Water, Wells and the FARMER!

     I will not quote statistics or give anyone a lecture.  You already get that on a daily basis, depending on how much you listen, read or ingest the news.  At this farm we are not above waste.  I do not mean we are out over watering our lawns, well if we had lawns.  There is the occasional, rinse off of a vehicle or a chicken poop overloaded walkway.  My kids are the least of the offenders.  Getting them in the shower.......is like pure torture.  They turn the faucet off while brushing their teeth, and never rinse out dishes.

     We use water like everyone else, but we are on a well, not just a well, but a shared well.  That's right, everyone well homeowners nightmare.  Sharing the cost, of not only the power, but the maintenance of the well.  Forget the fact that both properties have easements, which is a nightmare in itself.  At this farm we not only have to be concerned about our usage, but the house next door.  The house next door is a rental....its owner decided that America is not the place to work, so that owner is not available to talk to because she is in another country.  Bring in the property management people.  Oh we have had three different ones since it became a rental.  Now trying to explain to each one that they are responsible for the 1/2 of the PG&E on the well seems simple right?  Not so much.  It eventually happens and eventually we get paid.  Now the neighbors themselves, the renters, they are great.  So far all of the renter in the the house next door have been.  They are considerate, helpful, and not water wasters.  We have done our due diligence to explain to each that we share water and we are on a well.  By the way, none of them knew this when they moved into the house next door.  The current renters have tiny humans, so well water is sometimes an issue for consumption so that conversation was very welcomed.  We make sure that everyone is on board.

     So WATER, what was my point, oh....yes.  We are trying our best to conserve just like the homeowner on city water.  But the thought of not having it scares me to death.  The animals use most of it.  Without the animals, we would obviously not be a farm, not have the great food we produce. That would be very scary.  So with out water, there is NO FOOD!!!!!  Okay NO FOOD ANYWHERE IN CALIFORNIA!!!  So who should get the most water.....oh of course the golf courses, or the people who can not stand brown grass....wrong!!  I understand that golf is necessary for some, and I am Not pointing my finger at just the golf courses.  Even the agriculture in this state, must learn to water differently for now.  But the end to my water rant, is the farmers need the water!  All the farmers, big and small.  Everyone needs to be a part of the conversation. I could go on and on about who does what and who conserves and who does not.   For now we do everything we can.  Some of our water saving sayings in our house are the old ones like...."If it brown flush it down, if its yellow keep it mellow"....lol  But the conversation happens daily at our house.  How often does it happen at yours, and how are you saving water.  I love getting ideas from others, let us know.

Where have you been?

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Really this is not an every other year Blog...really!  With a small farm, family, and business, a kind of time warp has happened in my life.  With the turning of 50 years, my intentions are to keep up more....  So what is happening at the farm.  Oh my, right into baby season! Hitting the ground running.  Catching you up, we have now started into our Boer goat obsession.  Meet Eva and the boys.  The kid on the right is Gotcha Talking or GT, his brother, second to hit the ground, is Cover Charge or Charger.  Both boys are full bloods and a product of Lap-AI or Laparoscopic Artificial Insemination.  Their sire the handsome Gotcha Covered well he's no where in site, because he came to us in straws.  The idea of AI was always a good alternative breeding method for me, but Lap-AI was not something I was a fan of.  The process was seamless, clean, professional, and all the things you would want for a semi-surgical procedure. It did the trick for her first kidding.  Flushing and Lap-AI in the Boer goat world are so common people do not bat an eye.  Large herds, needing to produce wether's at an almost alarming rate, make this an easy choice for breeders. Okay, so you say NO WAY!  Live cover just takes too much time, its a pregnancy guessing game for some, is she-is she not, did he cover her, if so when....you get the idea.  Now the progressive side of my brain says yes, make it better-faster, yes, why stay in the dark ages.   While my softer, doula, miracle of life, home birth side says NO!  Why would you do that?  Okay so somewhere in the middle is where I am standing.  I get it.  There is not doubt that the invasive nature of the procedure leaves room for pause.  I do not judge if done safely and without stress and unnecessary pain.  Some of my goat friends have cast a pointed finger and in so many words cast me out of the au naturel club.  I think the dilemma for me is that with a small herd, no extra room for a buck, that needs to be feed out every day only to be used once or twice a year, leaves room for other thought processes.    So what other options are there?  Well, sharing a buck is definitely a thought process that we are investigating.  Regular traditional AI? Yep, did that!  Equipement, video, Vet and all.  For the most part you are lucky and with a less than 50% positive outcome.  Even with Lap AI the best turn out I have gotten from talking to others is 80%, but that's not bad.  So sharing a buck is great if you are producing for consumption, but if you are producing for consumption and competition then the conversation goes straight to genetics.  Sharing a buck does not allow for a vast pool of genetics.  AI however does.  Just so you know......Meatball our other doe was bred with live cover.  A very different experience.  But that is for another post.  So what will we do for the next breeding season?  Timing, genetics, experience and access all play a role, I will just have to keep you posted.  For now I am enjoying the boys, who will be kept in tact. One will be used to live cover our does and remain at the farm for us to enjoy. The other buck will be collected before he leaves for a new home.  The buck that is gone will produce offspring without being here just like his dad.  Always nice to know that there are options and alternative ways to do things, you just have to choose.

