I hope to post pics tomorrow after moving everyone around. Abigail's fair turkeys have been in our starter tub since she received them on March 15th. They are getting pretty big & tall now and really need to move to larger quarters, so today Dan finished putting the turkey coop back together. Tomorrow, the four of them move in.
I will clean out the starter tub and then move Rockie and her two chicks into that for awhile. Chester & Spot are less than a week old, but when they are about 2 weeks old, I'll probably take Rockie back to the coop for two reasons. Number 1) I hope that she will hatch another clutch of eggs & 2) I hope to have more chicks to put in with them. Will see about ordering them tomorrow!
Dan is going to expand my chicken coop and I may keep as many as 3 dozen laying hens. I am very excited about progressing with the eggs business so I need to get moving on it! Dan will help me fence in a very much larger space outside the barn for the hens to roam....I call it "Controlled Free-Ranging". The last time I let my hens truly roamed anywhere they wanted, I loved it. So did the neighbor's dog, who killed one before I knew he was the culprit, and then outed himself by walking away with one of my chickens in his mouth...right in front of me. So much for truly free-ranging my birds. I think they will really like their big new pen, though.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Rockie's First Baby
After 6 years of keeping laying hens, we finally got a broody hen! When I finally figured out that she was trying to hatch a clutch of eggs, I stopped taking them from beneath her. A few days before Easter, I made moved Rockie and her 10 eggs to a cage, still inside the chicken coop, with her own food and water. I knew from talking with my friends who've been through this, that I would need to protect the chicks from the other hens. I put wind protection around the cage & made it a little dark and cozy for her, just the way they supposedly like it.
When I returned home today, Abigail ran up to me saying, "You know you have a baby chick hatched, don't you"? Well, no, I didn't ~ and am so happy about it! We have raised a lot of chicks from one day old, but none of them were born on this farm. If there would be any way I could tell this first one apart from the ones to come, I would name him "Chester" or name her "Chilly".
Welcome to Chestnut Hill Farm, little one! (Please be a "Chilly" and not a "Chester....)
When I returned home today, Abigail ran up to me saying, "You know you have a baby chick hatched, don't you"? Well, no, I didn't ~ and am so happy about it! We have raised a lot of chicks from one day old, but none of them were born on this farm. If there would be any way I could tell this first one apart from the ones to come, I would name him "Chester" or name her "Chilly".
Welcome to Chestnut Hill Farm, little one! (Please be a "Chilly" and not a "Chester....)
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
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| We may only use the tractor tiller once or twice a year, but it it worth every penny we paid. Dan gave the garden rows a tilling today, Yea! There were so many weeds already. Whenever Dan had the time to do it in the last month, it was too wet or raining. I will plant some lettuce in one row, and Dan will probably till the other rows again for me in another two weeks. |
This is a blank slate to a gardener and this gardener is ready to get creative!
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| Abby & Dan just after they were able to remove a neck rope from one of the calves neck. We did not put it there! We thought is was out of their reach, but apparently not! Somehow the curious steer #13 had gotten his head through the loop and I happened to notice it when Violet and I were out visiting Wilbert. Since these steers are not tame, D & A had to contruct a small pen with panel gates and get 13 seperated from the others and into the pen. Slowly, they moved the panels in until Dan could reach through and slip it off his neck. Well Done! |
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Spring is coming. It feels like it's been coming all winter! What a mild Ohio winter. The "pro" to that is that I only shoveled the drive one time, and only half of the drive at that. The "con" to that is the mosquitoes are going to be unbearable this summer. It didn't get cold enough and stay cold enough to kill anything off.
Current farm status: Dan has 10 calves right now and I think all 10 are sold already. We will be getting another 9, I think, so we still have more available to our customers. I have 9 layers now and still have Higgie-Baby the rooster. I would like to get another dozen layer chicks end of May so I can get back into selling eggs. There is nothing like a farm fresh egg to get a small taste of nature.
I hiked the pastures this morning. It was great! The sun is out and the birds are all chirping and calling to one another. Or calling me to refill the bird feeder, maybe.
