dontclipmywings.com Archives - A Country Girl's Heart -Beats that Matter

March 7, 2022March 3, 2022

Choosing the Best Age of Your First Chickens

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I previously shared questions to ask as you decide on specific chicken breeds in the blog post titled What Chicken are Right for You. Today’s post takes you on the next step. When deciding on chickens that are for sale, there are 4 different growth stages to choose from, hatching eggs, chicks, juvenile or grow outs, and adult. Let’s examine different reasons you might choose from adult birds, hatching eggs, chicks or grow outs when choosing your first chickens.

Adult Birds: Choosing your First Chickens

There are a few reasons adult birds are the best options for your new chickens. By purchasing adult chickens, you will not need to wait for them to start laying. You will not need to feed them for the 4 to six months prior to beginning to lay. This, also, applies to birds you are raising for meat if they are heritage breeds.

The modern meat bird is ready to harvest as early as 2-3 months. Either way you will not need to invest the time to wait or the money to feed them. Do expect to pay a higher price for adult birds compared to juveniles or chicks to cover the fact the seller has invested the time and money (that you did not) to raise them.

Juvenile or Grow Outs

Some breeds cannot be easily sexed until 2 or 3 months of age. If you do not want a rooster, waiting for male or female characteristics to appear might be the best route for you. If sounds like you, there are still advantages to purchasing a juvenile over an adult.

If your chickens are your pets, you will be able to bond with them as they finish growing and will be able to decide what they are eating. Feed options such as organic, non-GMO, traditional, or even grow your own feed will be up to you. Raising them yourself allows them to have free range time and finish raising them to your standards. This is not to say that you cannot connect with a breeder that feeds chickens in a manner similar to yours, but that makes your search chickens a little more challenging.

Buying Baby Chickens for Your First Chicks

baby chicks are one option when choosing your first chickens

Purchasing chicks can be a bundle of fun. The cute, little fuzzy babies chirping and running around. When they have had enough of that, their little heads suddenly droop. They slowly lay down and sleep. Whether purchased locally or picking up at the local post office the fun of bringing them home and watching them grow up provides a bit of ole fashioned entertainment.

Other Considerations When Purchasing Chicks.

The act of shipping them through the mail can sometimes cause loss of life, even with the best of packing.
There often is a shipping charge in addition to the price of the chicks.
If you choose to stay local with your purchase, you will be limited to the local breeds of chickens for sale.
Chicks need a heat source until their first feathers grow in.
A brooder of some fashion is needed for chicks until they are old enough.

Hatching Eggs: Choosing Your First Chickens

Hatching your own chicks gives children the experience of seeing a new life develop. The lessons learned go a bit farther than sitting down at a desk and reading a science book. The hands on activity creates an environment where seeds of responsibility and discipline can be planted. The best part is watching a healthy chick pop out of its shell.

A word of truth here: As it is in all aspects of life, the genetic imperfections that fill our world may occur. As an example, a chick may not hatch all the way due to improper development. Or one may hatch, but it did not develop properly. This too is an excellent opportunity to teach a child the facts of disappointment and grief. As adults we know these are a part of life, and what a great time to teach a child how to deal with them in a manner that promotes healthy minds.

Best Option Hatching Eggs vs. Chicks?

Hatching eggs are less expensive vs. chicks. Do not expect every hatching egg to produce a chick. It would be an unusual case for all purchased hatching eggs to hatch. I do not always get a 100% hatch from eggs that travel no farther than from the barn to the house. If the eggs are shipped a general rule of thumb is 50% of the eggs will provide you with new baby chicks.

Let's look at the math for a minute. As an example, with shipping and the price of eggs you have $70 into 12 eggs. If you hatch 6 (50%), the price per chick would be $12. If the same breed of chicken cost $15 and you purchased 6 chicks, you would have spent $90 plus shipping. Congratulations you saved money! and had the fun of hatching. However, this is intended only as an example. The hatching result could go either way resulting in more or less chicks. This is where you decide the risk or chance you are most comfortable with.

In conclusion

Knowing your goals and resources will lay a foundation for choosing your first chickens.

Leave a comment, if you found this helpful and share which stage of a chicken’s life you have decided to purchase.

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October 22, 2020October 22, 2020

Ten Acres Enough, Homesteading in the 1800’s

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I slowly digested Ten Acres Enough by Edmond Morris in the summer of 2018. Reading a few pages while I ate lunch or found I needed to sit down for a break. As I read, I often felt renewed energy and motivation to continue, keep on with the tasks at hand staying focued with the big goals.

The end of 2020 is approaching. I find myself looking back at what I accomplished and what goals I want to set for 2021.

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.

Pasture on CG Heartbeats Farm — Current horse pasture, but may serve a new function as the year unravels.

I gained a new perspective for the property I live on reading thorough Ten Acres Enough. My view shifted. Instead of seeing it through the eyes of where a horse barn, shelters, and pasture could go, I began to see where blueberries, grapes, and garlic might produce the best.

