I love looking at seed catalogues. My plants and garden never look like the pictures, but it's nice to dream that one day I'll have a spectacular garden, instead of 3 acres of weed infestation.  Anyone want a job this year weeding?  Let me know, I'm serious.

I've spent hours pouring over different catalogues getting my seed orders ready. I'm always looking for different varieties that do better in our short season.  Last year I tried kidney beans and chick peas for the first time.  The kidney beans were great, they cook up big and fat and taste nothing like the store bought ones.  The chick peas didn't do well at all.  Not sure if I'll try again or not.  I've had good luck with cantaloupe so this year I want to try watermelon.  See how that one goes.  So what are you all growing this year that's new for you?  

 

We're Free!  But we don't know where to go!  

There is so much snow in the lamb feeder pen that they are now able to jump over their pen and get out. When we built the pen, the panels where 32 inches high which is enough to keep a lamb in.  With all the snow the sides are about 18 inches and are no challenge to a  limber lamb.  I guess I'm doing some more fencing.  They are so funny though, they run and buck while experiencing their freedom.  After going so far from their pen, they turn around and go home.  Not very adventurous.

 Last summer I grew some colored corn. You may remember my post from last fall with the picture of the pile of beautiful colored cobs.  I kept everything that didn't sell and dried it.  After I saved enough seed for myself I still had a pile of corn.  Rather than feed to the chickens, I decided to grind it up and try and cook with it.  Doing a small amount at a time through the blender ( the mix mill is too big lol) I was able to break it down enough to run through a sieve.  It's not yellow like store bought cornmeal, but it tastes very good.  I've made a few batches of corn bread and they turned out great, although they were a little crunchy.  I'll have to find a smaller sieve before I grind more.  I try to avoid commercially grown corn, it's all gmo and it can't be grown without a huge amount of fertilizer and chemicals.  It's important to me to feed my family with food that wholesome and nutritious.                                                                                                                             

Spring must be just around the corner.  I can't believe that I also have some lambs on the ground along with the kids.  We don't start lambing until March 18th, and I thought I had pulled the rams out last summer in time so that no one got bred early.  However, 2 weeks ago I noticed a few ewes were bagging up and would be lambing soon.  Sure enough, I have some lambs and their mothers living in the shop.  We heat it with wood, so it's warm and toasty in there.  I'm hoping to move them out to the lambing barn with heat lamps now that they are stronger.  The man really takes objection to his "man" shop being taken over with the woolies.

I'm now paying the price for not getting my buck pen built last summer.  No new pen for Bailey meant that he had to stay with the does all summer and fall.  That meant that he could breed them whenever he wanted to, not when I wanted him to.  So, now I have baby goats in the cold freeze of January.  The babies all have hot houses with heat lamps running round the clock.  They stay under the heat most of the time, but come out to run around and eat.  When they get chilled, its back to the lights.  My power bill is going to be huge, but there's no alternative.  It also means that I'm back milking goats when it's -25 outside.  That also doesn't make me happy.  Guess what is top of my to-do list this spring!

Carmela

Hannah and I have started working with Carmela.  We bought her last year, but it has been so busy that she's just been running out with the other horses.  Hannah is able to ride her, but I'd like to use her as a draft pony around the yard.  She isn't very happy with us, and needs lots of re-assurance that the tire isn't going to bite her in the butt. 

Wool for Sale

Once a year we have the sheep shorn.  Although we have specific meat breeds of sheep, we also have some sheep that have exceptional fiber.  Our raw wool is sent away to be processed at a mill where they turn it into 100 % Saskatchewan grown yarn.

 Corriedale Yarn - 2 ply sport weight 112 grams/226 m per skein.  Use 4mm - 5mm needles.  $8.00/skein

 

          

Roving - Natural colours, dark brown, gray and white.  Great for spinning or felting. $18.00/lb

Recycling the Christmas Tree

The goats have been eating just hay and oats now for months.  Goats love to browse trees and will eat as high up as they can reach.  I thought they might enjoy the old Christmas tree.  What do you think?

Busy Making Soap

Now that Christmas is over for another year, it's time to start replenishing my stock of goats milk soap.
If you've followed this blog for a while, you'll know that I have goats.  I love my goats, but they are a handful.  They are intelligent and do funny things that make me laugh.  They also get into trouble and wreck things that make me cry,  All in all, I'm glad I have them .... Lyle won't say the same thing.....  Sometimes I just have to ignore him. 

This year I'm going to try making cheese.  I love feta cheese and I buy lots of it.   Like everything else on this farm, I figure  that I should be making my own.  I will update with pictures after kidding when I have a milk supply again.

In the meantime though, I am busy making goats milk soap.  Naturally made soap  with goat's milk is very moisturizing on your skin.  The natural glycerin is left in the soap as well.  Store bought soap contains detergent and petroleum derived ingredients.  As well, they have removed the glycerin to sell separately.

Check out the "Product Available to Order" page to find out what fragrances we have available.