There are days my mind wonders to past days. As winter fades and the beauty of spring appears, amidst rainy days, I find myself craving a road trip. I might even be planning one depending on the year. Either way, along with my desire to travel my mind drifts to past trips and memories. I have been to a few areas enough that they are beginning to feel like my second home.
Nestled back on a mountainside only 3 miles from the east
entrance of the Yellowstone National Park, Shoshone Guest Lodge welcomes anyone
wanting to feel close to the rugged terraine and wildlife. One of my nieces who at the time did not own
a horse, informed over the phone that when I came to visit we were going to go
on a trail ride at this lodge. This was how I came to visit the lodge one
Sunday afternoon in August of 2017.
The main building provided meals to guests and anyone else who made reservations. My favorite part was the porch. Several chairs gave a beautiful view of neighboring mountains and if you sat in the right spot you did not even see the road, only the campfire pit across the way and cabins that can be rented.
Always one to explore I soon went found my self inside checking out the interior. The dinning area and reception desk sat a level lower than the entertainment room.
Speaking of entertainment, my eye caught sight of a guitar
and what was that? A fiddle! I had not been playing mine much for reasons I do
not recall. I wonder if I would be allowed to play it? I was terribly rusty, but how fun would it be
to play a fiddle on the porch of this log lodge in the mountains of Wyoming? Turns out my sister knew the lodge owners and
the fiddle belonged to her.
After shooting a few pictures on the porch, we were informed it was time to ride. Read all about the ride we took in the blog post dedicated to that experience titled: A Guided Trail Ride.
Returning from the grand adventure, my niece had fulfilled
her dream, I carried the beauty of my first mountain ride, and even my Dad
seemed happy with the experience. On a
mission now to meet the wife of our trail guide, I found her at the reception
desk. I learned we shared a common like
for music, specifically fiddle playing, and writing, specifically
blogging. Instantly we found
conversation abounded. My sister shared
the beauty of mother hood with our new acquaintance as their daughters enjoyed
playing together.
We had a grand time getting to know Lydia and learned that her and her husband had a couple businesses back home in their home state of Arkansas. I recall the joy I felt learning this lovely young lady enjoyed blogging. At the time I had just started this website and it was fun to encounter another blogger. Her blog is titled: Letters and Lyrics
The longing to play that fiddle was still flirtling around in the back of my mind. I had to ask. Yes, I was assured I was welcome to play the fiddle. A bit of tuning, and many minutes practicing, still rusty, I managed to play a tune rooted in my family history. “I see the Moon” The lyrics are posted to go with the video of my playing on the porch of Shoshone Guest Lodge.
I see the moon, The moon sees me, Down through the boughs of the old oak tree, Please let the moon that shines on me, Shine on the one I love.
Over the mountain, Over the sea, That’s where my heart is longing to be Please let the moon that shines on me, Shine on the one I love.
We needed to leave before the camp fire that night for the
next morning I was headed back to Indiana after being gone for over 4
weeks. I may return one day to embark on
a longer adventure such as the pack trip that encompasses at least one night of
sleeping under the stars.
I remember as a child a long row or two of raspberries in my Grandpa’s garden. If I remember correctly, he had black and red raspberries. I recall how the row had T-posts at each end and along the strip every so often. In between there was string tided at two levels to support the shoots and keep them from falling over. I do not recall being a big fan of the fruit eat fresh, but I always enjoyed the black raspberry jelly made and canned by my Grandma. I remember eating that yummy jelly with butter on bread.
As I have slowed down the last couple years and given attention to what is happening on this 11 acres, I discovered black raspberries growing freely. I enjoyed a bowl of fresh fruit a few seasons. In the fall of 2017 my Dad helped me transplant 7-9 plants that were growing along the house. We may have removed half of what was growing there. The crazy thing to me is that I did not plant them. Actually that area had been more or less let go and the black raspberries had come up on their own. I had decided to plant my own little patch in the intended garden location. We dug up the sod, drove fence posts and planted the pruned black raspberries.
Do you want to learn how to prune your Black Raspberries? Get your FREE printable of How to Prune Black Raspberries today!
Fast forward to last summer, 2018. I had begun attending a local farmer’s market
in Bremen, Indiana. Giving thought to
what other items I had to sell at the market, I decided to begin picking the
black raspberries growing on the property. I knew they seemed to thrive along
the woods. I found two spots where the plants were abundant. One spot in
particular produced the largest, sweetest berries. The few plants my Dad and I had transplanted
a couple years past were only a drop in the bucket compared to all the plants available
to pick from last summer.
Before
After
I did in fact take some berries to market to sell. I spent a
bit of time sharing the company of my parents as we picked one afternoon and
enjoyed sending them home with the bounty.
I even froze a few small containers of them to savor at a later date. They proved to be a delicious treat in the heat
of August, pulling out whole frozen black raspberries to cool down on a hot,
humid day. I stretched out eating of the
last container of them well into January.
As you can see, over the last year black raspberries have
made a delightful impression on me. I
observed where the larges berries developed.
I remembered hearing my grandfather speaking of pruning black
raspberries. I researched information as
to how exactly this pruning is to be conducted. I learned that pruning black
raspberries takes place in March and April.
As side note: Black Raspberries and Red Raspberries are pruned differently. Red Raspberries can produce 2 times a year
based on how they are cared for. These
past couple weeks I begin the process of pruning Black Raspberries here on CG Heartbeats
Farm.
