Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
New Chicken Tractor and Goat Poop Mountain!
Hi, Intern Ashly here coming at you from the top of Goat Poop Mountain!
:)
I can't believe it but the top and sides are already dirt and smell rich like dirt no stinky smell which is a good thing. I was astonished. Although, the center is still breaking down...but you see the size of that thing!
Today, I had a helper..BL..she was a mean 'witch grass' ho'er ;) she also helped weed the herb bed. The compost pile was sarted. I layered dry carbon material (dried weeds/grass and vines), coffee grounds, topsoil, goat manure/dirt, eucalyptus branches w/ leaves. I felt awesome. We cleared a good bit of debris out of the garden area but it will take time. I want to refrain from tilling around the area bc tilling brings new weed seeds to the surface (that sprout and make more weeds). We (S, M, and I) decided that I will just grow the raised beds and start around the existing trees...and eventually it will all run together. I get caught up in planning sometimes instead of letting it happen. Start at your back door/front door is a starting point in permaculture...so I'm going to grow beds along the front of the house also. :) I'm so excited that S and M are excited ab the idea of an edible landscape! I like the fact they are giving me input, I think it is awesome..but I mean it is their yard.lol. I'm ready to start planting everything. I'm thinking of building the cold frame tomorrow..since all the tools are already out from doing THIS...
It isnt complete but it still looks fabulous! Our Farm has some talent I tell you...we all bring something to the table..even the little one V (she can fit/go into tiny spaces..like the chicken tractor to reach the egg)..
Welp, there is the update! Until tomorrow 'I'm Knee Deep In' preparation.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Are you 'milking' it?
I helped S milk the goats last night!!!!!! (you can tell I'm proud)
Milking isnt that hard but the Nigerians are another story. One gave me a 'run for my money' last night..silly goat..at least I wasnt being dragged through the barn this time. The other night I had to run to keep from being pulled down in the dirt. Poor S she was starving and so was little V (M & S's daughter) S was one stage from delusional...she had to pull mostly all of the Nigerians to the milking parlor (btw is a work out).
Nigerians are short demons in fur. :) but they sure are cute!
I FED ALL BY MYSELF AND WATERED! (well I lied S fed the milkers)
It took me like an hour or more (whose keeping track).
M got home and cleaned the equipment for us...bc S and V were starving! (they still didnt go eat!)
I showed them my vision for the farm (A food forest) and I think it may have excited them a little :) which made me smile on the inside! I gave M the seed catalog to pick out what he wants and a fruit tree catalog. We chit chatted ab the things I posted to FB and of the things we wanted to grow. I knew it was time for me to go :( bc I knew they were starving. S gave me the eggs the girls laid since coming to the farm for Stevie (my hubby).
Oh yeah, and I witnessed how to disbud a kid. I'm not ready for that...but I get the purpose.
Until next time yall..'Knee Deep In' designing this years garden.
Milking isnt that hard but the Nigerians are another story. One gave me a 'run for my money' last night..silly goat..at least I wasnt being dragged through the barn this time. The other night I had to run to keep from being pulled down in the dirt. Poor S she was starving and so was little V (M & S's daughter) S was one stage from delusional...she had to pull mostly all of the Nigerians to the milking parlor (btw is a work out).
Nigerians are short demons in fur. :) but they sure are cute!
I FED ALL BY MYSELF AND WATERED! (well I lied S fed the milkers)
It took me like an hour or more (whose keeping track).
M got home and cleaned the equipment for us...bc S and V were starving! (they still didnt go eat!)
I showed them my vision for the farm (A food forest) and I think it may have excited them a little :) which made me smile on the inside! I gave M the seed catalog to pick out what he wants and a fruit tree catalog. We chit chatted ab the things I posted to FB and of the things we wanted to grow. I knew it was time for me to go :( bc I knew they were starving. S gave me the eggs the girls laid since coming to the farm for Stevie (my hubby).
Oh yeah, and I witnessed how to disbud a kid. I'm not ready for that...but I get the purpose.
Until next time yall..'Knee Deep In' designing this years garden.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Goats, Hens, and Me.
