The Cottage on the Hill

I cleared this pile of sticks and brush out just in case we decide to use this space to put up a small barn and fenced area to house some goats.  This is the back point of our pie piece property. Wearing my British Woolie Pullie (or is it Wooly Pully?) Firewood, stacked by my oldest and I.   And I moved the compost bin to the edge of our property so it gets more sun and makes more room for a possible fenced in area for goats....that's if we don't decide to move by next spring.

I'd like chickens. This family can go through up to 7 eggs at one breakfast. You know that number is only going to go up as our family size grows and our children (especially the boys) grow. Hubby isn't all too fond of chickens, though. So, we've discussed quail. Of course, quail eggs are ridiculously small, sooooo.... Hubby likes pheasants. I do too, for that matter. I'd also like a goat in milk. If we ever get a farm, hubby wants a cow, perhaps two (for rotation) to keep us in milk. For our current little slice of God's creation, we can really only have a goat, preferably a miniature or dwarf one. However, this year, we are considering pigs. My garden has diminished in quality over the years despite crop rotation and compost/manure additions. My father used to let his garden rest every 7 years. I am considering this year to be a year of rest for the garden. In its place, we're thinking of some spring pigs to till it up and fertilize it. The pigs w...

Well, at least according to my 5 year old son, we are officially a farm because we now own ducklings! Not as many as are in the picture. My camera battery is charging, so I made do with a picture found on google images. We only got six of the cute little things. No, they're not pets. We're raising them for meat, so I guess that does make us more of a farm. For some reason, people in general are more understanding of raising animals for meat if you live on a farm. If you're just Joe Homeowner with a couple of critters in the backyard who eventually wind up in your freezer, people think you're some sort of sicko. But, if you're Joe Farmer and some of your livestock wind up in the freezer, you're just Joe Farmer. But, for now they're cute little ducklings living in a brooder in the basement. Hubby started building their home outside around our little pond and they'll move out there as soon as their old enough and it warms up some. It's almost...

I looked at the extended forecast and it seems winter does not want to leave! Snow still covers the ground here. Snow is still going to fall. Temperatures aren't going rise much higher than 40 degrees. I want to complain, but then I remember something important. This is PERFECT weather for maple syrup production! Last year, Spring arrived early, devastating the maple syrup farmers. This year, sugar shacks around the state are overflowing with sap! The photo above is of part of my brother's small operation. That pale blue line going through the trees along the stream carry the sap from the trees down to his sugar shack by gravity. So, what is bothersome for some is a blessing for others.

I recently learned about soapnuts . Immediately interested, I looked at an online store and then thought to myself, "what exactly are soapnuts and can I grow them myself?" They are the dried berries of the Chinese Soapberry Tree and can be used in laundry and such. Unfortunately, they are not grown in my zone. So, I started looking into other plants that contain saponins . Soapwort is the most common. But how is it used? I came across this website . Do any of my readers have any experience with saponin-containing plants and their uses?

Unless the Lord directs us otherwise, you're looking at (well, read the blog of) future farmers of America! In the meantime, we're praying a LOT, doing research, working on saving up money, and dabbling in the micro-farming of our own little piece of property here at the cottage. This spring might see us some goats and chickens!

The problem with leaving grocery stores behind and heading to the farm stand is that you can't go back. Once you've eaten farm-fresh foods you realize that what is sold in the grocery stores can't hold a candle to REAL food. What's even better than farm fresh is home grown. I've been buying farm fresh potatoes every year from a local farm, but when I dug up my own just last week, the taste was unbelievable. DELICIOUS! Of course, heading to the farm stores and stands aren't always possible, so back to the grocery store I go. Although, I simply cannot return to processed foods. They're discusting to me. All I taste are preservatives and salt. The flavors aren't even good. Sometimes, you just can't go back.

We spent a great family day together going to the Farm Show today. The children loved sitting in all the machinery. My son loved the combines the best. My daughter loved the John Deere Gators and lawn tractors and the goats. I was hoping to find a booth about fungicides and tomato blight. Hubby looked at some horse trailers. Eating fair food and walking so much did a number on my preggy legs, though. They're all swollen! Hubby was his usual loving and considerate self and kept making sure I was ok, and boy oh boy does he admire by belly!f

Hubby and I are actually considering raising quail! I'm excited! I have such a vision for our little bit of earth and raising quail certainly fits into that scheme. From what I understand, quail can't survive winters here, but they're usually bought as chicks in the spring and butchered in time for the holidays. Hubby expressed a desire to be able to work at the farm next door in order to spend more time with his family. The very same desire has been weighing heavily on my heart and mind recently, even more so than usual. Right now we cannot afford it financially. It would take a miracle. I'm stepping out in faith this Christmas season concerning it. How can we put our heads together and make this work?! My mind is swimming and I honestly feel as if someone is deep within my chest screaming, "Cry out to God!" Oh, if only the farm could at least pay him $20.00 an hour. We've gone through some tough and stressful times recently. I am in awe of God...