this winter, it has been easier to move on to this next step. Sadly, we lost our sweet cat McLovin on March 28, 2009. He was a good cat and will be missed.

Things Looking Brighter, Inside & Out

Last nite my very ambitious husband worked literally all thru the nite hanging drywall; finally passing out about 7 this morning. What a wonderful change to wake up to- walls! It's actually sunny out this morning, so our big new windows filled the room with light and I was able to truly visualize what a pleasant room this will soon be. We are almost to the point of "cosmetic" work in this

room...(tape, trim, and paint) the point where we can glimpse

some light at end of this renovation tunnel.

I expect he will now sleep the rest of the day, so it's my day to putter about (quietly) and maybe prepare the other half of room for drywall. We debated the financial / quality of life pro's and con's of hiring out the drywall / trim vs Sherm buying tools necessary to do the job himself. We went with #2, and I am now very excited to learn how to use all these exciting tools so I can work on some creations of my own.

I have big dreams for the old chicken coop under the huge maple tree becoming a greenhouse, a cool new trellis & support for the grape vine, picture frames, on and on.

We actually started some seeds early this year, and now it's looking like maybe too early. We have decorative blue corn thats almost a foot high after only a couple weeks. The grow light definitely needs to be put on a timer rather than 24/7.

I'm interested in trying a style of planting called "Three Sisters" which involves corn, beans and squash.

http://www.reneesgarden.com/articles/3sisters.html

http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/teach/2003045238014436.html

I have also been researching white / scented plants, flowers and shrubs for the patio area. I want to create a glowy and fragrant "night" garden area where we can sit and enjoy the sound of the waterfall.

The Emasculator

Poor poor Martin and Tuesday....operation Rubber Band = mission accomplished. Tetanus shot = check. It's now been 1 week and the "boys" seem fine, healthy and active.

Tail Docking

It is a balmy 40 degrees out on this sunny Saturday morn....we are ready to open all the windows and let this dusty old home air out a bit. Our lovely pink abode is an island in a sea of mud, gray ice and post-construction piles; but that warm air hinting at Spring wont let the mess(es) get me down.

One of our "to-do's" for today is tail docking on Marti our lamb. Note I am sitting here rather than getting right to it. Farm and Fleet sells the supplies, (little rubber bands & tool,) as well as a tetanus shot to give the poor beast to prevent infection. I guess you (are supposed) to do this when they are very young so that if they have the scours, it doesnt fester up under their rear and cause maggots! Gah! Marti didnt seem to have the wicked scours, and I just havent been able bring myself to be the cause of fear and pain for her. We are trying to make friends, not enemies. I think I'll have Shermen do it.

New Baby Lamb

While feeding the sheep and chickens today after work, I noticed Daisy our Lab creating a commotion in the sheep pen…closer inspection revealed a little lamb! The most adorable thing I've ever seen….brand spanking new and TOTALLY unexpected. We thought these "things" happened in the spring, not mid-January Wisconsin. Thank goodness Matilda (the ewe) chose today- this most auspicious of days, Martin Luther King Jr. day, rather than a couple days ago when the temperatures we dangerously below zero.

Now I am in a bit of a panic, researching the web, trying to figure out what exactly we need to do to give our new baby Martin the best chances of survival. Hypothermia is an obvious issue, however, tempting as it is to bring the baby into our nice warm home to snuggle and keep toasty, the research says warming beds should only be last resort. Best situation is to keep the lamb with the ewe. Check that the mouth is warm and the lamb is feeding, not lethargic or apathetic about feeding. There seems to be a yellow tint to the amniotic residue, (these are totally non-vet terms,) but the research indicates this yellow tint is result of birth stress, and one of the causes of birth stress is "inexperienced shepherding." I was all prepared back in summer/fall for something like this, bought the extra vitamins, or "drench" and syringe and kept checking the ewes to look for evidence they were carrying twins. But nothing happened, so I just figured we would have to wait for next year. We don't even have iodine to spray on the cord.

I've been up to the barn checking on them a few times now, and plan to go up once more before calling it a night. Martin seems healthy, he/she is walking around and not shivering or anything like that. He's feeding vigorously and baahing in a way that sounds healthy not scary. He has a little diarrhea on his backside, but not much, and it's dark. Scary sounding "scours" which lead to dehydration and death are yellow or pale. I will check again in the morning, if they are worse I guess I'll have to call in to work in the morning to get hydration and electrolytes etc for him. Hopefully fate will smile on us with this first one. Pictures coming soon!