Click on the picture above to purchase your copy of Ten Acres Enough

The mistaken ambition for owning twice as much land as one can thoroughly manure or profitably cultivate, is the great agricultural sin of this country.
Edmund Morris in Ten Acres Enough

At least one of the areas chosen to grow grapes

At times, this homesteading journey can feel a bit lonely, but reading Ten Acres Enough I found a kinship with a man and his family now passed. After living and owning a business in the city for 20 years, he fulfills a longtime dream of owning farm ground in the country.

His farm, he purchased in the 1850’s. This is no typo. Nor is the price he paid, $1,000.00 for 11 acres, with a house and barn on it. The land I have is 11.7 acres and believe me the price was well above $1000.00.

I found myself inspired as I read Edmund’s account of creating food and an income to support his family by farming 10 acres of land.
Maria Graber

Click on the picture above to purchase Ten Acres Enough

Interesting Facts found in Ten Acres Enough

Edmund Morris shares not only of his personal experience, but also of farming practices and the economic impact of the last half of the 1800’s.

Facts to Ponder

produce and fruit prices at that time,
the price they paid for manure (that they even paid for manure),
weed control methods,
how they used manure,
how they dealt with insects and worms that damaged crops,
their experience (or perhaps inexperience) with chickens.

Eventually, Edmund hired not only one, but 2 people to help on only 11 acres. This was a family with 6 children who also helped.

Click to order Ten Acres Enough

The words he used to share his story have added to my vocabulary. Some I have never heard in this day and age and likely will not.

This book provided me with a new view of our land and produced many new ideas to ponder on. I intend to reread Ten Acres Enough, as I plan for 2021. In the coming months and years I will reference certain practices mentioned though out this book

It takes a man a great while to learn the way of Providence, and to understand that things are better contrived for him than he can can contrive for himself.
Edmund Morris in Ten Acres Enough

Click on the above picture to purchase Ten Acres Enough

Winter is Proverbially the farmer’s holiday. But it was no idle time with me. ….. The careful man will find a world of fixing up to do for winter.
Edmund Morris in Ten Acres Enough

I recommend this book to any and all who desire a homestead lifestyle. If you read or have read this book, I would be trilled to hear what stood out to you.

If you can not afford a physical copy, good news! Written in 1864, prior to copywrite laws, it is considered public domain. It can be read free as an e-book in downloadable PDF form: https://archive.org/details/tenacresenoughpr00morriala/page/n5

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January 23, 2019October 25, 2019

Why Pick Swedish Flower Hens

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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, 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.

Silver Gray Dorking

Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner

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.

Read in this blog post about my go to incubator in 2019. I include tips I use with this incubator.

The Janoel 12 incubator with chicks I hatched from Pen # 7.

Click on either picture. Purchase your own.

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November 28, 2018December 4, 2018

A Holiday Farmer’s Market

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With the garlic planted, I was ready to turn my attention to the upcoming Indoor Farmer’s Market and cweek to prepare for the first Indoor Market in Bremen. Knowing that the hens were molting I wanted to have more to take than eggs, if I would have any. Egg production drops off when the hens molt. I contacted my Mom and she was trilled with the idea of making crafts for the sale. Earlier in the fall I had looked over boxes of craft items my Mom had stored for future creations. The only item I was sure she had was A LOT of fake evergreen.

She had many birds, little wooden bird houses, other wooden pieces, ribbon, beads, fake snow, bows, and other pieces to create to our hearts content. I picked up some paint and found more in my own craft supplies. I probably have not even looked into my craft boxes for over 5 years.

Day 1:
Armed with my hot glue gun, a few bottles of paint, along with purchases I had recently made, I set out on an almost 2-hour drive to spend an afternoon painting little decorative bird houses. My Mom had come up with the idea to make the bird houses as if they were gingerbread houses, but first they would need a base paint. These cute things were no taller than 4 inches. I had purchased brown paint to hopefully resemble a gingerbread house.

After painting a few brown ones, I wanted to play with the red, green and white I had brought along. Time flew by that first afternoon. My mom and I had planned to take a break and make a short trip for coffee and donuts (for Mom) and food with more substance for me. A special way to spend time with family hanging out and expressing our creative side.

Day 2:
I looked out my window to see a whole bunch of white covering the landscape in the beautiful way only fresh fallen snow can. The drive took longer, but the pretty view along the way left me feeling like I arrived in no time. I sat down and went right to work with a paint brush. I seemed to move from one to the other thinking on ideas of what I wanted to create on a previous house as I worked. I switched from painting to work on a wreath. I needed to take a break from the brush. As I worked my thoughts went from gingerbread houses to a winter scene with snow covered pine trees. Humm I wonder…. if I could paint a pine tree….?

