June 5, 2013

I'm pretty sure I've told you before that I don't think I could ever live in the city again.  That said, this week on the farm has had its highs and lows.  Last Friday, we processed our first round of chickens (they are delicious, by the way).  Of the 200 we started the season with, we put 40 of them in the cooler.  Pretty disheartening.  This breed of bird is just so fragile that it doesn't handle the temperature swings in April well at all.  Instead of dying quickly, we lost 4-5 a day - stress messes with animals; people, too.

Of the surviving birds, there were several my mother-in-law deemed "not even good enough for the stock pot."  We were able to supply a few local customers and stock our freezer for the next couple months.  A huge thank you to those that were willing to wait on your chickens.  Chick-a-paloozza 2013 has been rescheduled for Monday, June 24th.  Those that had chickens reserved, I'll be contacting you about times, etc.  If you'd like to reserve chickens or be added to the delivery run, let me know.  I'll be going through Hutchinson, Greensburg, Pratt, and Wichita.

We've also had terrible predation in the pullet house.  Kurt's ready to seriously research livestock guardian dogs.  If you have any connections, please let us know.

On the upside, we do have 200 chickens on pasture that are thriving - Kurt's redesigned the pens and they are free-ranging more.  We also have 200 chicks in the brooder - 100 Cornish Crosses and 100 Freedom Rangers.  We'll see if the Rangers are a little sturdier. 

Had a little excitement at the brooder the other night.  It's never good when Kurt's doing evening chores and calls me.  "Andi, you and Alison need to get your boots on and meet me at the brooder."  Click.  We get out there and there were about 20 chicks running around on the ground around and under the brooder - and a cat nearby. . . . It was time for a chicken rodeo!  Ever see the episode of iCarly where they lose 6 chicks and search the apartment frantically - yeah, we were nothing like that.  We were so much more efficient and no one got stuck!!

I think I told you there were ups and downs.  The up has been rain - almost 2 inches in the last 2 weeks or so.  Oh my!  The roads are soft (and tricky to drive on), there's mud every where and it is glorious!  We don't have precise records but we're pushing 7 inches of moisture for the year so far which is what we had all of last year and in 2011.  I can't remember the last time we started June off wet.  It's also been wonderfully cool.  It's June 5th and the high today was 65.  Not been great tomato weather but our lettuces have been loving it.  I'm now hooked on fresh salad greens.  I usually buy the organic stuff in the store.  No more - I've been spoiled and may never eat iceberg lettuce again!  That green house has to be operational by fall so I can have my salad in the winter (now I sound like Rapunzel's mother). 

Baby pigs are just about ready to wean.  They are funny looking little guys with those mini wattles and are the grunting-ist little buggers.  They're nests are near the road and neighbors have said they've wandered under the fence more than once.  Maybe we need to post a livestock crossing sign?

Almost all the cows and heifers have calved this year. Those calves are ornery!  They don't herd well, like to run and often end up where they're not supposed to be  - like in my backyard.  Not a lot different than high school boys!

Our butcher beeves went to Krehbiels yesterday.  We still have some quarters (or halves or wholes) left.  Call or email me and we'll get your name on one.  These are nice looking beeves.  They've gotten fat on this good spring grass.  You will be very pleased with the steaks off of these - actually, you'll be pleased with all of it.  Since the animals are a little bigger, the total price will be closer to $550.

Turkeys are ordered and will be here mid-July.  Reserve yours for the holidays now.  I hate to turn people away the week before Thanksgiving.

We've had several visitors out to the farm this last month and expect several more during the next 3-4 weeks.  you're also welcome to come out and see what we do.  Just give us a holler.  Want another reason to come to the farm?  Our customer appreciation dinner is September 28.  We'll have food, tours, fellowship, live music, green grass??  Plan to be there!  If the rain keeps up, you'll get to see the countryside I fell in love with.

Grilling season has officially started and we have lots of options perfect for the grill:

*Chicken - we like to do ours on a beer can or pop can.  Easy and super moist.

