Idaho Pasture Piglets For Sale

As seen in the January/February issue of "Grit" magazine. Tired of pastures that look like a bomb struck? 

Idaho Pasture Pigs are bred to be grazing pigs rather than rooting pigs. After the first year in your pasture, your pigs will simply eat the grasses rather than root them up.  

IPPs are a smaller pig and perfect for the small homestead farmer. They have a delicious, richly flavored, more marbled meat. 

For more information about Idaho Pasture Pigs, click on the page link at the top of this blog for Idaho Pastured Pigs. 

Breeding Pairs $700, Gilts $350, Boars $350, Barrows $125. 

Please use the "Contact Me" bar to the right if you're interested and for more information.  

Planting Crocuses (Or Croci - Either Is Correct)

The honeybees have been making forays out into the bleak, bleak, grey and brown world of very early spring.  I feel so bad for them because there is just nothing for them out there - until I noticed this busy little honeybee on one of my crocus.  

I know it's important to feed the bees in the spring, but it must be so completely satisfying for them to be able to bring back something natural to the hive.  This honeybee forager is fulfilling her role in life!  

So, I vowed that this spring, I will plant many, many more crocuses, daffodils, tulips, and other early-spring blooming flowers, just so these poor, hardworking bees can fulfill their destiny!

I'm looking forward to the emergence of the smiling faces of the first dandelions and the abundance they bring to the unfortunate bees!  

Harbingers Of Spring

In the heart of winter, it's hard to even remember what the world felt like when it was warm and green.  But slowly and inexorably the earth turns and the seasons begin to shift.

The temperatures have climbed up to the 60s!

This year, due to being over scheduled and overwhelmed, we decided to take off a year from maple syrup production.  It looks like we picked the proper year for it because I think the season is going to be (sadly, for the producers) very short.  The warm temperatures will make the trees get buds and the sap gets yucky.  It gets a slimy look to it and a kind of nasty smell and that's the end of the season.  

The red wing blackbirds are back and their familiar trill can be heard throughout the day.  And I had heard that there were robin sightings, but didn't believe it until I finally saw some myself.  The red breast of robins and their cheerful little chirps definitely mean spring is on it's way.  

Then there's one final sign of spring.  All the animals are shedding.  Violet the goat, looks like a refugee from a yarn factory.  She has long, angora-like fur and it comes off her in ropes.  Yesterday, I gave Bandit a good combing and I think I could have made another horse out of the hair I took off him!

Happy, Happy Spring!

Awake, thou wintry earth -

Fling off thy sadness!

Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth

Your ancient gladness!

~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

Now, I'm waiting for that one more wintery blast.......