The plants located in various places around the property had been growing unattended for a few years. Even the ones I had transplanted received no pruning after transplant. The info I found on pruning raspberries seemed to assume the plants had been pruned previously or at least where for a younger stage in the plant’s life.
A black raspberry plant grows at its tips and grows ‘branches’ as these extend, they fall back down to the ground. They will grow roots where they hit the ground. A wonderful creation of continued life. I am conducting a bit of a trial to see how this works going forward.
Do you see the dead cane or stalk on the left?
In this picture the dead cane has been removed at the base.
I trimmed the canes and removed dead ones. A black raspberry cane lives only 2
years. I am experimenting as I said. I
left the shoots that had fallen to the ground and grew roots. I am hoping these
will form new plants to be transplanted this fall.
I am looking forward to picking black raspberries, having fresh fruit and taking their bounty to the farmers market. But I might be even more excited to eat frozen ones in the heat of summer. I was dreaming of eating delicious black raspberries, along with memories of days gone by, I pruned black raspberries.
Do you want to learn how to prune your Black Raspberries? Get your FREE printable of How to Prune Black Raspberries today!
If you have been following this blog over the past few months, I shared that I had attended 2 different indoor farmer’s markets local to my area. I wrote about the Culver Farmer’s Market and the Indoor Holiday Market in Bremen, Indiana. On March 30, 2019, I attended a third, new to me, indoor farmer’s market, the Kosciusko County Farmer’s and Artisan’s Market. I had wanted to attend in February, but I did not make it happen. This market has existed for 40 years.
CG Heartbeats Farm’s vendor table
The morning dawned crisp with a colorful sunrise. The air was sharp, but fresh. I arrived and found a friend Julie, who was there with her succulent and fresh flower business, Blooms on 800. She, not only, showed me where to get the provided table, but helped me set it up. The room was large. After setting out the wreaths, birdhouses, and signs, I took a look around at some of the other offerings.
Are you interested in making a shift toward living a sustainable, homestead lifestyle no matter where you reside? Get your FREE list 10 Ways to Start Homesteading Today.Several of these ideas can be done with out spending a penny.
Take a closer look for your self by viewing this short video
showing many of the options to purchase that day.
I chatted with a woman who, along with her husband sells pasteurized goat milk. It was most interesting conversation as I grew up drinking raw goat milk until I was around 11 years old. It is good to hear others stories. I made it back to my table and began painting.
Two of the ‘new’ wren houses I will be painting. They will be covered with protective coating so they can actually be used outside!
I had brought a couple of the new actual bird houses that are for real wrens to use. They are super cute and as I write I am feeling excited for the ways I can paint on them. I will then coat them with a clear protectant to allow them to stay ‘pretty’ when used outside and exposed to the weather.
I played around with black and white to come up with this roof color. I have really enjoyed mixing colors for the unique individual results I end up with.
On that day I choose to paint a decorative bird house with a
similar picture I had done at the last Culver Market (Culver, Indiana). The final product pictured below.
Another vendor approached me with a request for a custom
order. A painted bird house that would have the ability to hold business cards
on their vendor table. The conversation provided interesting information about producing
corn and other non-GMO vegetables while not cross pollinating with area crops. I
look forward to working with that family to fill their request. One of my favorite parts of the market was
the young ladies who hung out with me to watch me paint. I believe in the importance of investing in
future generations. I want to plant
seeds of inspiration even when I may never see the full development and effect.
As the market wrapped up for the day, I took a spin of the
wheel at the Kosciusko County Master Gardeners Association. It landed on the question: What is the state
tree of Indiana? I was happy to see a
multiple-choice answer. White Ash, Tulip
Tree or White Oak were my choices. I
choose Tulip Tree and won a pack of carrot seeds. Yeah!!!!
I like seeds! You never know what
fun you will find at a farmer’s market.
This indoor winter market was held in Warsaw, Indiana every
third Saturday of the month. I happened
to attend the last one, but they have a great (so I have been told) summer
market that is held on an actual street.
I like that. It has an old world
feel to it. Do you agree? Check out the summer market details below.
Location: Downtown Warsaw, Indiana between Buffalo and Lake Streets
Date: Every Saturday beginning May 4, 2019 through October 26, 2019 rain or shine
Time: 9 am to 1 pm
Cost: $0 to attend
Farmer’s Markets provide a place to connect with those who
produce your food in a local area. Some even provide live music which is my
icing on the cake. May I challenge you to look for markets local to your area
and support the local economy? Who knows?
You make new friends, find a healthier way to eat, enjoy good music and teach
the younger generation by example.
I recently sat down and came up with a list of projects to
do on the homestead for the next 3 months.
Truth be told there are probably a few more I would like to get
started. In fact, I intend to add to
this list as I write. I often feel that
I my lists look impossible to finish. Do you?
I remind myself that is no reason to give up. All that I do accomplish will be steps ahead
of what I had done before.
Prepare area for container gardens
One area of the homestead that grabbed my attention was
where an older part of the chicken barn once stood. It was torn down shortly after we purchased
this property and the remaining barn roof repaired and shingled. The cement flooring remained. While it has cracked and shifted over the
last few years, it is still cement covering the ground. Inspiration hit on one of my walks around the
property and I decided to clean this area up and turn it into several container
gardens. More on the project in a coming
post when the project is completed. For
now, it is one of my main projects in the coming 2 to 3 months.
That looks like a lot of work to me, to be honest. I have a vision for what I want in this area. Vision + hard work = dream come true and goal accomplished!