My sis and I ordered seeds with some of her friends from Bountiful Harvest and Seed Savers Exchange. Open pollinated, heirloom, non-gmo seeds. She said last night that some of them came already and I can't wait to get a hold of them. The planning is fun. I've got to figure out when I want the plants to be ready for harvest, then back trac the growing time and figure out the planting plan. The growing times are all different, but for pasta sauce I want the tomatoes, green peppers, and onions finishing at the same time.....SO much fun!~
Current farm status: Dan has 10 calves right now and I think all 10 are sold already. We will be getting another 9, I think, so we still have more available to our customers. I have 9 layers now and still have Higgie-Baby the rooster. I would like to get another dozen layer chicks end of May so I can get back into selling eggs. There is nothing like a farm fresh egg to get a small taste of nature.
I hiked the pastures this morning. It was great! The sun is out and the birds are all chirping and calling to one another. Or calling me to refill the bird feeder, maybe.
My sis and I ordered seeds with some of her friends from Bountiful Harvest and Seed Savers Exchange. Open pollinated, heirloom, non-gmo seeds. She said last night that some of them came already and I can't wait to get a hold of them. The planning is fun. I've got to figure out when I want the plants to be ready for harvest, then back trac the growing time and figure out the planting plan. The growing times are all different, but for pasta sauce I want the tomatoes, green peppers, and onions finishing at the same time.....SO much fun!~
Saturday, December 10, 2011
The Last 6
Saturday, April 02, 2011
Cold Frame
Using a glass door left over from The Great Remodeling of 2009 and six straw bales that Dan picked up for me, I constructed my first cold frame. I have hopes of setting out some containers planted with lettuce & spinach seeds tomorrow. I also have some plants I started inside that already need to move to the cold frame. I'm excited to see how it helps us get some things growing earlier this year, so that we eat even more homegrown food.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The arrival of our 2011 steers & heifers!
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| 15 head of cattle. The highest number we have purchased at one time! January 2011 |
Chestnut Hill Farm Blog
I'm changing my personal blog into our farm blog. In the near future, I'll be posting information about our farm; why and how we do what we do. Basically, our mission statement is to raise and provide healthy food for our family and help other families do the same by providing a local, sustainable source from which to purchase beef and chicken. Yes, we are going to start selling chicken again! Check back with us soon!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Sunday, June 13, 2010
one of the few UNrainy days
Seems like it rains almost everyday. This morning it was gray and yucky feeling. Dan had worked all night and hadn't gotten much sleep and Violet had thrown up yesterday in my car (yuck..poor baby) so, we decided to stay home from church today. Dan and Violet both napped in the a.m. and then Vi went home.
She was hysterically laughing when I sneezed - big kid belly laughs! Very cute. Then she'd laugh at me laughing at her. This was during her bath and it seemed like the best time she'd had all day (post-puking)
Dan, Abigail and I went to a grad party for a fireman's son. Then, we headed home for some late evening chores. The garden is growing, with lots of weeds, too. We've had so much rain that some of the seeds I planted have either rotted or been washed away. Tomorrow (if it doesn't rain) I will get some more seeds in the garden. I mowed some of the yard while Dan trimmed under the pasture fencing.
She was hysterically laughing when I sneezed - big kid belly laughs! Very cute. Then she'd laugh at me laughing at her. This was during her bath and it seemed like the best time she'd had all day (post-puking)
Dan, Abigail and I went to a grad party for a fireman's son. Then, we headed home for some late evening chores. The garden is growing, with lots of weeds, too. We've had so much rain that some of the seeds I planted have either rotted or been washed away. Tomorrow (if it doesn't rain) I will get some more seeds in the garden. I mowed some of the yard while Dan trimmed under the pasture fencing.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Beautiful Day
Today it was sunny and mid-80's. They say it was 10 degrees higher than the normal for today. I had stayed up late last night working on my garden plan and finished it up when I had Abby at piano lessons.
Anyway, I managed to get outside this morning before leaving at 10 and re-hoed row 4 and weeded the 3 heirloom lettuces and the peas. So far as I can tell, the Spinach didn't germinate at all. It was from last year or before, so I think I'll just pitch them and replant another variety.
