Loss on the farm

We lost Hamberguesas our Angus Cow. Looks like Clarabelle got aggressive with her. I am going to call the place that processes animals and see what the cost will be to have her processed if she continues to be aggressive.

Of course it happened after I left to go get groceries and pick up the boys. 

We lost our farm dog in October and donkey killed one of our female goats that jumped into his fenced in area. Been a rough time of loss the last couple of months.

We had a great time celebrating Christmas with my oldest son, his wife, his infant, my parents and my grandmother the 1st weekend of December.



I did some snapchat filters with my grandson wile he was here.



He's so precious. We started building him a playground here at the farm for when he's older.



As you can see Maine is having a weird December and no snow yet.

I started making evergreen garland and swags for our porch.



💔

Yesterday we lost our sweet Hannah. She passed from bloat. 

I'm thankful for hubby's uncle coming over with his tractor to help bury her.we will make a little sign for her this weekend.

More laying hens

I went to Balfour Farm this morning it Pittsfield to pick up 60 laying hens. After I pick my son up from work I need to vacuum out my car.

They were really good and laid down while I was driving. A couple weeks ago I picked up 19 layers and a rooster from a couple in Cushing.

Now I will be able to sell eggs and keep quite a few for my family.  I just need to order some egg cartons.

I need to go to Home Depot and pick up the two tarps we ordered to put over the roof of the barn when it leaks.

This week I'm hoping to go to RJ Hall in Corinth to pick strawberries. I plan on making Jelly, Jam and pie filling. Some for the farm store and some for us.

Tomorrow morning I will weed my garden and my husband is going to till a pumpkin patch for me. We are planting 3 different types of pumpkins.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Ducks!!

Dom and I went to Cooley Farm in Ripley for 8 Ducks. I absolutely loved their farm. They had goats, pigs, turkeys, cows and a LOT of chickens!!

We bought 4 Pekin Ducks and 4 Indian Runners.

My sister in law and her husband came over this evening and tilled my garden for me. He has a tiller for his John Deere.

Tomorrow morning I will be planting :) I think the veggie I'm looking forward to the most this year is popcorn. 

Pigs

Yesterday Maple Lane Farms came and took our 3 pigs to be processed. The guy that came asked if we had help to get them onto the livestock trailer. I told him no it was just me. This is my 1st time raising meat animals so I didn't realize I should have a crew to get the pigs to go onto the trailer. I asked him if we could get a rope on them if that would work. He had said no. I had a horse leash and was able to rope all 3 myself and get them onto the trailer. He was a little impressed and said that was a 1st for him.

I am emailing my resale certificate to them so I'm able to sell some of the pork. We can't get bacon because the meat is lean. I will be able to render my own lard for the 1st time as well. I'm looking forward to that!!

We are getting 8 ducks this week. They are teenagers and hopefully this winter the mink doesn't come back!!

We had a baby shower for my oldest son and his wife this weekend. My grandmother made a beautiful quilt for my grandson. My mom and grandmother came. I can't wait to be able to get a 5 generation photo.

My garden will be tilled this week then I can plant it this weekend. I also want to till a new spot for my pumpkin patch. I'm looking forward to having a garden again this year.

I was able to sell one of my baby goats but still have 3 for sale.  The youngest baby is going to be small like her mom. She half fainting goat half Nogerian Dwarf.

Babies, Babies and more Babies

Ariel and her daughter Penelope

Cecilia and her twin girls

Hannah and her twins

All 3 moms and babies are doing amazingly!!

Picked up More Chicks

I picked up 21 chicks from Tractor Supply thus week. They are all layers.

I have Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds and 3 Green Eggers.

Today Max accidentally stepped on of the the Eggers. He likes to go sniff them and try to lick them.

We have them in our tub we don't use with the heat light on and the shower curtain closed.

I'm hoping they get their duck supply in today. I want to replenish the ducks seems the mink got all of our adult ducks.

It has been an interesting week. Our pellet stove hopper caught on fire..we aren't sure why as we clean it regularly. 

I'm thankful I noticed it before the fire spread to the walls.  We are waiting for a repair person to come look at the stove.

A few farm pics

Here are a few recent farm pics.

Donkey has adjusted to his needs barn friends. He is no longer kicking when they get near his food. 

We finally figured out what hasbkilled all of my ducks and most of my chickens it is a mink. Today we are borrowing a friend's trap and will get rid of it!!

I want to get more but am not going to until we get rid of the mink.

Today I will start my onions. I need to find my grow lamp first. It is either upstairs or in the basement.

