Tis the Season

I am always alittle torn this time of year between offering time care and attention to the animals in my care and planting all of my custom heirloom plants that I contract with a local nursery and the tons of greens and lettuce and squash, peas, corn, pumpkins seeds that I purchase with the hopes of putting up frozen veggies and brick oven pizzas in our commercial kitchen IN THE WORKS!!!

I take on alot - sometimes I can't explain it - but the farm is in the process of & set up for milking/ dairy and by products, frozen veggies, pony rides, CSA, specialty produce, baked goods, brick oven pizza, stables, eggs, hound dog rescue, custom woodworking, haying, sawmill lumber, heavy equipment for hire, beekeeping and honey, antique apples, and foraging wild fruits and vegetables.   As of this writing we have 6 hound dogs, a dozen cats, 17 egg laying chickens, 19 goats, and 5 horses (having  lost Smokey Boots this winter to age) and 1 pony.

Here are some photos of the animals at play - something they get alot of and I dont!

Goat Facts

Goat facts

8-10 weeks bucking s/b separated from does or banded

2011 kids bday
Jun 2.  Undie, doe.        Helios, buck
Mar 30. Chaos doe.      aither, wither 

2012
Chaos born mar 30, impregnated approximate aug by lil buck Helios




Further, born 2009, impregnated 2nd time, 9/11 butler




Pearl, 2009 , impregnated 1st time,9/17 butler
Born 2/14/2012
Cupid, buck
Ceres,doe


Clover,2009,imp 9/30, butler
Born
Cashmere, buck, withered 4/27
Mercury, buck, withered 4/6.  Ck 10 days to fall off by banding


Sorrelina, imp 9/25, butler
Born
Diana, doe


Further, butler
Born mar 24 2012

Muses, doe
Meander,buck, withed 4/27

Khaos, butler or Helios
Born apr 2

Aphrodite, doe
Achilles, buck

Undie, butler or helios 
Born may 19
Hebe ,doe blk and white

Goats are A M A Z I N G!

We bought our first goats in 2009. Further and Sorellina - pictured here with her kid Diana.  I find them so much fun and amazing - why?  Well they jump in the air and do a 360 degree turn in midair and so many more acrobatic feats.   They are very into human company and companionship which I experience every time I herd them onto pasture.  Like horses, they dive bomb grain or any other treat so be careful with this in your hand.  They constantly struggle with each other for dominance,  You see it from the time they are kids.  And they are good mothers.  They also are just funny and playful so they will uplift me every time I am around them.

I think more people should have goats as pets instead of mowers - although they choose jumping on trees as much if not more than grass so they may not be right for every landscape.  They have done a number on several of the trees pictured here in the background.  But they can be tied on a long lead rope or fenced to restrict access to areas off limits.

Fencing required is 4 ft redline goat fencing- sturdy enough to hold the weight of them jumping and leaning and restricts their jumping capabilities.  Goats are able to get out of fenced in areas - more so than horses - they are both pretty hard to contain.  Provide a large enough space with varied terrain and grasses, brush, trees - they do not become bored easily.  Be sure to  return them to shelter in hazardous and inclimate weather.  A neighbor lost a cow to lightning - don't think it can't happen.  And bringing them in at night saves them from would be predators.  We bring ours in every night and  most days several times during the day.

Aminal Memories: Smokey Boots

Smokey Boots March 1978 - March 2012

She was born to Smokey's Flame (sire) and Miss Twister Boots (dam)

from OKLAHOMA.  She lived 34 years.  Gene purchased her at 19 having been bred to Quinarius -  her daughter , L.S. "Little Smokey" Quinarius was born.

They lived together as mother and daughter from 1998, witness to the strong bond they had the whole time.  This was very special and a rare event that most horse families are split apart.  L.S. and Smokey received a gift of togetherness!  Smokey died very quickly, just collapsed from a run in the front corral. Perhaps a stroke.  L.S. got to see her down and was able to know she had passed away.

This is my first loss of life among the equines, of old age, thank goodness.  Good fortune in every life bears the gift of longevity.  She lived beyond the average lifespan of a horse(25-30 years)... grazing and running up until her last day.  We fed her 2nd cutting hay when her teeth were not able to process hay as well, this was softer and she ate much more grain than the other horses.  We will miss you sweet horse!  We'll remember your independence and self confidence most of all.

Creating Support for Family Farms

HORSE HOUND AND FARM RESCUE

In our efforts to continue our work we need to raise funds to form our HORSE, HOUND, AND FARM RESCUE Our farm has taken in many homeless animals we have focused on hound dogs in particular we have adopted mustangs from the BLM -rounded up from State Lands we have worked hard to save our farm in down years we want to assist other farms in the future when times get tough We want to continue our work!!!! farm problems stem from natural disasters and the tomato blight which ravaged our farm crops several years in a row / this was followed by the floods of this past season which greatly reduced our harvest again. All of these crop losses add up to lost income. We have a beautiful Bloodhound which would be great for law enforcement and rescue operations. Anyone interested in this work. The dog sells for $700. We have a small beagle female who is very skiddish - found nearby - and needs to be fixed. We are trying to raise money for this procedure. We would be willing to trade this dog for someone willing to pay the spaying. We have a male treeing walker - smaller but very nicelooking - also willing to trade dog for someone willing to pay the neutering. By placing these hound dogs in new homes we will reduce our costs - we are a no kill facility and keep all of our animals happy healthy for as long lifetimes as possible. They all would be sad to leave here but we believe placement in good homes is a viable option for our sustainablity.