Farm update - July 2013

We have had some cold weather, with a few frosty mornings (finally the bufallo flies are gone!) and a few mm of rain as well.  Its been a good start to winter.  We've been running the woodstove and cooking everything in and on it.

We have separated Bella from Romeo so she can have a break before her next calf (due in August).  We managed to catch Monty and put a band on his balls.  We had to catch him in the calf yard, which is a horse round yard, so we all did a few laps until we managed to get him on the ground!  I've been working on my house cow ebook and I just need to discuss the tax implications with my accountant (not that I expect to make millions from it!), and have it proof-read, before I can organise to publish it.  The butcher is coming for Frank(furter) on the 12 of July, so we've been organising the freezer and buying more freezer bags and digging a hole for the bits we don't eat.  And poor old Donald is still in another paddock, because he keeps trying to fight the neighbour bulls, and fight Frank as well lately (even though Frank is a steer), they can all be reunited after Frank is gone.

Bella is now with Molly and Monty, away from Romeo

Donald, you wouldn't think he could cause so much trouble

Our hybrid hens have been laying 2-3 eggs/day between the three of them, which is just enough to keep us in eggs for breakfast.  The other hens lay occasionally, but I guess they are saving themselves for spring.  Now that we've passed the winter equinox, they might pick up again.  The little chicks we hatched are about half sized and eating heaps!  We just keep thinking of all those tasty roast chicken dinners.

this rooster pretended to be lost so he could sleep in the hay

 I wrote a more detailed garden update here.

a few things from the garden

At Cheslyn Rise the power has been connected, we've cut down several trees that were too close to the house pad and had an excavator dig them out.  Pete's smoothed out a house pad using the tractor, and we're ready to move the house as soon as the removalists are free.  I'm excited, but I know there is a huge amount of work ahead of us to get the house ready for building approvals, we need to connect the septic, the rainwater tanks, re-wire, install insulation and paint some parts, but it will be relief to finally have it on our property.

In the kitchen, I've been making sauerkraut, vanilla extract, red wine vinegar and homemade muesli bars, I'll tell you more in coming posts.

saurkraut

I finished my arm-warmers and I'm building up sock-making courage

Don't forget Plastic-free July this month.  We are trying a few things to reduce our plastic consumption and collecting all the plastic that we would normally throw out.  In August I'll show you what we collected and discuss how we might reduce it further.  I hope you'll give it a go too, sign up here.

here's Chime, just looking happy to be outside in the grass

Cheryl asleep behind the couch

How was your June?  What are you plans for July?