The day our Moose had super powers {and neutering}

Our Moose had his neutering yesterday. He LOVES car rides. He sits in the back looking forward, resting his chin on the front passenger seat, his nose sticking out from under the raised head rest, staring straight ahead rather intently. He never fails to make many of passerby or stop light side mates do a double take with his large size sitting either beside me rather human like or his back seat chin rest prop.

 Once on the freeway, I rolled down the windows about 4 inches. I kept hearing an odd noise followed by bits of wetness of my shoulder. Next glance over I discovered he was was chomping at the air blowing in from the window crack. Flapping his droopy jowls as saliva flew all over. Had me laughing as he always does. Glad he was in high spirits, clueless on where we were going.

I found a flyer some time ago for a reduced cost neuter/spay mobile unit. Being 1/3 the cost I was quoted at the vet, I quickly reserved a spot for our Moose. Being he weighs over 100 lbs, his neuter cost was HIGH with a vet. The mobile unit made it even less cost then that friends of pets program {again large dog meant you pay for their $65 waiver and take them to a participating vet who then charges an additional $70-$100 due to his size and "unknown" possible extras for his surgery.}So if the Canton Ohio area is in decent driving distance, I highly recommend checking out these guys:  http://www.spayneuterohio.com/ Ran by volunteers and makes $0 from the program.  

When I drove back to pick him up that afternoon, he was wagging his tail at the sound of my voice from his resting crate. I could tell the drugs were still effecting him. When we opened his crate, he immediately snuggled into me. Heart melt! I will say, there is nothing like a 104 lb moose dog doing the drunk walk to my car. Poor guy kept looking up with confused eyes every time he bumped into my legs as though I were the one not walking straight. 

Once home post op, he plopped down hard on the kitchen hall tile floor and passed out. His eyes rolled back showing nothing but pink. He didn't even flinch when I made a noise nearby. I had to check if he was dead!

 His breathing was so shallow I rested my head next to his chest to make sure he was breathing steady. Once I started whispering those sweet nothing dog owner endearments, he did mini weak wags of his tail. He laid like that for an hour. only lifting his tail a tad to wag weakly when I spoke or when the children came in from school.

A few hours later he was fully awake and wouldn't stop following me, constantly at my side, so I had to sit just so he would rest. Once it was time to give him a little food, he received his first 2 pain pills. Followed 20 minutes later with a quick jaunt out to pee.  And just my luck! Here comes Mr. Ground Hog 4 ft away, and there WE went as my drugged up moose became "super dog" bolting after it. Once I regained my ground, I had no alternative then to tackle his front end and roll with him so I wouldn't hurt his 6 hour old stitches or get them dirty.  I was far too weak to hold him back on the leash with his 200 mg of Novox induced super powers. He was dragging me so I had to jump & react quick before he tore open the surgery site. 

I swore those pills were a bad idea. The ground hog got away and now the doped up dog wants to go hunting every time I take him out... I'm thinking just 1 pain pill next time {he's far too strong and out of his mind to listen to me on 2}. Besides, having a little pain & discomfort will force the rest upon him.

Now I'm off to battle the 3 Kamikaze Robin parents & friend as I finish prepping the tomato patch  for planting. Crossing fingers being day 12, they will be out there.

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie

And then there were 3...

 Mother Nature came into play with the addition of those 4 eggs. Being they were laid 1 week later then the initial 3, they began hatching out 3 days ago. See the little beak raised between the back larger 2 hatch-lings?

 On that day, I found 2 of the 4 extra hatched out.  The scenario I imagined was not what I thought I would find during my tool grab on Thursday. Being they are so much younger, I thought for sure the older nest mates would smother the younger chicks or dominate the food train mother, in worst case scenario. Instead, I found all traces of them gone. Not even an eggshell. I searched inside the potter shed as well as the ground in front of the entrance, with their dive bombing parents yelling at me the entire time. My assumption is mother Robin disposed of them herself. Her "instinct" indicating they are the weaker links and as in the normal ways of many in wildlife, the weak are rarely kept or tended. 

So now, the Potter shed thieving Robin is back to feeding just 3 mouth's. 

Telle est la nature {Such is the nature}.

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie

Photog share & Year 2 Mrs. Robin in the potter's shed

 Remember last year when a certain Mrs. Robin made a nest on my garden hoe blade that leaned on the back wall of my potter shed? Her eggs hatched out & the babies survived, flying away by June. I finally had my shed back with plans to thwart such an event from ever keeping me from enjoying the benefits of a potter shed.

