About Our Blog

---

Our blog is to inform and entertain you as we pursue our goal of starting a farm. Here we plan on recording thoughts, projects, farm additions and other note-worthy happenings. You may even see us on a magazine or two. If you would like to comment on our blog or just say "Hi" feel free to do so on our CBOX to the left.  Just enter your name and a message, then click the 'GO' button.  We enjoy your emails too, so don't be afraid to email us a note. Yahoo users: feel free to contact us...our profile is mn_nice_couple.  Just because we don't appear online, doesn't mean we're not.  When you send us an IM, please identify yourselves... and let us know why you're contacting us. Put yourself on the map! CLICK HERE to show us where you are in the world.

Rybec Highlanders on the cover.

The Blog 

---

May 30, 2008
- On the move

Today we are making the move to the farm.  Already, we have made a trip to drop off our stuff and try to [sorta] move in. 

We will be eating our last meal in town for the summer, tonight.  Then off to the farm.  As of yet, we have no internet at the farm.. so our blog'in will be a bit less frequent.  For that, I apologize.  We will be back to town on weekends to mow lawns and run errands... at that time, we will update our blogs.

I want to wish my sis Ginawina, a happy birthday.  She was born May 31^st so very long ago.  Here's hoping you and the Bryman have a great time on your night out.  Don't forget to bring your good set of dentures... he might bring you to a place where they serve food that you'll need to chew... lol.  But then again, he might just bring you back to your favorite applesauce & sushi buffet.  Still, it's nice to be prepared.

May 29, 2008
- Rain

Not much going on today.  It's raining... and is forecasted to do so for the next few days.  We are trying to prepare ourselves for the move to the farm.  We feel the progress of cleaning and improving the farm site will be greatly accelerated with us being there 24/7. 

Friday will be our move day.  Madison will be done with school and says she's ready for farm-life.  It will definitely be a change of lifestyle, moving from a 5,000 sq ft house (in town) to a 1,000 sq ft,  1977 trailer house that leaks when it rains.  We just need to keep in mind that this will be the best thing for the farm...  the changes we'll see will be more than worth it.  Even staying out there for the summer, we figure we'll still have a couple of years that we'll need before the place is in respectable condition.  Even then, it won't be a show piece.

May 28, 2008
- More fencing

I spent another few hours doing some fencing.  It seems as though putting up fence is a pasture based farm's #1 chore... especially when just starting out.  As of yet, I am using old barbed wire that I have been finding on the farm.  The only new fencing material that I purchased is galvanized staples and some 17 gauge electric fencer wire.  Incase you're wondering... yes, I still enjoy putting up fence.

I mowed lawn at the farm as well.  It was getting a little bit shaggy.  After a quick trim with the Allis-Chalmers w/belly mower the place looks a whole lot better.  Each time I mow, I try to mow more than I did the time before.  Little by little, we are shaping the place up.  The weeds are disappearing and the grass is slowly filling in where I have been mowing.

Carol and I headed home about 7 PM after checking the critters.  It's so hard to believe that the ducks are now fully grown.  They look quite handsome.  Last night, Carol and I filled a kiddie pool with water for the ducks to play in.  Although I didn't see them, Carol mentioned that the ducks were using the pool earlier today.  It seems like is was only a few weeks ago when the ducks were small and fuzzy.

May 26, 2008
- solar powered appliances

Mike and I went to fella's place where we bought 200+ fencing rods and a few used insulators.  The cost of the rods were just too good to pass up.  25¢ for each rod and 5¢ per insulator. I took about 100, Mike bought the rest.

After returning to Mike's, Mike welded-up a set of clothesline poles for Carol.  Carol and I decided that as long as we're at the farm, we will try to reduce our carbon footprint.  In doing so, we will not be using a clothes dryer to dry our stuff.  We have the wind and the sun.  They're both used but still work most of the time... and for now, that's good enough us.

May 25, 2008
- a job well done... tree trimming

We had one heck of a storm roar through our area.  In just 20 minutes, we had nearly 1½ inches of rain pour down.  It was moisture our state needed, but in some places the destruction and devastation was more than what some were expecting.  Towns were wiped out, houses were leveled and children were injured... one was killed.  Wreckage and blessings seemed to have arrived at the same time.

Some large limbs fell behind the house.  Although Carol was taking a nap before going to work, I thought it best to clear the branches when I had the chance.  Most of the limbs had fallen into Carol's garden space and had to be removed before I could finish installing the last of the rabbit fencing.  After a short hour or so, I was able to set-up the fencing.  Only now, will she confident enough to plant the remainder of her food plot, without worry of the rabbits eating things to the ground.

A few hours after the storm, I gave farmer Mike a call, to see if he still wanted my help with fencing this afternoon.  He said sure, but will only be for a couple hours before it will be time for chores.  In those two+ hours, we re-routed his cow-lane, then put the finishing touches on 4 of the 22 paddocks.  What a great feeling. 