This morning I traveled not very far to pick up our first 'girls' black australorps (a heritage breed). We now have 2 roosters and 4 hens in my chicken tractor but M is designing & soon building an A frame tractor..which looks sweeeeeet..
btw...they layed 2 eggs already!
Photo by M~
Once I got the 'girls' settled into their home. Operation: Tidy Barn. I didnt tackle all that needed tackling but I started. I loved on some goats, checked on some kids, and took all the feed buckets out of the pens/stalls (preparing for dinner). S rolled up on her way back to the office. We chit chatted a/b so many things mainly sustainable stuff :) I am so excited a/b the future w/ the farm. :) I'm ready to see the gardens flourishing the fruit trees blossoming, and the berry bushes abundant w/ fruit! Any who, let me wake up from my dream...I then checked out some old windows that M's dad, Mr. M collected. 'Ding' light bulb! ~DIY Cold Frames. (Awesome) S also told me I can use this trough/manger to plant stuff in which is going to be 'cute' ;) One day when we arent 'Knee Deep In' we can go exploring to see what 'hidden treasure' we can find in the woods. (Back to the program) I put some hay in the 'milkers' stall...Dinner time! The feed wagon's (how we haul the feed) axel snapped off ;/ UgH. I tried for 20 minutes to fix it...Mr. M rolls up as I'm dragging the wagon into the barn. fail. He pulled it the rest of the way in for me. Fed everyone. Almost got knocked down feeding the milkers..first bruise of the internship..and yes I only took one bucket at a time. Ring, Ring, Ring Hubby calling and it's time for me to go. Mr. M was busy trying to fix the barn bathroom for me and M was hauling in hay. I had a blast today bonding w/ the goats and the farm. I'm 'Knee Deep In' love :)
btw...they layed 2 eggs already!
Photo by M~
Once I got the 'girls' settled into their home. Operation: Tidy Barn. I didnt tackle all that needed tackling but I started. I loved on some goats, checked on some kids, and took all the feed buckets out of the pens/stalls (preparing for dinner). S rolled up on her way back to the office. We chit chatted a/b so many things mainly sustainable stuff :) I am so excited a/b the future w/ the farm. :) I'm ready to see the gardens flourishing the fruit trees blossoming, and the berry bushes abundant w/ fruit! Any who, let me wake up from my dream...I then checked out some old windows that M's dad, Mr. M collected. 'Ding' light bulb! ~DIY Cold Frames. (Awesome) S also told me I can use this trough/manger to plant stuff in which is going to be 'cute' ;) One day when we arent 'Knee Deep In' we can go exploring to see what 'hidden treasure' we can find in the woods. (Back to the program) I put some hay in the 'milkers' stall...Dinner time! The feed wagon's (how we haul the feed) axel snapped off ;/ UgH. I tried for 20 minutes to fix it...Mr. M rolls up as I'm dragging the wagon into the barn. fail. He pulled it the rest of the way in for me. Fed everyone. Almost got knocked down feeding the milkers..first bruise of the internship..and yes I only took one bucket at a time. Ring, Ring, Ring Hubby calling and it's time for me to go. Mr. M was busy trying to fix the barn bathroom for me and M was hauling in hay. I had a blast today bonding w/ the goats and the farm. I'm 'Knee Deep In' love :)
Monday, January 17, 2011
Ideas and garden/farm ramblings...
Here is the blue print for our first keyhole garden.
I shared w/ you what keyhole gardening was right? I'm sure I did in my last post.
I was researching companion plants for blackberries and I found tansy (IDK what that is) and garlic (which we will have more use for sooooo...that is the pick to grow w/ the blackberries).
Yesterday we moved the chicken tractor out to the farm. That was interesting. We had to turn it side ways (b/c it is huge) and I had to ride w/ it in the back of the truck (it was top heavy)..btw it was pretty chilly riding back there..but over all moving it wasnt hard. The poor thing needs some TLC before we get our BUCKEYES :) (a heritage breed chicken whos existence is critical..we are preserving a breed)!