That didn't work out so well... She's back and this time she made a nest in the corner of the shelf under the window. It began as 3 eggs...

 Within a week of our discovery, 3 became 7... As of the other day, what I assume were the first 3 eggs, hatched out. I have not been back to grab my tools since this shot taken last Saturday.

Apparently my sharing of the shed with her 2 years in a row does not cause enough distress to where she does not feel it to be a proper nesting sight. In fact, I think she is & feels far safer being hidden yet surrounded by the openness of the field. Safe inside with a view from both windows and the missing door  giving a great defense from sneak attacks.{yeah, I never did get that back on}.

I'll keep you up to date on how this whole 7 eggs things work out.

Photography has been my consume all of late. I've stepped down from my previous consume all of the gardening and animals. As mentioned before, it became too much work and not enough enjoyment being the main & majority source of labor. The garden is not as big. We are bringing in a trio of Welsh Harlequins due to hatch the end of this month and will keep things simple from now on. 

I have debated a new site, like I have not done that a hundred times. I may very well do it this time, linking into this site or simply share the link for those who wish to stop in and watch my progress and experiments within photography. I'm hooked on themes & story telling with my photos. No matter how small, my drive is behind the inclusion of a theme.

 I thought I would share my latest practice & experimentation which consisted of Panda & a guy friend. Yes. He's a guy and not a boy being this Fall they become Freshmen.

This time out was not about capturing the right light as most know really makes the shot. I've had some beginner issues using my new 50mm 1.8 lens. Getting both faces in focus, finding the right angle, the right pose & surroundings to make it happen. This happens to be in the #1 slot of the top 5 in the shots that day.

I really do not like having my signature copyright image overlay in the photos but stealing images is rampant on the net. Not giving credit of source as well as playing it off as their own. I try to make it more discreet but hard to hide should someone post or share elsewhere..

Yes. That's Panda. Lil Miss going on 14 in 6 weeks. 

I strongly feel railroad tracks have been overdone in the sense of so many doing "the walk down tracks" look. My own treasured photo from May 2010 showcasing my 3 kiddos is of that very scenario, taken with a point and shoot. I love that photo and will recreate the same shot every 2-3 years as they grow for a series on my future "old lady hall of photos". Just not a shot I would willingly take for others.
 I discovered this great abandoned warehouse environment a few towns over. The railroads are dominant in our area from the Past industrial meets farming life. The two of them proceeded to do their own thing, wanting to explore around the factory as I snapped away.  It's not the common railroad scenario, giving it exclusion from my above mentioned notation.

Panda is showing her own interest in Photography with plans of having it as her Minor in college.. which is in just 4 years... She has become my assistant {the reflector holder} as well as a source of inspiration & ideas with our themes. The clothing and hair for this very shoot were all her doing.

There is something about this shot I just love. The softness of her face and the playful shadows dappling with light from the apple tree above. I would have played more within this area but alas, the heathens were tired and hungry. An area in the plans for another day playing with light & shadow experimentation. 

To see the full set of this practice session, which I titled Summer of Youth, hop over to this Flickr link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95517275@N02/sets/72157633434194768/

I'll try not to be so absent from my posts in the future. The decision on the start of another site may come into play being I have less Farm Chick and more Shutterbug going on in my life. I'll let you know what I decide.
Sweetest Dreams,
~Tammie

Cutting the cord...or rather, the cable.

Today was a day I have been looking forward to for some time now and the kids viewed as though I were packing them up into my tiny Kia Soul for a 48 hour drive to live off grid hidden deep in the wilds of Alaska. Where phone reception and internet is replaced by Ham radios and snail mail delivered on putter planes once a month.

Seriously. If you could have only heard their initial gasps and protests. From my younger two I got: "What?! But what about my shows? How are we going to watch our shows?" and of course my favorite was "Oh great, Mom. NOW what am I going to talk about with my friends when all of them are discussing the shows that were on..." Really? Who ARE you guys and where are the kids I thought I had been raising during the last 13 years? I need outdoor wilderness in a cabin somewhere for a whole summer with these kids to repair  even a little of the damage done to their minds...

                             

I am currently browsing for one of those plush Hollywood style rehab clinics that specializes in T.A. Complete with heated pool, a masseuse available round the clock and those big fluffy white robes and custom fitted eye masks to help them cope through their withdrawals...