The rest of the work on the other 18 paddocks can easily be completed by him and his son.  An hour here and an hour there, they will have everything done.  I'm just glad I could help.  Perhaps, after Mike's son grows-up, he will be able to reflect on the time when his dad's friend helped out with a project just for the sake of helping.  And maybe he will be able to do the same for someone he knows.  He's a good kid and I'll bet a dollar to a doughnut he will help when he can.

May 24, 2008
- fencing at Mikes

Not much happening at the Coyote Ridge Farm homestead, but farmer Mike had me helping him on his place another day.  It was fun helping him set-up paddocks on some of his acreage.  We are nearly done with this project and are quite exciting to see so much done in so little time.

May 23, 2008
- 1st weekend at the farm

As a family, we decided we would try staying at the farm for the weekend.  We hauled a bunch of personal items with us in the morning, thus beginning our weekend stay.  When figuring out who was going to be staying out there, I quickly realized I would be there alone - Carol would be working over-night, Chas in respite, Madison would be staying overnight at her cousin's and Austin would be back at home, taking care of the pets and going to bed early, as he had to get to work early the next morning.  So, as a family, I stayed at the farm alone.  lol.

During the day, Austin and I did some fencing in a new area of the farm.  We installed six support posts and one huge corner post (part of a power-line pole)... we used some old landscape timbers as cross-members for two of the corners.  We had time enough to run one strand of barbed wire and to measure and layout T-posts along the east edge of this new pasture area.

- is it alright to yell "movie" in a crowded firehouse?

That evening, I decide to burn some brush and a few old pallets.  At dusk, I grabbed a beer and a lighter.  It was a nice evening to be at the farm, so I thought I would enjoy myself.  Within moments, the wood was on fire and an orange glow filled the grove.  I need to mention that our burn location is atop a hole filled with scrap iron.  Once a fire starts pulling a little draft, the cavities with iron allows the fire to breathe quite nicely.

Anyway, it didn't take long for the flames to jump from the brush to the pallets.  Once this happened, it only took a few minutes before I had flames 20-30 feet high.  I had a fellow, who grew-up a mile west of the farm, stop in.  We exchanged pleasantries... long time no see, blah, blah, blah.  I then asked what brought him out this way.  He replied that he was traveling on an intersecting highway (over 2 miles away) and wanted to make sure a building wasn't burning down or a fire was our of control.  He mentioned that I shouldn't be surprised if others stop in, as the fire looked huge and was very easy to see for mile around.  I thanked him for stopping by and he went on his way.

Not more than 15 minutes later, I could hear a truck slow down.  I looked towards the highway and could see the reflection of flashing light in the tree-tops.  Oh Crap.  The Sheriff is stopping by to see if I had a burn permit.  I was wrong.  It wasn't the Sheriff's Dept.... it was the Kerkhoven Fire Department.  Ummm! OK!  Now what?  The came the second truck.  CRAP, CRAP, CRAP!

I asked the driver of the first truck what's going on.  He said they got a call.  He then asked me where the Sheriff was.  I wondered out loud, "What Sheriff?" The driver mentioned that they received a fire call from a Sheriff's Deputy and he was suppose to meet them here.

In my head I was think how this was getting better by the minute... an then... CRAP, CRAP, CRAP! And double CRAP!  This is going to cost the farm some big bucks.  Somehow, I must have really screwed-up.

I told the guys in the truck that I had gotten my permit a few months ago ant the city office, so I was good to go.  They told me that I was suppose call every time I plan to burn.  I retorted that I wasn't aware that the law had changed.  I had been burning brush for the lat 3 years and nobody uttered a word that I needed to call ahead of time.  In a nice way, he said that that's the way it's always been and that they would most likely host the fire.  In my head I heard "Cha-ching!"  More $$$ down the tubes.

He radioed the fire chief, who was on his way.  He explained that I had a permit and that I was burning pallets, brush and tree stumps.  In a few minutes the chief drove up.  He got out of the truck, introduced himself and put his hand on my shoulder.  "Rich,"  he said, "you've done nothing wrong."  He then explained that had the farm been located in Swift County (1 mile west) we'd be having a different conversation... but since the farm is in Kandiyohi County and doesn't require a call prior to burning - all is good.

They excused themselves and headed back to town.

WHEW!  Time for another beer.

May 22, 2008
- Goats, chickens and rabbits

I headed to the farm bright and early this morning.  We had folks who came down from Wadena, Minnesota to buy our Boer goat (aka Slick Willy).  I arrived at the farm early... just incase I had a problem catching him.  But Willy is petty tame, especially if you have feed for him.  Within seconds, I had him on a tether and heading out of the cow-yard.

