On Memorial Day I got up early to take Joe to the High School because the marching band was participating in the day's festivities. As I drove in the driveway I noticed Mocha, one of our ponies in the yard. At her side was something small and brown. Was it a goat? No it was a colt! I immediately called Joe on his cell phone and said, "You won't believe what is in the yard." Then I went inside and told everyone else. Of course then we had to run outside, to great the baby and congratulate Mocha. The colt was very new - just a few hours old. He was very wobbly. We kept asking ourselves, when did she get pregnant? Who's the father? After all, we had Mocha at the boy Scout camp last summer.
Just a few weeks earlier, I had mentioned that Mocha looked pregnant. Dennis and Joe responded, "Gnaw she always looks fat." I didn't buy it, but it wasn't an argument I could win, so I let it go. Luckily, the night before, Dennis pulled Mocha out of the paddock with the other horses and made her a small pen in the shaded grass next to the house. It was a nice clean place to give birth and she was safe and sound all by herself.
A few weeks later, we had the vet out to check on another horse and we found out that our gelding pony Minor, wasn't a gelding at all. He still had one testicle. So he's the sire and now he really is a gelding. Mom and colt are doing well and have free run of the farm.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Easter Angels
We had a warm Easter by Minnesota standards. No snow o n the ground, sunny skies, and a hint of green in the grass. Somehow we managed to get everyone up and dressed in their Easter clothes and to church in time for the 8:00 a.m. service. Believe me, that is a first for us. Tyler wore shorts and Mackenzie wore a sleeveless dress in our balmy 58 degree weather. After the service, the youth group hosted a breakfast down in the fellowship hall. Back home, we changed into our farm clothes and presented the younger kids with Easter baskets, while Joe hid the eggs around the farm for an Easter egg hunt. How fun to actually be able to run around collecting eggs on a warm, dry, sunny day. That just doesn't' happen here very often.
After a lunch of candy and hard boiled eggs, we all went outside. I tilled the garden and planted those fruit trees I wrote about. In the midst of planting a car pulled up in the driveway. It wasn't a car I recognized and I couldn't imagine who it could be on an Easter Sunday. Two men visiting from Kuwait were driving around the countryside looking for a lamb to butcher and they wondered if we had any available. Our new friend and neighbor, Willis, had sent them to us and they probably saw the sheep in the pasture. We don't have any lambs available. And we tried to explain that we raise sheep for wool and because it is so cold here in Minnesota, we don't lamb early enough in the year to supply the Easter lamb market.
I ran inside and got on the computer, trying to find names, addresses, and phone numbers of local farmers who I thought might have a market lamb ready to butcher. While I was searching for information, Dennis and the kids had a nice chat with our visitors. It turns out they had just arrived in Minnesota and were here seeking medical care at the Mayo clinic in Rochester. even though they had only been here a short while, they had already observed that the people in Rochester weren't as open and friendly as the people out in the country. So they liked getting out of town and driving around the countryside. They teased us about being outside and working on a Christian holiday. We responded that the weather was just too nice and we all wanted to be outside enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. We talked about Halal markets and Muslim butchering practices. How important it is to kill an animal quickly so that it doesn't experience fear and pain, and to thank God for the sacrifice. We offered them some chickens we had in the freezer, but they declined. We said our good byes and they were on their way. What an unexpected gift of friendship and conversation.
Later that afternoon, we packed an Easter plate for our 89 year-old neighbor, Laurel. We included two different kinds of bread, Easter cookies, and some candy. Vincent, Tyler, and I drove down to her house to wish her a happy Easter. While we were visiting, Vincent invited Laurel to dinner at our house. I really respect his kindness and generosity. After taking a quick peak at her dairy goats and laying chickens, we returned home to get dinner ready. Laurel needed to eat by 5:30 so that she could get back home to milk the goats. We cooked a 22 lb. turkey that we'd gotten last fall from another farm, made mashed Yukon gold potatoes and gravy, steamed fresh asparagus, and fresh fruit salad. Pretty simple really. It was fun sharing a meal with Laurel. She's great company and we are all enjoying getting to know her. So this year three unexpected guests shared Easter with us and I have to believe they're our Easter angels.
After a lunch of candy and hard boiled eggs, we all went outside. I tilled the garden and planted those fruit trees I wrote about. In the midst of planting a car pulled up in the driveway. It wasn't a car I recognized and I couldn't imagine who it could be on an Easter Sunday. Two men visiting from Kuwait were driving around the countryside looking for a lamb to butcher and they wondered if we had any available. Our new friend and neighbor, Willis, had sent them to us and they probably saw the sheep in the pasture. We don't have any lambs available. And we tried to explain that we raise sheep for wool and because it is so cold here in Minnesota, we don't lamb early enough in the year to supply the Easter lamb market.
