Animal Care: Horses

Nurturing the Creative Spirit and Talent

... I celebrate every person born with a creative spirit ... a special talent... because those people enrich & elevate our lives with their work.  

We, as a society are stingy in nurturing these talents - we withhold encouragement and support because they often do not reap monetary rewards.  We are more likely to nurture the athlete, the model, the scholar.  Talent in the arts -   the arts of music, drawing, painting, writing - retain an everlasting mark on human history - a mark that goes beyond materialism.

Some families, like my own, demonstrate a supreme talent in the arts - which persists through the generations - luckily.  We have often overlooked these talents to provide for our families - and in rare cases achieved a symphony of the both industry and creativity.

I have tried to be a patron of the arts in my own limited capacity.  As we approach this "gift giving" season, I encourage consumers to seek out this talent in the arts - look to your own circle of family, friends, neighbors, and co workers - or online - and purchase that artwork - thereby showing support for the artist - and giving an everlasting gift of love to both the artist and the recipient.

Animal Memories: Warm and Cozy nights

I am starting to make videos to load on the blog.  We only have a phone right now.  same for the photos depicted.  We have so many animals that are great to interact with.  The blog is designed to be both entertaining & informative on topics such as animal care, modern farming, mother nature, and fun!

Animal Memories: Spot and Navejo

Both animals reached the top of their lifespans - a great feat!  They both died naturally.  From the first day they are unable to eat, walk, and interact,  it will generally be 24-48 hrs before they die.  I give them warmth and comfort at the end, many times holding them in my lap.  I pefer to give pets palliative care until they die naturally, as in human hospice.  Right now that is a movement only starting to take hold.  Pain meds and anti anxiety meds are optimal at this stage and generally requires Vets to deliver the meds.  a good article on the subject is in The NYTimes dtd 12/1/20013. "All Dogs May Go to Heaven. These Days, Some Go to Hospice"

Spot : 1999-2013
Spot lived a full life on the farm - he was the longest living - 15 years - of the mixed hound litter of 6 dogs that we bred unknowingly.  Our respective dogs - Molly and Buddy - STRAYS - ended up mating. We did not know Molly was not spayed.  We spay and neuter all our dogs and cats we have adopted over the years. This was a timing issue.  The 6 puppies were Lucky boy, Haas, Lil Joe, Cherokee, Serenity, and Spot.

Spot was one of the amazing dogs - he was a really good hunter - catching alot of woodchucks - not by my asking - but on our runs over the years.  Also, one time he found a wounded deer for hunters that had requested they walk our land to find her.  Spot took me right to the deer.

He was slim and active like most hound dogs and he lived to the maximum lifespan of this breed which is always nice to see.  Good bye Spot. We'll miss you on the farm.

Navejo: 1994-20013

This cat was fiercely independent - quite good looking - and very old when she died last week.  It was good to see another animal live a full lifespan and have a good life on the farm.

Nina Prize: Robert Redford

Each year when the Nobel prizes are awarded, I make a selection for my own prize - the Nina Prize- a time for me to reflect on people or institutions I admire.  Those that play a small role of influence in my life.  My prize is by no means comparable to the Nobel prize.  Mine is a small circle - there are many deserving achievements each year that go unrecognized.  Mine has no monetary value.

I admire the Nobel Prize award in and of itself for shining light on these achievements in many fields of arts and sciences.  

My Prize is simply empowering - a time to reflect on some of my icons.  Last year it was The NY Times Co.  This year's Robert Redford.  His interviews for the film released this year- All Is Lost - made me think of him again.  I've had my share of celebrity crushes ("leading men") over the years - he was one of them.  Besides his great looks - he's demonstrated independence and innovation - both in film and lifestyle.  He's bucked the trends toward making yourself look younger.  He started the "independent film" movement which has supplied better movies to the world.  And he's raised awareness for environmental causes.  He has used his celebrity for a greater good.

Entertainment is a large force in the modern world.  People spend more time on entertainment - even while working or schooling - than ever before.  Robert Redford has tried to elevate movies to a finer art.  

I commend him for a life well lived!  

Goats: Good Pets

Goats are Good Pets




See these 5 boys born 2013 - left to right - Zeus, Poseiden, Pontus, Prometheus, Kashmere.

If you are considering purchasing a goat as a pet, please call us - our Heritage goats stay small and friendly.  toll free.800221-and 9755.

They are mixed with dairy goats and New Zealand mountain goat for a hardy and small statured, good natured goat!

please see the video on our utube channel - ambrosia farms
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBeuGqKksut2g7cZvYA-ctg/videos

What my footsteps leave behind... 25 years and counting

I remember an art installation I created with cut outs from magazines with the head and other parts of animals - deer, elk, tiger, gorilla, coyote - which were hunted and displayed like trophies.

At that time I wrote a poem entitled - "what our footprints mean to others" - something to that effect - and I wrote about how we live and what we do- environmentally - will leave behind a footprint - a scarring if you will - of the earth.

Here is my own reflection of my footprints over the course of living at Ambrosia Farms.

1/the orchards and old growth trees live on - no logging in the 25 years I've owned this farm.  this legacy is illuminated every hunting season when you see hunters coming to look for wildlife here because they are "hiding in the thicket".

2/animals have lived a very good and active life - many animals have lived to be very very old.  I am proud of this.  As an animal caretaker, I've cared for over 75 animals and still going! 40 of them here today!  two wild horses adopted plus our quarterhorses and pony - these horses have tasted the sweet life of living free and receiving optimal shelter, the best of both worlds.  adopting many stray dogs - mostly hound dogs into our no kill facility.  All of this without any funds outside of our own.  working off the farm to save this farm for us, the animals, and future generations.

3/ organic practices have added many nutrients to the soil - giving lots more than I receive - leaving many acres fallow each year - and allowing much of this land to be available to wildlife in its natural state.  land preservation and sustainable agriculture on a small scale.  producing nutritious heirloom veggies!

4/ offering up a farm way of life to children ... something they may want to aspire to.

5/ trying to live better through vegetarianism and love of all creatures.

6/ a patron of the artists-  purchasing art when I've had the resources to do so

Our footprints have been a charitable one without the outside funds needed to support us.  I wish everyone who follows our footsteps to live well, follow their dreams,  and leave a better legacy of their own.