It's called Lets go to the library or go play in the woods!

The economy has raised prices so much so that the budget we had over 2 years ago, has now been smashed   into bits. Here's my chance! So I jumped the opportunity to rid my house of far to many hours a week of disrespectful back talking Disney actors and Nickelodeon grind dances echoing through these walls. No amount of example or talk from us as parents stands a chance against what they see on television by kids their own age. If they see it, and it's often enough, they WILL imitate it. OH boy do they... 

 I managed to finally talk The Captain into going along with cutting the Cable television connection. No more paid entertainment so we could save $100 a month, immediately depositing it into savings  That's $1200 a year!

After spending 3 hours I will never regain trying to speak with someone at the infamous Time Warner cable in my attempt to simply have the cable turned off and switch to just phone & internet, I now feel zero guilt for the condition of their remote we have only had 6 months. Between the buttons that you must press in a certain angle and multiple times to change a channel, to the battery cover that went A.W.O.L some time shortly after it's acquiring and may very well be deep in the guts of this old house via floor ducts. The last one we had succumbed to it's final abuse with a dunking of milk... I even left the rubber bands on it that were for the sole purpose of holding in the batteries which also unintentionally were great for gripping in between the couch cushions.Which is where it seemed to end up every day which also may explain the need of batteries so often. Heck, I didn't even bother to dust the box off which didn't seem to matter anyway being that despite my having to pay $10 for the privilege of having the cable turned off, the cable guy never stepped foot in our yard. So now, not only do I have to spend more hours on the phone with them to have our just made old amount payment reimbursed {and we all know how much they "care" for their customers and only want to make us happy}, I now need to drive 25 minutes to drop off their box at the closest office.

Despite the headache Time Warner gave me, I am able to give them the final flip off but not giving them another dime for entertainment...O.k. For television. Because I REFUSE to not have a phone and internet as long as I live in the north with cold winters.

Besides, how else am I to read my daily dose of the worlds insanity?

Sweetest Dreams,

~Tammie

Growing Heirloom protein in the garden

The Incorporating and Consumption of Beans in our daily lives have endured a shameful neglect & decline in many areas of the U.S. That is not to say all beans, the focus I emphasize here goes to the Dry bean category.

With as much protein in  a quarter pound of dried beans equal to 3 ounces of meat per person, it is a proven fact protein from those beans require a much lower carbon footprint than the one with animal proteins.

Keeping the above in mind, why are we not focusing more on the inclusion of dry beans into our gardens and Pantry? Quoting from my current read of The Rancho Gordo Heirloom bean growers guide:*

"You could eat a different heirloom bean every day for months, each with it's own distinctive character."

As I mentioned in my last post, I in no way intend or urge eliminating meat from the diet. What I do intend & urge is for my family as well as for many others to trim down the over consumption of meat we have become accustomed to. Raising & preserving your own Dry beans in larger amounts then your use to can replace the need {and higher cost}of animal protein. With healthier personal benefits as well as less impact to the environment. Raising your own meat, for many, still means feed from a supplier. The chain goes on down the line just as the cons of buying from the local butcher or Grocer. Before you disregard beans with the instant popping up of the school yard song 'beans, beans, the more we eat, the more we... Well. It's because your not eating enough of them!

The U.S Bean council* weighs in {really? We have a bean council? Wow..}

"If high-fiber foods such as dry beans are not a regular part of your diet, the natural oligosaccharides (complex carbs.) in beans may cause temporary digestive discomfort. Research shows that adding beans to your diet on a regular basis — at least once or twice a week — reduces flatulence.."

In our garden beds of 2013, there will be a newcomer as well as a familiar. My Borlotti  Bean* was once again ravaged by the rabbit population {the typical Peter Rabbit tale will begin a new chapter. hopefully with more positive results this year}. Previously, they left just enough to seed this year's small seed only purpose crop. I am thankful for their unintentional consideration.

The new comer is the Good Mother Stallard bean*.  

Thankfully, they are available with Annie's heirlooms. Our choice of this year's Seed order.

Rancho Gordo has this to say on the Variety:

"I hate when anyone asks me to name my favorite bean. Can you name a favorite child? No! But if I had favorites, I'd certainly have to consider Good Mother Stallards. Dense and delicious, they also exude the most perfect pot liquor of any bean. Just this bean, some onion, some garlic and a splash of olive oil are all you need for cooking and the result is a luscious bean fiesta.

