Goat Milking Fail

I pulled this clip from "The Edwardian Farm" on Youtube.  We would like, at some time, to have milking goats and I fear that these people will look professional compared to us.  But this is truly funny! 

 

Shhh... Sleeping. (And a giggle.)

Yesterday it just snowed and snowed and snowed. 

Big gentle flakes came down all day.  

Some moved so slow they looked like they were hanging in space. 

 I live in a giant snow globe.  

The garden is sleeping. 

Here's a giggle... Heather bought a cat harness for her rabbit, Mr. Clover.  Rabbits do not like harnesses!

Eggs: Free Range? Cage Free? Organic? Which is Best? You Decide.

Although it's much better to buy organic eggs or cage free eggs, etc. than conventional eggs (those egg factories are terrible), you're often not getting what you think you're paying for!

Here's a chart that let's you know what those different certifications mean.



Some chickens are "required" to have 6 inches of space per bird?  The USDA Organic certification does not require any minimum amount of space but at least the chickens are required to get some sunlight- though I'm not sure if that means five minutes or five hours!

If it's at all possible, your best bet is to find a farm where you can talk to the people about how they raise their chickens and sometimes even see how they're raised.

My chickens live a life of running loose around the yard, eating bugs, and dust bathing when they want. They go into a comfortable coop with roosts every night.  They are never de-beaked (why?) and they have all the daylight exposure they could want!

And they lay the BEST eggs ever!

It's Minus 12 Degrees Outside This Morning!

This is what minus 12-degrees looks like!  

The kids get a two-hour delay into school.

Fred and Ginger (our kitties) get to spend the night in the basement.

The chickens get an extra ration of corn to help them stay warm. 

Candy, Petey, and Daisy (our dogs) do their business and run back inside with frozen feet. 

The bees get snow piled around their boxes as insulation.  

Everyone has survived.

(We'll find out about the bees in the spring)

2011 Summer Share Program Available!

I'm not entirely computer savvy and wasn't able to get the Summer Garden Shares brochure to transfer properly.  So I've done some cutting and pasting to give you the gist of what it looks like.  It's nice to start planning the summer growing season when it's -12 degrees outside.  Please pass the word about this great opportunity!  

Fitzgerald’s 

Family Farm, LLC

ph.  814-274-7825    srfitzg@zitomedia.net  

2011 Summer Garden Shares Available

~ naturally grown ~

~ NO chemical fertilizers/pesticides ~

2011 Summer Garden 

Share Program

Shareholder’s may purchase large shares (feeds 4-5 people), small shares (feeds 2-3 people), or petite shares (feeds 1 person) for the 18 week season that begins the beginning of June  and ends the beginning of October.  Shareholders will pick up vegetables (and occassionally; eggs, maple syrup, honey, or jams) weekly depending on what’s in season.  

On Farmer’s Market Day (Saturday) you will come to the Coudersport Town Square between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to pick up your share of vegetables.  In May 2011 you will be notified of the exact start date for the season.  Any share that is not picked up during distribution hours will be donated to a local food pantry unless you make prior arrangements with us.

Shares may contain the following items: beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, carrots, celery, corn cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, decorative gourds, Asian greens, kale, green and red lettuce, melons, onions, peas, peppers (sweet and hot), potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, summer squash, winter squash, Swiss chard, tomatoes (heirloom, hybrid, paste, cherry), turnips, zucchini, herbs (basil, dill, parsley, sage, chives), farm-fresh eggs, maple syrup, local honey, homemade jams and jellies, home-canned vegetables, fresh cut flowers and more.  

Summer Large Share .....................................................................$620 (averages $34.40 week) 

Summer Small Share .....................................................................$325 (averages $18.00 week)

Summer Petite Share .....................................................................$180 (averages $10.00 week)

Payment plans are available

2011 Summer Share Program Available!

Fitzgerald Family Farm is gearing up for a spectacular summer season!  

Please excuse the "runover" effect that my copied flyer made.  I'm not entirely computer savvy and wanted you to see the finished product!

Speckled Sussex Hens

Many of my hens are very old and not laying so well anymore (I count them as chicken noodle soup on the hoof - so to speak) and so I've started planning my chick order for the spring. 

One of the breeds I've decided upon is the Speckled Sussex.  According to Henderson's Handy Dandy Chicken Chart it perfectly fits all of my requirements.  It's a good layer, cold-hardy, dual purpose (eggs and meat), and calm.  They are "well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm; gentle; active; can be curious; more easily handled." 

Last year I purchased a Speckled Sussex and she has grown to be one of my favorites.

Not only is she really pretty, but she's particularly sweet and likes to be picked up and held.  Even as a young chick she was the most personable.  I suspect she's the one that gives me the pretty brown eggs with darker speckles.  My spring order will definitely have five or so Speckled Sussex pullets in the list.

With the longer days, the chickens are starting to lay a bit better.  I had five eggs yesterday!  I made it through the whole winter without buying a single egg!