Bawk Bawk

I have one customer that never picked up his chicken order so... If you're up for a road trip I have 15 fresh frozen chickens for sale here at the farm. Email me if you're interested.

I can also ship frozen chickens (or pork or beef) within the state of Iowa. I've never done it before, so I would have to find out costs and such. I know it involves a styrofoam cooler, dry ice, and Fedex Overnight. Email me if you're interested.

And I'd also like to hear if there is any interest from those outside the state of Iowa in purchasing beef, pork or chicken and having it shipped. The only change we'd have to make is to use a federally inspected processor rather than our state inspected processors. But I'd want to know what interest is out there before we make that change.

You can email orders, questions, or comments to:

themillers92 (at) osage (dot) net

Not That Impressive

I mistyped in the last post when I said the hogs finished at 270 pounds in 133 days. That should have been 163 days. (Total, from birth.) Now Walter can't be quite as impressed.

I stopped at the locker after lunch and our butcher said they looked good, better than the last batch. Our locker (and all of the lockers around here) is so busy that we had trouble getting the last batch in when we wanted, so they were a little too fat. These should be perfect.

Matt got a smoker for Christmas. Can't wait to try some smoked chops!

This Little Piggy Went to Market

This afternoon it was time to load the hogs up and take them to the butcher. Yes, I do get a little sad and feel a bit traiterous. I'm grateful for their gift to us as food, and we give them the best life we possibly can while they're in our care.

Before we dropped them off we swung by the elevator. Sometimes the scale is turned around for the weekend, so that you can see it from outside. That way farmers can drive onto the scale and weigh for themselves when the elevator is closed.



First we weigh with the hogs on the trailer. The weight of truck, trailer and hogs was:



Matt and I both guessed what they'd weigh. He thought 265, I thought 275.

After we'd unloaded them, we weighed again:



So with 8 hogs, the average weight per hog was 270 pounds! Not bad for outdoor-raised pigs, 133 163 days old.

Now we'll guess what the hanging weight will be. Matt thinks they'll cut out at 70 to 73%, I think 65 to 68%. We'll know in a day or two.

Fine Dining at Sugar Creek

The tax man cometh. A friend gave us an older version of QuickBooks, so I've been working this week entering all of 2005. Finished up tonight, and will get everything else organized this weekend and ready to go to the lawyer next week. The good news is that we lost less money on the farm than we did last year. We're making progress, I guess. Overall we're fairly happy with the numbers, considering all of the death loss we had this year.

As if taxes were not enough stress for the week, on Tuesday a guy drove his truck into the side of my car. Thank God no one was hurt. When we got stopped I turned to look at Rafe. He looked like he was trying to decide whether to cry or not and he said, "That man smashed into our car!". Rafe was sitting in his carseat next to the rear driver-side door, and the truck hit right behind that.

I had the right-of-way, so his insurance company supplied me with a rental car. The adjustor totalled out my car, so tomorrow we'll be car shopping. Yuck.

Cow Days of Winter

If summer has its dog days, then winter has its cow days. The cows spend these gray, dreary winter days lying about doing a whole lot of nothing.

Wish I could say the same. Actually it felt good to have such a productive weekend. Much cleaning and organizing and bagging up things for Goodwill.

And I got garden seeds ordered. We used Vermont Bean Seed Company, Seed Savers Exchange, and Baker Creek this year. I think at least 90% of the seeds we ordered this year are heirloom varieties. Should be fun. Can't wait to get the seed starting rack filled up. Matt wants me to teach him how to start seeds this year. I think I'll start him out washing and sanitizing cell packs and trays. [evil grin] I hate that job. I'll be glad to have a hand making newspaper pots this year. That's a time-consuming task.

The Picture of Health

This farm was never set up for raising hogs. So we've created a makeshift home for them in 2 large horse stalls in the cattle shed, plus this outdoor area. It's wet. It's cold. It's muddy. And these are incredibly healthy hogs. A hog bred for leanness and for being raised in confinement would take one look at these accomodations, catch pneumonia, flop over and die on the spot.