Abby drove to piano and then to school (going through the drive-thru for the first time) and then later drove home and then home from 4-H this evening. She drove a total of 2 hours and 15 min. I think that gives her a total of 16.5 driving hours. Tomorrow is her second "in-cars" and I know she's still nervous about driving in a different car with the instructor.
I stopped up at the house up the road to get some Roma Tomatoes, but they didn't have any at all. He said Roma seeds were scarce this year. I did get a four pack of cherry tomato plants, banana peppers, red bell peppers, lots of marigolds, and 2 four packs of shade plants. Hopefully, I will get them in the ground tomorrow morning. And, get seeds in the ground. I really need to do that!
4 eggs today from my hens. Abby's turkeys are getting big. Dan mowed the barnyard pasture and pasture 6 to the woods, then he let the steers back in to clean up the cut grass.
Anyway, I managed to get outside this morning before leaving at 10 and re-hoed row 4 and weeded the 3 heirloom lettuces and the peas. So far as I can tell, the Spinach didn't germinate at all. It was from last year or before, so I think I'll just pitch them and replant another variety.
Abby drove to piano and then to school (going through the drive-thru for the first time) and then later drove home and then home from 4-H this evening. She drove a total of 2 hours and 15 min. I think that gives her a total of 16.5 driving hours. Tomorrow is her second "in-cars" and I know she's still nervous about driving in a different car with the instructor.
I stopped up at the house up the road to get some Roma Tomatoes, but they didn't have any at all. He said Roma seeds were scarce this year. I did get a four pack of cherry tomato plants, banana peppers, red bell peppers, lots of marigolds, and 2 four packs of shade plants. Hopefully, I will get them in the ground tomorrow morning. And, get seeds in the ground. I really need to do that!
4 eggs today from my hens. Abby's turkeys are getting big. Dan mowed the barnyard pasture and pasture 6 to the woods, then he let the steers back in to clean up the cut grass.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sunday, May 23
Today was a beautiful, sunny, Sunday. After all the rain we had, I was happy to have sun and even the heat. 80 some degrees today. Dan had to paint today. After church, Abigail hoed the entire garden for me and I mowed. I put six bags of grass clippings in the barn to dry for Seifer. Abigail planted her flower seeds in the bed that has the strawberry plants.
The strawberry plants loved all the rain. It looks like I have 22 plants! Before the days of rain, I thought only 12 were going to make it! Thanks, God.
I got the 4 heirloom tomato plantsand two hot pepper plants in the garden that I bought from Millie. I planted two areas with marigold seeds.
We cooked out burgers (CHB) and brats (Ursich hog)...yum. Ate at the picnic table under the oak tree.
Abby's hair still looked good from the Celtic Ball last night. She and Kolton had a good time.
The strawberry plants loved all the rain. It looks like I have 22 plants! Before the days of rain, I thought only 12 were going to make it! Thanks, God.
I got the 4 heirloom tomato plantsand two hot pepper plants in the garden that I bought from Millie. I planted two areas with marigold seeds.
We cooked out burgers (CHB) and brats (Ursich hog)...yum. Ate at the picnic table under the oak tree.
Abby's hair still looked good from the Celtic Ball last night. She and Kolton had a good time.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Love that Lilac aroma
Dan helped me trim up some of the trees. I brought in branches of the Red Bud tree and they have made a spectacular display in the keeping room on the end of the piano. Abby had her turkeys outside. They basically huddled in the corner together. The hens, the "girls", gave me only 4 eggs yesterday and 4 today. Hopefully, 6 will appear tomorrow. Had to wait for them to lay a few before I could make cookies. I used Mom's chocolate chip recipe, but substituted 3 cups of whole wheat flour for the all-purpose flour. The end result was definitely different, but still yummy.
Today, Abigail and I went to Molly's for Spanish and to see their pullets. Then, Abs drove from Molly's to school. The longest trip yet for her, I think. She'll start driving classes soon.
Betsy brought Violet up. She was SO cute. Vi's at that age where she picks up every little scrap off the floor and brings it to you. Walking around the farm she's decided to pick up all the sticks. That's cool with me! We got out the wheelbarrow and she filled it up with all the sticks laying around after the winter. Later, she pushed Betsy and me on the hammock. I think they call that Child Labor.
