Taking a little market break
Greetings Everyone,
What a great summer we are having at our two farmers' markets. So great that we are out of our pasture raised chickens until the next processing trip on July 30. After much debate, I've decided to stay home from today's Earth Mother Market and from Simon Kenton Farmers' Market on Saturday, July 24. There is so much to do around the farm that we have been neglecting. I have an off farm job and when Brandon is home alone with our small children, it makes it hard for him to accomplish much needed chores. I will really miss seeing everyone at the markets. I'll be back at Earth Mother Market on July 28. Come out today anyway because the musicians will be back again and Farm Girl Chef will be cooking dinner again.
Our Bourbon Red turkey hen is the proud mama of one little turkey poult. It looks like that is all that is going to hatch out of her clutch of eggs. I happened to walk into the coop as this little one was hatching and held the egg in my hand as it's little head popped out. This is the first egg ever to hatch on the farm. Next, we're hoping for guineas to hatch out from the eggs we put under our cochin hen.
Lots of people are asking me for honey and believe me, we want some too. This is another reason for me to skip a couple of markets. We are so busy trying to provide food for our customers that we are forgetting about ourselves and not getting to certain projects. I have canning and freezing to do along with honey harvesting. I will be harvesting honey this week and making up two new hives using two new queen bees that are going to be arriving in the mail either tomorrow or Friday. They are being shipped from an apiary in Washington state. I'm excited to bring in some new genetics to the area from honey bees that have been selected for parasite resistance. I never treat my colonies with any chemicals for any of the many honey bee diseases and more resistant genetics will be a great addition to my bee yard.
Four sheep were delivered to the processor yesterday. That was a little tough for me. Yes, I eat my own chickens but it took me awhile to get to the point of being ok with that too. I know that these sheep were treated with respect and kindness throughout their lives and that the meat will be the best I can offer my family. I just hope that we like it! Lamb has never been on our menu before. The Icelandics and Shetlands are known for their very mild flavored meat so I hope that turns out to be true.
The sun is out and there is work to be done so I'd better finish this up. Saturday, July 31 is the summer festival for the Simon Kenton Farmers' Market. I will be there with fresh chicken and also a few of my laying hens for you all to see where your eggs come from. I'll be talking about backyard chicken keeping and possibly beekeeping. I'll have some information to hand out. There will be music and other special events that day so try to come out for it.
Sincerely,
Heather Redden
www.naturesharborfarm.com