Please prepare them simply and avoid the natural tendency to want to make them better by fussing about. Enjoy them without all the trappings to really get the most out of them!

If pushed, I could suggest these for a chili or a soup. The texture and shape are so pleasing, I think they'd be wasted if you pureed or made refried beans out of them."

If your gardening history has bouts of seed and sprout stealers, dashing any hope for a bountiful harvest.  Use Mesh screen or make Chicken wire "tunnels"!

 Once your beans have sprouted up, lay down thick layers of newspaper and mulch around their stems to prevent the needs of weeding. The plants will be left on their own to fully mature and dry out right where they are. Plant them in a space away from the main area where other plants demand more attention.

While your waiting on their harvest, use the time to explore the low amount available Dried bean cook books. Seriously. There are not enough on this subject. Someone needs to collect hundreds of dried bean recipes that are more diverse and less common. Someone needs to taste test & share their findings into a book. Any volunteers? I'd buy one as long as it was not full of chili, mashed & baked beans. less grocery store black & pinto & navy beans. I'd like to see more main meals and gourmet results keeping cost/availability of ingredients in mind. After all, Rancho Gordo  has MANY heirloom dried beans available for purchase by the pound. Perfect for Home gardeners to try out a variety before growing on your own.

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie

Gardens make you healthier. Preserving makes you wealthier.

Evaluating your food consumption over 2 months may reveal a surprising pattern. When I sat down to plan out the evening meals for the next 4 weeks, I noticed a huge trend. Meat and cheese seemed to dominate the main course of almost every meal. How the heck did that happen? 

Today, I feel a Fact & rant coming on.

Vegetables and fruits in non garden months have rose in price so much so, that to feed my family of 5 a meat less/cheese-less meal would not only take far more work finding recipe ideas, they cost more to make. A person can only eat so many green beans, broccoli and carrots from the frozen food aisle. Shopping the produce aisle just for Winter squash is averaging $5-7 in the amount I would need. That's not including other ingredients. Vegetarian cook books have not relieved my quest for more veggie fueled plans. They seem to have "special" or pricey ingredients, many with cheese, tofu, lots of rice or other starches dominating the pages.  In this house, there is no spaghetti pie or taco something or another served. Call me a food snob but I refuse to eat that way. Blame it on a childhood of spaghetti/mac & cheese cheapness dominating the food memories. I swear we ate that stuff almost every night of the week. Our free School lunches may have been dread for others, but to us? We looked forward to the diversity and items we almost never had at home.

 I realized, in my quest to serve healthy meals on a moderate budget, I in fact was treading on a completely different road then I intended. 

Now more than ever, America is a Nation of meat & cheese eaters. 

In 2000, total meat consumption (red meat, poultry, and fish) reached 195 pounds (boneless, trimmed weight equivalent) per person, 57 pounds above average annual consumption in the 1950's.

Average annual consumption of cheese (excluding full-skim American and cottage, pot, and baker’s cheeses) increased 287 percent between the 1950s and 2000, from 7.7 pounds per person to 29.8

pounds.

I came across a very interesting and informing read where I found the alarming rates of meat & cheese consumption our nation has taken. Take a click over here*  and further inform yourself on how our diets, the ingredients as well as our activity level has become so out of balance  We, as a nation  need to redefine priorities as well as our ways. A simple shift into healthier eating within the right portions. An increase in physical activity as well as a fresh look into our own foodie lives can make the big difference to our environment as well as to our individual lives.

I highly suggest this link for an even more alarming read on the Meat based diet dominating our country.*

 "The US food production system uses about 50% of the total US land area, 80% of the fresh water, and 17% of the fossil energy used in the country. The heavy dependence on fossil energy suggests that the US food system, whether meat-based or plant-based, is not sustainable."

Now, I am in no way saying or suggesting we eliminate meat from our diets. What I am trying to say & suggest is that we ALL need to re-evaluate our consumption amount. Look at it this way. If you were to have a garden of vegetables, potatoes, squash & fruits {no grains in the equation} with a decent self need amount of a high egg laying rate poultry as well as lets say, meat Rabbits. Putting up and preserving in amounts sustaining your needs until the next harvest. You could very well live on all you grow in that small space, decreasing greatly what you spend outwards {not factoring in store Feed where you should  include a good  portion of the garden greens,bugs and such supplementing the diets of your small livestock anyway}. Thus greatly decreasing what you would NEED to earn from your job. We have all heard it before but instead of listening, many keep on with their greed and spiraling wants. The problem? We have become a hazard nation, replicating and increasing more with each generation, a life comfortable with selfish want and convenience seen as more important then need or courtesy. 

