Well, here we are. . . December. It was near 50 degrees today. It rained, but it was warm.
We harvested for the last time on Friday. Cabbage, kale, and turnips. The ground isn't frozen yet - not at all, so harvesting was a cinch. Given the uncertainty in the weather I had contemplated holding off a little longer, but with only two weeks left in the semester they weren't likely to get much bigger.
The sheep are enjoying life. They have been out to pasture much later than usual. We have been bringing them in for the rain storms, which likely isn't necessary, but better safe than sorry.
They are all bred now, and Dynah is showing signs of the "saddle bags" already.
On the opposite side of the aisle Brandy (the goat) is packing on the pounds. Hopefully this means February babies - gauging her breeding date is a little trickier - and milk! Rocky has been on sabbatical in Buxton where he is visiting a friends farm to do a little "work". He should be returning to us a bit later in the month.
Have I mentioned the turkeys yet? They were delicious! It's almost eerily quiet on the farm now though. No gobbling to fill the air. No giant birds to trip over. It is nice, but a little lonely. I am sure that we will be back in business in the spring again though. Aside from the joy of the cafe and students we have even had parents asking how to buy them. . . . oh boy!!
Yup, things have quieted down considerably! That means time to catch up on paperwork, organize and clean the barn, oh, and of course start breeding bunnies! The first of the two hutches is nearly complete and we will start breeding for meat over winter.
Come spring we would like to add it to our educational program. The hutches are equipped with windows in the back so students (young and old) can observe the babies as they grow. The point of course is to demonstrate the ease of meat production.
"Rabbits," you say?! "Cute, fuzzy bunnies?!?!?!"
To that I say, "yes!"
With a buck and two does you can produce between 200 and 600 pounds of meat a year. . . healthier than chicken and in some opinions, better tasting.
But this is another post for another day.
In the meantime. . . pray for snow.
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