This spring, our does all had kids... the father was Willy.  He's a good buck and it seems he likes the ladies to be satisfied.  Before we were able to sell him, he had his way with at least two of our does.  So, unfortunately, that means we have a better than average chance of having goat babies this fall.

Once the goat had left the farm, Carol and I butchered 4 broiler chickens and 3 meat rabbits.  The chickens averaged 8 lbs (live weight) and dressed-out at 5½-6 lbs, on average.  The rabbits averaged 2 lbs lighter. 

Several years ago, Carol had vowed never to eat rabbit... or to cooked it... but today she helped my skin the 3 we had.  Her attitude about rabbit being food has changed since embracing a simpler, healthier, homesteading  philosophy of living.  Grow what you eat - eat what you grow.

May 21, 2008
- fencing and setting up garden...

Today, on the way to the farm, I gave a call to the house movers who accepted the job of moving the barn we bought a few months back.  They think they will be ready to move our building in the middle of June.  That will be exciting when that takes place.

Before fencing more pasture, I chose a fencing project of a lesser scale.  I worked on the garden again today.  I fenced-in Carol's new garden.  The old farm place is really starting to take shape.  It's starting to look like somebody really cares about the place now.  We're really glad we started this farm project 3 years ago.

One of the goals we have for the farm is to develop the land into a more pasture based farming application.  In doing so, I find myself opening up much of our on-tillable acreage for pasture.  We have a couple of acres east of the farm site, that I'd like to see animals on.

Realizing I wouldn't be able to open new pasture in a timely fashion, I decided to create a ¼ acre paddock adjacent to the cow yard.  I wanted to get this in place, hoping it will buy me enough time to start and finish the east pasture.

May 20, 2008
- helped Mike with paddocks, moved rabbits

We moved some Madison's rabbits to the farm this morning.  Carol and I placed the hutches in the broiler pen.  Rabbits are suppose to be a great companion animal for chickens.  Chickens will pick through the feed that the rabbits spill as well as eat the earth worms that are drawn to the area because of the rabbit droppings.  Worms LOVE the droppings and chickens love the worms.

I also helped farmer Mike start on his pasture/paddock project.  We started by marking the post position along the parameter.  We then set the posts using a Shaver brand post pounder.  The first post we pounded into place, we were wondering if this was really the technique best suited for this type of project.  Long-story-short... by the time we got to the 3rd post, we were seeing the value in this crude device.  Once we found the rhythm of the pounder, we made pretty good progress.  At the end of the day, we had installed nearly 30 large posts. 

After going into the house for a beer, Mike's son convinced us to go back out [before chores] to install a few more posts.  It seems the lad couldn't stand not knowing how the hydraulic post pounder worked.  Mike asked me if I'd be willing to stick around, I told him I'd be glad too.  One could easily see the enjoyment on Mike's son's face when he got a chance to operated the machine.

May 19, 2008
- cleaned garage, mowed, new stove

I installed Carol's old stove in the trailer today.  It is the same stove we bought when we purchased our first home.  It's a little rough around the edges, but still is a lot of life left in 'er.

Lawn mowing was high on the 'must-do' list.  For the most part, I got done what needed to be done.

May 17, 2008
- The value of hard work - 10:00 AM

I finally had time to look at the farm's estimated tax statement for 2009.  This is where you can see the value of a little hard work.  All the blood, sweat & tears... along with the normal increased area land values, we have seen a boost in the farm's estimated market value of over 20%.

We may be kidding ourselves if we think the augmented value is because of what we have done with the place,  but the visual impact is evident.  The farm now has some flow and function.  It no longer looks as though it should be set ablaze, then leveled with enormous bull-dozers. 

This afternoon, we'll be out there, doing more clearing and fixing.

- A full day of work - 10:45 PM

I worked-up a garden plot for Carol at the farm.  She wanted a space [at least] as large as the one at our house in town. Although she wasn't feeling well, I asked her to come outside to show me exactly where she wanted the garden and to point out the boundaries of it.  All said and done, the new garden is at least twice as big as she had before.

After tilling the garden, I fenced in an area for the broiler chickens.  They will soon be able to enjoy the great outdoors in a brand spanking-new 25'x 35' chicken run.  The birds are growing so fast, that at only 4 weeks of age, they are out-growing the broiler coop.  That's one of the reasons we want them to be able to go outside.  Without the ability to get outside, we'd be no better than a commercial grower.  Carol wants the chickens she raises to be both healthy and happy.

To top the evening off, Madison and I enjoyed the nightfall by having a bon fire.  All was fine and relaxed, until she discovered our dog Ellie had killed a wild baby bunny... then it was time to go home after the burial... which we did.  It's time for a hot shower.