At my house we are preparing for our garden which is in the old dog pen (empty for 1 1/2 years). We salvaged at least 200 ft. of usable fence to make tomato cages with. Talk a/b sustainable! Plus, some wood..that will most likely be used for chicken perches when we build on to the chicken tractor.
I'm done rambling :) until next time..I'm Knee Deep In...
I shared w/ you what keyhole gardening was right? I'm sure I did in my last post.
I was researching companion plants for blackberries and I found tansy (IDK what that is) and garlic (which we will have more use for sooooo...that is the pick to grow w/ the blackberries).
Yesterday we moved the chicken tractor out to the farm. That was interesting. We had to turn it side ways (b/c it is huge) and I had to ride w/ it in the back of the truck (it was top heavy)..btw it was pretty chilly riding back there..but over all moving it wasnt hard. The poor thing needs some TLC before we get our BUCKEYES :) (a heritage breed chicken whos existence is critical..we are preserving a breed)!
At my house we are preparing for our garden which is in the old dog pen (empty for 1 1/2 years). We salvaged at least 200 ft. of usable fence to make tomato cages with. Talk a/b sustainable! Plus, some wood..that will most likely be used for chicken perches when we build on to the chicken tractor.
I'm done rambling :) until next time..I'm Knee Deep In...
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Sustainable Garden Progress Report
I have locked down some compost worthy resources :)
Thanks Starbucks for giving me your used coffee grounds and cardboard boxes! I also, have a pretty steady supply of newspaper.
Today I weeded 2 1/2 out of 4 raised beds at the farm! I found some surprises: Blackberry w/ shoots, blueberry bush, a bunch of peppermint, spearmint, rosemary and lavender bush! I'd say I hit the jack pot. The soil was beautiful btw :)
I couldnt decide where to put the compost heap/bin or the future keyhole garden bed, but great minds think alike..S and I had the same idea..so I'm going w/ it! My first garden addition will be a 25 x 25 ft. keyhole garden bed done w/ the 'lasagna gardening method'. The soil is a tad bit sandy but not as bad as I was thinking.. thats why 'lasagna gardening method' is IT!
Tomorrow I will share some photos :)
Chicken tractor is moving to its new home tomorrow..the farm..for our future flock of heritage breed chickens. I'm also taking my compost to the farm to help get the new compost going.
Goodnight..'Knee Deep In...DREAMS! Holla <3
Thanks Starbucks for giving me your used coffee grounds and cardboard boxes! I also, have a pretty steady supply of newspaper.
Today I weeded 2 1/2 out of 4 raised beds at the farm! I found some surprises: Blackberry w/ shoots, blueberry bush, a bunch of peppermint, spearmint, rosemary and lavender bush! I'd say I hit the jack pot. The soil was beautiful btw :)
I couldnt decide where to put the compost heap/bin or the future keyhole garden bed, but great minds think alike..S and I had the same idea..so I'm going w/ it! My first garden addition will be a 25 x 25 ft. keyhole garden bed done w/ the 'lasagna gardening method'. The soil is a tad bit sandy but not as bad as I was thinking.. thats why 'lasagna gardening method' is IT!
Tomorrow I will share some photos :)
Chicken tractor is moving to its new home tomorrow..the farm..for our future flock of heritage breed chickens. I'm also taking my compost to the farm to help get the new compost going.
Goodnight..'Knee Deep In...DREAMS! Holla <3
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Day 2
2 posts in 1 day~ Say wha?!
