Search
Subscribe
This form does not yet contain any fields.

    Entries in animals (9)

    Monday
    Aug232010

    Farm Tour - Pawnee Pride

    Want to get up close and personal with your food? Our friends at Pawnee Pride are offering a Kids Tour on September 10th, starting at 10:30am. It's a family-friendly walking tour of the Rohrbaugh ranch, ending in a picnic at Burchard Lake.

    The Rohrbaughs are good friends of ours, and we purchase our beef from them. The beef is 100% grass finished, and the cattle are never subjected to unnecessary medications or hormones. Pawnee Pride is very similar to Joel Salatin's Polyface Farms, and the Rohrbaughs have hosted Joel in their home.

    Pawnee Pride is located in Pawnee County, about 2 hours south of Metro Omaha. If you'd like to make reservations and get directions, contact Paul at pawneepridemeats@windstream.net.

    Wednesday
    Aug112010

    Oh, the heat!

    Our farmhouse was built in 1900. The City of Omaha hadn't yet spread the next 20 miles to border our town of Bennington, and the Ford Model T was introduced in 1908. At that time, our farm was truly rural.

    The first modern air conditioner was invented in 1902. In the pre-AC days, temperature control meant planting trees to shade the house, plenty of windows to create cross-breezes and cold baths. Well, not much has changed.

    Today's high temperature is 97F. We've been experiencing a long stretch of hot and humid weather, and this has made life difficult on the farm. Morning temps in the kitchen are usually 80F, and the nights haven't been providing much relief. We have a couple of portable or window air conditioning units to help us sleep, but the heat is still a major factor in our daily lives.

    Farming is a lifestyle, and it can mean that you make sacrifices. Heck, it's a completely different life altogether. In my city life, I left my air conditioned house, hopped into my air conditioned car and drove 15 minutes to my air conditioned office. Now, I drive 22 miles one way while my family sweats out their day. I plan my nights and weekends around weeds, fallen trees, hungry pigs, fences, escaping dogs and, right now, sweating and showering.

    If you are considering farming, sleep with the windows open tonight. We can talk in the morning.

    -Brian

    Thursday
    Jul152010

    At long last, they're finally here! 

    Late last night, we maybe woke all of Bennington with the sound of squeeeeeels.  Our piglets arrived just after 11pm and were not too thrilled to be wrestled out of their soft, cozy bed and introduced to their new home.  For little guys, they sure are strong!

    This morning, they got a delicious breakfast and have made themselves right at home.  I think they've decided to stay.

    A huge thank you to Mary Ann and her son for delivering them to us safe and sound.  We are thrilled to finally begin this phase of our journey.

    ~Kelly

    Sunday
    Jun202010

    New Addition: Ducks

    We watch the Farm postings on Craigslist every day. As new farmers, we're always on the hunt for old-timey tools, used farm gear and free things. We've scored roofing tin, a chicken plucker, rabbits and, today, a couple of Rouen ducks.

    I've had my heart set on ducks for a couple of years. I love the way they look (and taste), and I'm interested in how they fit into a traditional farm. My hesitation has been that we don't have a pond. I believe that ducks should have water, no matter if the books say they can be raised without it. To me, that just seems wrong. We do have a couple of small kiddie pools, so I think that we can support a ducky duo.

    -Brian

    Tuesday
    May252010

    Spotlight On...

    Every week, we'll spotlight a particular item we love at Black Sheep Farms.  It may be a fruit, vegetable, flower, animal, or something else.   If you have any suggestions, send it to us at farm@BlackSheepFarms.com.

    Polish Chickens!

    Okay, lots of people told me that once I got chickens, I'd love them.  And I don't mean love the way they taste or love getting fresh eggs.  I mean, I do love those things, but I mean *love* them.  Like, giggle at their silly antics, or spend way to much time kneeling on the dirty coop floor trying to get them to eat from your hand, or feel bad for the little rooster when the big, bad rooster picks on him.  I thought those people were crazy.  But here I am, a year after being a chicken owner admitting that I do, love chickens.  And I think today I decided on a favorite. 

    On the farm, and in life, I guess, Brian and I are drawn to things more unusual.  So we've looked for chicken breeds that are not your ordinary birds.  Polish chickens are definitely unusual chickens.  With a 'fro of feathers on top of their heads, they demand to be looked at.  And who can help but smile when you see them?  This year, I finally got a chance to buy some.  They've been sold out every other time I've tried.  I ordered 10, which turned out to be a mistake, since 9 of them died!  I don't have any explanation for the deaths, but I was bummed.  So I've got this one little guy left and he makes me laugh every time I see him.  He is entering the awkward pre-teen stage right now.  And like many pre-teens, doesn't much care to have his picture taken, so I apologize for the lousy photo.  I'll take more as he grows so you can witness the feather 'fro in its full glory.  

    p.s.  I say "he" but really I have no idea what sex he/she is.