Flu.....at the Farm (using essential oils)

     There is nothing worse than sick kids. Everything seems to just stop. So it goes at Little M right now. Taylor and Blaine are so down for the count. Lets just say it has been days of 101-103` fevers with chills, body ache, the whole tamale. Well not so much the tamale, because I can hardly get them to eat. My hands are dry from washing them so much I feel like I am back in school at the hospital.
    
     So blog post today, what can be used that does not contain 50 ingredients, 17 dyes and alcohol? There are dye free medications out right now but not nearly enough. Currently, this is not my mountain, I am using otc(over the counter) products for fever and cough. What I want to share is essential oil use. I have been using oils here and there for some time, but not totally realizing there amazing quality.
   
     Lets talk about remedy use. This morning Blaine was so congested that we decided a bath was in order. Bring on the peppermint oil. I had used peppermint oil last year, it seemed by the gallon, when Taylor was ill with SIBO.   I have used Peppermint oil for stomach, congestion, and muscle aches.  When using essential oils you must be very careful. Consult a reliable website for directions of use, since overuse can cause skin burn etc. I drew Blaine's bath with as hot of water as he could tolerate. While filling the tub, with Blaine in it, I added 5 drops of Peppermint oil (remember, NEVER, use more that ten drop of oil, unless it is in a mixture not to be used on skin). Immediately, he said, "mom it smells like Christmas in here", and it did. We let him soak, adding more hot water as needed, for 20 minutes. He said he felt better and his nose could breathe easier. Unfortunately, when using herbal and oil remedies repeating is a must. Now if you want a vapor shower, I found a good recipe for vapor discs on another bloggers site. I am in the process of making them http://beingfrugalbychoice.blogspot.com/2012/03/homemade-vicks-vapor-shower-disks.html.
I love it when other bloggers, share this stuff.   I will have Taylor try these, because she is not much of a bath girl.

     Using a mixture of oils in a vaporizer is another good way to help congestion. Be sure you are using a vaporizer or humidifier that can use oils. Essential oils in the air can help; Respiratory tract problems, Treating throat infections, Relieving mental and physical fatigue, Reducing tension and anxiety ,Calming the nervous system.

     What type of essential oils you use is as important as how you use them. I use Aura Cacia oils. I like the philosophy of the company, and the Well Earth sustainability they choose. There are many companies that make essential oils, just be sure you choose one that does not use synthetics. Well it is time to take temperatures again, see ya soon! 