I ran inside and got on the computer, trying to find names, addresses, and phone numbers of local farmers who I thought might have a market lamb ready to butcher. While I was searching for information, Dennis and the kids had a nice chat with our visitors. It turns out they had just arrived in Minnesota and were here seeking medical care at the Mayo clinic in Rochester. even though they had only been here a short while, they had already observed that the people in Rochester weren't as open and friendly as the people out in the country. So they liked getting out of town and driving around the countryside. They teased us about being outside and working on a Christian holiday. We responded that the weather was just too nice and we all wanted to be outside enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. We talked about Halal markets and Muslim butchering practices. How important it is to kill an animal quickly so that it doesn't experience fear and pain, and to thank God for the sacrifice. We offered them some chickens we had in the freezer, but they declined. We said our good byes and they were on their way. What an unexpected gift of friendship and conversation.
Later that afternoon, we packed an Easter plate for our 89 year-old neighbor, Laurel. We included two different kinds of bread, Easter cookies, and some candy. Vincent, Tyler, and I drove down to her house to wish her a happy Easter. While we were visiting, Vincent invited Laurel to dinner at our house. I really respect his kindness and generosity. After taking a quick peak at her dairy goats and laying chickens, we returned home to get dinner ready. Laurel needed to eat by 5:30 so that she could get back home to milk the goats. We cooked a 22 lb. turkey that we'd gotten last fall from another farm, made mashed Yukon gold potatoes and gravy, steamed fresh asparagus, and fresh fruit salad. Pretty simple really. It was fun sharing a meal with Laurel. She's great company and we are all enjoying getting to know her. So this year three unexpected guests shared Easter with us and I have to believe they're our Easter angels.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Seeds and Trees
Growing up in southern California, we had a yearly pilgrimage to the apricot orchards two hours away. We would pick apricots and bring home lugs of fruit that my mom would make into jams a nd preserves. Of course we would eat apricots until we were sick. When I lived in Northern California, I continued that tradition. I have fond memories of standing on my tip toes in the crotch of the tree to reach just one more ripe apricot. I continued the tradition of making jams, preserves, and apricot butter. I even went a step further and made fruit leather and dried a year's worth of apricots on screens placed on the roof. After almost thirty years in Minnesota, its hard to believe there could be such an arid climate.
So I know a peach tree is not an apricot tree. I want apricot trees. In January, I ordered two very special apricot trees - a new variety developed by Rutgers University that is both sweet and hardy. "Sugar Pearls" is only carried b y Henry Fields and Gurneys (they seem to be the same company). It was in stock when I placed the order. But this past week, we got the notice to go down to the post office to pick up two oversized packages. Gurneys sent the two tomcot trees I orderd. But without any notice, Henry Fields sent two peach trees. They sent two peach trees that aren't even hardy here. I called customer service and talked to someone in India who has ablsolutely no idea how important these trees are to me. He informs me that Henry Fields is all sold out for the year, but they would be happy to keep my money and fufill the order next year. Are you crazy? Then he said they could refund me $69.00 which was the cost of the two trees. I had to point out to him that there was also a $13.95 shipping fee and my credit card had been charged $82.95. The call ended with him stating that Henry Fields would refund my money but that the refund wouldn't appear on my credit card statement for two to three weeks. What are the chances I'm really going to get a refund? I offered to send back the two peach trees. He said keep them. The biggest difficulty getting a new orchard started is getting the stock. Mail order companies can be wonderful to deal with and they can also be terribly frustrating. I am so disappointed. I could taste those apricots.
Luckily, there is a local company that helps make planting a spring garden a truly joyful experience. We now live an hour away from the Albert Lea Seed House. I used to drive three hours for their customer service and the experience. Every time I'm there, I imagine what it must have been like back in the early 1900's to go to town and pick up supplies. When you walk in there's a sign in desk for gardeners and one for farmers. In the past I was a farmer. This year, I'm a gardner. Yes, its busy like the best deli, or meat market, or bakery. You wait your turn. But then you get served.
Some people, like me come with their list all made out. Others wander the isles. There are farmers, amish, and garderners. We all have our favorite varieties. There's a huge chalkboard on one wall, listing the current prices and availability for corn, soybeans, grains, and grasses. Albert Lea Seed House is inclusive. They have conventional seed and they have an ever increasing line of organic seed. They also stock many of the soil ammendments I need. They individually pack vegetable and flower seed varieties in 1/4 oz. to 5 lb. packages. Its rows of seeds, soil ammendments, and animal supplies.