I recalled a time in fourth grade, that I had sat down with a blank piece of card board and various colors of chalk. I had messed around a bit with drawing, as a child might, but not with any flow or success. Drawing usually felt like a struggle, something that I had to think hard about. This day I was recalling, the picture began to appear beneath the splashes of chalk. I was looking a painting of 3 collie dogs, but drawing in chalk. I sat alone in our living room, mentally tuning into a creative, artistic zone. I heard the voices of people working in our house trailer that day as if they were a TV playing in the background. In reality, there was many who had come over to clean up a big mess, made when I had unleased an entire fire extinguisher on a single electrical outlet. The act alone, I was told, is why there was a heavy covering of dust like material in the entire house trailer. Had I not acted quickly, there would have been NO house to clean. I felt terrified when I saw flames coming from the outlet. Looking back, I now believe the drawing of the collie dog provided an outlet for emotion overwhelm. That day, the face of a collie seemed to me to simply appear from the strokes of chalk, there was a flow I had never felt before. I struggled many times after that as I attempted to draw pictures, but rarely, if ever, felt the synchronicity of seeing with my mind and creating with my hands. On the day in my memory…I wondered, ‘Could I draw the face of a collie with those pieces of chalk.’ I had found them when working to clean up the mess.

Back to the current day, sitting with a paint brush in hand I again felt the flow from my mind to the picture that appeared as I painted. The fact I was feeling a similar connection between my hand creating and the picture I was seeing in my mind had reminded me of the day of the fire.

Market Day

The day of the market arrived. I made use of the option to take items in the day before, so set up was fast on Saturday morning.

Having been a vendor at Bremen’s summer Farmer’s Market, I enjoyed seeing familiar faces of both vendors and customers alike. This time I sat painting, while chatting with people new and old. I enjoyed this version of a market. There were new to me vendors attending the indoor market, such as Millers Goat and Garden.

This of course caught my attention since I grew up around goats. A bit more about my child hood in the blog post titled: Roots and Wings: New Life ~ Goats. Word has it, a Valentine’s Day Market is in consideration for February. Be sure to visit and like the Facebook page for Bremen Farmer’s Market for updates using the link posted below.

www.facebook.com/BremenFarmersMarket

And stop by the CG Heartbeats Farm Facebook page for farm news, local market updates, new blog posts and other interesting bits of info.

In summary, Bremen’s event, A Holiday Farmers Market, was a success for me. I sold a few things, and conversed with people in the community I had not met before. I also had reason to spend 2 days with my Mom as we prepared. Simply put: A Holiday Farmer’s Market equaled a fun time! This years indoor market was a first time event for Bremen, Indiana. A first of many, I hope!!

A big thank you to Yoder’s Bremen Hardware in downtown Bremen, Indiana for providing the venue along with chairs and tables for the event.

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November 9, 2018November 13, 2018

Concord Grapes

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I first learned how I enjoyed Concord grapes in 2015. While competing in the 2015 TCA Thoroughbred Makeover, I went grocery shopping at local Walmart near the Kentucky Horse Park. I devoured the grapes in a matter of days. They may have been the same variety my Grandma used to make grape juice with. The desire to grow my own was fueled when I could hardly find them anywhere.

I researched online and in person. Some plants were priced as high as $40 and others as low as $8. I learned Concords were not known to produce themselves correctly via planting seeds. The best way to get new plants was by using a vine of a healthy known producing plant. In my conversations I found that a new friend at the time was willing to share cuttings of her Concord Grapes with me. I was again like with the sweet potatoes, unsure if this would really work. From reading articles online, I learned that grape cuttings could be placed in water or in soil and then would produce roots. Seems amazing doesn’t it? It was suggested to cover the cut part of the vine that was being placed in soil or water with a root hormone to help it grow. I am all about doing things as natural as possible and choose to go the tougher route without any root hormone.

A few weeks after placing my first cuttings in water I began to see changes, the stems developed what is called callouses, then roots, and eventually some leaves. I like to try new things and I think I prefer starting the cuttings in water so I can see the changes. After all, if the vine is buried in soil, I just have to wait, wait and see only looking at the vine from the surface. It is like have a horse breed and not having her checked to see if she is pregnant. She will show no outward signs for at least 7 to 8 months. While the grapes may produce leaves sooner (2-4 months), I still prefer to see the roots developing in the water.

My first time starting new grape plants from vine cuttings was a crash course for me. I only ended up with a few that made into soil. I do not remember numbers, I think I may have had 6 – 8 and perhaps one or 2 made it into a pot. I did not watch the water levels in the jars and several died when they dried up due to lack of water. At the time those that survived were ready to plant the weather was too cold to plant them outside. I must have cut the vines in October or November, if I remember correctly. I tried cutting vines again and late winter/early spring. These too, I neglected along the way and only had a couple plants to show for it. I remember thinking the temperature may have dropped to abruptly where I had the cutting sitting and caused them to die. I had several irons in the fire and in the course of my days the animals came before my ‘experiments’ with plants. I often struggled with energy levels and while the process of caring for the grapes was not exceeding difficult some days once I had finished what had to be done…I was done for. This is by no means an excuse or a pity party, simply the reason I neglected to care for the grape starts to standard. I remember not being 100% sure as to why some of them did not make it some consideration was temperature and of course hydration. I was able to share one plant with a neighbor and she has happily planted on her property. One lived for a long time and I may have either over or under watered it at one point. It did not make it.

In the late winter or early Spring of 2018, I once again trimmed vines at my friends and put them in glass jars with water.

When the weather was warmer, I determined this year (2018) I was going to get some plants in the ground this year.