Change should start with YOU. Stop worrying about what others will think or what they are doing. This is about your life. Your family. And your bound to have some stone wallers. Especially if you have a teen. Apparently storing bottled water in non immediate need amounts {like buying an extra 4 cases of bottled water on the last grocery trip} means you have lost your mind and it will be referred to as your apocalyptic water.. Because NO ONE ELSE DOES THAT MOM. Yet I have been doing these things for a decade. By myself. With other participants begrudgingly obliging on occasion. So now you know what I never wanted to  accept or loudly admit to myself. I do this all. By myself. With help only given when I guilt or force it to happen. I have wanted the life of gardens and animals well before I moved North. I made it very clear from the beginning, this is how I want to raise my "future" family and live our life. One of those "speak now or forever hold your peace" conversations. I was never given a rebuttal. But that does not mean it would not come long after I began striving for the dream.  I kept going and refused to change my dreams because of others who may see it as ridiculous or not within social acceptance or modern ways. 

What has this to do with Meat & cheese consumption? Think about it. If you are on the high consumption level in the two areas, then you will most likely be met with defiance within your realm. You are making changes for their own good. They may very well not agree or enjoy the healthier life. It's up to you to keep going. 

This is not a trivial "trend". This is about long term results for the health of your family and the environment we leave to our children and grand children. 

Now is the time for change. Strive for a life no longer dominated by selfish wants and convenience.

Sweeter Dreams,

~Tammie

A food swap network coming to a town near you!

You've labored  away during garden season, filling the Pantry with numerous delectable's.  Some Jarred. Some Dried. Maybe you have dairy goats and preserve their gift into cheese or yogurt. That perfect Pasta you hand make adding your own Garden herbs as you roll out the dough. Maybe a few dozen extra Duck or chicken eggs you would gladly swap out for some local Honey or a Fruit jam you do not have.

These are just a small array of the items you could bring to and find at a Food swap. 

So what exactly IS a Food Swap ?

It’s an event that brings people together to trade their homemade, homegrown, or even foraged food items with one another. There is a system, which involves something similar to a sign up sheet. Like a Silent Auction. You have time to browse what others have brought as well as possibly sample foods if available. There is a Host/ess which will guide you along throughout it all. Telling you when it's time to head back to your table or head off to find the person with the items you wish to swap out for.  Ultimately you decide if you want to swap with what the others may offer. No need to feel uncomfortable declining. It is well advised before hand during the event, trade for what YOU would eat and like and never feel as though you must accept in fear of coming of rude.

My In Laws were the ones to bring our local event to my attention. An article in the  newspaper highlighting this new form of community interaction. Searching the paper for one near you is unnecessary. There is a master mind hot spot where the mass majority of Food Swaps across the nation register their location & guidelines. Take a visit over to the *Food Swap network* where you can browse for one near you. Do keep in mind, some may limit the attendance to just 15-25 people due to the space they have acquired. Requiring you to sign up & reserve a spot on a first come basis. Read their guidelines and expectations carefully. Not all swaps are the same. Some may have items they do not allow such as home made wine or bake Goods. Some may even limit the amount of items you should bring. Either way, swapping out items within your community is a great way to meet other Gardeners, Bakers & Foodies just like you. Not too mention, you walk out with armfuls of new temptations to enjoy.

I am most excited for the one near me. Being we have plenty of  Honey from our hives, I plan to take a decent amount for Bartering items as well as a few packs of our Wine cap mushrooms I dehydrated/ Vac sealed. Hopefully being the two are not as common as garden produce, they will provide a greater interest and leverage for items we would want.

If you click over to the Food Swap network site *at this link* , you will find a more thorough explanation on what the under 2 hours event will entail.

Not able to find a Food swap near you? Why not host one yourself or gather a group of friends to assist in creating one for your area. The local town hall. The school cafeteria. Even the local park or one very kind Hostess with an Open Barn or Out Building. On the links I have shared highlighted in Watermelon Pink {have you noticed they are the same color as my Roto Hoe Monster?}, you will find them filled with helpful information in how to host, spread the news and invite the locals as well as how to register your event & have others sign up to attend. They even provide the PDF file Swap sheets to go with each variety of food your attendee's bring. They truly make it as easy as possible to organize. 