*All kinds of links - beef brats, beer brats, hot dogs, sweet links, hot link.  Perfect on the grill or roasting over the fire.

*Burgers - beef or pork.  Our favorite is a handmade patty but we also stock a pre-made beef patty for super quick meals.

*Pork - chops, ribs, tenderloin, pork loin.  My mouth is watering just thinking about the possibilities. 

*K-bobs - that's what we had last night.  Divine!

*And , the ultimate grilling experience - a grassfed steak.  We don't have a bad steak but my favorite, hands down, is our fillet.  We don't go out much (kids, distance, hard to find good food) but our date nights at home almost always have a steak as the centerpiece.  Kurt has ruined me - I can't order a steak in a restaurant and enjoy it any more.

Upcoming delivery dates:

     *June 13 - Dodge City
     *June 18 - Dodge City
     *June 24 - Greensburg, Pratt, Hutchinson, Wichita  (Chick-a-palooza)

I'll send reminders as we get closer.

T-ball and softball season is in full swing although between the weather and camps, Allison has yet to play in a game.  It's been really pleasant to set out and watch games in the evenings.  I know the 100 degree weather is coming but I've enjoyed the 70's and 80's.

Even with lots of games and practices, it's been good to have the girls home and be on a little more relaxed schedule.  I've taken a little harder stance this summer and limited the girls to 2 hours of screen time per day - TV, computer, kindle.  There was a little grumbling at first - possibly a little withdrawl?  But then, a few days in, I overheard one of them say "I kind of like only having 2 hours.  it makes me do something else."  SCORE!  Before I get too smug, I am very aware that there is still a lot of summer left.  I've also been trying to do a better job of training the girls to help around the house.  They're old enough to help (and have been for awhile) and I'm going to need their help when school starts up again.  Once Natalie connected working with getting paid, I don't know how many times she asked "What else can I do?"  "Can I do an extra job?"

Family updates:

Miss Anna has had a big month.  She's no longer a preschooler and went to kindergarten round up.  She's mostly excited - a little apprehensive but excited.  She also had a gymnastics recital.  Because she's the littlest in her class and they lined up by height, she was the first in line when it was time to tumble.  She walked to the edge of the mat and did just what she was supposed to do.  Anna is play t-ball and "wants to win every game."  Hmmm. . . .wonder where she learned to be so competitive.  Kind of a tricky goal though since score is not officially kept in t-ball.

Natalie was pretty bummed at the beginning of the summer.  There weren't enough kids in town to play designated pitch this summer.  She's been looking forward to it since last summer.  She's handling the disappointment pretty well and is the unofficial manager for Anna's team.  Natalie is getting ready to go away to camp for the first time.  Pretty sure her Momma is more nervous than she is.

Allison is away at church camp this week and I've missed her help.  I don't realize how much I count on her to help with her sisters.  She'll be home Friday and then off to b-ball camp on Sunday for a few days.  When she gets home, it will be time to start getting serious about some 4-H projects.

Kurt is working a few hours a day off the farm and it has kept him hustling with chores here.  He'll get to help with harvest this summer and I think he's looking forward to it - he gets to help (there's just something about helping bring in the wheat) but doesn't have nay of the risk or responsibility.  In his few minutes of down time in the evening, Kurt's been rewatching episodes of "24" on his kindle.  Allison got the giggles when she first saw Kurt on his kindle - "it's just so 21st century for Dad."  Not that Kurt is a Luddite by any means but he's usually not an early adopter either.  (For the record, I do know that owning a kindle in 2013 does NOT in any way qualify us as early adopters!)

And me?  What am I up to?  Pretty much the same.  Planning and organizing the family and farm.  Oh and desperately trying to put the house (read, the basement) in order before I go back to work in August.  And not just dig out for a few weeks but actually develop discipline to keep it in order.  I stopped by the school yesterday and peeked in my room.  If I'm really honest, I'm more than a little excited to get to work in there.

May the rain be plentiful and your pastures be green!

Andi