I like raising hogs and would like to raise more. I've looked at the different niche markets, contemplating expanding our 1-sow, 1-boar herd. Most of these niche markets prefer, or even require, partial or full Berkshire breeding. But on the drive home from the PFI Conference I came to the conclusion that we're really doing something right here. These Large Black crosses have been amazing for us. So we're not going to change. We're going to play to our strengths and market what we have.

So we'll stick with the Large Black boar. I've been doing a bit of research on other breeds that might cross well with the Large Black. We would like a bit larger frame on the cross. So I'm thinking Chester Whites. A large breed with good mothering ability, suitable to raising outdoors, good litter size. Perhaps a CW cross, though I'm not sure what cross. Duroc, maybe?

I'm a complete pig breeding novice. Any pig experts out there want to give me an opinion? Or know where I can buy bred gilts?

Saw Walk the Line tonight at our smalltown Watts Theatre. Man oh man. Loved it. I'll be downloading me some Johnny Cash tomorrow.

Even though it makes me sad to see how badly people mess up their lives, especially with drugs and alcohol, I loved how singing and writing and performing were just something he had to do. He couldn't not do it. I feel that way about our little farm. Even though some days it drives me crazy and some days I mess it up.

It really made me miss playing with the band, even more than I do already.

It brought back some of my favorite memories from when I was little. My dad's side of the family loved music, and most times that we got together we sang. There's a picture of me, wish I had it here so I could scan it in and post it, at about 4 years old. It was Christmas at my Grandma & Grandpa Mehmen's and I'm singing into a microphone. I don't remember what I sang, but it was probably Sneaky Snake, You Are My Sunshine, or maybe even Jesus Loves Me. I do remember how that microphone felt in my hands, so heavy and cold to the touch.

It made me glad that my girls are carrying on the music.

I'm lucky to have some record albums recorded by my uncle's band, The Rockin' R's. And really lucky that these albums record not only my aunt and uncle singing but also my Grandpa Mehmen and Aunt Judy, both of whom have passed away.

I loved this movie for the music, the music of part of my childhood, the memories of good times when we were all young and happy and together. At least that's how I remember it, from my 4-year-old perspective. Someone said there is no reality, only perception. Or something like that.

That's what I loved about being in the band. For me it wasn't about being in the spotlight, or getting out of the house on Saturday nights. It was about playing music that I loved for other people, making them happy for awhile, perhaps evoking happy memories of their own.

Now what I want to do is go sit at my piano and play long into the night. But the eggs and the dishes and sleep call.

Easter Eggers

I don't know enough about the differences between Americauna's and Araucana's to know what we have, or if I even spelled those right. So we just call them Easter Eggers.

I do know they give us pretty eggs in shades from light blue to turquoise to olive green, making for a colorful carton of eggs when mixed with browns and the occasional white egg.



The hens themselves come in a variety of colors. My favorite is one that's pure white and looks almost dove-like. But she's quite shy and I've not been able to get a good picture of her.

Practical Farmers of Iowa Conference

Friday and Saturday I attended the annual Practical Farmers of Iowa conference in Des Moines. We've been members for a couple of years now but this was the first time I'd attended the conference. I'm not even sure how I found out about PFI, but I do know I immediately felt like these were "my people". It is an organization dedicated to sustainable agriculture, education, farmer research, and community. This year's conference was focused on beginning and transitioning farmers, but there were a variety of workshops over a range of topics. Saturday's keynote speakers were really inspirational.

I got to connect with old friends, share a car ride and a hotel room with my friend Lisa from Gracious Acres , eat way too much good Iowa food, and make some new connections. I came home with several ideas to think over and have already taken steps to pursue one of them. All in all a successful trip!

Mmmm, bratwurst

For those of you within driving distance, we'll have our next group of porkers ready January 30th. And within driving distance covers quite an area - we now have customers from the Twin Cities all the way down to the Iowa/Missouri border. So exciting!

Our next batch won't be ready until the end of summer, so this will be the one to get for summer grilling. Think bratwurst, brat patties, pork chops, ham steaks...yum!

