September 2010

Fall is finally here. It took a long time for the weather to cool off but the last week has been very pleasant AND we had a half inch of rain last week. The rain doesn't fix the dry weather but it helps. A recent conversation heard before it rained:

Andi: So, you think it's going to rain?

Kurt: Probably. (wait a beat) And if we're lucky it'll happen before I die.

First job of a farmer is to be an optimist - good to know Kurt has this one covered.

We finished the farmers' market season last weekend at Coldwater. We really enjoyed being in Coldwater this summer - it gave us a chance to tell local people about what we are doing and visit with neighbors. We look forward to making plans for next spring.

A quick farmers' market story. For those of you who don't know, Anna has been potty training this summer. There is a bathroom available near the park but it's a block away - a long walk for an urgent 2-year old. Soooo . . . . we've been packing the potty. Anna thinks she's hot stuff climbing into the back of the suburban to use her little potty - I'm not so sure but this was my best solution.

Anna's pretty comfortable in the car. She and I have done quite a bit of traveling this month - football games, meat deliveries, doctor's appointments, etc.

Our suburban isn't pretty - we bought it used last summer - but it is serviceable (I can haul meat, kids, meat & kids) and it is paid for (I admit, we're Dave Ramsey fans and intend to make our debt free phone call in the next 6 months). Kurt and I were on our way to Woodward to celebrate our 13th anniversary and we got to watch the odometer turn over 200,000 miles. We'd taken back roads part way so Kurt could scope out a tractor route. I made Kurt slow down and then stop and take a picture - hey, we're on a budget and are always looking for cheap entertainment. Don't know if I can get the picture off my phone but I have proof. Wonder if we'll see 300,000?

I need your help - especially those of you who like to cook. I have many, many cups of cooked chicken meat (either from leftovers or from cooking cooking carcasses after cutting them up). Any great recipes out there - something to use this chicken up? I've got chicken and noodles under control, going to try a pot pie, enjoying chicken tacos and fajitas. Any other ideas to mix it up?

Speaking of chickens, Kurt wants me to mention the great help we've had this summer and how varied they've been. The list includes: our pastor, my good friend and her son, several college students (one we didn't even know, she just came with a friend), a high school kid or two, a newspaper editor (ok, from our local paper), another mom friend and her 3 boys (who had the best time!), Kurt's folks, our girls. . . . And it seems like every time we get worried about help (ok, I worry, Kurt's an optimist, remember), someone new offers to pitch in. With all the good help, our freezers are well stocked and we've decided to offer and end of the season special. If you buy 4 chickens, cut up or whole, we'll give you a grass-fed chuck roast for free.

You have one more opportunity to purchase fresh chicken on October 9. We also have chickens in the freezer and are now offering cut up chickens. I had enough people asking me if we cut up chickens, I decided it was time to give it a shot. I'm getting faster (yes, I time myself) and my pieces are getting prettier (no metric to measure my improvement here). We're now offering several options:

*4 thighs at $3/pound

*4 drumsticks at $4/pound

*4 wings at $4/pound

*2 boneless, skinless breasts at $8/pound

*1 chicken cut into 8 pieces at $5/pound

*back/bones for stock at $1.50/pound

The turkeys are getting a new shelter today. Kurt has cleaned the back porch off enough times (they like to roost there), that he's (finally) ready to find a plan B. I think he's talked the girls into helping him herd them in at night. Allison was a very willing volunteer - she's quickly becoming our chief turkey wrangler. The turkeys have taken to hanging out in the plum thickets over 1/4 mile from the house - I think the grasshoppers are pretty thick there. Last night, I helped Allison get them across the road and then she herded almost 30 turkeys 1/4 mile through the hay field to the yard. We have more turkeys than this but they think they're chickens and tend to hang out near the hen house instead. We're still taking reservations for turkeys if you're interested.

Our layers set a new farm record last week - 63 eggs in one day. Possibly more. The pullets (young layers) are still hiding eggs in the pasture. Farm fresh eggs beat anything you can find in the store.

Kurt is getting ready to take steers to the processor in a few weeks. We've given a deadline of October 5 if you'd like to reserve a 1/4, 1/2 or whole so we can finalize our plans with the processor. For pricing information, see our FAQ's page. We'll have our freezers stocked if there's anything you need through the winter. However, 1/4's won't be available again until spring when there's green grass.

Hogs are getting closer to being ready to process. Since we purchased 3 different sizes of pigs, they'll be ready at different times. We have a few different purchasing options available: 1/2 ($120 + processing) or a whole ($240 + processing), a pork bundle ($100 for various cuts, see our price page) or by the cut (also on our price page). Pork will be a learning experience this fall - hoping we don't add many more chapters to the book on what NOT to do.

We're getting to enjoy some of the pork soon. Kurt turned 40 last month and in a few weeks we're going to celebrate with a pig roast. Originally, we were going to go old school and dig a pit. However, it's been so dry and Kurt would just soon not burn up our pastures so his brother is bringing a large smoker. I'm planning on leftovers for awhile!

We had an opportunity to participate in a tasting party in Pratt last week. It went really well and we enjoyed the chance to visit with people concerned about the quality of their food and how it's raised.

I'm sooo excited - I got a new book in the mail - The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer by Joel Salatin. I've read several of his other books - some are specific "how to" books about poultry or farming and others are just good reads. If you haven't heard of Salatin, do a quick search. When Anna was tiny, Kurt and I had the opportunity to participate in a 2-day workshop where he was the featured speaker. Truly an amazing speaker and thinker.

About to experiment a little this afternoon. We are out of ground beef (again!) and our family will need some before our beef is ready in November. We do have some extra round steak though AND my mother-in-law just happens to have an old fashioned meat grinder in her basement. Do you see where I'm headed? Yep, going to try grinding some fajita strips into ground beef - might be a little lean for a hamburger patty but should work well for dishes that use ground beef. I'll let you know how it goes.

One more mini-commercial. We are in the process of putting together a couple of Christmas samples for $35-$40 that could make a great gift!

Family updates:

Anna has become her daddy's "lil' buddy" since her sisters started school Once or twice a week, Anna goes out to help Kurt, either going for parts, driving the tractor or her favorite, checking cattle.

Natalie has become quite the social butterfly since school has started. Any time we're out and about, someone is saying "Hi Natalie!" Her take on situations is also interesting. Recently, she asked me "Am I getting on your nerds (nerves)?" To which I could only laugh - even though she was!

Allison brought home a recorder on Monday and knows 2 notes. Today, she'll learn a song that uses both! She's very excited (involved in music in several ways) but she has to practice outside or in her room so she doesn't get on my "nerds."

Kurt is halfway through the football season. The team's record is 1-3 but boy can you see the players grow as a team and as young men.

And me, mostly, I've worked this month to keep the balls in the air - farm, business, kids, family, husband, laundry, meals . . . .and only managed to drop 1 or 2 of the balls.

Allison: Mom, why didn't you take me to Bible study yesterday (yesterday being a day we processed chickens, had gymnastics and a football game).

Me: I forgot. . .

Yep, every day provides new opportunities for this recovering perfectionist to remember she's human.

Andi