Prune Raspberries
Black raspberries abound on our 11 + acres. A couple years ago my Dad and I transplanted
them to an actual row in what I want to be a garden. However, I since learned this may not be the
best spot for them so I am going to work with them in their current locations
around the farm. Non the less I am going
to prune them and make them a bit easier to get to. That is the goal for this year for the black
raspberries. Look for a coming post on
the process.
I am excited to prune these in the near future along with other patches on CG Heartbeats Farm.
Decide where 2019 Garlic will be planted
I have planted garlic the last 3 years. Every year I have increased the amount planted. I am considering converting a section of the yard into an additional garlic plot.
Move portable chicken pens
I have 3 portable chicken pens made up of dog kennel panels
and netting. These serve as a great way
to work up the sod and convert land to a garden.
In the bottom right of this picture you can see where one of the garlic patches are for this year. Last year (2018) this 5 ft. x 5 ft. area was a chicken pen. The chickens did a great job of removing the soil and fertilizing.
Research Tiller
I have a strong desire to own a tiller for working the ground
up in my gardens. I might settle for one
of those old time push one. You know the
ones with 3 speared tips, a wheel in the front, and two handles from which to
push from. I used one of those as a kid
growing up in our garden at home. I
remember wishing to be stronger. The adults
made it look so easy!! I know it would
make my job much easier to have a tiller with its own motor (instead of mine). Thus,
one of my goals for the next 3 months is to have my own tiller preferable with a
motor.
Purchase Additional Silver Gray Dorking
I have added a few different lines (birds from different
farms) to the Swedish Flower Hen pens. I
want to focus on Silver Gray Dorkings this year, adding to them from another
farm.
Decide what will be planted where chicken pens were
The chickens that have been outside in pens killed off most
of the sod. In the next month I am going
to move those pens and use that ground to plant vegetables for the coming
season. I need to decide what I am going
to plant there. I am still tossing ideas
around. Maybe I will plant cherry
tomatoes, maybe watermelons and cantaloupe, or perhaps some of the fun little
decorative squashes.
Ground Plowed
A neighbor is willing to come plow up some ground as
well. Using the chickens only to prep ground
for planting is taking longer than I would like. That is a given of course. But the chickens do a great job in smaller
areas. I need to decide where a larger
plot of garlic will go, and space for other vegetables I would like to eat fresh.
Woods harvested
The woods have several trees large enough to harvest. Now it is a matter of getting the best price
for them.
Clean up area East of Chicken Barns
I have decided to “move” the manure pile. I am not going to move what I have, but
rather start dumping in another area. As
we were cleaning up some brush around there a few weeks ago, I realized it
would not take much more work to completely turn that area into a part of the
lawn. Eventually the pile will break down enough to provide excellent fertile
soil for growing in buckets and pots or filling container gardens. Down the road a year or two or three this
spot may prove to be useful for other homestead purposes.
I have a vision for this spot too. More work followed by maintenance.
Move wood chips to garlic
I planted about 4 times more garlic this year in comparison to last year (2017 to 2018 for 2018 harvest and 2019 harvest). This means 4 times more ground to cover with wood chips. I covered all with chaff last fall, but I have not covered it all with wood chips. I have more available as winter is coming to a close, but I will need to be careful when adding it now. The garlic is already starting to poke through.
Additional projects
As I was writing this post, I realized there are more projects that could use my attention in the coming 3 months. I will notice more. I always do, but here are the ones I am adding to the list. Some of these I rely on the help of others. But effort will be made to get these done
A homestead lifestyle can be created by almost anyone. Those with a small lot in town can produce some of their own food. With today’s technology grow lights even provide a way for people to grow food inside of their houses. Some towns allow hens for producing one’s own eggs. Even if that is not allowed one does not have too look far to find a local farmers market where often farm fresh eggs are available. A drive in the country may reveal signs posted, ‘farm fresh eggs’. There are co-ops to join from which you may purchase farm raised food from both plants and animals. How can you make little shifts in your lifestyle to create more of homestead life style? How have I?
How can I use what I have to produce my own food? This question has been bouncing around in my
head for several years. Not always about
producing my own food, but always about using what I have. CG Heartbeats Farm is made up of 11.7 acers.
The last week of February 2019 I started a new practice of walking around the property to observe and gain a new perspective. The walks are most enjoyable. I have found them a nice break from getting things done. I allow my mind to wonder and give my imagination wings. I pick a certain area to walk. I have yet to walk it entirely at one time. One day I may get an idea about one area and other days I simply take mental note of what I see. There are several subjects I pay attention to as I walk. Water, air flow, wild life, trees, are observed for future or present potential. Not only do I think about current use of land and use of current buildings, but sometimes give thought to how they could be used in better ways. As I walk, I ask myself is this pasture best located here, or would this ground be better for growing vegetables. I also get ideas for projects I want to do immediately and in the future.
Water
How the water runs, low spots, where it looks like a creek
used to be, where water collects after heavy rainfall, how fast does it drain
off,
Air Flow
Our climate is not extremely windy most days. We get occasional winds of 50+ mph, but not that strong. I have noticed where the wind seems to tunnel between buildings where the trees block wind from a certain direction and other spots with block, trees or buildings to influence it.
Trees
Almost half of the acreage is currently woods. While I enjoy walking in the woods in different
seasons, I question if there might not be a benefit of scaling it back along the
edges. Unfortunately, a few years back
the Ash bore came through destroying all the Ash trees. A couple must have been getting close to 100
years old.