Potted in the house from my first cuttings.

I think it had been potted for a year and half at least. I found a spot on our 11.7 acers where I believed the grapes would flourish the best. I researched online for info on the best place and how to plant them.

Pictured below show how much the above pictured plant grew indoors for a year and a half.

Finally! I planted my first Concord grape plant.

About a month later my Dad planted the four that were doing well from the 2018 cuttings. These four went directly into the ground from the glass jars. This is now my preferred method as I have less of chance of forgetting to water them and it eliminates the step of potting them inside until the weather is nicer.

Here it is fall of 2018 and I wanted to help my friend prune her grapes. I hate to see anything go to waste so on the spur of the moment, I took a big bunch of the pruned vines home with me. After all she was going to burn them. Snipping and cutting the vines into smaller sections, I soon had around 40 starts in 8 glass jars with water.

These grapes belonging to a friend of mine, have not been pruned for quite some time. (The property is new to her) This was the first round of what will include more pruning sessions as we work back the vines.

My thoughts went something like this:
Oh, what was I thinking? Here I was going into winter with all these grape starts. I now needed to make sure the water levels stayed high enough or plant all that grew roots and keep those potted grapes watered properly until next spring.

My response to my thoughts and doubts went like this:
You are simply going to have to stay on top of caring for them. It is a simple matter of making it a part of your daily routine like caring for the animals. It will need to become a part of your chores. You have less places you have to be than in previous times and you’re are feeling better. This is what you do and you are going to do it!!! Have confidence that you will see this project through.

Now I do not expect every one of the 40 vine cuttings to become a plant. If I end up with 20 plants, I would be excited. It seems by my experience so far not every cutting grows roots. Perhaps I would increase my success if I used a root hormone. I recently learned from a follower on the farms FB page (A Country Girl’s Heart ~ Beats that Matter) that a willow branch is a natural growth hormone inducer and specifically with grape starts it will promote root growth. I am still researching, but I intend to try it at some point.

To date I have spent $0 on the grape project. I will be most rewarded the day I actually harvest my own grapes. I will savor that first bite!! I might make jelly or grape juice (frozen or canned). What is your favorite way to enjoy Concord grapes? Leave a comment.

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November 5, 2018July 22, 2020

Garlic: Year 3

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This fall marks the third year I have planted garlic. The first year(fall of 2016) I planted about 6 cloves of 3 different varieties for a total of 18. When I harvested in 2017 I kept what I raised to either plant or use. Year #2 (2017) I planted around 18-20 cloves (each) of the same 3 varieties. I only sold a few of the 2018 crop choosing instead to save most of the bulbs harvested to plant and use personally for human consumption and for putting in the chickens water. If you are unfamiliar with planting garlic, one planted clove grows into a bulb of garlic. Each bulb has 4 to 9 cloves depending on the variety.

Using what I have:

The entire homestead project has been largely using what I have available. Although some money has been invested along the way, most money has been invested into the chicken project. I have looked and continue to look for heritage vegetables that are sustainable and do not require seeds to be repurchased every year. One of my biggest struggles has been ground to plant in. Yes I have 11 acres at my disposal, and it grow grass abundantly. The grass has a fantastic root system that makes gardening a challenge for me. At this time I have not found a local person to turn the sod for me(with a plow). I will need to invest in a tiller of sorts, sooner than later as I grow the garden project. I do not want to fight weeds and grass roots with only my energy (which seems lacking) and a shovel. Even in the large flower bed, it is the grass that has taken over. I had a help a couple years in a row and still the grass returned. The benefit was that at least the ground had been worked in the flower bed and was easier to dig in compared to the lawn. This was where I planted my first garlic, a small section of what was previously a flower bed. My Dad helped me prep the ground the first year. We went over the ground with spades, removing as many of the roots as we could. It was a project that took approximately one afternoon. 18 cloves of garlic planted!

Area where garlic was planted in 2016 and harvested in 2017. The space was probably less than 3 ft. by 3 ft.

Year 2: I spent more time prepping the ground, but had not started early enough as cold weather was upon me. Hardneck Garlic needs to be in the ground before the ground freezes. While I did work to remove more of the roots, I knew I left some. It was either leave some roots and not plant the garlic in time or I would miss getting it planted altogether. I tripled the amount planted and was able to spare a few to select customers in the summer of 2018. I share the planting process and more about the first and second Garlic seasons in a previous blog post titled: Garlic

Year 3: This year I added a forth variety called Spanish Rojo or Spanish Red. The other three varieties remain the same as the past two years: German, Music, and Montana. As I have said, this marks the 3rd fall I am planting garlic. I intend to again increase numbers planted to about between 10 and 140 cloves. Of course I need more room to plant the higher numbers. After consideration I decided to once again use the flower bed expanding the area, and add another spot on the farm as well.

Garlic beginning to grow in the early months of 2018

This spring, in a section next to the garlic, I worked removing grass, roots and a few weeds. Here I planted four tomato plants. I did need to weed a little from time to time, but as the tomato plants grew they provided enough ground cover to keep the unwanted growth at bay. These produced many little tomatoes both grape and super sweet varieties. I took some to the farmers markets and shared with friends. I also enjoyed many delicious tomato sandwiches, even though they were the small tomatoes.

