Monthly Archives: August 2013

PIG PIG NEWS AT AGF – ALSO – May’s first 3 minutes at AGF

May – the pregnant Jersey cow, came to Angel Garden Farm today – 8/31/13. This short video is her coming off the trailer and into the holding paddock after about a 2 hour ride from Michigan (thanks Diana and Brian). She looked around a minute, then noticed the two steer calves up the hill and “MOOED” hello. The chickens Thelma and Louise can be heard announcing to the world someone new is at the farm. I don’t think it will be long before she is the dominant creature on the hill. May is due in the middle of November with an Angus/Jersey cross calf. It won’t be long after the calf comes and we will be able to make grass fed, raw milk, hand milked, artisan type products. Call for details.

In addition to May, we also brought home 2 small LARGE BLACK pigs, we aren’t exactly sure what to do with them, but they will be raised on pasture and in the glens rooting and tilling with the plows on the ends of their faces. They are supposed to be excellent for bacon but I am sure they will be good for a few laughs and probably a few headaches before that. I will add pig video very soon.

Enjoy May’s video:

August 25th, 2 minute video blog

Well it’s been a few days since my last post but there is only one reason for that, I AM ALWAYS BUSY!!  However, I took the time this evening to take a 2 minute video of the the steer calves munching on fresh grass.  There are few other things in this world that make me smile more than my own cattle self harvesting their own food.  I love this life style and I love the fact that my beautiful wife and best friend (same person) is sharing this great adventure with me.  It’s only 2 minutes, so you won’t be bored, just watch the guys munching on grass, I hope it will relax you like it does me.  God’s blessings to you!!

GE

Hay Days!!

Well, it has been a long time coming, a lot of praying, several different tries at starting but finally the hay has been cut and baled and put in the barn.  It is not an enormous amount, but my mathin’ skills tell me we put up about 7 tons of hay.  316 bales of a good “Grass – alfalfa mix” .  This should definitely get the two steers we have through the winter and we may get a second cutting.  That would be great, maybe we could sell a few bales.

I took a lot of video and put the clips together into a short movie, if anyone cares to watch.

Adventures in preserving

I started canning about 5 years ago, primarily jams and jellies.  And then pickles, beets and tomatoes because they are processed using a hot water-bath method and that simply involves using a large soup pot with a lid.  I haven’t been able to preserve other produce that I grow in my garden except to freeze it, until now.  For my birthday this year the kids bought me a pressure canner.  Ooo, fun!  

My mom and grandma, and pretty much everyone else’s moms and grandmas that I knew, pressure canned all kinds of stuff.  So, honestly (I thought), how hard could it be?  Challenge accepted!

I only planted 2 twelve-foot rows of green beans, so it took a few times of picking to get enough to fill the canner.  But then, I was ready to go.  

First, I washed them and snapped off the ends.  Then, I cut them into the recommended 1 – 2 inch pieces. 

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Then, I packed them into the hot jars, poured boiling water over them and twisted on the two-part lids.  This is the point at which I start questioning things.  Why is everything have to be hot, but the beans are cold?  Screw on the rings without over-tightening, but how tight is that?  Anyway, I realized I was over thinking things.  I mean after all, it’s not rocket surgery (this pun brought to you by “Raising Hope” on Fox).

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So, with nine pint jars full of green beans in the canner, I secured the lid and waited for the magic to happen.  That is, until it seemed like it was taking too long to get steaming, then I called my mother.  You know, for moral support.

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Fortunately, she was able to talk me off the ledge and things started rocking and rolling.  Finally, it was time to open the canner and see if I had been successful.  

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Success when you are canning is indicated by this thrilling little “pop” noise that tells you the lid has sealed.  I am pleased to report that 8 out of 9 of them did seal.  The one that didn’t seal, went into the refrigerator and later found it’s way home with the “old man” along with what was left of the chicken from Sunday’s dinner.

Now, the possibilities are endless!

Hej då!

Lisa

 

Rain, Rain, Rain

I know it seems like I have posted a lot of videos lately, but that’s the way it goes.  Here is another video from up on the hill.  It rained like crazy this morning and I was soaked by 7:45.  Hopefully, the rain will hold off now, until after the hay gets cut, baled and in the barn.