Greetings,
First I would like to thank everyone that helped me last winter with my
research into Indura fabrics. The company has reversed their decision and
are now issuing 100% pure cotton uniforms again. My husband managed to
avoid having to wear those poisonous ones and I have now donated them to
the local fire department, where they belong.
We are having a super hot summer. Our plums have come in a month early, my
corn is going to be ready a month early and the heat is really affecting
all my animals. I have discovered that many heirloom vegetables do not
like this heat, as a result, my rabbits are eating more from my garden this
summer than I am. However, I do support a chemical free farm that grows
hybrids, so I don't have to buy my stuff at the store.
I am looking forward to a long drive this fall, as I am bringing home the
start of my new sheep flock. We are getting into Gulf Coast Native Sheep
and are looking forward to getting to know them better, as well as learning
how to shear and deal with the wool. I have been learning how to knit this
past spring, so this is exciting. We had Barbados sheep for the last
couple of years, but they do not do well with cows, [the cows are scared of
them!] and they are so flighty and nervous as well as a constant battle
with parasites that we gave up.
On the discovery list, apple cider vinegar once a month in the water of all
your animals does a wonderful job of keeping parasites at bay. It does not
need to be the good stuff either, the cheap stuff seems to work just fine.
Chickens require enough room to run, not just walk or they loose the value
of being on pasture. It is not just that they eat bugs and grass, but
their movement that makes the eggs healthy. Thus the chicken tractor is
great for shelter, but must be surrounded by a moveable fence to give a
much larger space. I realize that some people can let their birds free
range, but I can not. I have too many predators, including my coydog.
I would like to thank Keith for turning me on to the soil and heath
library. Now I have 2 libraries to get lost in on these hot afternoons
while I hide from the heat. The book: Small-Scale Grain Raising has really
got me thinking and working. This is something I really wanted to get
into, but it is much better to have some information about what I am doing.
We discovered a spot on our land that has sandy soil that DRAINS! Now I
can have my orchard. I have a couple of olive trees that will be going in
the ground come fall and I will buy some Fugi apples, plums, apricots,
peaches and satsuma oranges.
Both of our cows are suppose to be pregnant, but we will not know for sure
for a while yet. My neighbor is offering to pay me to let him run his cows
on my land, talk about win/win for me. I refused the money, since if we
get real wet, I will be knocking on his door to get my animals to higher
ground. I see no reason to pay the government every time we help each
other out. I think he finally sees my point. He has quit laughing at me
and complimented me on the quality of my grass. Compost tea really does help.
We are learning about many other things, aquaponics, vermicomposting and
solar ac, but these projects will have to either wait until I have time or
until the weather cools off. I still need to make a stir stick of some
sort to start making biodiesel, but this project really needs to move up on
the list of things to do. The problem is that hubby wants to be in on it,
and the barn/workshop is too hot in the evenings to spend any time there.
Bright Blessings,
Kim
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