In the last couple weeks as I began to prepare the ground to plant garlic I have certainly seen a reduction of roots, weeds and grass thanks to the ground cover provided by the tomato plants.

Instead, I found myself picking up an extreme amount of tiny tomatoes to avoid the seed springing to life new tomatoes plants next year. I am sure I did not get every single one. Should they appear in the 2019 growing season I have a plan. I intend to feed the young plants to the chickens who I learned enjoy eating the tomato plant leaves. A bonus use of unwanted plants in my opinion.

Beginning to prepare the soil in the fall of 2018.

The picture below shows last years space and the additional space in the flower bed. This picture was taken before transplanting some of the Day Lillys.

I had a chicken pen that was approximately 5 ft x 5 ft where the sod finally appeared to be almost non exsistent this fall. I moved the panels to a new location giving the chickens new ground and the homestead an additional place to plant. With the sod almost completely gone I began turning the dirt over. Trilled with how soft the soil, I did find some roots under the surface.

No matter, the work proved considerably easier compared to digging up sod. If I did not share previously, I currently have not a plow or cultivator. My ‘tools’ consist of myself, a shovel, wheelbarrow and other non-motorized gardening implements. I also have almost no money invested in the garlic venture, only the initial garlic cloves. The chickens did a wonderful job and by next year they will have removed more sod for me to increase the garden. In 2017 I set the chicken pens up specifically where I want a garden. It has felt like a long process, but I was hesitate to leave the chickens out for any length of time. Now that I have housed select pens outside I am seeing much faster progress in sod removal.

The pen in its new location and the dirt turned in the old location.

For the 2019 growing season I will plant garlic in the 5ft. x 5 ft. space the chickens cleared for the homestead.

About half of the garlic is planted in this picture.

As I have in years past after the garlic is planted I cover with hay chaff. (Using what I have) and later in the season as wood chips become available from the wood shed I added wood chips all to help reduce the unwanted plant growth among the garlic plants.

Garlic Scapes and Pesto

I want to add that this past growing season(2018) I made use of the garlic scapes when I removed them from the plants in June. I made pesto from the scapes. All who enjoy the taste of garlic gave the pesto positive reviews.

Here is the ingredient list I used:

garlic scapes chopped
parmesan cheese
coconut oil
salt and pepper to taste

The scapes, removed usually in June, allow the energy of the plant to grow bigger bulbs. Below is a picture of the flower that develops into seeds if the scapes are not removed.

I am looking forward to next years harvest garlic harvest. I think the harvest is the most exciting part for me. The Spanish Rojo smelled good and I am certain I will enjoy eating it next year. I feel pretty happy when planting the cloves too.

Preparing the ground is a bit of a drag for me and the hardest work of the whole process. As I write this I have about half of this years garlic planted. My progress this past week came to halt as probably close to 2 inches of rain has fallen. I am waiting for the ground to dry out. When I see the forecast includes lows in the 20’s for 3 nights in a row, I plant the garlic despite unwanted roots and moisture.

Please share your experiences with fresh garlic in the comments below.

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October 24, 2018

Seasons: Fall 2018

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Most farmer’s markets ended in our area with the month of September. The Fall Season officially started on Saturday Sept. 22 this year. Changes are in the air!! A look around for the first two weeks showed only the beginning of the transformation yet to come. The fun of each season: Even though they repeat every year no two are alike. At first temperatures were warm with many a sunshiny day. This weather pattern changed and as of mid October highs have been in the 50’s with lows in the 30’s and 40’s.

Some flowers are dying off in the late summer(September)while others are only beginning to bloom indicating the changes to come.

I recall as a child enjoying horseback rides along the dirt back roads enjoying the colors fall brings. Lately I have not been riding as often, but I still enjoy the colors. I recently took the short drive down one of the few dirt roads left from my childhood I used to ride on. Many memories can be recalled from era spent on horseback along this dirt road of my life. One of the first was my sister and I getting bucked off our pony, Glady, while riding double. Another involved riding Glady in tight circles at a walk envisioning that myself a barrel racer at a rodeo. The third was driving our pony Rebel Breeze when snow covered the road in a stone boat with a bale of hay for a seat. The landscape has changed in the last 25 plus years, but the feeling of a dirt road, lined with majestic trees displaying pretty fall colors consistently brings a peaceful feeling to my heart.

Blooming flowers around the farm and down local roads this year are pictured through out this post.

I recently visited Pigeon Forge, TN and the Smoky Mountains. Some of the same flower that grow here were also in blossom in the State Park in both TN and North Carolina.

I welcome the sometime cooler days and even the rainy one. By this time of the year I find myself over the humid, hot air I welcomed only a few months earlier. How fickle I am.

Hard neck garlic is planted in the fall before the ground freezes. Not to be confused with a frost as we sometimes experience many frosts before the ground actually freezes. My thoughts have turned to where the garlic will be planted this year. I am going to be planting more than I have in the past so new ground needs to be prepared. The soil needs to be worked, weeded and prepared where the garlic was planted last year. I intend to include a larger area there as well.