Tomorrow, we will add compost and manure to the new garden space... then work that in.  From that point forward, the plot will be Carol's domain.  We need to be at the farm fairly early.  I want to get Carol's garden fertilized before I head to the field to pick rock.  Since I haven't acquired enough machinery (or know how), I hire the planting done.  I had planned to do the field work this year, but they gave me such short notice, I don't feel I have enough time to pick rock, dig the field and help my friend Mike put-up fence before the end of the day on Monday. 

I quick did the math and figured it would cost me about $250 to work the field myself (if I don't count my labor of 8 hrs), the custom digging will run about $540... a difference of $290.  If I did the digging, I wouldn't have the time to help Mike... thus I wouldn't be able to trade out the labor for him planting my alfalfa.  So that would cost me $$$.  I value my time at $12-15/hr... and his time is more valuable than mine, I would guess Mike charges at least $20/hr, maybe more.  So there's another $90-100 or so.  So, to hire the custom field work will really have a cost of $190... again, if I don't value my time.  AND... I have an exhaust gasket the leaks, meaning that if I spend 8 hrs on the tractor, I'll be sick for [at least] a day following the work.  If I figure in my labor of $120, the hired work will cost approx. $70.  The question is... what would you do? 

May 16, 2008
- Trust & quality

I think Carol sold 4 bunnies today.  I'm not sure which ones, but I think one of them Madison wanted to keep for herself.  Again, I'm not sure.  Maybe Carol will have something on her blog about it.

None-the-less, it's a good feeling to know that others see you as honest and fair.  Our friend from Fox Lake Farms, located near Faribault, MN, (2½+ hrs away) came out to buy some rabbits.  Carol and Madison are establishing a reputation of breeding show-quality mini-lops.  Carol had some rabbits in mind for her to chose from.  I think she got some pretty good rabbits, as Carol wanted her to be extremely happy at show time. 

Carol and Madison had them in the house several times, looking them over, making sure the desired markings were correct and making sure they had a nice round arched back when placed in a show pose. I'm glad this gal lives in a different county, it would be a shame if Madison or Carol lost to one of their own rabbits again.  It happened last year.

We have been exchanging emails with Pam, the gal that gave us the 3 Shetland sheep.  I happened to mention that Carol has been looking for a spinning wheel, in which to spin Sunny's wool into yarn.  It seems, Pam is a very well connected member of her local spinning guild.  She has been asking around.  In less than 24 hrs., she found a 'wheel' for Carol... and we've received an email from a gal that is willing to teach Carol how to spin.

After work tomorrow morning, Carol is going to an early auction, where they are selling a spinning wheel.  Hopefully, she will be awake enough to attend.  I think she's hoping for a really, really good deal.

Back at the farm today, I stepped off the area east of the place... looking at it as a potential pasture area for some of our animals.  I wasn't expecting them to clear the newest ½ acre paddock so quickly.  The east section is probably and acre in size and still has some old cars and junk, left behind from when the iron scrapper came through a few years back.  The grass is growing well back there... I'd hate to waste it.  I just need to do some fencing and hopefully, I'll have it open for business by next weekend.

I still have some ground to work before the beans go in... maybe having the new pasture fenced by next weekend is a wee bit optimistic.  We'll see.

Rich

May 15, 2008
- Short term plans

Today, I finally finished working on the rental unit, we have in town.  The new tenant came over in the morning to sign the lease papers.  So now when Mike gives me a call to help with setting up his new pasture, I won't have to turn him down.  I think everything else on my "must-do" list can easily be pushed back a day.  I really shouldn't worry about it, since I KNOW he would give me a day or two notice... right Mike?!?!?!?!?!

I did some mowing in town as well.  As I mowed, I was trying to plan our weeks, once we're at the farm (yeah, yeah! I know.  We were suppose to be there 2 week ago).  Aside from all the work at the farm, we will have grass to mow here as well.  Do we haul the mowers back and forth weekly?  Our do we buy one just for the farm? 

With the farm getting straightened out and the weed patches turning to grass, we are having more to mow with each passing month.  A rider is almost a must-have at the farm this year.

May 14, 2008
- Not much going on

It's still a little wet in the fields so there isn't much to  do there.  Carol and I keep looking at the farm, trying to figure things out.  What goes where, and what year should we do that?  What needs cleaning up first, where second... and so on (our list could easily go to 100).

We're also trying to figure out how we should proceed with the farm land.  We want to get the farm back into a healthier, multi-crop rotation, instead of corn, beans, corn, beans.  It gets over whelming at times.

Carol posted some pictures of the new twins on her blog. We only took a few.

May 12, 2008
- At last the last kids

Jackie, our last expecting doe, is no longer expecting.  She finally had her kids.  When we did chores this morning, Jackie was showing the classic signs of labor and Carol wasn't comfortable leaving the farm knowing the goat was so close to birthing.

Jackie had twins.  First a healthy doeling... then a buckling.  Since Carol worked last night, she decided to check on the goat between naps.  According to Carol, Jackie hadn't had them at 3:00 PM.  I called her after Madison got home (about 3:45 PM), waking her from one of her naps.  Moments later, Carol called back saying Jackie her babies.