I've been letting the geese out of the barn. There is a puddle near the door of the barn which they love to "swim" in. They tried swimming in their pool but the pool is still snowy and icy.

We had a cord of wood delivered this past week. We were getting pretty low. I will be so happy when it warms up and we only need to use the pellet stove to take the chill out of the house!! 

In April we will find out what we are having for a grandchild.  I can't wait to go to Vermont and find out!!! 

Today we need to pick up my car from Town Fair Tire. I had to get 3 new tires put on. Then whenever we get our income taxes it will go to the dealership to get all 4 tires aligned. 

What does everyone think of the crazy gas prices?? It cost $50 for the spouse to fill my car. It usually cost $37-40. I know for a lot of my friends it cost $100. Oil prices are ridiculously high as well. I'm thankful for our wood.

Time for me to go feed my animals.

Have a great day everyone!!

Invasion of Ukraine

I'm not one that watches world news faithfully. I usually skim articles through a news app on my cellphone.

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine I have been watching the news and listening to the news on one of my Sirius XM channels in the car.  

Supplies at our grocery stores are already limited due to transport issues and the government paying farms to destroy crops. Oil prices have skyrocketed. Today they are $105/barrel. It's predicted gas could become $7/gal For the US. 

This is the driving factor for me growing our own food. I am thankful for ordering my seeds earlier than I normally would for my garden.  I am also thankful for the ability to raise animals for meat to secure my family's ability to eat. My goal is to have enough food to help other families to be sustained as well. It's a lofty goal. It's not for the faint of heart.

If you don't grow your own food I would advice you to connect with families that do. Buy locally as much as you can. You can shop farmer's markets. You can buy into local farm shares. (CSA's)

Running out of soaps and shampoos? Find someone who makes their own. Some laundry soaps are hard to get. You can make your own as well.

Some herbal remedies can help with minor injuries/illnesses. 

I encourage you to look up local farms in your area. If you are looking for something specific to purchase people at the farmers market can help connect you to the right person.

Our electricity rates have risen 85% here in Maine. I eventually want to invest in Solar power to help combat our electricity bill.

I'm thankful for our wood heat and pellets to not be dependent on oil. 

I would not be surprised if we end up in a 3rd world war that we will be living through a depression like our grandparents and great grandparents went through. I would advice people to be a little more self-sufficient. I understand those living in town and in cities self-sufficiency is limited. Visit your local farmers/homesteaders.  You can buy eggs from roadside stands throughout most regions.

Help one another out. Thank a truck driver who is fighting to get supplies to you. Appreciate large farms and small farms alike. 

Need help with gardening whether in country or urban regions. Check out YouTube for tips.

Covid

We are all finally over covid. The infusions helped immensely.

My middle son has had an allergic reaction to his monoclonal infusion. He is on 2 different meds to get rid of his rash.

I'm glad it's over and I hope I never get it again!

Valentine's gift

For Valentine's day I got a mini donkey. He was named Zag but doesn't always come to that but comes to Donkey (from Shrek of course)

We rented a Cargo Van to transport him home. The other animals don't quite know what to think of him yet. He does like to nibble but I am working on that with him. I'm hoping to eventually train him to give Cart rides!!

Day 1 of antibody infusion

Today I go to St. Joseph's Hospital in Bangor to start my 1st antibody infusion. This will last 2 hours and then I will go Thursday and Friday for 2 more. This will help get rid of Covid quicker. My 21 year old started his This morning at 7 AM. I'm hoping I do not have any adverse reaction to the treatment as I'm tired of feeling so miserable from Covid. Once I'm better I will be getting my Booster.

The sunrise on the way into the city was absolutely beautiful this morning. Excuse my dirty windshield.

Have a great day and stay warm!! It was 1° F when we left the house this morning.

Day 4 of illness

We are STILL waiting for our covid results.🙄 

I drank a mug of chicken broth for lunch today.

Hopefully I will continue feeling a little better now that my fever has broke. I still have very little energy and feel weak.  My oldest 2 boys are sick as well. The spouse is in bed. He's supposed to be resting but has a hard time just sleeping the illness off where when I'm sick I need to sleep to heal.

When I'm better I will do a box opening of my seeds that arrived today.

Brrrr

This is what our temps with the windchill will be on Tuesday. I have to empty the ice every day out of the water bucket every day right now but these temps will make them freeze so solid it is hard to dump out.  I always worry my animals will be too cold in the barn or the chickens and ducks will freeze to death. Tomorrow I will go to our local feed store and buy more straw so they all can hunker down. 

