January Newsletter
Hello From the Farm!
I have been thinking of warmer days..............but none could be prettier than today. The sunshine makes the ground happy, I am convinced! Some spots are a little greener, but ice and snow are forecasted the later part of the week. But March is right around the corner!! My grandmother would admonish me for "wishing my life away". Not my life Nana, just wintertime!
Farm Chores and Lessons
The other day we weaned calves. It was a family-shared task. We all worked together to move the cows to the lot. Thank goodness for muck boots. We needed muck clothes before it was all said and done. Our son Ben handled the bulk of the work, cutting the calves from the cows in the lot. He did an excellent job! Long ago he passed me as second in command, now Andy better watch his back!! Ben has an eye for the top. The calves were seperated into an adjoining field so they can still see the cows (moms) but can't get to them. This reduces stress on the calf as well as the mother cow. They don't loose as much weight and transition to being on their own much easier. The calves were also weaned onto the last pasture left. They will eat through that before starting on hay. Unless you are familiar with farming, you might not know how big of a deal that is: to still have pasture in January!! Another benefit of rotational grazing!
Our tutelage of small ruminant animals such as sheep and goats is on-going!! The other day Andy took a large round bale of hay to the sheep and goats. Our bull is kept with the sheep and goats when we don't need him to service the cows. He enjoys throwing his weight around mightly!! The round bale of hay is usually what he chooses to push around. He knocked over the bale of hay. Two days later Andy noticed he knocked it over on 2 goats! One of which was a favorite. Some days I would rather have knowledge instead of education.
Farm Club Deliveries and Specials
Wednesday, February 10th 5-5:45 p.m. Mena Farmer's Market location
Thursday, February 11th 5-5:45p.m. Texarkana Gateway Farmer's Market location
Little Rock: nothing confirmed yet, we are looking into joining the online famers' market
Special #1 $20
1 package (approx. 1 lb) pork cutlets (boneless cut out of ham)
1 package beef minute steak (tenderized round)
1 pound ground beef
1 pound pork sausage
Special #2 $30
2 packages pork chops (4 chops) approx. 2 lbs
2 packages pork steaks (4 steaks)
1 package smoked sausage links (4 links, 1 lb)
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In 2006 we decided to change our farming practices. The decision was based on health; that of ourselves, our families, our animals and our place here on earth. Previous to this, I had been intensively studying any and all information about the benefits of grass-fed meats, dairy and eggs, basically whole foods. Since then, numerous health related stories of risk and death as a result of our industrial food system has circulated. I no longer study and research to convince myself, as we bear out the benefits daily. However, we do subscribe to numerous magazine and publications that share this love of farming. One such magazine is Mother Earth News. I wanted to include a link to some easy, yummy bread recipes from the latest issue. Hope this helps for the icy, cold weather ahead.
Enjoy the week, be blessed and refreshed!
Tracy
