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?

Farm update - August 2017

Its been cold this month, and very nice to have the fire going every night. Here's a photo of my boy in his cape, great for late night woofing at things. Most of July we were either preparing for the butcher to come or putting meat away. Its always a big job, but its only once a year, and its all done now. My lovely neighbour came over to help, so it was fun to have the company and work together. Taz was a champion once again as she helped us to move cattle in the yards ready to load for the market. Gus is not at that level yet and had to stay home (he cries when he gets left behind, but he just gets in the way and scatters the cattle). We have had a few sprinkles of rain here and there, but also plenty of cold nights, so the grass is mostly dead and dry, waiting for the warmer weather to revive our summer-active pasture. Gus in his cape Taz after she helped to move cattle Food and cooking It was all about beef in July and we are v...

Cooking and eating beans

When I was growing up, my family never ate many dried beans, they just weren't something that was used much in NZ cuisine. If I did eat beans, it was always from a can (and most likely baked beans). And until recently I was still using beans from a can, but it can be difficult to get organic beans, and to find cans not lined with BPA. Then I had an opportunity to buy some organic dry goods in bulk, so I bought 5kg of kidney beans, 5kg of adzuki beans and 5kg of chickpea (garbanzo beans). I know, that is a lot of beans. And then I didn't really know what to do with them! Not just what dishes to put them in, but how to prepare them, I just didn't know what method to use. So I decided it was time to learn how to use all these beans that I bought, here's what I found out. I started with an excellent ebook called The Everything Beans Book , from Katie at Kitchen Stewardship, which has lots of bean recipes, but more importantly, an explanation of h...

Guest post: Is there a place for power tools in the garden?

One of my regular readers and commenters offered to write a guest post about a horticulture course, its quite a funny read, with some serious insights into our technology obsession. If you'd like to submit a guest post, email me at eight.acres.liz {at} gmail.com. While I am always happy to share links back to your blog or website, this contributor preferred to remain anonymous. I hope you enjoy their story.... -**- -**- -**- -**- -**- -**- -**- -**- -**- -**- -**- -**- -**- -**- Just a few days ago our daily horticulture classes were interrupted by an invitation to review some new gardening gadgets. The idea was to open half a dozen of electric hand trimmers , test them and fill in some review about their goods and bads. As nothing is more dear to a student – even a “hort “ one - to escape routine and mess around till lunchtime, we opened the boxes and got down to business. What did we...

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