Madison and I quick packed the car, got Chas... and headed to the farm.  The babies were still wet when we got there.  The doeling had already been sucking on mama, Carol was waiting for little buck to do the same.  After an hour, both were sucking on mom and little bellies were full.

Jackie had such a big udder, Carol decide to milk her.  We wanted some colostrum on hand just in case of an emergency.  We now have a food storage container full of colostrum, sitting in the freezer.  For goat people, it's liquid gold.

After returning from the farm, we found an email from Carlos Creek Winery.  They must have found our website, stating we were growing wine grapes.  The email mentioned that they were interested in the Brianna acreage for this fall.  We were told from the get-go, if you grow grapes not to worry about who you are going to sell them to.  The wineries will find you.  So far, it has been true.

We also got an email from a sheep farmer, asking us if we wanted two more free sheep.  We are going to give it some thought as we don't want to run out of pasture before being able to fence more.  We have lots of grass land, but little time.  This summer we're hoping to get all the fencing done.  We want to be set-up and ready for next year.

May 11, 2008
- Keep on keep'in on

Yesterday, we had rain most of the day... not much going on, but today we started making more farm improvements.  Carol has to work tonight, so we didn't stay at the farm too long.  While Carol and Madison were doing some morning chores, I decided to build a screen door for the brooder/broiler coop.  Already having the door frame built, I simply had to add staple chicken wire to the 2x2 frame.  Some time ago, we bought a set of spring hinges from Menards.  With a few screws attaching the hinges to the door and the frame, we now have a self closing door on the coop.

Behind the old garage, I found some 5' T-posts that I thought would work well for the fence for the coop.  I first got the OK from Carol as to the correct position and size of the soon-to-be chicken yard, then with the post maul I built as a 4-H project (back in the late 70's/early 80's), I drove the corner posts into the ground, marking the boundary of the yard.

Carol wanted a yard for the broilers she's going to sell to others this summer.  She says the birds need to get outside, but cannot have to much room to run.  Excessive exercise makes the meat tough.  We both feel that if we were to keep the birds trapped in the chicken coop, we're no better than the commercial growers... chickens need grass, bugs, sunlight and exercise in order to be healthy.  Healthy birds provide us with healthy food.

Speaking of healthy birds, Lucky, the chicken we found this winter, is doing fine.  Her tumor has fallen off and she is now laying eggs for us.  I hate to be the one to spread barnyard rumors, but both Carol and I have seen her canoodling with one of the roosters we got from the Osterbauer farm last week.  Oooo-la-la!

Madison has been collecting her eggs and putting them in the incubator.  Lucky is a crested chicken and her rooster friend (Percy) is a Bantam cross.  It should make for some interesting chick genetics... if in fact she is giving us fertile eggs.

May 09, 2008
- 2 steps forward, 1 step back... a very sad day

When Carol and Madison did chores this evening, they found Fozzy (our Highlander calf) in distress.  He was on the ground, weak and foaming at the mouth.  Crying, Carol called me (I was in Raymond) telling me about our little calf.   She described the situation the best she could, reporting to me that he had an add odor on his breath.  I told her to quick drive to the neighbors house to get help (the neighbor gal is a veterinarian).  She told Carol that she would contact the vet who was on call and somebody would be there soon.

By the time Carol got back to the farm, our calf was dead.  Not long after, our neighbor showed up.  The other vet was unavailable.  Carol described what had happened.  The vet suspected a twisted and/or perforated intestine.

She then cut our calf open... sure enough, it was as suspected.  After checking him over further, she told Carol that Fozzy was the proper size & weight and appeared to have been eating well up to this point.  It was just a freak thing that had happened... it was not our fault - it was not a birth defect... there was nothing we could have done differently to save his life.

The calf's mother, Caitlin, called for him constantly... getting no response.  It was a very hard loss to accept, then to have Caitlin call for her dead calf, made things all the more painful for us on our small, struggling farm. 

Over the last few days, we have been hearing from those around us, about what a great job we're doing with the farm and how things seem to be changing almost daily.  We felt as though we were finally moving in the right direction with the steps we have been taking.  Then something like this happens.  All of a sudden, it feels as though we were dealt a blow that has pushed us back a giant step... both financially and sustainably.  One begins to wonder if it's all worth it.

May 08, 2008
- Going organic

Today was the day when I started to treat the soil of the farm with a little more respect. 

Mike seeded the farm's 11.5 acres, north of the creek today.  This land is now 'in transition' for becoming certified organic.  The soil will no longer be subjected to chemical fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides or genetically modified plant verities.  He also did me a favor by seeding the perimeter of our vineyard.  Hopefully, it will catch some of the spay drift of neighboring fields, helping to protect our vines from harmful chemicals that could potentially kill the grapes.