A whole lotta........Bull

There were a few things I was going to talk about today, but my end of the day just went to the top of my list.  Having a husband who use to ride bulls would make you think that the idea of the site of a bull would be somewhat mundane.  Not this ol' girl!  I love the majestic look of any bull from a distance, tonight however I would have  that up close and personal picture. While tending to my night time chicken routine, the dogs started barking at the back gate.  In general this barking could be due to Patty's goat, Suzie-Q or one of the other dogs next door standing their ground.  As I looked out to see, there was J.D.,that is short for Jack Daniels, the 1200 lbs pound Corriente bull just standing at the gate looking a little disturbed that the dogs were barking at him.  I went back into the coupe after telling the dogs to leave him alone.  About two minutes later they were at it again only louder and with a little more concern in their tone.  Okay, I said as I came out of the coupe only to come face to face with not just the dogs but J.D. who had determined that "he" needed to be on my side of the fence, that was,  after taking out the gate.  Did I say he was a bull?  With a very large rack.....that is horns for you non-rodeo readers.  Shouting, followed by my husband coming from the front only to realize that the bull was on our side of the fence, game on!  From this point on I just seemed to be running from one side of the property to the other while Brian quickly took down the gate and Blaine and I kept an eye on J.D.  At this point all I wanted was not to get run over by the bull because of course if anyone would get hurt it would be me!   What seemed like an hour, but only really 10 minutes, the gate was down.  Waving and hooting, alright, just Blaine and I were waving and hooting, Brian just seemed as calm as if he had done this before.  J.D. finally started back to Greg's, but not without the occasional stop to see if he could ditch out on some side path.  Those cattle dogs we have, they were no where in site, and Jo the best dog, under her chair-hiding, I think they need more exposure!   Well mission accomplished, with a little determination and of course a fearless husband J.D. was back on his side of the fence, without incident.   It made for an exciting ending to my day.  So why blog about it, well sometimes when you homestead, ranch, or farm, you get more than you bargain for not from your livestock, but from your neighbors.  Thanks Greg!  A good subject for the next blog.......how to maintain and select proposer fencing for your livestock.   See ya soon!

Priorities.............Which ones are important?

Sonoma Coast Sunset 1/1/13

Okay, it has been some time since I started this blog and suddenly I found myself lost.  Lost in the everyday ins and outs of life on a homestead and raising children, raising livestock and suddenly the days turn into weeks and weeks into months, well you get the picture.  So what do you do?  Well it was time for me to prioritize.   You would think that at my age, no I will not reveal that number, I would know how to prioritize.  Sometimes life keeps handing you things to do.  Most, realize what they can take on and say "no" to everything else.  Me, we'll let's say "no" is, or has not been present in my vocabulary for some time.  Top all of those "yes's" off with a two years ongoing medical issues with my arm and everything, that means, all that is important to me is on the back burner.  Fast forward to 2013, things are being shed, priorities are being set, and all that is important to me is taking a front seat.  So on with the blog.  I want this blog to represent all of the wonderful things that my family and I are doing to obtain self sufficiency.  Over the time that I have not been blogging I have been engage in others blogs of interest.  It is amazing how many of us blog, and how much we blog about. I have learned so many new things.

It is still cold outside here were we are so what is in the ground is limited.  However, we did take a big jump and plant several boxes of garlic.  We have a few beats left, and that is about it.  So what to do in the winter, this winter?   I have taken a tip from a relative and jumped into freeing my home of all harmful cleaners.  The first of hopefully several steps to getting back to basics.  My first project, LAUNDRY SOAP, yes, do not laugh.  I am, getting ready to make my first batch.  Now I tried Laura's laundry soap and really liked it.  It felt clean and smelled clean.  I am not one to waste though, so I have about 1/4 of a container of my regular soap left.  We have our wash water flowing out to do lawn irrigation, so what we are irrigating with is important, not to mention any flow of water attracts the chickens.   So recipe in hand, and armed with the ingredients I need; Borax, baking soda and my grated lye soap from http://store.mosoap.com/. I am ready to take off this weekend.  Oh you would like to join me?  Okay well stay tuned, the recipe and equipment needed are yet to come.  See ya soon!

Chill in the air.....

I really think fall has set in.  As I write this it is cool and crisp outside, but the sun is shinning.  The frost caught me off guard.  Most all of the winter garden did well, but we did have some summer favorites that were still hanging in there with us that did not fare the frost.  The basil was lost, but the peppers just lost the leafs but the fruit was still good.  Not everything is dying.  Sometimes even in the cold new life is arriving.   

