Farm Tour at Greengate Farms

On By stefrobrtsIn farm2 Comments

The Small Acreage Program had a farm tour today at Greengate Farms. It is always fun to go to these and see how other people run their farms. I still only dream of having a real farm, but I learn something everytime I go to one of these. Here Kelly, the owner, talks to the group about her barn and how they built it and what they would have done different if they knew then what they know now.

They had a nice barn and a composting area next to it, and talked about how they handle all the manure – did you know horses make about 50lb a DAY?! Luckily they have someone who wants their manure for fertilizer, so they get it hauled away. But they also talked about how they used to compost it and spread it on the fields. We also learned about sacrifice areas, mud control, and runoff management.

This is her own horse, the white one, and her boarder. She runs a boarding stable/retirement home for show horses. The horses were very clean and happy and friendly 🙂

Her sweet old golden followed the group around, resting whenever we stopped to talk 🙂

And her pesky golden puppy put on a show of chewing on his leash and generally acting like a puppy whenever he had to sit still while everyone was talking.

Out in the pastures we got some tips on pasture rotation, not letting horses out on grass too early in the spring, composting, and fencing – regular and electric. Plus some pasture management. Lots of great information. It’s so much to learn, it’s a lot of help to see how people do it all successfully, even when they feel they have more to do to perfect their techniques. Just goes to show there’s always more to learn! I’m so glad there are great farmers in the area willing to share with those of us who are still trying to figure it out!

Garden and chickens

On By stefrobrtsIn chickens, garden1 Comment

Laid down peat moss on top of the garden beds, one bale only covered a bed and a half. Guess I’m going to need a couple more bales before I’m done.

My sitting area next to the garden, looking out on the pasture.

The chickens were out in the backyard again today. I get such a kick out of watching them, they are so busy and look so serious about it 🙂

Memories of Alki

On By stefrobrtsIn alki, chester3 Comments

It helps to look back and remember what a full life she had with us, traveling, playing on the beach, romping through the snow, and just being a great dog. After being sick for three years, it’s easy to forget how active she used to be, and how much fun she had just running around and doing doggie stuff.

Chickens in the backyard

On By stefrobrtsIn chickens2 Comments

Chickens exploring the backyard. I let them out to wander around under the backyard trees, hunt for bugs. It was a beautiful day.

While the girls are pecking around, all you see are chicken butts, but this guy keeps his head up watching for hawks.

He has really grown into a spectacular rooster, and he’s never made so much as a move at me, though he did fuss at me once when I picked up one of the girls, but he didn’t attack.

Rest in Peace, little Pup

On By stefrobrtsIn alki, pets3 Comments

Just yesterday I posted how Alki seemed to be feeling great. I’m glad she had a great day and came out and enjoyed the sun, because today she woke up with a badly swollen leg. We watched her until afternoon to see if it was temporary, but it was bothering her, and she kept coming to me for help. We took her to the vet and she confirmed that the cancer had blocked something. She was able to let her go while resting peacefully in my lap. Almost three years since the cancer diagnosis, and it was no easier even though we knew it was coming. But it was the right thing to do. We never wanted her to suffer, and the time had come to let her go.

Alki was almost 15, and we got her when she was 8 weeks old, in fact we met her litter while they were still blind and in the box with their mama, who was also a wonderful dog and convinced us she would have a great temperament. One of my favorite stories is how we met her. The breeder had two girl pups left, and we got to choose. She said ‘take them out on the lawn and play with them and see which one fits you better, but I recommend this one’ and handed us a pup. We took her out on the lawn and put her on the grass and Dave called her and she toddled over to him, and then I called her and she toddled back to me, and she was so sweet and adorable. Then we went back in and she handed us the other pup. We took this one out and Dave called her and as soon as I set her on the grass whoosh – she took off running – away! Dave jumped up and grabbed her and brought her back, and I called her, and as soon as her feet hit the grass – zoom – she ran away again! Dave caught her and we took her back inside, the puppy wriggling and trying to get away, and told the breeder – we’ll take this one! ‘Are you sure?’ she said, knowing the other one was sweet and mellow, and we were first-time owners. ‘Yup, this is the one’ 🙂

And she was. Beautiful, full of spunk and trouble, she was absolutely evil as a puppy, destructive and pesky. But she grew up to be loving, and a great friend, loved to pin us to the couch with a paw on each shoulder and try to drown us in kisses. She knew all her toys by name, learned tons of tricks, knew hand signals, and would have earned her CGC except we moved across the state the week before testing. She would ‘go find Daddy’, and loved to say hello at the door, and wasn’t happy until everyone was home. When we moved out in the country and she stepped on thorns, she would hobble over to me and hold her paw up for me to make it better. We eat dinner sitting at a low table, and she would sit on the floor between us for the best view of the plates and potential for leftovers. Every morning she would wake up and come find me for a hug.

We did what we could about the cancer. She never complained a bit, and trotted off willingly with the nurse for every treatment. She got a couple extra years, and a chance to grow into an old dog. I’m glad we were able to give her that time, and keep her comfortable and love her for as long as we did. I know she never went a day without knowing how much she was loved, and in the end I guess that’s the best any of us can hope for.

Rest in peace Sweetie, Beautiful, Pup, Alki.

Garden update – 1 more row

On By stefrobrtsIn garden, lawnmower2 Comments

One more row done – that’s three down and one more long row and one more short row to go. And of course this is just the compost layer. As soon as we get a chance to mow I’ll be laying on a layer of cut grass. On this latest row, halfway through I ran out of the chicken compost and had to switch to the llama compost.

And I moved the llama compost from the driveway to the garden with my new lawnmower! Yay! It also mowed a little path through the field to pull the trailer through, and did fine. Too bad it can’t shovel compost for me – I’m afraid I’m the weak link in getting more work done around here!

Alki update

On By stefrobrtsIn alki, mighty, pets1 Comment
Alki on the porch with Mighty (when she was at the vet hospital they had to shave spots on both her front legs for the IV – so she looks like she’s wearing furry boots until the hair grows back)
Alki is hanging in there. Everyone is over their doggie colds, though Alki still gets a bit of a cough now and then. She’s definitely feeling better, and is even downright perky sometimes. I thought for sure her time was about up, but she’s like the energizer bunny, she just keeps going…