So we’ve been a bit busy. Now that the long, cold winter is over…. …and then spring time was welcomed with much joy even with some storm damage and flooding. Now summer time is getting started with all hands on…
Category: Farm Journal
Winter Flooding Jan 2013
Our seasonal creek started flowing out of season with white rapids today. It’s been raining hard for hours…. days… now Almost three years ago, we had a 1,000 year flood that caused much devastation to our community. That flood altered…
How do I save my cow from bloat?
I hate when I have to ask this question. It is the usual story – at least around here. There is a new milker in the stall (both the cow and the boy), we are late for school, the barn door…
What’s Going on at the Farm?
We have lots going on around the farm. The flood put a damper on our progress and we have been having to deal with cleaning up piles and piles of river rock. We did get the rock off our main…
Ice Weather
We are very thankful the temperatures are supposed to be pulling up into the 40’s tomorrow!!! We’re wondering if that is going to happen! We’ve enjoyed the winter wonderland. We had 3 days of snow falling from the sky last week…not…
Pig Sitting and Delivery
This is kind of a farm update, but also a fun look at the “little things” of farm life that we over look so much of the time. I say little things, because when we think of owning animals we…
Cows Shares Announced
As you have probably seen by now, we have been working on a new backend for vaughnshire.com. We are maintaining the blog for the usual family update, political rants, and theological musings, but we felt the farm needed a little…
What about the Guernsey Cow?
We have been so busy living the life of cow owners, that we have not even taken the time to really share all the great benefits of our Guernsey milk. Here is a quick list of recommended articles that will help…
Back to milking
We lost our milk cow back in August of 2008. Since then, we have been searching for another Guernsey. Guernsey cows are difficult to find around here. Most family farming people prefer the smaller Jersey cow. The Jersey cow gives a nice amount…
Just a few farm tools for the pond
In an effort to repair his pond from the devastating effects that the 2007 drought caused, he has been tending his pond like a sick puppy (…like he would attend a sick puppy, not like I would…). He’s already added bentonite clay. Today,…
Look! No Horns!
Our Nubian milk goat’s horns fell off after about 3 1/2 weeks. Here’s the story about how and why we banded the goat’s horns: The Trouble with Goat Horns. Here’s a picture of her with horns. Here’s a picture of her…
Incubating Chicken Eggs: We have a chick!
Late last night our first chick finally hatched out of its egg. Just in case anyone is wondering…chicks don’t immediately hatch out of their eggs. It takes forever. Here’s the shell. It has been quite fascinating for the children to see…
De-Horning Update
So far Chessnut still has horns… although they are loose. The banding appears to be working as planned, with a couple minor draw backs. First, she cut milk production by about 20%. Which makes sense, but not something we had on…
They are so cute!
Well, she had TWINS!!! We are all very excited and thrilled that the final ewe to lamb had twins! They are doing well and we let them out of the lambing pen the other day to join the other sheep…