I recently finished harvesting the sweet potatoes I grew in buckets. The crop was not as productive as it has been in the past. While a few were large, many did not grow as big. Perhaps I did not leave enough time for the root development in the water this spring to allow for larger root development before planting. Note to self: Start indoors earlier and plant outside earlier. I used the same general process as I have in the past. Want to read about my previous experience with planting sweet potatoes. Click on the blog post titled: Growing Sweet Potatoes in a Bucket. I get excited to think that most people, no matter how large or small their property is, can grow sweet potatoes. Even someone who owns a small lot or has patio access with adequate sunlight has options using buckets and fertile soil.

I enjoy fresh air, kittens playing, kittens playing and horses in all their displays of beauty, beautiful fall colors at the moment, pretty flowers and the way I see the homestead SLOWLY making process. Fall brings a different smell to the air, the rustle of leaves falling in the woods, and the sound of farm machinery harvesting and drying crops.

I like how fall tickles all of my senses

The feel of a cool brisk morning air and the warmth of afternoon sunshine. The gritty dirt in hand as I work preparing soil for planting.

The sight of pretty colors developing and eventually, for a short time, vivid display of all that is fall.

The sound of combines and crop dryers running both near and far sometimes late into the night. Birds chirping, the rustles of leaves when walking in the woods and the sound of leaves falling when the wind blows.

My favorite flavor has been baked sweet potatoes smothered in butter and salt. I seem to enjoy coffee more as the weather turns colder, chi has been another fall favorite hot drink of mine this year.

The fall season has a smell all its own both in the woods and across the farm and country air. It seems clean and fresh despite the fact we are facing the inevitable coming black and white of winter months.

How do you enjoy fall with all of your senses? Be sure to leave a comment below.

Life on the farm this 2018 Fall Season

This morning dawned with pretty sunshine and the second (or third) hard frost of the season. I am looking forward to digging into an outdoor project this afternoon. I recently listed the projects I want to work on before the ground actually freezes and the snow flies. Some must be done and others have less importance. I was brain dumping and they are in no particular order.

Have you read my previous blog on seasons?

Check it out by clicking below:

Roots and Wings: Seasons

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September 26, 2018January 1, 2019

Farmer Markets – Nappanee Farm and Flea Market

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In July, I began attending a second weekly farm market and what follows tells a bit of my experience.

As I have shared in my previous post about the Bremen Farmer’s Market, one of the fun rewards of attending included making new friends. Julie attended the Bremen Market bringing beautiful fresh cut flowers and displayed them in a unique way. Setting up next to her one Wednesday evening I believe the first words out of my mouth were, “I love your cart. It is so cute!” I adored her the way she presented her flowers. I learned it was an old, repurposed fire hose cart with wooden boxes added to sell from.

We chatted throughout the evening and she gave me information about a market in a near by town where she also sold flowers. I had not sold all my eggs that week and was of course gaining more by the day. The hens were busy laying at that point in the summer. I decided to give the Nappanee Farm and Flea Market a try.

At this point I still had no canopy and the sun was hot a few of those summer mornings. I recall the good feeling of adding a second market to my week. It was a few weeks later I found myself blessed with a canopy. I enjoyed the cover from the hot sun.

I met a few people that were visiting from other states. Texas and California are two places that immediately come to mind. These conversations interest me as I learn about what others are doing around the country. Hearing their food and other lifestyle goals provide insight to what people value. Taking few minutes for true human connection seems to be a rarity in today’s social media society. This is what makes farmer’s markets enjoyable to me.

Take a look around the market on July 28, 2018

Ashley and her family joined us in Nappanee a few times with their local raised grass-fed pork. For the months of July and August various vendors attended.
This past summer I have learned much plan to share more about that in a future post. Hoping to gain repeat egg customers I believed in my commitment of showing up consistently. As it turned out on several days I was unable to attend. I was gone on vacation in August and as September rolled around I found many of the hens were going into molt leaving me with less eggs. I regrettably had little to take to the Nappanee Market as most of what I had to sell, I sold at the Bremen Farmer’s Market on Wednesday’s. This will need to be resolved for markets next year as I look at what other items I plan to raise for my own consumption and to take to markets.

Click on the picture to connect and order your own local raised heritage breed pork

I feel thankful for a place to sell eggs for human consumption and happy to provide local food as an option for purchase. I have enjoyed meeting new people at Nappanee’s Farm and Flea Market just like I did at the Bremen Farmer’s Market. As the season closes and I look forward to next year’s plans, I see that I need to add additional items if I am to grow my income.

This coming Saturday is the official last market of the 2018 season in Nappanee.

Nappanee Farm and Flea Market

Where: the north east parking lot at Coppes Commons in Nappanee, Indiana

When: Saturdays 9am to 1pm

Who: For all who find value in locally sourced food, enjoy items from the past, and crafts of today, pretty flowers, and potted plants. You will find something for your table and perhaps other places in the house as well. These events are free and open to the public. Take the family out for fresh air, and face to face interactions while shopping for local produce and eggs. Check out all Coppes Commons has to offer inside while you are there.

