raising food
Chickens as fabulous garden cultivators for the fall
The birds always get giddy when let into the full greenery of the fall garden. They immediately go for the mulch only to be distracted by the marigolds or the immature tomatillos. The rooster is convinced we have set him…
Butchering homegrown pork: Our pigs fill the freezer for the coming year’s meals
The first meal from our newly butchered pork was fabulous! Everything was homegrown from the pork chops themselves (sweet and tender) to the saute of yellow crook neck and zucchini, sweet red pepper, and snap pea, to the steamed…
Fabulous Homemade Tomato Concentrate inspired by Francis Lam’s blog Gilt Taste
I stopped buying and using those little tins of tomato ‘paste’ many years ago. There was that bitter metal edge to the flavor no matter the brand and it indeed had the texture of library paste. And then there were…
Piglets, Chicks, and Garden
I’m enjoying every minute of my retirement! I still get up at the same time but it is so great not to have to go somewhere! In my jammies I take my coffee out in the yard, stroll around, check…
The 50 new Buff Orpington chicks arrived this morning from the hatchery!
I love the arrival of the new chicks. We get the early morning call from our local post office “we have a box of chicks for you!” I check that the brooder space is ready; feeders full, waterer full, heat…
Despite the storms our garden and animals are sprouting and growing and laying
The stormy events of the past several days have made the dog crazy! Especially the lightning! But the hens, the pigs and the garden seem to just continue doing what they do best; grow and lay eggs! But…