I am always on the lookout for fallen trees. Several years ago, as I was driving down the road,
I could see the topline of the woods looked different. This prompted me to go look for fallen
trees. Sure enough, one or more had
fallen in that area. It is good to know
your property no matter how large or small. Trees provide a break in the wind to help
prevent soil erosion and give shelter to animals. I like where the trees break up the property
into sections. I think it gives character
to the homestead. Where are trees growing that could be harvested and that
space would be used for a better purpose.
What do I mean by better? I
consider income, sustainability and producing plants or housing animals.
Land
As I have been walking around, I have been looking for flat
spots to plant garlic and other edible plants. I realized that many areas are
not as flat as I would have thought. In
fact, most of this ground has some kind of slope. Length of slope and how far it falls over
that distance determines how steep a slope actually is. I have not taken any measurements at this
time, rather noted the areas that are flat enough to plant in. I have thought a terrace might be in order
where the ground is not as flat. I am
looking at how a given area is used now. How can it be used for a better
purpose?
Wildlife
Not only do I enjoy seeing signs of wildlife, it also keeps
me aware of potential predators. I already
know many of the animals that spend time in the woods. The most common are dear,
turkeys, racoons, ‘opossum, squirrels, chip monks, and ground hogs.
Buildings
There are buildings that need work and others that are
newer. I like all things old including
old barns. I long to fix up one that needs some TLC. From a practical standpoint, I let my imagination
come up with what kind of barn would prove useful. I have an idea for chicken coops that has
only manifested in my own mind.
Soil
Top soil and sub soil influence how well an area of land drains. Some plants need a well-drained soil while others need greater moister retained in the ground. In the past while digging fence post holes I have observed areas of this property that has a sandy subsoil and other areas that has a clay subsoil. This is another place I am giving consideration to the best places to plant specific plants.
Projects
I have come up new ideas for changes I want to make. One of them was to clean up an old cement pad. I have plans to use cement blocks I already have to create some container gardens in this location.
Going Forward
This process is a journey.
Not all of the changes I want to see happen with happen this month or
this year. I have a clearer picture of
what this land can do. I expect I will
have new ideas and plans while some current plans will turn into better ones. I plan to continue walking the property
several times a week. I find it relaxing.
In addition, I am provided with an over view of what is going on. I have come across
assets I forgot I had. Seeing them may
spark an idea for a project or a new way to use what I have.
This is a guest post by Maria from Paradise in Disguise Hobby Farm about how she came up with her own chicken breed for her homestead. Her breed is not official in any books, but rather this is the story of a lady breeding for traits that are important to her. Read one way she has made homesteading her own. Be sure to check her bio at the end of this post.
I met Maria of Country Girl Heart Beats Farm on Instagram due to a #catskillhomesteaderchickens hashtag that I use to tag photos of the “landrace type” chickens I’ve been breeding for over 5 years. A conversation started and she invited me to write on her blog about my chickens.
This journey to create a landrace started in 2012 with a broody Easter Egger hen named Daisy and a nest of eggs. One of the resulting chicks grew up to be a handsome rooster I named Michael Jessie. I had wanted to try breeding my own red & black sexlinks with pea or rose combs for our cold winters in Upstate New York, but Michael Jessie and his father, a Blue Andalusian, changed those “plans”.
Michael Jessie
I realized that while I loved trying all different breeds, each one had pros/cons. And it seemed like the plain looking ones laid the best and the prettiest ones were slackers in the egg department. Through trial and error, plus “research” on Back Yard Chickens forum, I learned the basics of breeding, even though much information was pertaining to pure breeds.
In 2013, I purchased a Genesis 1588 incubator, more broody hens hatched chicks & I quickly become hooked on incubating eggs! “Chicken math” became a reality as my chicken population doubled during that summer, though many were roosters which ended up in our freezer.
It wasn’t until the spring 2014 that I began to formulate goals for breeding. Eye appeal was at the top of the list, along with good egg and meat production. Not only did I want colorful chickens, but colorful eggs too! It was also important that they be excellent foragers and not just stand by the feeder all day or constantly preening to look perfect. The other goal was the produce winter hardy chickens that didn’t need heat, weren’t afraid to go outside in the snow and continued laying through winter (except for when molting). I wanted hardy, independent chickens that didn’t need to be “pampered”, but were self-sufficient, adapting to their environment and reproducing on their own, hatching and raising offspring like they were created to do. Basically, I wanted to create the “perfect chicken” or at least what I considered to be “perfect”! Things like uniform feather color, leg color, comb type, body type, consistent egg color, clean or feathered shanks – they weren’t a factor. Thus, Catskill Homesteaders could never be a recognized “breed”.
One important lesson I learned in 2013 was I had a handsome Golden Laced Wyandotte rooster, who was a “runt” as a chick, very slow to feather, but was a favorite because he was very docile and handsome. Unfortunately, his offspring either had a deformity, were also runts or failed to thrive before maturity. There was only one pullet that I kept for breeding, though I wouldn’t have if I knew what I know now. Lesson learned: only breed the very best, even if they’re a favorite!
Breeding Group # 2
At that time, I also had several Red Sex Link hens which I hatched from, thinking it’d give me great layers. However, every hen crossed with the RSL ended up having reproductive issues, so they were eventually eliminated from the breeding stock.