As for what I hope or would like to walk out with, I have to say I would be over joyed to find a greatly reduced sweetener or sugar free Blackberry jam for my wee Frog. Poor thing barely had enough Blackberries from our patch to sustain her desire until next harvest. I truly am not sure what to expect and in no way wish to set high expectations. But I WILL be sure to share with all of you how the day goes. The sights. The smells. The sounds. Of course plenty of pictures and hopefully giving you a sound urging to get out there and find, or even host, a local Food swap.

Sweetest Dreams,

~Tammie

Garden pallets & a Kitchen Aide

Pallets are once again on my mind. The garden will need a durable tomato support system and the various climbing vegetables will need their support as well. Looking for some inspiration to guide the plans, I found so many wonderful uses for Pallet recycling to use in the garden I simply had to share.

This tutorial from the DIY network is claimed as a cucumber trellis, which in my plans, would be perfect for trellising the 6 ft tall Opalka Tomato plants. Pallet wood would be in place of newly purchased lumber. Cost effective for the amount necessary with our average of 30 tomato plants.

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-make-a-cucumber-trellis/index.html

Being my Bent wood trellis arbor has weakened due to the bare state, I am eyeing this Pallet tunnel as the replacement. Unfortunately, the original source of the photo continues to elude me. It has been Pinned by a woman whom also shared it on her blog but no original source has been shared. So this would not come with tutorial. Eyeing it is easy enough for planning.

Of course, the plans for our Duck house are first on the list. I discovered this wonderful use of Pallets for a hen house, which inspires my thoughts for transforming into a similar design for the future Welshie's. Not as Tall and no need for the open top ventilation as well as an end door as they have created. It would require the height of small pallets to fit with our plans of a lifting roof access for clean out & egg retrieval. Not a complete tutorial is given. Pictures documenting some of their progress into the finished piece by Helicopter Studios. 

http://helicopterstudios.blogspot.com/2010/05/chicken-coop.html

Here is a "why I didn't I think of that" tutorial for making your own Fruit crates, kindly shared by End of Ordinary  These would make a beautiful handy addition to the garden bounty storage:

http://endofordinary.blogspot.com/2010/05/how-to-make-fruit-crates-from-pallets.html

And while on the subject of storing the bounty, I covet not only the amazing minds of this duo behind the Old World Garden Farms blog, but the Canning pantry they made from pallets! I HIGHLY recommend you check out the Pallet project How to's they generously share as well as the rest of their intriguing site.

http://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2012/07/20/using-pallets-to-build-a-canning-pantry-cupboard/

This is the time of year where I do most of the planning. Days are uneventful for the most part, lending me time to read many books and begin laying out what the warmer weather will entail. I've been on a Semolina Flour experimentation kick of late. Between Pizza dough recipes and pasta making. I am finding plenty of uses for the 50lb sack I ordered through the local Restaurant supply. At 50 cents a pound verses the $2.79 a pound found at the only local source, via an Italian Mom & Pop shop, the Pasta machine is in full swing.

The Kitchen Aide Mixer has been a blessing with all the dough. I received my Kitchen Aide through a Friend of Panda's. They had 2 and being the Mother of this friend wants to learn how to garden, do Canning, learn how to Fish and how to shoot, she offered the mixer. Mostly because she tried to give it to me as a gift which she knew I would kindly and graciously refuse. So The Pink Machine will till up her garden and I will assist her along the way with the skills she so desires as well as teach her how to handle a gun.

Some things never cease to amaze me in the way life works out.

Sweet Dreams,

~Tammie

The desire of Welsh Harlequin

Their name sounds like a romance novel and from everything I read, anyone whom raises the breed, falls in love. Being we must have eggs, and we do enjoy duck eggs, the Muscovy is not known for laying enough to satisfy the need. Plus Muscovy hens can be a bit flighty. The harlequins may flap, but are not fliers. So there will be no mornings walking out to find ducks grubbing in the garden! 

My wandering eye considered the Khaki Campbell which has a high count of laying yet are skittish with humans unless they have a large amount of daily human interaction year round. I hibernate in winter. Other then tending to the flock, I make quick of my time in the pen. It's not something that work well with this Southern Chick in Yankee weather.