What: A place to connect with vendors who provide fresh vegetables, crafts, eggs, antiques and flea market items, seedling trees fresh cut flowers, home sewn clothes, and locally raised grass fed pork.

What are your favorite items to shop for at a Farmer’s Market? Leave a comment below to share or send an email.

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September 19, 2018February 9, 2022

Farmer’s Market ~ Bremen, Indiana

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As I mentioned in a previous post (Local Farmer Markets), earlier this year I needed to find an additional outlet for eggs that I was not selling as hatching eggs or hatching myself. As I looked at options, I decided to try a local farmer market located in Bremen, Indiana.

Opening night of the 2018 season stands out as the favorite of the entire summer. Having 11 doz. eggs to part with I set a sale price in order to move them. I did indeed part with all 11 dozen. Happy as I was with that fact, the best part was the enjoyment that occurred on my part. A guest musician played old country and gospel favorites, music filled the air, but not in an overbearing manner. I learned at 6 pm each evening a church tower in town rang out familiar tunes. Again, music filled the air, at this point I breathed a sigh of contentment for a cool breeze flowed on the night air and all felt peaceful and right in my world. Here I am getting ahead of myself in the telling of the evening.

I was not as early as I had hoped to be and felt a rush of anxious thoughts coming on as I droved as rapidly as the speed limit allowed. The afternoon had sped by rapidly as I hunted out items make this first farmer market a success. What did I have to use as table and chair? What about signs? What could I sell besides eggs? How to price for sales? All to soon the time indicated I needed to leave and make the best of the first night. I had wanted to wait until the next week to attend. I had been encouraged to attend that week so I decided to do my best and go with what I had.

I chased away nervous thoughts of self-doubt. I was going to at least be present and consistent. An important part of starting business and getting one’s name out to the public, I continued to hear from those more experienced than myself in start up operations.

Finding Gayle, the coordinator, I chased away self-defeating thoughts. She was warm and generous finding me a bit of assistance in unpacking my car and setting up. As I sat down in a chair I had won several years back barrel racing Roses Casino, I resolved to enjoy my evening despite no canopy or cover, a small table and simple signs. I say simple as they were made of index cards printed on with markers pinned to a small bulletin board I had in the house. I did not have much more than that for my first event. I used the backs of previously printed Eagle Equine business cards to share this website and reach new readers.

For me, the evening was almost perfect. I enjoyed meeting new people of my nearby town and hoped to see familiar faces throughout the summer. I felt pleased meeting many of the vendors. Some would not stay the entire summer, others would become friends. That first night I started thinking of ways I could improve my sales, other produce I might have available through out the summer, and items that would be nice and some necessary to add to my simple display. This first event began my learning process.

Click on the photo above to order soap or contact Sue via a FB group.

As the summer went on I sold black raspberries, garlic, garlic scapes, fresh cut flowers, small tomatoes of 2 different varieties, early summer squash, seedling trees and perhaps I will yet sell sweet potatoes depending on the harvest yield. I wrote down produce I was ask for and multiple ideas I had as they came to me throughout the summer. I started giving thought to what preparations I wanted to make for next year.

I added new items. Some purchased out of my earnings and others contributed by the support of my spouse. A canopy was the most expensive investment, perhaps the most appreciated when the rain fell or the sun beat down with added almost unbearable humidity. I retired the small wooden table for a card table that served different a purpose in my house. It was easier to transport and larger. I have given thoughts to a display involving both in the future as I add more items. Attractive Longaberger baskets I had on hand, a small chalk board, a small wooden box, chalk signs and a toy easel with white board on one side and chalk on the other all became new tools for displaying various items.

One of the best parts of being a vendor has been making new friends and seeing familiar friendly faces of returning customers. I have gained new friends and acquaintances as I learned to know different vendors who have also attended through out the summer. I am grateful to the many people in the community who visit and purchase from various vendors. There are some who seem to find a way to show up every week and shop the market.

There are only two more weeks left for the Bremen’s Market in 2018: tonight and next week. The last week promises to be special too. Bremen carries the nickname “Mint City” due to a history of producing mint. The theme for the last market of 2018 will be mint.

Bremen Farmers Market

Where: Located on the corner of Jackson and Main Street downtown Bremen, Indiana near the historic water tower.

When: Every Wednesday from 4 PM to 7 PM May through September

Who: Anyone who finds value in home grown food, locally crafted wares, delicious baked goods, potted flowers and plants. These events are free and open to the public. Take the family out for an evening of fresh air, delicious eats, treats and while shopping for local produce and eggs.

What: Vendors have varied throughout the summer. Leather crafts, home knitted mittens and hats, honey, maple syrup, produce, eggs, baked goods, fresh cut flowers, plants, mums, tree seedlings, homemade soaps, local raised grass fed pork, breads, fruit, and herbal tinctures make up most of what has been offered at the Bremen Farmer’s Market. Tonight, a new vendor, Poppin off Popcorn will be attending with specialty popcorn flavors.