Last year I had corn on that dirt.  While working the soil, I noticed quite a bit of ear corn on the ground.  I asked Mike about the corn.  As a joke, I asked him if I should be concerned about it... more specifically - what chemical could I use to spray the field with to get rid of the corn.  I think he found it funny, but not near as funny as I did.  He's an organic farmer through and through.

May 07, 2008
- Rock picking

With all the time I lost yesterday, chasing animals and fixing fence, I recruited Austin to help me with picking rock.  I was glad I did. 

The soil of the farm is less than ideal.  It appears the glaciers, when carving through the area, deposited sand, gravel and plenty of rocks.  Less than a ½ mile away, the dirt is dark and rich.  I have heard from different folks that the farm was towards the edge of the glacial plain.  There are hills to the north and flat, black soil to the south.

Back to the rock picking...  It took Austin and I approx. 6 hours to clear the 11+ acre field of rocks.  Anything the size of our fist or bigger, we removed. 

Later in the afternoon, we drove out to Falk Seed Farms to collect our oat seed, which we're using as a cover crop for our alfalfa.  The acreage we just cleared of rock, will be our first step, in a 3 year process, towards raising certified organic crops and forages for our animals. 

Rich

May 06, 2008
- Llamas & Highlanders

As most folks know, llamas are excellent guard animals for sheep and/or goats.  We have not had a problem with our 2 llamas.  We actually enjoy having them around.  They're gentle, curious, and very intelligent. Best of all, of all the animals we have on the farm, they are the the easiest to keep in the fence.  Our Highlander cow is another matter.

When Carol and I went to do chores, Carol noticed that Caitlin (our cow) looked as though she was out of the fence.  Sure enough, she was.  Crap!  When I looked at the fence, it was a mess... twisted and tangled was an understatement.

My first instinct was to chase the cow towards the farm, away from the road.  I didn't want people to think we had a cow out... lol.  Without much to-do, I got her out of sight.  Now it was time to work on the fence.  Carol unplugged the fencer and we got it untangled... finally.  She must have hit the wires hard.  One of my corner posts was pulled in and leaning and 4 out of the 5 wires were lose.  Before, monkeying around with the cow, I needed to fix the fence.  I re-stretched and secured the wires.  A quick task?  Not a chance.

Now the trick...  getting Caitlin back into the cow-yard or pasture.  Of course, with the farmstead being so new, we only have one gate.  I was meaning to add another, but... ________ < fill in the blank >

Long story short, we get her around the buildings and standing by the gate to the cow-yard.  Cool.  I then go through the barn, into the cow-yard to open the gate.  I figured that if we quickly chase her through, we won't have to worry about all the goats, sheep and llamas freaking her out... so I tell Carol to hurry-up and chase the cow through.  Then out of nowhere, Gandhi comes racing through the open gate and goes after Caitlin... Caitlin takes-off, I told Carol to let them go... let them run.

Carol runs behind them to see where they are going and then I saw them running full-bore, north of the barn.  I thought this sure sucks, now both are out.  When we see Gandhi, he is attacking this tough as nails Highlander cow.  She's freaked.  She quickly turns back towards the pasture and flies though the fence to get away from the llama.  She's inside the fence and Gandhi is not.

Just that quick, Gandhi settles down.  He can't figure out how to get to the cow.  By this time, with Gandhi out of the fence, our female llama is upset.  She pacing back and forth, making soft little llama noises.  You could almost see it on her face... she looked as though Gandhi had just entered the land of no return... the forbidden zone.  Carol got some feed and within minutes, she had our llama waiting to get back into the cow-yard.  By this time, I had blocked off the entrance to the pasture.  Both Gandhi and Caitlin were in their separate corners... and acting as if nothing had happened.  Neither one was cut-up from the fence... but the fence was a wreck.  For us, it was a true testament to the protective nature of llamas.  Clearly, Gandhi saw Caitlin as a threat to the sheep and goats.  He only wanted the cow away as far from his flock as possible.

This is a good day.  Instead of picking rock, I'm chasing a cow, then fixing the fence... then chasing a llama... chasing a cow... then fixing the fence AGAIN.  To top it off, Mike is coming out tomorrow to plant alfalfa, expecting rock to be picked.  Ah, the joys of the farm.  Anyone want to buy a llama?

It's 6 PM and we get a call from the kids.  They're wondering if we're coming home and if we're going to eat tonight.  We reassure them that we'll be home in an hour and to take the pork chops out so we can grill them when we get home.

Instead of heading straight home, we take a detour.  Carol had arranged to pick-up two roosters from the Osterbauer farm, south of Kerkhoven.  This is something that was semi-arranged at the last 4-H meeting a week or so ago.  Carol gets her roosters - a Silky or Frizzle and a nice dark Bantam-cross.  Oh yeah, and 3 buckets full of Tiger-Lillies.  Sheesh!