As for the Welsh Harlequins, they are said to be clowns and have a high rate of egg laying with dual utility as meat birds. Personally, I find their appearance and eyes to have a Happy look. Their faces giving an almost smiling appearance.  Drakes weigh around 5-5 1/2 pounds and Hen ducks 4 1/2-5 lbs. They originated from a color sport in the Khaki Campbell breed. A layer of white or greenish eggs, developed in 1949, not surprisingly in Wales. They are known to produce 275-350 eggs per year and are calmer than the Campbell's.

They are said to be sex linked when hatched out by color of their bill. Males have the darker bills, whilst females have the more pink. As for accuracy, I found it is not 100%.

*Welsh harlequins owned by BYC user Kansaseq  shared via BYC forum *

* Backyard Poultry Magazine  had this to say with comparison to the raising of chickens vs Ducks:

"Relatively few people in the Americas realize that, on the whole, ducks are more proficient layers than chickens. While poultry researchers in North America have spent the last 100 years and countless millions of dollars on improving the productivity of chickens, ducks—for all practical purposes—have been ignored. Despite all the attention chickens received, it's unusual for a commercial flock of Leghorns to average over 250 to 280 eggs per hen in a year's time. On the other hand, Campbell ducks of good strains often average 300 or more eggs per bird during the course of 12 months"

Yes, you read that right. Compared to chickens, the Campbell breeds outlay chickens.

Of course this brought forth the question on feed ratio. Will they eat more being they lay more? Will they require less or more for housing and weather protection? Well BYC magazine answers that as well:

"It is true that, when raised in confinement, a 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 pound duck will consume 20 to 30 percent more feed than a similarly sized Leghorn. But, due to the larger size and greater number of eggs produced by ducks, trials have shown that with proper management, ducks are still more efficient when the quantity of feed to produce a pound of eggs is calculated. Since ducks are considerably better foragers than chickens, the efficiency of ducks is further enhanced when they are allowed to rustle free foods in bodies of water, pastures or grassy yards.
Ducks are also incredibly resistant to disease and cold and wet weather. The average mortality rate in home flocks is significantly lower with ducks than with chickens. Due to their greater hardiness, ducks require less elaborate housing than chickens—yet another advantage. And, because egg-type ducks are not accomplished high jumpers, they are easily confined with a two- or three-foot high barrier."

I'm pretty sold on the Welsh Harlequin ducks.
**Update & correction~**
 Meyer's Hatchery offers them, which for us,  is a 1 1/2 hour drive. We are planning an order for March or early April.  I will no longer place orders with Meyers being they do not allow you to pick up ducks from their store. So if ordering under 9 ducks, you pay a minimum of $42 for s&h despite their breeder as well as their store being 1 1/2 hrs from us. Their Duck breeder is within a short distance of their location but Meyers refuses to have the ducks dropped off to their store for us to pick up to avoid the ridiculous Shipping and Handling charge they made mandatory.
On top of that, I am questioning their quality of the breed we are after. As of this update, their website lists their egg ability as 150-200 eggs. When questioned, their worker kept repeating they are excellent layers. That's not excellent duck laying amount Lady. You are obviously not knowledgeable enough to answer questions of detail with customers. The whole mess leaves me with a whole new view on this business. That's just my opinion and experience. But they will never receive another from me.
  So Meyer's, you have earned a big thumbs down from The Unusual farm Chick.

I found a wonderful woman local who raises waterfowl. Her Original stock of the Welshie's hailed from Holderead waterfowl. They have the original line from Wales and are known as superior producers in the waterfowl community. So I'll stay even more local with our duck purchase. Her prices are lower and stock is many times better. Plus, I'll spend about $1 in gas round trip to pick them up.***

An order of 1 drake with 3-4 females. They begin laying around 6 months, much later then a chicken. So we will not expect much in their first year.
The big plan is to let them go broody, hatch out as many ducklings as they can their first year. Hopefully, providing enough duck meat for freezer and doubling our main flock.
Of course, we are also adding meat rabbits later in the year. The hutches have yet to be built due to the workshop being overtaken by the winter storage of bikes and Beehive Supers.I plan to place them out by the big Winecap Mushroom bed.
Of course the list just keeps growing and I wonder if I will ever have time for the Vintage camper remodel. Whom ever believes a stay home mom {a Home maker} with all the children in school have too much time on their hands, has never spent a week with me.
Now off to help Panda study for the ACT. Apparently this is the first year they have opened it to all 8th graders. Can you believe she is almost in high school already?!
Let's just say it's a good thing I'm not the one taking the test. jeesh. This stuff makes my head hurt.
Sweetest Dream,
~Tammie

