Chicken Equipment

 In the first picture you see 3 bales of hay. Our friends mother has a barn that is filled with old chicken stuff. So Chuck called the other day, and wanted us to come out and look it over and see if there was anything that we might want to take home to our flock. That is my flock. David doesn't claim any of them. The second picture is of an old fashion chick feeder. I love it! In the third picture you will find a heater to keep the water from freezing in the winter. I really need that.There is also another waterier and feeder. The last picture is a mason jar that holds water with a plastic bottom. All in all I am set for my brood.

Look At These Chicks

One thing that many non-chicken people don't know is that every chicken has its own personality. That's right! Just take me for an example. I have 34 hens and 2 roosters and there is such a difference in each and every one of them. Right from the start that personality is evident. Not only that, but chickens are expressive! It is not hard to tell what mood your chickens are in just by watching their faces and body language. How do you think these birds are feeling? What are they thinking?



 Tomatoes ripening on the screened in porch

 Homemade Salsa

My first home grown pumpkin 

Lima's and freshly picked purple hulls

Meat Prices Soar

Concentrated animal feeding operations have sprung up in recent years. Confirming cattle in as little space as possible, with no room for the animals to roam, with no grass for them to feed on. Genetically modified feed is trough fed to the animals as they fight for space and trounce in their own manure and urine. The filthy confined conditions take the spirit out of the animals. As the cattle are bulked up unnaturally, stripped of their well being and led to the slaughter, the entire operation seems void of dignity. This method of farming doesn't lead to prosperity but only degradation.

New Addition

Thursday, Bessie hatched another addition to the chicken yard. No more chicks! With Fall close, I am putting my foot down to any more new additions.

Canning Summer Produce

Jams, jellies, relishes and pickles are just a few of the creative ways that you can preserve summer's bounty, to be savored through out the year. With a few simple tools and some easy to follow recipes in hand, canning is simpler than you might imagine. The mechanics behind canning are fairly simple. You fill a clean jar with prepared food, apply the flat lid and the threaded ring to the jar and submerge the filled jar in boiling water for a prescribed amount of time. When you remove the hot jar from the water, the heat begins to escape, taking with it any air left in the jar. The escaping oxygen pulls the lid down, creating an airtight seal. I use the pressure cooker for most of my canning. How simple is that?

 

 Isabella

 My lovely Sunflower

The Irish Mob less one

 

Telling The Bees

When someone dies you are supposed to tell the bees ~and invite them to the funeral, give them wine, and cake, hang mourning cloth over the hive. You should tell them other things as well~ of a marriage, when you are planning to rob the hive, when you are troubled by your dreams. Tell and they will listen, Tell and they will spread the word with the wind.

Here Are Four Important Questions To Ask Vendors At Your local Farmer's Market

Some vendors at farmer's markets actually aren't local, but travel from market to market. Just because it's sold at a farmer's market, doesn't mean it's local.
Where do you get your seeds from and are they heirloom? Heirloom means that the seed has been used in the family year after year or for generations.
Do you use pesticides and how much do you use?
Do you use organic growing methods; is your farm certified organic?
These are questions that need to be asked in order to get good produce. When I was selling at the market, our produce was certified organic, and we had our produce labeled as such so there was no doubt.

 

Four month old Rooster that is going in the pot in two months. 

As David calls them "The Irish Mob

Easy Ways To Prevent Food Waste From The Comfort Of Home

Its estimated that in America, about 133 billion pounds of food go to waste annually. The waste exists for a variety of reasons, ranging from expired or forgotten foods in household refrigerators to regulations that do not permit retailers to sell foods that are bruised, or otherwise deemed unattractive. First, think twice about throwing out the parts of foods typically considered not edible. For example, watermelon rinds with the green outer layer of skin peeled off, are edible and even contain antioxidants that fight free radicals. Additionally, the skin of kiwi can be eaten. considering that it has three times the amount of fiber than the flesh. The same goes for the core of a pineapple, which is filled with nutrients known to fight pain and inflammation. Celery is another crop that can be re rooted to grow another celery stalk. Dry carrot leaves! they are extremely nutritious, with six times more vitamin C than the root. Are you getting the idea?