Temps like these have me appreciating our wood furnace even more!! Wood heat is my absolute favorite. I don't mind the pellet stove when the temps aren't below freezing but I definitely prefer the wood.

Hamberguesas is thriving being separated from the hurd health wise but I think she really misses the socialization. At least from her stall she is able to see Ariel, Penelope and Cecilia.  

The geese are enjoying their free range of the barn. Surprisingly they haven't been picking on the bantam chickens and the silliest. No one else in my family likes to go down there as the geese like to bite them.  When I am down there they don't bother anyone.  Broken Wing always walks up to me and tries telling me all that is going on. He also needs some rubs. 

We had a new door built for the barn where the animals go into their fencing.

It's a really simple door made out of 2X6, 2X4, and plywood. The door sings into the barn instead of outside so it won't interfere with the snow accumulation and completely ruin it.

Of course Oreo likes to supervise and make sure he keeps an eye on what they are doing to his house. Hubbs also built a gate along the "fencing" where oreo is so I can get inside their without having to use the gate in the fencing outside.

Clarabelle could not resist coming up to me for some selfish. She always comes up to me when she sees me with my phone facing all of them. Maybe she's worried I will not have a very flattering photo.  

Hannah decided to get in on the action then everyone else decided to check out what I was doing.

I've been researching ways to promote our farm business. I also have been looking into what other permits I will need for the store. I received my agritourism safety posters and will share them at another time.

Open Farm Day will be July 24, 2022 from 12 PM to 4 PM.

For a list of participating farms you can always go to https://realmaine.com they have a WEALTH of information there.

I'm thinking of becoming a Tractor Supply affiliate. I filled out my application and am waiting to hear the status of that.

It's very late so I should head to bed.

Good Night Everyone!! (If you click on the photo above you should be able to make out the stars. )

 

School of Hard Knocks

 I hope you are beginning to enjoy my vlog on YouTube. I'm hoping soon the nerves will fade away and an abundance of confidence takes its place!!

Today has been a day of learning and self reflection. I'm going to start having blog segments called "Candid Chats With Dee."  The weather here has been scrappy today ( Have you seen how many people are stranded on I95?? Granted I live on the very northern part of that Interstate) I had to go with my spouse into town to lick up our son from work, drop the spouse off at work then bring the son to an appointment. This momma was going to do some errands while they were busy. My son at home called to tell me Chamber guess is laying flat like she's about to die like Babe did. I tell him to video chat me so I can see. Sure enough, my girl was laying on her side legs straight out. My first thoughts were either bloat or she slipped on the ice coming  out of the barn and broke a leg.  With me giving directions over video they picked her up and put her back in the barn. 15 year old tells me she is super cold to touch but she isn't shivering. I had them put a blanket on her to warm her up. I messaged my niece who is studying to become a vet to see if she happened to be getting out of school. No such luck so I called Dr. Alexander through Exeter Veterinary Clinic and he could make an emergency call. I honestly didn't Cate the cost we would figure out a way to pay the bill.  So he treated her for worms and mineral deficiency. We have to separate her from all her friends for a month.  My boys moved her to the flock barn. We are letting the geese free range inside the barn while Hamberguesas stays in their home.  She's smaller than she should be which I had zero clue so hopefully with meds, double the food she will grow more.

I NEVER      EVER.    do research on animal breeds before I get them. I go by the cute factor/benefit factor. Yes I know I should as I have several homestead books but......I'm a learn as you go person. It may be irresponsible in some ways but  I certainly blogs all of them.

After most of the day passing by. Swearing.....near tears........ Wanting to throw my phone I have a simple domain name and website.  I have my first samples of product up that can be purchased. Www.wylddreamfarm.go daddy sites.com  take a look and give me feedback!

Happy New Year

We spent New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Vermont with my oldest son and daughter in law. We also had our Christmas with them.

I received this cute baking set. It is my first Rae Dunn item.

For New Year's day we ate at Applebee's in Littleton, NH.

Today I placed my seed order through

I forgot to order Rosemary and I will purchase seed potatoes from our local feed store.  I purchased herbs for a tea garden as well as culinary herbs. Flower seeds I will just purchase locally. I need to continue making my memory flower garden this year as well.  I plan on planting sunflowers near the rocks towards the road this year instead of in my garden.

My YouTube channel is coming along nicely. I'm still a little nervous filming but feel a little more comfortable editing using the Inshot app.

I highly suggest if you plan on gardening with the food shortages and rising cost of food you order your seeds this month!!! Last year the later you ordered the companies were already out of stock.