Friday, January 7, 2011
How To Find Real Food
Have you ever gone to the super market in pursuit of good real food and been totally overcome? Darya Pino at Summer Tomato has put together a silly, "tongue in cheek" chart to help you out!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Ten Acres Enough
I'm in love with this book written by Edmund Morris in 1864. He had become disenchanted with city life (mind you this is in 1864!) and went out a bought ten acres of land. The story chronicles the ups, the downs, and the nitty gritty of starting a life as a farmer.
At some time I'm going to get the hard copy version of this book. But in the meantime I was lucky enough to find an archived version of it. Here's the link to this great page turner. Ten Acres Enough. I love that you can actually turn the pages and read the book online!
At some time I'm going to get the hard copy version of this book. But in the meantime I was lucky enough to find an archived version of it. Here's the link to this great page turner. Ten Acres Enough. I love that you can actually turn the pages and read the book online!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Coffee Heaven
One of my favorite bloggers, Jenna Jackson, of Cold Antler Farm, often talks about her coffee addiction and the old fashioned percolator she uses to brew her daily joe.
Then, while we were in Pittsburgh this past spring I was made the very best coffee from an electric percolator. The coffee was so good my cousin looked in the cupboard to see what brand the maker used. She said she used any old thing that was on sale. It was the percolator that made it SO good.
Anyone that knows me knows that I am a pot a day coffee addict and I figured it was time I stepped up my game.
So for Christmas I asked for a new coffee pot and Santa brought me GE 12-Cup Electric Percolator.
Then, while we were in Pittsburgh this past spring I was made the very best coffee from an electric percolator. The coffee was so good my cousin looked in the cupboard to see what brand the maker used. She said she used any old thing that was on sale. It was the percolator that made it SO good.
Anyone that knows me knows that I am a pot a day coffee addict and I figured it was time I stepped up my game.
So for Christmas I asked for a new coffee pot and Santa brought me GE 12-Cup Electric Percolator.
I Am In Coffee Nirvana!
As an added bonus to some of the best tasting coffee ever, a percolator doesn't use paper coffee filters (the pot has a metal basket) and when I put my coffee grounds in the compost I don't have coffee filters - which take forever to decompose - blowing around the yard!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
A Perfect Gentleman?
Each morning, "Pants On The Ground" is usually the most perfectly refined gentleman and allows all of his ladies (and the gentlemen too) to come out of the coop before him.
Today, he must have been confused and ran out before one of his ladies. When he realized his error he stopped, turned around to look at her in horror, and then waited for her to come out.
I'd like to think that he displays this enormously polite behavior due to a degree of urbane sophistication and that it's not just simple self-preservation!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Chicken Frostbite
When you order a batch of chickens from a big breeder you'll occasionally get a few roosters thrown in to increase the numbers so that all the chicks stay warm in their box en route to their new home.
One of the chicks we received this past spring is a pretty white Leghorn rooster we named "Foghorn Leghorn."
The Leghorn chicken is a breed from the Mediterranean - a lovely, warm section of the world. The United Kingdom site, "Poultry Photos," says "The Leghorn is the 'common fowl of Italy' and was exported to many countries of the world from the port of Leghorn. The Leghorn was, and still is, a prolific egg layer and the White Leghorn has figured prominently in the modern-day establishment of high egg-producing commercial hybrids."
They're great layers, but being from a warm region they just don't do well in cold weather.
So my poor rooster, Foghorn Leghorn, has a frostbitten comb.
The comb itself is a dead giveaway that the guy isn't suited for this weather. It's tall and has lots of points - perfect for cooling off an overheated bird. But those tall points are little extensions that pull in the cold.
I feel sorry for this warm weather fellow in this cold environment and I don't have the capability of heating the coop. I put some Vaseline on that poor comb (the comb feels just like rubber) and tell him he must learn to snuggle!
This hen has a comb that's perfect for winter. See how it's low and tucked close to her skull?
"Pants On The Ground" (in the center) does very well throughout the winter.
Not only is he built better for the cold weather, he loves his ladies and always keeps his harem close!
When you're looking for chickens it's a good idea to find breeds that are suited to your area and fit the many qualifications you may have. Henderson's Handy Dandy Chicken Chart (you can follow the link) is a great starting place to search for your perfect chicken breed.
One of the chicks we received this past spring is a pretty white Leghorn rooster we named "Foghorn Leghorn."
"I say, I say now..."
The Leghorn chicken is a breed from the Mediterranean - a lovely, warm section of the world. The United Kingdom site, "Poultry Photos," says "The Leghorn is the 'common fowl of Italy' and was exported to many countries of the world from the port of Leghorn. The Leghorn was, and still is, a prolific egg layer and the White Leghorn has figured prominently in the modern-day establishment of high egg-producing commercial hybrids."
They're great layers, but being from a warm region they just don't do well in cold weather.
So my poor rooster, Foghorn Leghorn, has a frostbitten comb.
The comb itself is a dead giveaway that the guy isn't suited for this weather. It's tall and has lots of points - perfect for cooling off an overheated bird. But those tall points are little extensions that pull in the cold.
I feel sorry for this warm weather fellow in this cold environment and I don't have the capability of heating the coop. I put some Vaseline on that poor comb (the comb feels just like rubber) and tell him he must learn to snuggle!
This hen has a comb that's perfect for winter. See how it's low and tucked close to her skull?
"Pants On The Ground" (in the center) does very well throughout the winter.
Not only is he built better for the cold weather, he loves his ladies and always keeps his harem close!
When you're looking for chickens it's a good idea to find breeds that are suited to your area and fit the many qualifications you may have. Henderson's Handy Dandy Chicken Chart (you can follow the link) is a great starting place to search for your perfect chicken breed.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Winter's Icy Grip Loosens Its Teeth... Temporarily.
We are fortunate enough to get a little bit of a breather in the heart of winter! I know the storms will come back. I know I'll sit inside and watch the sideways blowing snow and trudge to the chicken coop through piled high drifts.
But for today...
Chores are easier - the chicken's water doesn't freeze as solid, I don't have to slog a hot bucket of water through the snow, and the chickens can range!
A Blessing!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year 2011!
On December 31, 2010 we officially changed our farm's name from the previously named Cheery Hill Farm, LLC - which everyone kept calling Cherry Hill Farm - to.... (drum roll please)...
Fitzgerald's Family Farm, LLC!
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