Before going home, we go back to the farm.  Drop of the roosters and the Lilly plants.  We got home about 7:45.  Saying we had a late dinner would be an understatement.  Thank God this day is nearly over with.

I really need to pick rock tomorrow.

May 05, 2008
- Field work

I got a call from my friend Mike.  He asked if I was in the fields yet.  I basically asked, "No.  Should I be?"  I mentioned that nobody else was in the fields and that's how I gauged things.  He told me that he saw some ground being worked and there was dust flying.  OK.  Now what?

Mike is a good guy... and very tactful... even when dealing with me.  He, ever so politely told me that if I still wanted him to plant my alfalfa, I needed to get the ground worked by Wednesday, because that's when his tractor should be out of the shop.  At this point, I was a little nervous... so I called Carol.  LOL

I don't remember what advice Carol gave me, but I'm sure she told me something simple and something that made sense... like..." Well, you better get it done."  So I did.  It was only 11½ acres, so it didn't take too long.  After finishing the field, I gave Mike a call to give him the good news.

Rock picking would begin the next day.  That was my plan.

I had some time to kill before getting back home, so I thought I would attempt to get the llamas into the pasture, as they were the only animals not taking advantage of the green grass.  I guess once they respect the perimeter of a fence, they respect that perimeter whether the fence is there or not.  They look at the opening to the pasture, but they won't walk through.

Today, I was going to get them through.  With tether in hand, I sought out Gandhi.  Without too much difficulty, I put the tether around his neck, then made a make-shift halter out of it.  It didn't take long before he was following me.  He led quite well... I headed to the opening to the pasture.  To my surprise, he walked though, right behind me.  A few seconds later, Dolly followed.

When I got home, I told Carol about what I accomplished.  I got the impression she was impressed.  Now, all the animals are able to eat fresh pasture grass.

May 04, 2008
- The social experiment continues

What is it about the underdog that folks root for?  The underdog in agriculture would be the beginning [small] farmer.  In this case, the beginning farmer(s) would be Carol and I.  We have had lots of help and would not be as far as we are if not for the kindness of others.

Here is just another example of people helping others.  A few months ago, I wrote an online ad, stating that Carol and I were starting a small farm, and we were looking for "grass-eaters" to help develop new pasture.  Of course we got replies from folks who wanted to sell us expensive cattle and/or unwanted bulls, but a few offered us animals they could have sold to others.  Which brings us to this point in time.

An older couple from Cokato (older than us anyway) offered us three wethered sheep (2 yearlings & 1 ten month old).  They didn't want to sell them to us, they just wanted to see us get started in farming.  After weeks of delays, we finally met-up with them.  Here's how nice these folks are...

At first, they offered to haul the sheep to the farm for us... we weren't going to let them do that.  We finally settled to meet at their son's place, just west of Litchfield.  We had told them about Sunny and Jumper.  They told us to bring Sunny with so they could sheer him for us... which they did.  The husband gave me advice about farming and the Mrs. answered some wool questions Carol had.  They then wormed Sunny and gave him his CD&T shot. 

When it was time to move the sheep from one trailer to ours, they gave us a roll of used woven wire fencing and an old garden tiller.  We then talked about haying and bailing.  Out of the blue, the husband asked what we had for equipment.  I told him we didn't even have a trailer.  He laughed and said he had twenty trailers, a mower, a baler and running gears that he would sell me for the price of scrap iron.  I reckon that's a good deal, but need to speak with others about what to look for in this type of equipment.  I clearly don't have a clue.

To continue this optimistic sense of good will, later that day, Carol, Madison and I went to the farm of one of Carol's friends.  Beth and Dan let us take the remaining ground corn from their feed bins.  They have a hog operation and the pigs finished out some time ago.  Normally what would happen to this feed is it would be thrown out.

Our concern is that the feed would have some hormones or antibiotics, but we were assured that the last weeks of feeding, there is nothing in the feed... but feed.  So far we have removed over 16 feed sacks of corn.  We estimate we have another 8-10 sacks left, before the bin is empty.  This stuff will make for some nice chicken feed.  The problem we have now is storage.  What do we do with it until we need it?

Why did I mention the term 'social experiment'?  It's simple... when Carol and I set our minds to starting this farm, we set out to do things a little differently.  We wanted to know if one could start farming/homesteading in today's age.  We wanted to have fun doing it.  To say the least, we have, thus far.  We have met some of the kindest people one could ever imagine meeting and continue to lean on those few individuals we have known and trusted for years.

One of our plans for the this 'experiment' is to write an article about homesteading and submitting it to a periodical like Acres, Countryside Living, Mother Earth News, or Grit.  We want to help show others it can still be done and let them know how we did it.  We/I will start writing this on the 1 year anniversary of having animals on the farm (not counting chickens).