Stay connected online with the Bremen Farmer’s Market on FB: Click on Bremen Farmer’s Market

History

Bremen’s Farmers Market started in 2015 to provide a place for local producers to present their wares to the general public.

Have you ever attended a Farmers Market? Leave a comment with your experience.

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September 11, 2018September 11, 2018

Granary Road

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This past summer I enjoyed the privilege of visiting an upscale farmers market in Alberta, Canada. I continue the series of blog posts on Farmers Markets to share my experience at a market with a different twist. Please, (if you have not already) check out my first post in this series titled Local Farmers Markets. Look for future posts sharing my experience as a vendor at farmers market in northern Indiana.

Our party visiting Granary Road consisted of 9 children (age 2 -13) and 4 adults. It might seem a bit crazy to plan a day trip to an upscale market with many kids in tow. This venue is special as a child finds themselves catered to with a section all for their own special experience.

I was excited to check out what this market offered, being that we were visiting Canada. All visits to farmer markets up until this point had been local markets in the United States. The younger group looked forward to playing in the ‘large’ playground, if you will. There is a charge to ‘play’ outside at the many activity areas, priced lower for kids and a few dollars more for adults. I choose to spend my time checking out the indoor market and hanging out with my Mom.

Two outdoor patio areas in the back provide many table with chairs and wonderful fresh air. The day we attended, Alberta experienced the haze of smoke from the British Columbia fires. The air was not so fresh. The picture above shows the back of the indoor market. A young lady graced the atmosphere with lovey violin music.

After checking out the gift shop while the others purchased tickets, I found my Mom a place to sit. Now, I began my exploration of the market. A deep breathe slowly expelled, I felt as if I was on an adventure as grand as if checking out a new hiking trail, trying new foods and reading about the early settlers of the exact ground we were on.

Poster sized displays framed in what appeared to be old barn wood hung on the walls. They provided an education on topics from bees to gardening and a bit of the history of the man who originally homesteaded the property. A few of these I have posted pictures of through out this blog post.

My attention became captivated first by the story of a man who owned Thoroughbreds in Canada. He turned out to be the homesteader of the property Granary Road sits on. An overview of his life can be read in the following photos. I found I felt a new connection with this place as I too enjoy horses. Thoroughbreds being one of the breeds that have greatly impacted my life in their own way.

Vendors offered clothing, food, wine, specialty meats in the form of jerky and sausage, coffee, smoothies, and a new sports cream.

Check out Brenda’s web site by clicking on this picture.

Oh, speaking of the sports cream. I received a complementary massage with Muscle Check. I could still feel the benefits the next morning. I had spent the afternoon prior relaxing in a hammock under popular trees. The hammock material and position I was in left me with a sore upper back for the current delving into Granary Road. I felt blessed and full of gratitude for the massage. My painful upper back disappeared and creating greater enjoyment in the rest of my day.

I seen a green house located separately from the main building. I was looking to learn any bit of info that I might be able to use in my future gardening ventures. Initially, I found myself disappointed, observing an area where a business had or would be, but not currently operating and the back part of the large green house served as a maintenance building for Granary Road.

A kind gentleman stopped me as I completed my exploration and ask me if he could help me. I learned Granary Road was owned by his son. He offered to send me info to increase my gardening knowledge. I learned where the original homestead building used to stand on the side of a hill near by. The spot overlooked the valley where Granary Road is nestled. I say nestled for as I mentioned Alberta was experiencing a large amount of smoke from British Columbia that day producing approximately 1 mile visibility. I might have felt a tiny bit of disappointment that the current owner of the beautiful property and facility had no blood connection to the original homesteader. My romantic side always likes to see land stay in a family. He did share a few of the intended additions to the property: A terraced garden to create a beautiful venue for weddings, and other events, and acreage devoted to producing local grains and vegetables.

While various vendors provide delicious menus from which to savor special flavors, our group opted to pack in a lunch. A wonderful option for those like us operating on a smaller budget. We enjoyed the outdoor air while we ate. I especially found pleasure in listening and watching my 9 nieces and nephews interactions. These two cousins found the flowers. Innocent little girls, acting out their attraction to beauty, found pretty flowers to pick and carry. Oh the simple, sweet, delight of children untainted by expectations! I felt a bit of remorse informing them they needed to stop picking flowers in order for others to enjoy them in the future. I admit I gathered a bit myself, in picture form: 2 cousins with their collections sharing a connection with each other and beauty. I will share only one of the many I have stored for future recollection.

One added experience to our day was fording a creek. Yes that is correct. I did not get a picture, so it is with words I will attempt to share the process. The road we were on at one point drove down to a river bed and crossed a small river whose current low level allowed for safe crossing. Instead of building a bridge over the river, a cement pad had been laid in the river bed providing a solid surface for crossing. Of course when the river depths increased the river ford would have been unsafe to cross. I felt a bit like a modern day pioneer, fording a river bed to and from a farmers market. My soul was delighted!

While I have given a look through my eyes, if you find yourself in Alberta, Canada be sure to make Granary Road a stop in your travels. The delights abound for those looking to broaden personal experience, both the young and the young at heart!

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