We acquired a new HelpXer on the 21st, Stephanie from France, and she's fallen into farm life very well. Because of her help we have been able to make progress with the renovations, and we now we have a loft bedroom (mostly)
The cows are improving on the calf pellets and the new grass. We'll keep it up for about a month to give them a healthy start. We will be using Diatomaceous Earth (DE) very soon and expect to see an improvement in the condition of all our animals, and ourselves. We are taking on a dealership to promote the wonders of this material. Anyone wanting information, feel free to contact us. We're also carrying other agricultural products/fertilisers/etc, and a new page will be added to the website accordingly. As they say, watch this space. enough for now there's shit to be done.
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The best laid plans of mice and men, as they say, go astray.
I had planned to rewire the bore pump and fit a timer to ease the refilling operation. Then I had a shutdown. Like the flu had hit me, or similar. So I've spent the day sleeping on and off and just taking it easy. Well, as I've always said..."never do today what you can put off 'till tomorrow" Enough for now there's shit to be done It's the 17th. Wow, how time flies.
We have had a HelpX visitor from Finland here for 2 weeks, leaving on Friday making her stay almost 3 weeks. Been shit hot, and we are indoors during the heat of the day (mostly) Had some good happenings, and some bad. The bad is, we had an oubreak of Mixomitosis in the rabbit population, decimating up to 50% of them. Some stragglers are still developing symptoms but hopefully we're over the worst of it. Got a tree down on the fence of the horse paddock that needs to be chained into firewood, and the fence repaired. We picked up 3 milking cow calves, one a pure Jersey, and two Jersey/Dexter crosses which are the cutest animals and only just taller than our kelpie dog. We need to get them into good condition and then AI them to start our milk/cream/cheese/yoghurt production. Took the Damara lambs from their mums so they (mums) can put on condition again. PZ thinks that several ewes may be pregnant again. At least the feed is holding, this late into summer because of all the late rains. And there's more rain due. Got a couple of loads of corrugated iron, mostly used, that can be used to replace the tarp on the barn roof. This will give us a more waterproof area for our storage of stuff. Also got the water tank I mentioned, and have to set it up on stumps for our grain silo. Should hold about 6 months supply of grain. We're only grinding about a weeks supply at a time at this point. We have stopped egg incubation for the moment, and so we have eggs, eggs everywhere. Processed another pig. Cured and smoked bacon (thanx Meg for the donation towards the smoker), eating pork chops, pea'n'ham soup, and pork roasts with the most superb cracklin'. Still trying to get the old ice chest to use as a coolroom for setting carcases. Maria, our HelpX girl assisted with the relocation of the laundry into the end of the shed which also tidies up the tool storage area as well. enough for now there's shit to be done. Lesson for the month: don't touch the electric fence while feeding the pigs! |
Mike
Owns a small piece of the Earth and along with PZ we are transforming it, bit by bit into regenerated soil, to produce our own fresh, wholesome vegetables and fruit to complement our free range livestock. Archives
November 2011
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