October 2010

Wow! Where did October go? It's finally starting to feel like it might be fall. Now, if we'd just get a hard freeze and more rain, weather would be perfect on the farm.

The chickens (meat birds) are done for the season and it feels good to have this work behind us for another year. If you had told me three years ago that we would be raising 550 chickens this summer, I'd have thought you were crazy - now I'm pretty sure others think we are - I never know what to think when people in town call us the "chicken farmers." I'm learning to consider it a complement. We were really pleased with the response to our End of Season Special and will think about offering it again next year. We still have some whole chickens, cut-up chickens, wings, thighs, drumsticks and breasts. I also have 4-6 bags of carcasses for those of you interested in making some truly excellent broth.

I'm so excited - Kurt and I are headed to Indianapolis in December for the AcresUSA conference. We hope to learn lots during the 3-day conference. If nothing else, conferences and workshops like this give us a great opportunity to meet/visit with other people doing the same types of things we are. I'm a little nervous about flying though - we haven't flown since '98 or '99 and I have a little studying up to do on the new flight regulations before we pack.

Inspired by out upcoming trip, I've put down my fiction for awhile and have been reading lots of other good stuff - Joel Salatin, Wendell Berry, Farm City by Novella Carpenter, and Made from Scratch by Jenna Woginrich as well as a few books and blogs on gardening/homesteading. All thought provoking and helps reinforce that we're moving in the right direction, we just need to keep moving.

I have been floored by the number of new inquiries we have received during the past month. It's exciting to think that people (including myself) are starting to be more aware of where their food comes from. I wonder if there's been a specific article/news story or just a growing awareness.

This year's calves have been weaned - several times. The first time, neighbors helped and the calves were weaned across the fence, i.e. there was only a hot wire between the calves and their mommas. Apparently, several weren't really ready to be weaned and took down the hot wire. Kurt and a friend re-sorted them 2-3 days later. Kurt thought all was good - even moved the calves down the road a mile so they could enjoy a diet of older standing alfalfa, weeds (that's what our neighbors call them, we call those plants forage), and volunteer wheat. However, a couple (we're hoping that's all) young ones must not have liked the arrangements because they've found their way back to their mommas. Even with these minor frustrations, Kurt has commented more than once how much he prefers weaning across the fence to weaning calves in a dry lot (a bunch of calves standing around on dirt all day getting lots of feed hauled to them) - the animals seem less stressed and healthier.

A highlight of this month was the pig roast we hosted a few weeks ago. Kurt's brothers hauled a smoker from Topeka (a word to the wise, the turnpike charges you for a third axle no matter how small the axle might be) and we smoked a pig to celebrate Kurt's 40th plus a few months. We had a great time and the pork was amazing - definitely shaping up to be an annual event at the farm. A friend of Kurt's came 2-3 days ahead of time and did the butchering. I had flashbacks to Little House in the Big Woods - any Laura Ingalls Wilder fan know what I'm talking about - although I didn't make any head cheese. Ten years ago as a younger farm wife, I would have thought anyone who processed their own hogs (and chickens and turkeys) was nuts - meat comes from a store, right? However, something about raising this hog and processing it on the farm felt very right. While I wasn't actively involved in the process (this time?), I did go out several times that evening to observe and the "Ewww factor" just wasn't there for me. Later, there was a sense of thankfulness and bounty as we enjoyed the feast and shared leftover with many people (there's still 6 gallon baggies of pulled pork in our freezer!!)

Five more of our hogs are getting closer to being finished - a little later that what we had originally anticipated. All part of the learning curve, right? Kurt has plans to take them to the processor in December - they should be ready mid-Januaryish - if that's a word.

The turkeys aren't having any problem growing! Last week we decided it was time to get serious in our planning - it was no longer viable to let them all go until Thanksgiving. We needed to figure out how big the turkeys would be if we dressed them out now. So . . . I did a little research on dressed weight vs. live weight, bought a bathroom scale, had Kurt catch a turkey, weighed Kurt and the turkey, weighed Kurt, subtracted and figured our anticipated dressed weight. For my former students, this is an example of problem solving in action. Aren't you glad I never made you catch a live turkey?!