I cut some of the purple Lilac and filled two mason jars. Heavenly Sweet Aroma!
Today, Abigail and I went to Molly's for Spanish and to see their pullets. Then, Abs drove from Molly's to school. The longest trip yet for her, I think. She'll start driving classes soon.
Betsy brought Violet up. She was SO cute. Vi's at that age where she picks up every little scrap off the floor and brings it to you. Walking around the farm she's decided to pick up all the sticks. That's cool with me! We got out the wheelbarrow and she filled it up with all the sticks laying around after the winter. Later, she pushed Betsy and me on the hammock. I think they call that Child Labor.
I cut some of the purple Lilac and filled two mason jars. Heavenly Sweet Aroma!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
March 2010
Today I planted my first crop of lettuce for this year. 3 Heirloom varieties and spinach left over from last year. Last week I did get in some of my onion sets. Need to plant my peas tomorrow and maybe some green onions.
We made a structural change to the garden this year and I think it's going to be the best deal yet. Dan used the tractor tiller and made 5 garden rows that are 42" wide. He left enough space between the rows for the riding mover to get through. No more weeding the walkways! or trying to keep enough newspaper and straw down to keep out the weeds!
I have 6 Rhode Island Red hens and one Cochin rooster. I was happy to purchase the hens at about 9 mos. old, and laying. It was great! Unloaded them into the chicken coop Saturday and by Sunday, I had my own fresh eggs! The rooster was purchased from a lady that shows Cochin birds. Even though he wasn't good enough for her to keep to show, he is perfectly beautiful to us. Abigail named him "Higgy-Baby" after Higgins in Magnum P.I. He certainly looks pompus and pretentious, but is gentle and takes good care of his ladies.
Abigail has 5 tom turkeys, about 1 month old. In August, she will take two of them to the fair. So far, her project is going really well. They are growing and enjoying the turkey run that Dan built for them in the barn. Abs said she might put them out tomorrow for the first time.
Dan is busy working on clearing the new property. He'd like to have it ready for cattle by fall. Yesterday, he made three trips to the salvage yard with truckloads of old stuff left on the property years ago. There are still many more trips to be made. He sure works hard. He had a painting job today, and after that he went over to the property and was working again. I think he burned a bunch of ? who knows.
We made a structural change to the garden this year and I think it's going to be the best deal yet. Dan used the tractor tiller and made 5 garden rows that are 42" wide. He left enough space between the rows for the riding mover to get through. No more weeding the walkways! or trying to keep enough newspaper and straw down to keep out the weeds!
I have 6 Rhode Island Red hens and one Cochin rooster. I was happy to purchase the hens at about 9 mos. old, and laying. It was great! Unloaded them into the chicken coop Saturday and by Sunday, I had my own fresh eggs! The rooster was purchased from a lady that shows Cochin birds. Even though he wasn't good enough for her to keep to show, he is perfectly beautiful to us. Abigail named him "Higgy-Baby" after Higgins in Magnum P.I. He certainly looks pompus and pretentious, but is gentle and takes good care of his ladies.
Abigail has 5 tom turkeys, about 1 month old. In August, she will take two of them to the fair. So far, her project is going really well. They are growing and enjoying the turkey run that Dan built for them in the barn. Abs said she might put them out tomorrow for the first time.
Dan is busy working on clearing the new property. He'd like to have it ready for cattle by fall. Yesterday, he made three trips to the salvage yard with truckloads of old stuff left on the property years ago. There are still many more trips to be made. He sure works hard. He had a painting job today, and after that he went over to the property and was working again. I think he burned a bunch of ? who knows.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Sunny Sunday
Wow! God gave us a BEAUTIFUL, sunny, melt the snow day! It even felt, well, not freezing! It's predicted to be even warmer tomorrow, maybe 50 degrees. Yea!
Had a wonderful church morning, learning that God put his word in my heart and mind from the moment I came to him. Even the coffee at church was perfect. Yummy gingerbread cookie. We went to our friends, the Brennan's to pick up some square hay bales for the steers. They weren't home yet, but Dan tossed down the bales to the truck from the hayloft and Abigail stacked them. 33 bales. I got to see and touch Maybelle, their daughter's pony, just plain - smell horse. Wonderful.