Just getting it all out before I forget pieces of valuable info :)
I arrived at 6:45ish...I beat S there! YES!!!! That was my main objective to beat her to the barn so I could start feeding the goats. I like to figure things out for myself..like..what does the 'red switch' do? I was expecting to blow the place up but to my surprise it just turned on the middle lights. When I opened the gates of course there they were the 'escape goats' (literally). I was confused on what I should do.. try to catch them or go about my way. I went a/b my way (they all ended up where they needed to be). I decided to feed the goats their hay first. I used the left over hay from last night first...then...(I had to give myself a pep talk the whole way in..'have no fear, have no fear, have no fear') to get more hay out of the tractor trailer (18 wheeler trailer/storage)..it wasnt bad and I didnt die doing it! (No boogie monsters) I was proud! I chunked that bale out the door like a pro then chunked myself. Loaded the hay on the hay dolly majigger (thing). The next 15 minutes was spent looking for a sharp object. Got it! Did my thing..stuffed mostly all of the bins (forgot some but S took care of them for me). I lifted a whole bale (square) over my head into one of the end pen's hay feeder majigger (thing) scientific name unknown at this point. AS I was feeding the hay S rolled up. Long story short I 'think' I did well for my first feeding. I had a brain fart a few times but they passed. :) I then hung out w/ S in the milking parlor..we talked 'teets' and I applied the glycerin & iodine solution to a few 'teets'. I loved the fact that most of the goats knew what to do. After milking it was time to clean & sanitize the equipment. We chit chatted a/b markets and business stuff..let time slip away..10:00 pm I gotta go! Grab my wool coat, goat book, and I was gone w/ the wind! See ya next time until then I'm 'Knee Deep In...'
Notes: gloves rock, wool socks are a must in the winter time, goats trip me out.
Names I put a face with today: Smiley, Jose, and Isabella.
P.S~ I learned tons.
Just getting it all out before I forget pieces of valuable info :)
I arrived at 6:45ish...I beat S there! YES!!!! That was my main objective to beat her to the barn so I could start feeding the goats. I like to figure things out for myself..like..what does the 'red switch' do? I was expecting to blow the place up but to my surprise it just turned on the middle lights. When I opened the gates of course there they were the 'escape goats' (literally). I was confused on what I should do.. try to catch them or go about my way. I went a/b my way (they all ended up where they needed to be). I decided to feed the goats their hay first. I used the left over hay from last night first...then...(I had to give myself a pep talk the whole way in..'have no fear, have no fear, have no fear') to get more hay out of the tractor trailer (18 wheeler trailer/storage)..it wasnt bad and I didnt die doing it! (No boogie monsters) I was proud! I chunked that bale out the door like a pro then chunked myself. Loaded the hay on the hay dolly majigger (thing). The next 15 minutes was spent looking for a sharp object. Got it! Did my thing..stuffed mostly all of the bins (forgot some but S took care of them for me). I lifted a whole bale (square) over my head into one of the end pen's hay feeder majigger (thing) scientific name unknown at this point. AS I was feeding the hay S rolled up. Long story short I 'think' I did well for my first feeding. I had a brain fart a few times but they passed. :) I then hung out w/ S in the milking parlor..we talked 'teets' and I applied the glycerin & iodine solution to a few 'teets'. I loved the fact that most of the goats knew what to do. After milking it was time to clean & sanitize the equipment. We chit chatted a/b markets and business stuff..let time slip away..10:00 pm I gotta go! Grab my wool coat, goat book, and I was gone w/ the wind! See ya next time until then I'm 'Knee Deep In...'
Notes: gloves rock, wool socks are a must in the winter time, goats trip me out.
Names I put a face with today: Smiley, Jose, and Isabella.
P.S~ I learned tons.
Day 1 of Dairy Goat Farm Internship.
I am doing this blog mainly for reference...but if you find it amusing please feel free to follow me!
Topics talked a/b:
~feeding (where everything is located)
*it is easier to feed if you take all the buckets out first
*hay is in eighteen wheeler trailer/ storage
*1 flake of hay per hay bin (which is in each pen) 2 outside end pens get a whole square bale.
*'cookie crumble' recipe (3 cups fat stuff, 2 cups of the other 3 buckets)
*only milking goats get the crumbles, will cause edema in dry goats
*custom feed 1/2 scoop per goat + 1/2 if they are growing or working. ex: 3 goats = 1 1/2 scoops (all goats get this)
*once the feed bowls are set you have to wait for a free space and drop it in! Viola! Dinner served!