 

PEACHES

I went to Jacksons Orchard yesterday to pick up a 1/2 bushel of peaches. I always go for the seconds. They are a lot cheaper, and when you are making peach preserves what's the difference. David, my husband, loves peach preserves. I always wash the skins and boil those too and make a peach jelly. It is yummy! I am restocking my shelves for the winter. I have canned 24 pints of green beans already and the vines are loaded down. Looks like the summer harvest will be bountiful.

Bounty

I planted 8 rows of beans back in late May, and now they are producing. I plan on spending the rest of the day picking, breaking and canning. I am just getting started, but plan on having at least 65 pints of green beans. Then onto the lima beans. I freeze those so they won't be as much trouble preparing. Hope you are in your kitchen canning, and preparing food for this winter. Remember, only 2 more weeks of summer. 

The World Today

So I ask you: What are you doing right now? Sitting in front of the TV doesn't cut it. Neither does posting comments on Facebook or downing another double grande latte at Starbucks. It's time to reexamine how you are spending your time and effort. Pursue the things that train you to be a survivor, and you will ensure your future. Challenge yourself with self discipline. Can you endure a 4 hour hike? A 60 minute prayer time? A 48 hour fast? Do you have the self discipline to turn off the television for 30 days straight? Can you stop eating cheese, bread or sugar for 30 days? Most people are so mentally weak that they cannot do any of these things. Find out what YOU can do by setting challenges for yourself and then achieving them through mental and physical discipline. The day is coming when we are all going to be accountable for our actions.

Baby On The Way

As many of you know, my son and his wife Meagan are pregnant, and due in September. We had a shower for her and Brad yesterday at our home. As you can see it was a success! Micah will be styling for sure.

Why Do People Raise Chickens?

One, they want to educate their children about where their food comes from. It doesn't start out in a package. Two, the local food movement. Three, they are great composters. In addition, six chickens produce less waste then one big dog, whose waste is not good for anything. Four, chickens provide all natural pest control. Five, chickens make great pets, outdoor pets, of course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honey Heals

Raw honey in particular is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and carbohydrates. While it makes a great natural sweetener, it can also be used in a number of ways to improve your health. Adding honey and apple cider vinegar to a cup of hot water promotes heart health. Honey promotes digestive health. Honey and lemon juice relieve nausea. Apply a small amount of honey on a wound and watch it heal. Be sure to always use raw honey, which is hard to find. One more reason to have a hive in your backyard. As the pasteurization process strips the honey of its nutritional value and healing properties.


SUSAN

 

 

 

 



 

Rolling The Eggs

You can always tell when a hen is going to set, because her comb turns pink. Interesting fact! I have two hens setting on the same nest. I went in the chicken house today, and I always observe. You would be surprised at what you find out. The hen on the right is getting the eggs from under the hen on the left with her beak, and putting them under her. While the hen on the left is doing likewise. Passing the eggs back and forth. Chickens are too funny!


 

Top 5 Foods To Not Eat

Soda pop is pure liquid calories. Worse still, the sugar is high fructose corn syrup. White Bread is made from highly processed white flour. The result is a carbohydrate that is quickly processed by your body causing your blood sugar and insulin to spike, and then drop. Alcohol is simply highly refined sugar. Although studies show that moderate drinking can be good for you health, refined sugars can adversely affect your weight, your pancreas and your waistline.  I love french fries! But they are fried in hydrogenated trans fats. Last, but not least hamburgers are sky high in saturated animal fats. So skip the burgers at your next barbeque, and serve skinless chicken breasts, or broiled fish and veggies instead. Your body will thank you.     

Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July. I know we did!