It is so exhuberating to be at a seed store. Look around and you see the farmers sitting on stools at the barrels. This is their livelihood. Maybe their favorite variety of corn isn't avaialable. Do they risk trying something new or wait for the old standby to come in. It is serious business on that side of the store, but there is also time for chit chat. On the vegetable seed isles, I exhange places with an amish man. Everyone on this isle is serious too. In these difficult economic times, these little seed packets will provide our family with most of our food. It's not the year to make many "fun" choices. But I managed to slip in a small packet of Dill's Atlantic Pumpkin into the basket. (They're the giant pumpkins)
Once we know what we want for soil ammendments, Tom tells us what's in stock and Randy pulls the 50lb bags for us, neatly stack them on big old fashioned wooden dollies, and loads them into our car. They are even willing to break those 50 lb bags and sell customers like me, 2 lb. of white dutch clover. There's been years when I've put together my own mix of beneficial plants to edge the garden and they cheerfully oblidged my request for a little of this and a little of that. To top it off, they offer my kids a piece of candy as we leave. This is customer service and this is a company that knows how to change with the times. Bravo!
On the way home, I can't help but notice the empty grain elevators. They're in business, but they're empty. When I call the elevators around us, asking for diatomacious earth, kelp, Redmond salt, blood meal, bone, meal, dolomite, greed sande, and rock phosphate - all they can say is "What's that? I've never heard of it." They only know how to serve the big farmers using traditional methods. Albert Lea Seed House even carries Mycorrhizal fungi. I couldn't ask for more.
So I know a peach tree is not an apricot tree. I want apricot trees. In January, I ordered two very special apricot trees - a new variety developed by Rutgers University that is both sweet and hardy. "Sugar Pearls" is only carried b y Henry Fields and Gurneys (they seem to be the same company). It was in stock when I placed the order. But this past week, we got the notice to go down to the post office to pick up two oversized packages. Gurneys sent the two tomcot trees I orderd. But without any notice, Henry Fields sent two peach trees. They sent two peach trees that aren't even hardy here. I called customer service and talked to someone in India who has ablsolutely no idea how important these trees are to me. He informs me that Henry Fields is all sold out for the year, but they would be happy to keep my money and fufill the order next year. Are you crazy? Then he said they could refund me $69.00 which was the cost of the two trees. I had to point out to him that there was also a $13.95 shipping fee and my credit card had been charged $82.95. The call ended with him stating that Henry Fields would refund my money but that the refund wouldn't appear on my credit card statement for two to three weeks. What are the chances I'm really going to get a refund? I offered to send back the two peach trees. He said keep them. The biggest difficulty getting a new orchard started is getting the stock. Mail order companies can be wonderful to deal with and they can also be terribly frustrating. I am so disappointed. I could taste those apricots.
Luckily, there is a local company that helps make planting a spring garden a truly joyful experience. We now live an hour away from the Albert Lea Seed House. I used to drive three hours for their customer service and the experience. Every time I'm there, I imagine what it must have been like back in the early 1900's to go to town and pick up supplies. When you walk in there's a sign in desk for gardeners and one for farmers. In the past I was a farmer. This year, I'm a gardner. Yes, its busy like the best deli, or meat market, or bakery. You wait your turn. But then you get served.
Some people, like me come with their list all made out. Others wander the isles. There are farmers, amish, and garderners. We all have our favorite varieties. There's a huge chalkboard on one wall, listing the current prices and availability for corn, soybeans, grains, and grasses. Albert Lea Seed House is inclusive. They have conventional seed and they have an ever increasing line of organic seed. They also stock many of the soil ammendments I need. They individually pack vegetable and flower seed varieties in 1/4 oz. to 5 lb. packages. Its rows of seeds, soil ammendments, and animal supplies.
It is so exhuberating to be at a seed store. Look around and you see the farmers sitting on stools at the barrels. This is their livelihood. Maybe their favorite variety of corn isn't avaialable. Do they risk trying something new or wait for the old standby to come in. It is serious business on that side of the store, but there is also time for chit chat. On the vegetable seed isles, I exhange places with an amish man. Everyone on this isle is serious too. In these difficult economic times, these little seed packets will provide our family with most of our food. It's not the year to make many "fun" choices. But I managed to slip in a small packet of Dill's Atlantic Pumpkin into the basket. (They're the giant pumpkins)
Once we know what we want for soil ammendments, Tom tells us what's in stock and Randy pulls the 50lb bags for us, neatly stack them on big old fashioned wooden dollies, and loads them into our car. They are even willing to break those 50 lb bags and sell customers like me, 2 lb. of white dutch clover. There's been years when I've put together my own mix of beneficial plants to edge the garden and they cheerfully oblidged my request for a little of this and a little of that. To top it off, they offer my kids a piece of candy as we leave. This is customer service and this is a company that knows how to change with the times. Bravo!