Rich

May 03, 2008
- Baby bunnies

Carol and Madison have had so many requests for more 4-H show rabbits, they decided last month, to breed the does one more time.  Last night, the kits started to arrive.  Three of the does delivered.  Two of the does are purebred, bred with a purebred buck.  The same two does are proven show rabbits in open class and 4-H, with Belle (Madison's oldest doe) placing 5th in show and earning a trip to the Minnesota State Fair.  The other doe has crossbred (75% mini lop), pet/meat quality kits.  The crossbred babies should have lopped ears like the purebreds.  The buck of the crossbred doe placed 2nd in the open class meat class.

All these babies should be ready for sale in 4-5 weeks.

Carol mentioned that they have one more purebred doe who is due today or tomorrow.  This means the girls will have three litters of show rabbits for folks to choose from.  In our County, rabbits born before May 15th are eligible for showing, so these bunnies will fit in nicely with other rabbits at show-time. 

If you want to learn more, please do not contact me.  Carol is the rabbit expert of the family.  You can call or email her.  She'll give you all the info you could possible want or need.  She loves talking rabbits.

May 02, 2008
- How times have changed

SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2007

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge> them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.

Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal.
Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from state because Jeffrey has a disability.

Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's Mom has affair with psychologist.

Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.

Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English, goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.

Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2007 - ATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated, Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.

Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

May 01, 2008
- Remember May-day?

It's May 1st... May Day.  When I was younger... much younger, May Day was a time of May baskets and kisses.  I'm not sure why I still remember this, as I couldn't have been more than 4 or 5 years of age, but I had a crush on the pastor's daughter.  She was also a friend of me and my sister's baby-sitter (that's probably how I knew of her).  Early Saturday morning, I placed a May basket on her parent's porch, rang the door bell and ran.  I ran like there was no tomorrow.  Of course, this girl was faster than me.  How could she not be, she was easily 5 years older than I was.

In no time flat, she caught me and gave me a kiss.  I'm not sure of the circumstances after that point, but the kiss was probably my first and that was what was memorable. 

My questions is:  Do kids still do that?  Do they do anything to celebrate the arrival of spring?  When our daughter Madison came home from school today, she wished us a Happy May Day, but she was without a basket of any kind.  When did the tradition of giving May Day baskets die?  Who knows, it's not unlikely that some "greater than though" wack-job feminazi convinced her week-minded politician husband, that trading a basket of candy for a kiss was a form of sexual harassment and somehow degrading to girls and women.

Rich

CHICKENS FOR SALE Carol has 70+  40+ 100+ (25 are sold) Cornish Cross Broiler Chickens on hand and growing well (this batch of chickens is the 2nd of what she is growing this year).  If you would like to buy some hormone free/antibiotic free chickens Aug. - Sept, make sure you contact us immediately. These chickens should dress out at approx. 4-7 lbs.  Remember, we will be selling these birds live... but if you want us to process them for you, make sure you tell us prior to picking them up. Already, we have a few folks reserving their birds.  We will call you a week before it's time to get your birds and again the day of.  Please contact us for details. We sell all our birds by the live-weight.  These bird dress-out at approx. 70%.  What does this mean?  It means, if you buy a 9 lb. chicken... about 6 lbs (this weight includes giblets) of it will be ready for frying, grilling, baking, or whatever.  If you only want to try a bird or two, we should have a few extra for sale.  Once you taste the difference, you'll order more next time.  Carol will be ordering again in July.  The July birds should be ready for pick-up at the end of Sept.  Do we eat what we raise?  You betcha!  We will be raising approx. 100 chickens for our family alone.  Why so many?  Simple... we like knowing we are eating a healthy chicken, raised with care in healthy conditions and we love the way they taste. We also have some beautiful Heritage Turkeys (Red Bourbon) growing well.  Turkeys should be ready in Nov - early Dec.

---

Want our blog on your site?
Cut and paste from the box below into any HTML document to enable your new feed!

Highlight All

<!-- Start Coyote Ridge Farms RSS Content --> <script language="JavaScript" src="http://convert.rss-to-javascript.com/?chan=1&simple_chan=1&desc=1&desc_max=150&date=1&src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.coyoteridgefarms.com%2Ffarmblog.xml"> </script><noscript> Your browser does not support JavaScript. <a title='RSS-to-JavaScript.com: Free RSS to JavaScript Converter' href=http://www.rss-to-javascript.com/?p=151,381&chan=1&simple_chan=1&desc=1&desc_max=150&date=1&src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.coyoteridgefarms.com%2Ffarmblog.xml&as_html=1>Click to read the latest news</a>.</noscript> <a href=http://www.CoyoteRidgeFarms.com target=_blank title='To Read Our Complete Blog: Click Here'> <!-- End Coyote Ridge Farms RSS Content -->

 

Weather

---