~kidding/birth of a baby goat/kid
*if cord breaks kid needs to come out quick due to inhalation of fluid
*kids come out 'superman style'
*shoulders can be the hardest to get out
*if a stillborn kid is first to come out complications can arise b/c they don't produce the hormones a live kid would which could cause labor to stall or not come
*once the sac breaks kids must come out
*C-sections make a goat useless :(
*to be continued
~future garden plans (for me)
*chickens; we are moving our chicken tractors out to the farm this weekend b/c Ms. Chicken is getting some friends
*saw my garden area (well what the headlights could show)
*discussed compost/ goat poop mountain
*discussed grants
*possibly doing cut flowers
*more will come after Saturday when it is day light
~brutality of farm life (sometimes you have to make business judgements)
*sometimes animals have to be put out of their misery :( end of story.
~Tags
*LE (left ear- not as you are looking but as you are the animal) the farm they were born on ID ex: Lone Palmetto Farm could be LPF
*RE (right ear- ^^^) Letter provided for you (dont quote me) number given to the animal by the farm.
*2011 letter is A... and how our farm does the number is based on the number of kids born stillborn or alive. ex: A (year) 18 (# of kids born this year)
~Goat Names
*It will take time for me to learn them all but I remember 3 as of right now Charm, Nicole, and Peek A Boo. I remember the names but placing it w/ a face..I'm not there yet..
I shadowed... mostly got in the way but they said they expect that so I'm okay w/ that. I'm so eager to get the feeding down, they (S & M) really need a break every now and then. Plus, it will allow S&M to catch up on other barn chores that need to be done. I'm also eager to start building the soil up in my garden area! Oh snap diggity...I can't wait! Tonight my goal is to feed the goats by myself. I may need a little guidance but I dreamed a/b feeding the goats all night..process just kept repeating..we'll see ;) See ya tomorrow until then I'm 'Knee Deep In'.
Topics talked a/b:
~feeding (where everything is located)
*it is easier to feed if you take all the buckets out first
*hay is in eighteen wheeler trailer/ storage
*1 flake of hay per hay bin (which is in each pen) 2 outside end pens get a whole square bale.
*'cookie crumble' recipe (3 cups fat stuff, 2 cups of the other 3 buckets)
*only milking goats get the crumbles, will cause edema in dry goats
*custom feed 1/2 scoop per goat + 1/2 if they are growing or working. ex: 3 goats = 1 1/2 scoops (all goats get this)
*once the feed bowls are set you have to wait for a free space and drop it in! Viola! Dinner served!
~kidding/birth of a baby goat/kid
*if cord breaks kid needs to come out quick due to inhalation of fluid
*kids come out 'superman style'
*shoulders can be the hardest to get out
*if a stillborn kid is first to come out complications can arise b/c they don't produce the hormones a live kid would which could cause labor to stall or not come
*once the sac breaks kids must come out
*C-sections make a goat useless :(
*to be continued
~future garden plans (for me)
*chickens; we are moving our chicken tractors out to the farm this weekend b/c Ms. Chicken is getting some friends
*saw my garden area (well what the headlights could show)
*discussed compost/ goat poop mountain
*discussed grants
*possibly doing cut flowers
*more will come after Saturday when it is day light
~brutality of farm life (sometimes you have to make business judgements)
*sometimes animals have to be put out of their misery :( end of story.
~Tags
*LE (left ear- not as you are looking but as you are the animal) the farm they were born on ID ex: Lone Palmetto Farm could be LPF
*RE (right ear- ^^^) Letter provided for you (dont quote me) number given to the animal by the farm.
*2011 letter is A... and how our farm does the number is based on the number of kids born stillborn or alive. ex: A (year) 18 (# of kids born this year)
~Goat Names
*It will take time for me to learn them all but I remember 3 as of right now Charm, Nicole, and Peek A Boo. I remember the names but placing it w/ a face..I'm not there yet..
I shadowed... mostly got in the way but they said they expect that so I'm okay w/ that. I'm so eager to get the feeding down, they (S & M) really need a break every now and then. Plus, it will allow S&M to catch up on other barn chores that need to be done. I'm also eager to start building the soil up in my garden area! Oh snap diggity...I can't wait! Tonight my goal is to feed the goats by myself. I may need a little guidance but I dreamed a/b feeding the goats all night..process just kept repeating..we'll see ;) See ya tomorrow until then I'm 'Knee Deep In'.
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