On the way home, I can't help but notice the empty grain elevators. They're in business, but they're empty. When I call the elevators around us, asking for diatomacious earth, kelp, Redmond salt, blood meal, bone, meal, dolomite, greed sande, and rock phosphate - all they can say is "What's that? I've never heard of it." They only know how to serve the big farmers using traditional methods. Albert Lea Seed House even carries Mycorrhizal fungi. I couldn't ask for more.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Chat and Chew Cafe
Saturday mornings usually bring a break in the daily routine of getting up early and rushing around to get to work on time. But today was an exception. Joseph and his confirmation class boarded a bus at 6:00 a.m. to drive up to Minneapolis an inner city experience. They'll be working with kids in south Minneapolis, preparing breakfast at a soup kitchen, and sleeping at a homeless shelter. This is my old stomping ground, and even though Joe has spent lots of time in the city, I'm grateful that Pastor Dennis organizes this event. It wasn't just Joe that had an early morning wake up call. Vincent was at a middle school lock-in at the Preston Middle School about twenty miles away. He needed to be picked up at 7:00 a.m. So the alarms were set for 5:00 a.m. and we got everyone up and dressed and out the door to deliver Joe to church and then off to Preston to pick up Vincent.
Of course, when we were half way to Preston, Vincent called reminding us that we needed to pick him up. Dennis loves to tease, so he acted like he was still in bed and had totally forgotten. We could hear the disappointment in his voice, since he thought it would be another 45 minutes before someone would fetch him.
Once we had Vincent in the car, we thought it would be fun to go out to breakfast. We drove to Lanesboro and had breakfast at the Chew and Chat cafe. To my surprise, our waitress was Jessica, one of my students. What a fun connection! Small town cafes are a world all their own. This one was filled with all the good old boys talking weather, taxes, politics, farming, and the rising Red River up north over their morning coffee. It really is nice to have someone else make the pancakes and hash browns.
Once home, Vincent crashed on the couch and the rest of us went to work. Dennis and Tyler in the barn and Mac and I in the house. We washed and packed eggs, cleaned the kitchen and dining room, and got ready to start seeds. Our good friend Andy, drove down from Farmington to spend the day with us. It was good to see him and share a meal together. He and Dennis messed about in the barn, groomed some horses, cut down some dead trees, and got hay.
I haven't been in the mood to start seeds until now. I finally got all receipts entered and the financial records organized so our accountant can prepare our taxes. With that behind me, I am ready to think about Spring. So with some help from Tyler, I started tomatoes, eggplant, and some herbs. Now I need to figure out a schedule for starting the rest of the seeds. And oh yeah, I need to call the sheep shearer - we've got to get the sheep sheared.
Of course, when we were half way to Preston, Vincent called reminding us that we needed to pick him up. Dennis loves to tease, so he acted like he was still in bed and had totally forgotten. We could hear the disappointment in his voice, since he thought it would be another 45 minutes before someone would fetch him.
Once we had Vincent in the car, we thought it would be fun to go out to breakfast. We drove to Lanesboro and had breakfast at the Chew and Chat cafe. To my surprise, our waitress was Jessica, one of my students. What a fun connection! Small town cafes are a world all their own. This one was filled with all the good old boys talking weather, taxes, politics, farming, and the rising Red River up north over their morning coffee. It really is nice to have someone else make the pancakes and hash browns.
Once home, Vincent crashed on the couch and the rest of us went to work. Dennis and Tyler in the barn and Mac and I in the house. We washed and packed eggs, cleaned the kitchen and dining room, and got ready to start seeds. Our good friend Andy, drove down from Farmington to spend the day with us. It was good to see him and share a meal together. He and Dennis messed about in the barn, groomed some horses, cut down some dead trees, and got hay.
I haven't been in the mood to start seeds until now. I finally got all receipts entered and the financial records organized so our accountant can prepare our taxes. With that behind me, I am ready to think about Spring. So with some help from Tyler, I started tomatoes, eggplant, and some herbs. Now I need to figure out a schedule for starting the rest of the seeds. And oh yeah, I need to call the sheep shearer - we've got to get the sheep sheared.
Friday, March 20, 2009
The First Day of Spring
Its the first day of Spring. A fine time to start a farm blog. Don't you think? Most of the snow melted away on Monday and each day since then, there have been more and more blades of grass turning green. The sheep venture out in search of grass for the first time. The laying hens began scratching digging up worms in the horse pasture.This would be hardly noticeable to someone living in a more temperate climate. But here in Minnesota, I am acutely aware of each and every little sign that we are emerging from a long, cold winter. The sun is brighter, the days are longer, baby chicks and five puppies are on the porch, kittens are in the upstairs bathroom, two lambs are in the barn. Even though I know we are likely to get more snow and even below zero wind chills, opening a window for the first time in five months is truly a celebration. Just as the animals are coming alive, I feel my energy and creativity beginning to return.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
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