Anyway, I digress. If you reserved a turkey, expect a phone call in the next week. We've picked several dates and will harvest 5-7 on each of those dates. We know several of you were looking forward to a fresh bird for Thanksgiving. We also know that most of you are not interested in a 30 pound bird. We got these turkey as poults on the last delivery date available from the hatchery - two weeks later than we did last year. Next year, we'll order earlier (so we have a bigger choice of delivery dates) and make sure to go 2 weeks later. Joel Salatin says "anything worth doing is worth doing poorly at first." While I certainly hope you don't think we're doing a poor job, we'd agree that we are learning lots - sometimes more about what not to do than what to do. That said, we have about 10-12 turkeys still available. If you're interested, let me know. Turkeys (like chickens) have to be picked up on the farm. However, we have turkeys headed to Wichita and Olathe with family if you'd like to make a connection there.

I have decided that I have a new job description. Instead of telling people we farm and ranch (which we do), I have decided to tell people we raise healthy food for families. May not seem like a big idea on paper but it's part of the paradigm shift - we're not just raising a commodity product, we are raising quality food for for people.

I got to participate in a rodeo of sorts on Wednesday. Kurt had football practice and was going to be gone until after dark. Anna, Natalie and I were headed to town and found a calf out (one of those that had to be weaned multiple times). I knew he probably wouldn't go far, his buddies were just across the fence but I also knew Kurt wouldn't be able to check on a black calf after dark. So. . . .I turned the suburban around and began to think about what to do - trying to recall all the livestock handling directions I've received (very little) and wishing very hard Allison was with us - she knows what to do. I got out of the sub and was thinking hard about how to proceed - lower the fence first or go after the calf - when our neighbor comes down the road. At first, I think he thought my wave was just friendly and then he slowed down when he realized that my wave actually had just a bit of frantic farm wife in it. Thankfully, he answered my plea -I still owe him a piece of pie.

"Jerry, what can I do to help?"

"Just hang here." (To translate, that's polite farmerspeak for "stay out of the way or you might screw this up.")

So, I stayed put (mostly) and watched. I did move a little when the calf looked like he was thinking about making a break for open country. I think I just wanted to feel like I was being useful since cheering might have startled the whole herd. The calf went in with very few problems and while we were walking back to the vehicles and my disgruntled children, I tripped and ended up on my knees in a pile of stickers swearing loudly, - me, who substitutes the word "Pickles" so my girls won't pick up on bad habits. Still not sure which shattered my dignity, falling or swearing - I better make it a big piece of pie. Maybe some day, I'll be skilled enough in livestock handling to gracefully help.

Kurt and I tend to be lazy gardeners. This fall, we're taking it to a new level. We (mostly Kurt, I was making pretzels at the time) moved out the tomato cages, put up a hot wire and turned the piggies loose. It took them a few days to make their way clear over to the garden - Allison tired sooo hard that first evening to lead them. The pigs have started rooting round and munching on the old plants. We hope they'll till the garden some for us. Once they got some soil turned, the turkeys were there in full force pecking in the dirt. Not sure what they found but it must have been tasty!

A couple of things as we near the end of the year. I want to remind you of our loyal customer program. Those of you that have purchased over $500 worth of Dale Family Farms products in 2010 will receive a voucher for 5% off one order in 2011. Those purchasing over $1000 in 2010 will receive 2 vouchers for 5% off 2 separate orders in 2011. We appreciate your support.

Think about giving Dale Family Farms products for Christmas. We offer a few sampler packages or we are willing to do gift certificates for any amount you'd like.

Quickie family updates. Halloween was a good time last night and all of us joined in on the fun. Allison was a scarecrow (after thinking for weeks that she was planning on being Pippi Longstocking). Natalie was Princess Fiona dressed in street clothes for her wedding. Anna was Super Bunny - sans ears - she wouldn't leave them on. Kurt and I went as each other (see the picture and check out the details). Not sure why Kurt felt like he had to tell everyone who he was - I guess he felt like he needed to explain the capris. After a busy month, we had a good time just hanging out together.

Allison and Natalie keep growing - their momma thinks they need to stop - and had a great time running with their friends at the pig roast. Sometimes it's not until their friends are here do they fully appreciate how much room they have to roam. I think Allison enjoyed playing football most and Natalie stepped it up when Anna had an accident. Natalie and a friend took care of it because she thought I was busy. "Natalie, do you need some help?" "I have it under control."
With fall in full force, Kurt is either going to have to start cutting some firewood or Anna is going to have to start leaving her clothes on during the day!

The football team played their last game Thursday night. Kurt had a great time and even though he'll be able to get more done in an afternoon, he'll miss the time on the field. How many days until next season, Coach Smith?

Forensics season started early this year with the Once Act play - only 233 hours until our first performance and only 4 full rehearsals so far. I'm planning on being amazed tomorrow night with how many lines are memorized. I have no doubt that "The Suessification of Romeo and Juliet" will be a hit!

Hoping your fall is a good one!