Came home and had lunch. My lunch basically consisted of the last hunk of Speedy Mustard Rye Bread that I made a few days ago...heated up and slathered with butter.
We went out to fill up the round bale feeders with hay bales and then stacked the last 10 bales in the barn for Seifer, the fair steer. Abigail helped me raise up the nesting boxes by carrying over two cinder blocks to set it on. She's a peach! We watched the chickens awhile. She's named the Cochin Rooster, Higgins. Higgy-Baby, from Magnum P.I. Two of the hens she named Lucy and Ethel. The remaining 4 hens are, as yet, unnamed.
Dan, Abs, and I walked the new property and talked about the buildings and everything that needs done. Abigail headed home after awhile, but Dan and I walked back into the woods and walked the trail. It was great! There is still alot of snow back there, and the sun was beaming through the trees. Dan went off to haul a hose line out to the fair steer, but I walked around the front of the property, deciding where 3 tiny pines need to be transplanted to, and ended up on our wooden bench in the sun overlooking our snow covered garden. Dan joined me for a while and we threw a stick to the dog.
Tacos for dinner (easy for me!) and just hanging out in our cozy house.
Had a wonderful church morning, learning that God put his word in my heart and mind from the moment I came to him. Even the coffee at church was perfect. Yummy gingerbread cookie. We went to our friends, the Brennan's to pick up some square hay bales for the steers. They weren't home yet, but Dan tossed down the bales to the truck from the hayloft and Abigail stacked them. 33 bales. I got to see and touch Maybelle, their daughter's pony, just plain - smell horse. Wonderful.
Came home and had lunch. My lunch basically consisted of the last hunk of Speedy Mustard Rye Bread that I made a few days ago...heated up and slathered with butter.
We went out to fill up the round bale feeders with hay bales and then stacked the last 10 bales in the barn for Seifer, the fair steer. Abigail helped me raise up the nesting boxes by carrying over two cinder blocks to set it on. She's a peach! We watched the chickens awhile. She's named the Cochin Rooster, Higgins. Higgy-Baby, from Magnum P.I. Two of the hens she named Lucy and Ethel. The remaining 4 hens are, as yet, unnamed.
Dan, Abs, and I walked the new property and talked about the buildings and everything that needs done. Abigail headed home after awhile, but Dan and I walked back into the woods and walked the trail. It was great! There is still alot of snow back there, and the sun was beaming through the trees. Dan went off to haul a hose line out to the fair steer, but I walked around the front of the property, deciding where 3 tiny pines need to be transplanted to, and ended up on our wooden bench in the sun overlooking our snow covered garden. Dan joined me for a while and we threw a stick to the dog.
Tacos for dinner (easy for me!) and just hanging out in our cozy house.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Happy Farmwife
Yea! I have laying hens again! It's been 3 years since an egg has been layed in our coop, and I've missed it! Very quickly, Dan built three hole nesting box, I found a family selling Rhode Island Reds in Granville and Saturday I went and picked up six layers. They probably think they won the lottery: now having so much space and so little competition and especially, no rooster to bother them (yet!). Dan found one egg layed on the floor of the coop this morning and when Abigail and I got home this evening, we found one in the nesting box. I anticipate 3-4 eggs a day, once they have adjusted to their new surroundings.
Lots of snow still piled up. Maybe two feet total? It's still pretty. I'd be OK with it if we just didn't get anymore...
Excited for spring. We've had a few mild days. Time to look at seed catalogues~
Lots of snow still piled up. Maybe two feet total? It's still pretty. I'd be OK with it if we just didn't get anymore...
Excited for spring. We've had a few mild days. Time to look at seed catalogues~
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Snow
It began snowing here at 11:30 a.m. yesterday. It came down hard and fast. Seemed like we got 6" in 6 hours. Dan shoveled around 5 and then again at 7. This morning, we have no less than 6 more inches. Too bad for Abigail and me that Dan is at the station today. We are on shovel duty now! My neighbor measures precipitation for the weather bureau and she told me this morning we received 14" - and it is still coming down a bit. Last night, it was so beautiful.....heavy on the trees. I should have taken pics then. We have a good wind going so it's blown off the trees now, mostly. I still took some pics today.