New baby French Black Coppers

We just had some new babies hatch.  We lost a few but the rest were hearty and made it.  The goat are feeling quite frisky.  We have decided not to breed the girls this season.  Taylor has had her allergy test and although we knew it  would be positive, she is allergic to her goats!!!  Next 4-H year I think we will switch to hogs, and the goats will go back to be with their original herd.

The blog has been a little slow due to the surgery I just had on my right wrist.  Boy it is hard to get anything done without your dominant hand.   Stay tuned.......

You want how many dozen???

Yes, it is that time of year when baking and eating become a comfort.  It is cooler outside and the thought of a hot fresh coffee cake sounds too good.  The only problem is it is time for the girls to SLOW down, and slow down they have.  We are fortunate enough to have folks clamoring for our rainbow dozen.  I just wish on these days of gathering that I could just squeeze those girls for a couple more.  Yet all I can do is look at the 22 little ones running around the yard, and know that once the days get longer the egg count will get larger.  So for now my loyal customers, do not count your eggs until they are hatched.  I will do my best to keep them coming!

OH Honey!

As the day light hours get smaller and smaller I say to myself how am I to get it all done each day.  We moved back chore time 1/2 hour.  Now we go out at 5:00pm instead of 5:30pm.  Soon it will be 4:30, it is a shift.  A shift to start winter things.  Baking and canning and stewing.  The winter garden is in and the new garden fence and trellis (pics to follow) are so inviting.  I want to spend even more time in the garden.  But it is time now to put things to bed.  We started with the bees.  We were able to harvest 3 frames of honey, about 9 pounds and oh my it is to dye for!!  We were not sure that

we would have any, but after a hive inspection, it was decided that 3 frames would be fine.  Some of the area was not totally filled but we picked frames that would be easier for the bees to refill, i.e., we would spin our the honey and put the wet frames back in.  For those non-beekeepers, that means that the bees will get back the same frames so they just have to refill the comb and not rebuild it.

Frames after they have been removed from the hive

Once the frames were removed it was off to Ettamarie's to extract.  Blaine was a champ!  I was a little afraid to let him use the hot knife, but he went after it like a pro.

See that liquid gold on the right, yes that it, FIRST PLACE!!!  He had to compete with adults that have been doing honey much longer than he has, what an accomplishment! 

I can not wait to harvest in late spring early summer.  Blaine has decided to add 2 more hives.  Those of you lucky enough to have tasted the first batch......stay tuned.  I think that Blaine's beekeeping is here for the long run!

Where have you been?



Taylor and Judges Randy, Scott, and Cathy
At the California State Fair with her Golden Bear
winning rabbit

Blaine at Sonoma County Fair Auction with his Reserve
 Champion Meat Pen

I asked myself that same question as I crawled out of my little hole.   The summer just took me over.  The kids and the fairs and the running.  Do not get me wrong the summer with the kids was great.  They did more with their animal than they ever have.  They won more than they ever have.  Wow what a summer.  Well now it is time to get back to work on the FARM.  I will trying my best to keep up weekly with my blogs.  Thanks for sticking around!

Rain Rain Go Away........

Organic Circus Circus Carrots

Well, I am not sure if it will or not, but I am hoping the gardening and growing season is not like last year.  It seemed everything was late.  I am sure my new plants are loving this late in the season storm, but I am a bit cranky.  It is hard to plant, harvest, feed, milk, feed, and feed some more in the rain.  I do it because it needs to be done, but I love to do it when it is sunny.  Okay enough with my whining.  Just before the rain, I harvested the first seasons organic "Circus, Circus" carrots.  Now you can see why they are called that.  The orange carrots are like your traditional carrot.  The white are a bit sweeter, I think.  The purple are very woody tasting and my daughter Taylor does not like them at all.  My number one farmer, Blaine, who with the help of his sister, harvested all 50 carrots, loves them all.  Now you might notice in the picture that our orange carrot has "2" legs.  Have you ever seen a carrot like this in the store?  Of course not!  That would be........Unnatural......??  I was on another blog that I visit and the author was writing about how her lettuce had "holes", and how she has grown to accept the "natural" appearance of produce grown with NO chemicals natural or man made.  I loved it!  Real food is not perfect.  Carrots have two legs and lettuce has holes.  If the bugs like to eat it then my gosh so do I.  I love it that my kids get to see real food.  Produce that is not perfect, and animals that give their lives so we can eat.  Next time you are in you local health food store or chain supermarket, try to find some real produce............Until next post.