Breeding group #1
David, rooster of group #1. His father was a Freedom Ranger Rooster
I also experimented with some Freedom Ranger (slower growing meat hybrids) that were raised by Daisy the broody hen and were very active despite their large size. The 3 FRs (1 too, 2 hens) were crossed with other breeds. I got several generations of crosses from their offspring, though their influence in the present stock is very minimal. But again health issues presented themselves due to them not being bred for longevity. The FR rooster began to have trouble walking around 7 months old and was culled & the two hens died of what I think was CHF/ fluid around the heart. The FR rooster’s son also developed leg issues but not until well past a year old. The FRx hens lived several years before being rehomed & didn’t have any issues I was aware of. One of the great-great-granddaughters of the FRs did become an internal layer/ very fatty after she was 18 months old. So while I considered those crosses a success, long-term the resulting Freedom Ranger offering tended to also inherit some of the shorter lifespan and reproductive issues common with “commercial production hybrids”.
My goal wasn’t to produce the best layers or best meat chickens, but ones that could lay eggs over a longer period of time even if not as frequently, while the extra roosters and spent hens would provide meat.
Swedish Flower Hens
Both Swedish Flower Hens and Icelandic chickens were part of my inspiration for breeding more of a landrace type vs standard breed. I loved all the individual variations within one flock. I had actually considered getting Icelandic chickens, but they didn’t meet two of my most important goals – colorful eggs and decent meat production. I had also found a lady in Arizona who was breeding “Aloha” chickens which I thought were so cool! But she was breeding them to withstand over 100 degrees in the summer, not the below zero temperatures in winter we can have. I even tried breeding pure Swedish Flower Hens and Bielefelders for a few years, thinking they’d be close enough to my goals to satisfy. But I ran into inbreeding issues due to purchasing stock that was unknowingly too closely related. Yet when I crossed them with unrelated chickens, their offspring had great vigor. Some of the other original breeds I originally used, now have little or no trace in the current flock. They included Rhode Island White, Partridge Rock, Partridge Chantecler and Dominique, with the later two being more instrumental in the original “foundation” stock.
Would I do thing differently if I had to do it over? Oh yes! The main thing is I wouldn’t use hatchery chickens, but purchase the foundation breeds from quality breeders. The only exception being Michael Jessie, as he sired chicks until 2017!
As the years progressed, I outcrossed to better quality, sometimes rare breeds, including Bielefelders, Barnevelders, Buckeye/Buff Orp/EE cross, Swedish Flower Hen and a few others. But, it does takes more work and time to breed for “better quality” than if I’d started with breeder quality chickens at the beginning.
The challenge now is having enough space for all the breeding groups I want to have!
Not only do I have stunningly handsome Catskill Homesteader roosters, but I also have out-cross roosters that I want to use. They include an Olive Egger (Marans/EE), Gold Spangled Spitzhauben, Crested Cream Legbar, Blue Wheaton Ameraucana and a Birchen Marans. Except for a few pure or 2-breed cross hens, the hens are multiple generations from the original chickens or even the previous out-crosses.
Am I pleased with the progress I’ve made in 6 years of “actively” breeding them? Yes. Of course there’s always room for improvement and fine tuning, but any breeder will say that.
But now, when people ask me what their characteristics are, I reply: Locally adapted, winter hardy, “eye candy” dual purpose chickens who are great foragers, lay a wide variety of colorful eggs and will often hatch and raise their own chicks. To me, that’s what a “perfect” chicken looks like!
About the Author:
Maria lives on 0.6 acres with her brother Joel in Delaware County, New York, where she breeds, hatches and raises Catskill Homesteader Chickens. During summer months she raises meat turkeys. She has a few quail and hopes to add more this year.
She juggles working two part-time jobs at the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society and Mandy’s Farm, which consists of yaks, pigs, sheep, donkeys, poultry & 2 barn cats.
She also has a food waste collection service @delhicommunitycompost, which she is in the process of making into a business. Mix in trying to maintain the house and batch cooking a week’s worth of meals on Tuesday evenings, boredom isn’t in her vocabulary
January was full of ideas and planning the year, as I wrote about in Winter 2019. I also gave thought when the idea of this homesteading journey was just that an idea. I commented on a post on FB recently how a few years ago I was foaling out mares and now I am hatching eggs. Hatching eggs is far easier to do on my own. I do sometimes miss the excitement of foaling mares; the tender nickers between mare and foal and all the anticipation, for mares have a much larger window to deliver a foal, as in weeks. A chick on the other hand has a few days in which it may hatch.
As I look around my farm, I am continuing to give thought to the best places for various plants I intend to grow. It is easy to look at it as the land is currently being used and work around that, but I need to be looking at it from the ground and below ground. Where does the soil drain best? Where is the soil retaining water? I need to overlook the fact that trees are growing in certain areas. I did not plant them there and in some cases no one did. That area was not mowed at one time and trees came up on their own. Are random trees really the best use of this homestead? Perhaps not.
I also need to research specific plants to know what will
grow best in certain soils. True, some I
already know and for those I need to decide a variety.
Attending the farmer’s markets last summer and this winter has given me insight as to what I intend to plant specifically due to customer requests, my own observations and the advice of fellow vendors. I also found a community to interact and share ideas with.
A Look Back at January
The added work of dealing with frozen water and the extra chores to ensure the animals are cared for in the bitter cold has been the first daily priority. After that and sometimes while doing chores, my mind continues to toss ideas around. The last half of January came with bitter cold temperatures. In order to care for the animals I found myself in and out all day. It is a season that can sometimes be enjoyed for the slowdown. Recently I was reminded of the importance to enjoy the winter beauty, in spite of the challenges cold weather presents. I enjoy planning and soon will be ordering seeds for the coming growing season. In only a week or two I will be planting seeds indoors.