I'm off to the Practical Farmers of Iowa conference for the next two days. Can't wait to meet up with friends and meet some new people, too. As I told Lisa, these kinds of things are great to counteract those days that you're standing in your kitchen bawling your eyes out, ready to throw in the towel. (Or is that just me?) So motivational.

Just shoot an email to

themillers92 (at) osage (dot) net

if you're interested in pork, and I'll get back to you when I return!

Victory Is Ours

The possum playing "possum".

The possum has been caught. And my egg numbers have almost doubled.

We used a live trap instead of a traditional trap because we set it right in the coop and didn't want chickens or cats to get caught. And we baited it with eggs, rather than cat food or scraps, because we didn't want to catch chickens or cats.

But as Walter pointed out in the previous post's comments, possums are not an animal that you want to catch and release. They have the ability to find you again from really far distances. Either that, or they'll just end up being a nuisance to somebody else.

I'll spare you the gory details of the "disposal". Nobody wanted to hang around and watch - except Olivia. She likes her nail polish and jewelry and fancy hairdo's, but still she's more cowgirl than cheerleader.

We'll reset the trap just to be sure this guy doesn't have any friends hanging around.

Us versus Possum, Day 6

We got a couple of live traps from a friend on Sunday. Set the trap last night, baited with a couple of eggs. Today, no eggs and no possum. Guess the trap needs an adjustment.

To be continued...

Sucky, Sucky Day

I can't bear to type this whole story out, so long story short. Abbie got hit by a car, and we had to have her put to sleep. Just telling that much I am bawling once again. There have been a lot of tears shed here today, and more to come I'm sure.

Can anyone out there tell me if it's even possible to train a Pyrenees to stay on his property, or at least come when called?

Edited to add: Abbie was Madeline's German Shepherd pup. Ike is our Great Pyrenees, and he will bolt if given the chance and there is no recalling him. He always comes home, but on his time. We try really hard to not give him the chance, but with 3 kids in and out of doors it happens. Abbie was not one to run off herself, only when Ike did.

Madeline really wants to get another Shepherd pup, but if Ike can't be trained to "stay" or at least "come" then I'm afraid we'll have the same situation all over again. So it's either train Ike somehow, find a new home for Ike, wait until he passes on, or at least until all the kids are old enough to watch out for the dogs before we get another one. I don't think you can train out something that is just so bred into those Pyrenees, and none of the other options is sitting well with anyone. *Big Sigh*

Drooling

This just makes me want to hit the thrift stores and break out the sewing machine! How cool are this cat and this dog?!? One talented gal.

Us versus Possum, Day 2

No real exciting news to report on the possum front. Last night it was about 9:30 p.m. when I discovered it. So this afternoon Matt counted the eggs (13) but left them there and we went back out at 9:00 tonight. Possum had already been there and consumed 3 eggs.

So tomorrow I'll talk to my brother and see if he has a live trap we can use.

It's a small young possum, and as far as I can tell it's only interested in the eggs. I think if it was after chickens Miss Silkie would have gone missing already.

As to Pablo's question, I assume it walks right in the door :) We have a small door cut into the walk-in door so that the chickens can come and go at will.

To be continued...

Commotion in the Coop

I think I've whined here before about the less-than-stellar egg laying by my hens. I did suspect at times that something might be taking eggs, but didn't have any proof.

Until tonight.

On busy evenings like tonight (Abbie started obedience classes tonight), I don't get out to pick up eggs until after dark. So there I was, gathering up eggs, with several of the cats "helping" me. I leaned down to grab a couple out of the lower nest boxes, noticed something fuzzy sitting underneath them, and thought, "Hmm, we don't have any cats that color." Knelt down to get a closer look, and the beady eyes of a possum blinked back at me.

I made a beeline for the house.

Matt asked, "Did you pull it out of there?"

Uh, no, it's a wild animal.

So I went back out with Abbie to see what she'd do. She sniffed the possum out right away but was more interested in eating chicken poo than flushing out varmints. I got her back on task and she barked fiercely...while wagging her tail. Then all of the hens started to cluck and get excited which I think Abbie liked, because she kept looking over her shoulder at the hens and then barking at the possum ever more fiercely.