Do you ever have those moments?

 

Red Garlic



     You know you do, it does not matter how well you have it together.  If you say you don't, you are the one we all wish we could be.  You have it all together.  Your world is a soccer mom's dream.  NO?  Well then pull up a chair and welcome to my world.  I am the person who tries to have every little thing in place.  As the years and the kids and the animals have gained control of my world, I have learned to take things a little slower, and a little softer.  I still have a long way to go......I can hear my aunt in the background of my mind, telling me "oh yes you do have a long way to go."  However, I still have those moments.  Those, I want to lay down on the ground and cry moments.  The ones that you wish you could get a large vat of  "Dibbs" and a good movie and lay in bed and not get out for anything!  What does that have to do with the farm.  Everything!  Today I had one of those moments.  It happened somewhere between good morning and it's time for dinner.  Well just because you are having a momtrum, the work must continue, there are things to do. 

     So then what did happen on the farm today......Everyone got off ok to school and errands.  I got busy.  I did the usual rounds to see that my husbands chores had been completed.  Then in to clean the farm house.  The three broody hens that were jailed in the nursery did very well overnight.  I have tried various methods to get the boody out of a hen and this seems to work the best.  Taking them out of their environment for a few days with no boxes seems to do the trick, but if you have better ideas please leave a post.  Then to the garden.  The garlic is looking fantastic, I hope the heads are as big as last year.  Taylor (that's my 11 year old daughter) took first place with her garlic last year at the fair.  The baby greens are finally starting to come out.  They taste so good at this age. 

Baby Greens

A really great thing that I love to do is pick them at this age and do the
following;                    
                1 bunch of baby fresh greens
                1 medium avocado-diced
                1 large shredded carrot
              1/4 sliced and soaked red onion
               "Point Reyes" blue cheese
               Olive oil and Balsamic vinegar

mix all fresh ingredients together.  I soak my onions for about one hour in cold water to take out the bite.  Then lightly sprinkle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  Not to much oil and vinegar or you will over power your blue cheese.  The taste is fabulous, fresh out of the garden carrots, onions and lettuce, I do not know if it is just me but when I eat out of my garden, it just taste better.......how cliche! 


Plant markers



     Okay lastly a little planting of starts.  I did several, but my husband was the one who taught me to use Popsicle sticks-I reuse the ones the kids save me after they ingest all that dye and sugar.....well something good comes out of it, my planter markers.  Just be sure you use sharpie so when you water it does not all go away.  So as for my meltdown, well it's sundown and I am all better.  So until the next post.............

Who are you "Little M Farms"?

Who are we, and why do we need a blog, and who is even going to read it?  I said to myself as I was creating this one.  I am not a tech person, however, my favorites are loaded with blogs of my hidden friends who do not even know I exists.  Whose sites I love to visit and read, steal a good idea and make a wonderful meal from.  Well here we are, just you and me, so let me tell you why?  I love to write so what better place to do it.  My world is my family, friends and the farm.  Who knew that about a year ago what we did as well a hobby would end up being more?  We had thought about doing more with our small amount of land, but nothing ever came to fruition.  How much time can you have with; two kids (8,11) one husband, two dogs, two cats, 1 fish, 1 crab, 33 hens, 2 roosters, multiple chicks, 40 show rabbits, two goats, 20 meat rabbits, a garden and well ME!  We are living the dream, even though the thought of unemployment ending for my husband is a dreary thought.  We can do this he said, and well we are going to do our best.  The next several posts will be about the farm.  What we do, and what we do in our life. I hope then to share our journey from dirt to the market place with you and share my ideas, successes, and the not so successful ventures, perhaps you can take them and use them for yourself.  So, until the next post....