My time spent on homesteading activities is divided between
planning, learning, caring for grape starts, incubating eggs, caring for
chicks, preparing eggs to sell both eating and hatching, caring for animals,
and working online. I like to take a few
moments to sit and cuddle a cat or watch cute little chicks scamper around in
the brooder. They grow up fast and in a week,
they will not be as tiny.
New for 2019
As I mentioned, I have spent time over the last month
tossing I ideas around in my head.
Adding more than subtracting from my plans for the year. I started a farm journal this year to keep
hatching notes and document other farm activities, extreme weather conditions
and plans. The idea came to me when I
learned that Thomas Jefferson kept such a journal that is available to read
today. Now I am not Mr. Jefferson, but I
may want to refer back to lessons I have learned. I do anticipate the notoriety he acquired, but
certainly no one will read my notes(including myself) if I do not write them
down. I have found it helps me to
remember when I write an idea or fact down.
It also gives me reference should I forget a detail. I share some of these pages from time to time
on Instagram and Facebook.
Another, new for 2019 aspect of the homestead is a Facebook group I recently started to share in more detail specific ways to help people get started on a homestead lifestyle. From time to time I will offer free challenges in this group as a way to offer support to those who are not quite sure how to get started on a homestead goal. If this sounds like a benefit to you, consider joining the group titled Hatching Chicks, Ideas, and Homestead Practices. To easily access this group click on the graphic below.
I believe one of the biggest changes for this year is less tangible. It is the fact that I have a better picture of the direction CG Heartbeats is going. Attending farmer’s markets, played a large part by giving me a broad view of what might be possible. I learned from what I have seen others doing. Not that I will do things the way they do, but that found encouragement in what is working for them. Slowly digesting the book Ten Acres Enough provided a shift in my thinking. Learning a bit more about online business, including marketing online, has given me confidence. I have also learned to invest in myself, after all the one thing constant, no matter what I do, is my mind. For as long as I am alive on this earth, I intend to do my best to keep my mind with me.
I started hatching chicks earlier this year. The second hatch is in process as I am writing. I have a love of all farm animal babies and their birthing process. I know foaling out mares will always have my heart, but when my life choices take me a different direction, I seem to find a way to enjoy babies in any way I can.
CG Heartbeats Farm plans to attend additional markets during the week and look into a new Saturday Market. Currently the choice of which Saturday Market to attend is under consideration.
These are a few of the ideas implemented and others are still being organized. Likely this process will continue throughout the year. What new aspects of homesteading are you adding this year?
A conversation with a friend a few years ago had me thinking seriously about owning chickens. I was looking for ways to use what I had. On the homestead stood a 30 by 60 chicken barn with a fairly new roof thanks to my spouse. It served a place to store hay and many other items. We called it the shop. I begin looking at chickens online. I came across a picture of a hen that reminded me of a pet chicken my sister and I had as a child. We called her Debbie. A bit of research and I learned the breed of the chicken I had seen Swedish Flower Hens. The practical side of me held back wanting to learn other characteristics of the breed besides being pretty.
What I Learned
Swedish Flower Hens(SFH) came to the United States in 2010 and have been imported at least 4 more times since. This has allowed for a decent size gene pool to work with as a breeder. I have always enjoyed the process of breeding and genetics no matter the species. In the 1970’s SFH’s were found in 3 villages in Sweden. At that time, they were the only ones in existence in the whole world. They are considered a landrace breed similar to a wild mustang or the Chincoteaque ponies where the breed developed on its own. A natural selection process in which the healthiest birds survived and the ones who escaped the cook’s pot. In that manner, humans did intervene to some extent by culling (cooking) the birds of their choice. That would of course remove a bird from further reproducing of said bird’s genetic makeup. However, who is to say if that bird had already reproduced and the line carried on? Swedish Flower Hens developed over years of old from different breeds brought into Sweden.
This breed has a 20% broody rate among hens according to documents from Sweden, but certain breeders in the United States have seen a larger percentage in their flock. There is not a Standard of Perfection (SOP) for this breed, as they are a landrace breed. In the United States, many enjoy showing their chickens. There are certain traits found undesirable for the show ring that do not affect a chicken’s ability to survive in the wild. An example would be a sprig on a comb. The breeding goals of those who raise SFH’s are almost as diverse as the bird itself. Some who raise this breed in the United States work to eliminate springs in the gene pool. Why you might ask? Springs are undesirable in the show ring. Others freely breed those birds who demonstrate this trait or the ability to pass on sprigs on combs. For this reason, I have posted my Swedish Flower Hen breeding goals at CG Heartbeats Farm for this gorgeous breed.
This breed is known for being an egg laying breed over a
meat bird. They do not carry a heavy
muscle compared to the Silver Gray Dorking, for example. It has been said they are better stew
birds. I have eaten roosters that were
harvested at 5 months of age. The meat
was not tough, and had good flavor. I am
certain how it was cooked also played a part.
I read the hens lay through the winter and mine have proven that to be
true, even when temps are down around 0 degrees. I have not documented the
number of eggs specific hens laid in a year, I have read the numbers are 150 to
200 eggs per year. They do not, of course lay through a molt.
I read Swedish Flower Hens tend to demonstrate disease resistance, but not a specific disease they were resistant to. They have certainly proved to be a fertile breed. Not only here at CG Heartbeats Farm, but for other breeders as well.