But the possum had too good a hiding place and wasn't going to budge. So eventually we gave up and went back to the house.

Matt asked, "Did you poke at it with a stick?"

Uh, no, once again, it's a wild animal.

Matt said, "I'm going to tell the blogging world that you're afraid of a possum."

I'll do you one better. I'll tell them myself.

To be continued...

Book Review

I love books, especially books about cooking, gardening or farming. I got *four* books for Christmas! Quite the loot.

One of those books was the cookbook Simply In Season from Matt's brother and his wife. It's one of three (so far) World Community Cookbooks put out by the Mennonite Central Committee. I also have the More With Less Cookbook, also put out by the MCC.

These are wonderful cookbooks, full of recipes that remind me of lunches at my grandparents' house growing up. Simple, easy to prepare, with everyday ingredients.

Simply In Season is built around the idea of eating foods in rhythm with the seasons. Asparagus, greens, new potatoes and strawberries in spring. Corn, cucumbers, tomatoes in summer. Broccoli, kale, pears and pumpkin in fall. Storage fruits and vegetables in winter - apples, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes.

It also has wonderful mini-essays from contributors about food issues. My favorite (so far) is this one:

Chrish that sweet potato.

If I had to put what I believe about food and the environment into two words of advice, I would say this: Celebrate hope.

If you can find a farm, a market, a store where you can see that love for the earth and for future generations is a priority, sell all that you have and buy their food. If you can find friendly faces in your local food system who are willing to go beyond public relations and discuss tough questions, hug them! If you can smell the Spirit of God on their sweet potatoes, buy 20 pounds! Eat these potatoes with gusto, thanking God that someone, somewhere has a vision.

You are not consistent in all areas of your life? Lord have mercy on you, a sinner: act on one little thing you know. You can only afford one holy sweet potato and the rest is boxed macaroni and cheese? Act on what you can afford. You will love that sweet potato and the earth that grew it even more.

- Jennifer Schrock; Goshen, Ind.

Year In Review

[Editor's note: Matt is guest blogging today :)]

Hello and Happy New Year to all the customers and friends of SCF. Kelli asked me to write today's blog entry as we reflect on 2005 and make plans for 2006. So here it goes.

First of all thanks to all of you for your friendship and support. It takes a lot of people to make a farm successful, even one as small as ours. Are we successful? Good question. Let's see.

Our death loss: 2 feeder pigs, 2 newborn calves, a 550-pound feeder calf to tetanus (ouch!), and a 3-year-old cow (ouch again!). This reviewing the year stuff is somewhat painful :) The unplanned hay purchase of 18 tons, because of the flooding of our 2004 hay crop. Ouch.

[Editor's note: Let's not forget the 45-or-so broiler chickens?]

But there were also many bright spots. Our 2005 hay crop was excellent, 116 bales on 19 acres. All of it very good quality. We sold all of our butcher hogs, most of the broilers, and all but 35 pounds of the beef we raised in 2005.

I am sure a financial analyst may say that we had a horrible year, and to him that may be truth. But the truth I know is that every evening when I sit down to supper, I don't see some meat and vegetables sitting in front of me. I see the beautiful green beans Kelli planted, grew, picked and froze. I see the delicious golden potatoes that Olivia helped debug and Rafe helped dig. I see the roast from the steer Madeline helped raise that won her a blue ribbon at the fair. I see the broccoli Kelli started in the basement in February. I see a thousand memories of my childhood and of my children, and the other kids that came out to SCF for one reason or another. I think of all the friends, old and new, that we may have never met.

Good people leading meaningful lives. Is SCF successful? I sure think so.

Happy 2006!

So back in the blogging saddle for 2006. One of the gifts we got for the kids was Sugar Creek Farm t-shirts. I had one made for myself this fall, just to try out the Zazzle website. This caused some dissension in the ranks. Now they're outfitted like the little SCF farmers that they are.

My mother says I've outfitted them like little walking billboards.

And if you'd like one of your very own, you can go here :)