Abby is getting all her trails made. When we have snow, she has a path from the garage to the barn and the barn to the pasture (up to her fair steer) and from there along the house to the garage. Once she gets the paths tread down, it's not so hard getting around.
My daughter's morning: starts with bundling up (this includes putting on her headphones for her MP3, carhart coveralls and her 'gator' - a face covering that looks JUST like the headgear they put on Hanibal Lector in that movie....yikes!), filling 3-4 gallon jugs with water and carrying them and grain up to her steer, (his name is Seifer) feed and water him, give him hay from a bale she keeps up there, hook up the hose for the 8 steers we have and fill their water tank (if the faucet or some of the hose is frozen, she has to pour hot water over it till it melts), climbs in their hay feeder to tear the center core of the bale apart for them and push it to the edges (they are still little and can't get to the center of the feeder), drain the hose, carry from the barn enough wood for the day (this will be several loads, she can use the wheel barrow, except not through 14" of snow!), and today....shovel.
Since I'm snowbound today, I'm hoping to get through all my paperwork and carve out enough time to make some seed decisions and order with a friend from Seed of Change........Spring's a comin'!
I forgot to post about that ornery steer that got into our neighbor's pasture. A couple of Sunday's ago, we were ready to go to church and Dan saw that steer was again in the neighbor's pasture! And, this time he took a friend! So, off with the church clothes, and on with the farm clothes. We loaded up cattle panels to make a small corral and the trailer and headed on over. Multiple thanks to the Lord: It wasn't snowing and freezing - only raining (much easier to get around and not as cold), they moved easier as a small 'herd', than when it was only one, and it only took half the time to get the job done than last time. We were so thankful!
When we got them back, we changed the pasture set up so they are insulated with our other pastures and that's where they will hopefully stay. So far, no other fence jumping episodes!
And, that ornery steer....it's a heifer. A she, not a he. Does that surprise me?? Abigail was watching the herd closely one day and two of the animals are girls. (they pee from under their tails...) we just never looked closely before.
Abby is getting all her trails made. When we have snow, she has a path from the garage to the barn and the barn to the pasture (up to her fair steer) and from there along the house to the garage. Once she gets the paths tread down, it's not so hard getting around.
My daughter's morning: starts with bundling up (this includes putting on her headphones for her MP3, carhart coveralls and her 'gator' - a face covering that looks JUST like the headgear they put on Hanibal Lector in that movie....yikes!), filling 3-4 gallon jugs with water and carrying them and grain up to her steer, (his name is Seifer) feed and water him, give him hay from a bale she keeps up there, hook up the hose for the 8 steers we have and fill their water tank (if the faucet or some of the hose is frozen, she has to pour hot water over it till it melts), climbs in their hay feeder to tear the center core of the bale apart for them and push it to the edges (they are still little and can't get to the center of the feeder), drain the hose, carry from the barn enough wood for the day (this will be several loads, she can use the wheel barrow, except not through 14" of snow!), and today....shovel.
Since I'm snowbound today, I'm hoping to get through all my paperwork and carve out enough time to make some seed decisions and order with a friend from Seed of Change........Spring's a comin'!
I forgot to post about that ornery steer that got into our neighbor's pasture. A couple of Sunday's ago, we were ready to go to church and Dan saw that steer was again in the neighbor's pasture! And, this time he took a friend! So, off with the church clothes, and on with the farm clothes. We loaded up cattle panels to make a small corral and the trailer and headed on over. Multiple thanks to the Lord: It wasn't snowing and freezing - only raining (much easier to get around and not as cold), they moved easier as a small 'herd', than when it was only one, and it only took half the time to get the job done than last time. We were so thankful!
When we got them back, we changed the pasture set up so they are insulated with our other pastures and that's where they will hopefully stay. So far, no other fence jumping episodes!
And, that ornery steer....it's a heifer. A she, not a he. Does that surprise me?? Abigail was watching the herd closely one day and two of the animals are girls. (they pee from under their tails...) we just never looked closely before.
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