My first Swedish Flower Hen chicks. I drove 3 hours one way to pick them up. Might be I was well on my way to becoming a crazy chicken lady. I was hooked,
The more I read about them, the more I learned, I wanted to purchase this breed!!! In May of 2016, I purchased 13 chicks, driving 3 hours to pick up them up(pictured above). I was well on my way to earning the title of crazy chicken lady. I remember the excitement as I drove home and the feeling of starting a new adventure. I continue to learn about this breed and chickens in general. All a part of my homesteading journey, I even took a class to become a NPIP tester in the state of Indiana.
.
Colors of Swedish Flower Hens
The beautiful color variation in the SFH breed often draws a person’s attention, as they did me. The flowery appearance creates a bouquet of beauty in the chicken yard. I have repeatedly seen questions about the colors of SFH’s. My goal is to provide picture examples to clarity these different color patterns. This is not an in-depth article on color genetics, but rather a picture guide. If you would like your own printable PDF containing more pictures and examples consider signing up for the newsletter. As a thank you, the PDF on SFH colors is yours to keep. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Black base mille fleur chick
Black, blue and splash make up the 3 base colors of Swedish Flower Hens. The secondary color can present in various ways, but one factor remains the same the tips of the feathers should be white giving these birds an appearance of a flower. Hence their name. Mille fleur, and snoleopard are secondary colors, if you will. They may present themselves on different base colors such as a black based snow leopard verses a blue based snow leopard. The same is true for all the base colors and secondary colors. To make it super confusing they don’t always present the exact same way. Both pictured are snoleopard, but the first is blue base and the second is black base.
Blue Base Snoleopard
Black Base Snoleopard
I have seen folks new to breed interested in learning the colors. I am a visual learner and so instead of giving a bunch of genetic info to wade through I want to provide a quick guide. Consider joining the newsletter for CG Heartbeats Farm. The emails will notify you of new blog posts, farm updates. At times, I may make you aware of items that are for sale.
The purchase of Swedish Flower Hen chicks was one of the first steps I took in living a homestead live style. I was already planted on 11 acres with older buildings and a variety of soils. Bloom where you are planted they say…
Why would you pick Swedish Flower Hens? Leave a comment with your answer.
To see the 2019 Breeding pens at CG Heartbeats Farm use the links below.
Return to Swedish Flower Hen main page or view a different pen by clicking on the pen page you wish to visit.
NOTE: This page or post contains affiliate links. When you click and make a purchase I earn a portion of the money you spend at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.
A new year has begun.
I for one am excited for the blank slate a new year appears to
provide. I have many ideas that have
been floating around in my head for the last few years. Projects I have started, that I will build
upon and a few new ideas for later in the year. I to take time to look back at
what I did accomplish in 2018. I also took a not so pleasant look at the
challenges and problems that arose, some still in need of resolution and
answers. These are common approaches to
a venture such as homesteading and many other walks of life. One benefits from taking time to reflect and
evaluate progress and problems.
Now officially winter, the weather has stayed pleasant. By pleasant I mean often temps are above 32 during the day. A warm winter by northern Indiana standards. I plan to use this time of slow down to work on this website, plant seeds indoors, work in my house, hatch chicks and plan for the coming growing season outdoors.
Evaluating and planning chicken breeding pens for all breeds
Swedish Flower Hens currently are by far the most prolific of the three breeds. I am seeing excellent fertility in the eggs I am hatching. I have 2 breeding pairs, 5 breeding pens, and a trio of this breed. My breeding goals continue to be the same as posted. I have plans to add an additional line to include crested Swedish Flower Hen.
The Silver Gray Dorkings are fertile, but it does seem to drop off this time of year. I will continue to hatch as many as I can. I intend to add a line from another farm this year.
The Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiners have proved to be the breed I am struggling with the most. I really like them, but need to figure out why the fertility has been low. I intend to add a line from another farm for this breed as well. I like the eggs they lay and the size of the roosters and hens.
Deciding on locations for garlic, garden space, and fruit bearing plants.
I am super excited to have connected with a neighbor who will be able to plow up ground, increasing garden space and breaking up sod in areas where fruit and garlic will be planted. I am going to be in need of a roto-tiller now with all of the added garden space. I planted around 150 bulbs of garlic this year. This all fit in approximately 100 sq. feet. I would like to plant 1/8th of an acre this year if not more. I intend to plant all the Concord grape plants I can start indoors over the winter. Right now, I have around 25.
A few of the potted grape starts to be planted outdoors in the spring.
One of my goals includes growing blue berries, at least for my own enjoyment. I know the perfect location on this homestead for them to thrive, but right now that ground is a part of a pasture. Fencing changes need to happen in order to proceed. There are existing apple trees and a pear tree that I need to learn how to manage. The raspberry plants will need to be pruned in the spring. I am giving thought how to manage the raspberries in order to make picking a bit easier, without completely moving them. They do well where they are located. I would like to plant strawberry plants this year. I will be researching both what variety and best growing habitat before moving forward.
I intend to plant sweet potatoes in buckets again. I have a small container garden that will provide a place to plant some type of vegetable. I am working on the details of where the main vegetable garden will be located and how large (or small) it will be. I do not have a final list of vegetable to be planted. These decisions will be made in the coming weeks.
Adding additional farmers markets to this year’s schedule.
Last summer I got my feet wet when it comes to attending a farmer’s market. I am excited to build on that in 2019. I would like to include a display on a regular basis to share where the eggs are coming from. This will also raise awareness at a local level that I breed, raise, and sell 3 rare breeds of chickens, hatching eggs and chicks.