Whats on order for 2013 Garden

My goodness, that was exhausting! I have spent weeks deciphering what we should order for the garden. Not too mention trying to find ALL heirloom varieties where most will mix OP, Heirloom & Hybrid throughout their pages. I have been lazy in the seed saving department the last few years due to not liking what is grown. I feel wasteful but the varieties are just not up to par in my book. So we end up ordering new seed every year. That needs to stop. Back to Basics and no more of this exotic novelty experimentation.

In the past, I ended up always buying from the big name in heirlooms, with glossy pages of Garden Porn called a catalog. More and more middle eastern varieties dominate their pages and honestly, leave me with little desire. Something from the land of Sun & sand is NOT going to due as well in the land of Corn, snow & short summers. Very disappointed & frustrated with most I have grown from them. Their novelty has worn off. We are no longer compatible. I wish them well but ultimately  must part gardening ways.

This year, we are going with a different Heirloom company. One I found all that I wanted, for the most part, in one place. I will say I wish they had a tad more variety in actual PIE pumpkins/squash. That is the only area that is of high importance in my book that I mention for purpose of an honest & fair opinion. Prices are fair/reasonable and I have yet to find a negative review on them. In fact, I have only found positive & glowing reviews.

 *Annie Heirloom Seeds * For those whom are new to Annie's, I found an online use code for 5% off your first order. In the coupon code box of your ordering process, write CAT5 for the discount. This was on my catalog as well as on their website, which I thought I would bring to your attention in the case it be overlooked. So hop over there & have a browse. Consider buying your Heirloom seeds from Annie's this year and you will be supporting one of the "little guys" as well as receive, from all I have read, great viability & healthy Heirloom seed for your garden.

'The Vegetable Garden' by Richard Adams

In February, my order will go in for the following new varieties to be added here in 2013:

{A Purple French Pole Bean} 

Cosse Violette ~Harvesting will be so much easier with purple tender pods & have purple flowers gracing the vines. Narrow, stringless, ten inch long, dark purple, well-on-the-way-to-black pods with a fine, eat-on-its-own flavour. Turns green when cooked.

{French filet/Haricot Vert bush bean}

 Masai Bush bean ~ Produces great amounts. Not finicky to grow. Only get 5 inches long & should be picked at 4 inches plus never wider then 1/4 inch thick for the best taste. No need to pick as often as other Haricot verts. said to be great for container gardening as well.

{Purple Brussel Sprouts} 

Falstaff ~ that stay purple even after cooking! Mild & nutty flavor. We love our Brussels.

{Saurkraut Cabbage} 

Filderkraut ~ A core-less, pointed head German heirloom. VERY sweet. Stoked to grow this cabbage.

{Kale}

 Lacinto ~ lots of great taste & crinkles. sometimes referred to as Dinosaur or Black Tuscan Kale. Nothing like some kale mixed in with Orecchiette pasta, sausage/tiny diced tomatoes.

{Green shell peas}

 Little marvel ~Produces high yields of tender sweet peas.

{Red Peppers for my Roasted Pep & Tom Spread}

Corno di Toro Rosso~Long,thin. Rich & Sweet taste. Superior Italian Fryer pepper.

{Paste Tomato}

 Opalka~ Meaty, almost dry. VERY low in seeds. Found raving reviews on taste, disease resistance & production during it's research. 

Black Plum ~ Hails from Russia so should hold, well into mid/late Fall. Great smoky Taste expected from a black tomato. Just 3 inches but packed with great taste & said to make an amazing pasta sauce. This will replace the Black Cherry I have grown for many years which I use in it's green state for chutney.

We have had the Flu sweeping through the house the last few weeks. Of course, we are not the doctor visit & antibiotic type. We let it take it's course which is the healthier route as long as you do not have a weaker immune system as found in the elderly, very young or other compromise of immunity health. I feel all kinds of bruised from the coughing and know it will require a regular visit to gym once I have a bit more pep to ensure I am not falling down in the garden at first sign of the soil warming up. 

I'm off to start wiping down door knobs, handles & appliances. The younger 2 did not catch the flu and I prefer to keep it that way.

Sweetest Dreams my Dear,

~Tammie