One day at a farmer’s Market….
I plan to take many of the same items this year to the market I took last year. I want to plant specific items that may not have been in regular supply at the market last year. The list of what the farm will produce this year is a work in process. I immensely enjoy attending the farmer’s markets.
Planning this year’s web site goals.
I am super excited to be working on updating the pages that share info about the chickens I am raising. I am also excited to be finishing the course on hatching eggs in an incubator. My goal for a release date is the end of Jan or beginning of February. Yes, I am giving myself a bit of wiggle room. Beyond that I intend to continue to bring you a weekly blog post and perhaps two.
If you would like to join a wait list for this course please click on the following: Hatching Course.
I would love to hear what topics you would like to hear about. Leave a comment or send an email to share your ideas.
This week has been one of celebration. Rejoicing the fact, I was released from the hospital, I thoroughly enjoyed Christmas Eve singing and listening to favorite Christmas songs. Christmas Day found me sharing a meal and conversation with family. I started my day celebrating the birth of Jesus as I fed and cared for the animals. I enjoy seeing the creators hand and character in the world around me outside on the farm.
The last stop before heading home might have been the best part of my day. Several members of my family paid a short visit to a nursing home to sing a few Christmas songs to my uncle who is living in a body damaged by multiple strokes. As we were leaving, I gave him a big wave, smile and said, “Merry Christmas”. From his wheelchair, he gave a big wave with his only working limb, his left arm. He suddenly had a glow about him, with a broad smile, he seemed to pick up his shoulders and say, “Merry Christmas”. To be honest, I am not sure if he actually said Merry Christmas or if I only sensed the spirit of his thoughts. For a few seconds, he was behaving as he always did, despite the limitations of his body. He looked like the uncle I remembered. Hands down, those moments were the most fulfilling part of my Christmas.
For the last couple years, I have wanted to attend the local
Ice Festival in Shipshewana, Indiana.
This year we made the one-hour drive to take in the sights. I invited my dad to meet us as a way to celebrate
his birthday, which occurs between Christmas and the New Year. Shipshewana, named after a Potawatomi Indian chief,
provides unique shopping, dining, and cultural experiences. I am rarely disappointed when I visit
Shipshewana, Indiana.
A chili cook off was to be held in town and I was looking forward to sampling delightful flavors. I envisioned the wonder of ice carving artists brining their creations to life. Arriving in the early afternoon, I learned the chili cook off had ended. The supply had run out. We found several completed ice carvings out side the Wolf building where the cook off was held. I admit I felt a pinch of disappointment. We need a Plan B, I thought. The chili might be gone and carving over, but we are in Shipshewana and we can find a way to enjoy the afternoon.
One of my favorite places to hang out and shop is the Davis Mercantile. This 3-story building provides a wide variety of shops, along with a store that serves food and another that caters to the coffee lover (that would be me). My Dad met us in the basement of the mercantile. After breaking the news of my disappointment, we picked up a map showing the locations of stores and other places of interest in Shipshewana. I have been guilty of hitting the same places when in Ship and decided today was a good day to explore a few new ones. First, I wanted a hot drink if we were venturing out in the cold to the Wolf building again. This brisk walk allowed my Dad to view the ice sculptures on display.
A quick look at the ice sculptures on display outside the Wolf building in Shipshewana, Indiana.
Back to the Davis Mercantile to warm up. We hit a couple stores to do more looking than buying. I find myself inspired by the unique wares on display. I wanted to check out a store called Ole Tin Rooster. I raise chickens after all, certainly something in there would be of interest to me. In route, we observed large, 600-pound blocks of ice being unloaded and stacked in a strategic way. I felt overjoyed to learn that indeed the ice carving was still going on around town. Oh, my heart was happy! This particular work was to be a lego sleigh. Better yet it was to be finished for folks (like me) to sit on and take pictures. Indeed, my feelings of delight chased away the fact the temps were dropping and the sky was cloudy.
The Ole Tin Rooster provided a warm stop, full of country décor, combining old with new. We spent many minuets in the basement sections checking out the used books. Of course, there were other items that stood out to me like the old scales that used weights to decided the pounds and ounces of an item. A far cry from the ease of todays digital version. Right beside it an egg box made of tin. I am guessing that egg box is how they used to transport larger numbers of eggs. I estimate it would have held 150 eggs, or around that number.
I continued to feel inspired throughout the day. All around us, Christmas decorations, lights, and artistry in any form one could imagine.
Had to check out the progress on the lego sleigh ice sculpture before heading to the next store. It proved to be a wild goose chase, and I felt pretty cold by the time we found a warm place to step into.
Off to the Blue Gate we walked. I always enjoy the beauty of the Christmas lights outside the Blue Gate restaurant, the little creek and the fish!
In front of the main entrance, blocks of ice were being positioned for a guitar to be sculpted. Much to my disappointment that would not be carved until the next day.
But we enjoyed more shopping and pretty lights. We headed to a local joint south of town, the 5 and 20 to eat a hardy meal.
One more stop before heading home. I wanted my picture taken on the lego sleigh. The wet ice was slick to stand on and cold to sit on.
Watch an ice sleigh take form in Shipshewana, Indiana outside of the Davis Mercantile.
I did get my picture on the ice sculpture that I had been watching take form all afternoon. My heart was happy having spent a fun afternoon in Shipshewana, Indiana. Once again, my visit proved an entertaining one.
Do you have a local ice festival that you have attended? Share the location and thoughts in the comments below. I would enjoy hearing from you.
