Turkey related PSA

Did you know you can strain your wrist plucking turkeys? I didn't, but I do now! 

I think it was the repetitive flicking to get the wet feathers off my fingers. Other than the ouchie bit, I think this is hilarious. Seriously, who manages to strain their wrist plucking all of 3 turkeys? 

Be safe out there, people! Use the buddy system, don't run with scissors, and don't eat the yellow snow! 

Always an adventure...

2013 wrap up

I'd like to thank everyone for your support this year!  I wouldn't still be here without you.  

This year was the first year for my CSA program.  It was challenging and engaging to build it from scratch.  I was able to feed 5 families this year, which felt very satisfying.  I learned a lot, and am looking forward to tweaking the garden for better yields.  Next year I will be offering 9 CSA shares, 3 of each size.  Those details will be available soon.  

My plans for the winter include expanding my cottage food offerings, developing consignment accounts, launching 2014's CSA program, building a Hugelkulture bed, setting up a cold frame and turning one of the chicken tractors into a mini hoop house for starting seeds this spring.  

I will continue to be available year round for consultations as a Certified Clinical Herbalist, Nutritionist and Reiki Practitioner.  Kettle Corn, Hard Candy and Herbal Remedies are available year round, and I will be able to offer seasoned nuts and gluten free baked goods as soon as my oven is repaired.  

You will be able to find my cottage food offerings and a select offering of remedies at All Things Food in Bryan, and Kircher's Flowers in Defiance.  Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions or orders, including special requests.  

Rabbit and duck are available year round, or as long as I have some in the freezer.  My current inventory are farm processed, although I will have inspected rabbit available after the 1st of the year.  

Thanks again for all of your support, and I look forward to feeding you in 2014!  

Poultry news

I ordered the meat chickens for the rest of the year and scheduled their processing dates yesterday.  It's all COD, isn't that wonderful?  I'm planning on 2 batches of 25.  They will be available September 3rd and October 15th.  That will be it for meat chickens until next May.  Please let me know how many you think you'll need from each batch as soon as you can, so I can adjust my order if necessary.  I don't want anyone to miss out!

I'm ordering turkeys this week, too!  If you're interested in turkeys, please let me know how many you'd like and if you'd like a bird in the 12-15 pound range or a 30# bird.  I'm picking them up on Friday.  These will be commercial turkeys, but raised on pasture they'll be tastier and have better nutrition.  I may still be getting Bourbon Reds, I'm waiting to hear back from the breeder.  

Black Swamp Local Food & Farm Co-op

I just joined the Black Swamp Local Food & Farm Co-op!  Shopping opens May 13th, with our first pick up May 22nd.  We're a work in progress!  Check us out when you have time!  http://blackswamplocalfood.org/

Rabbits for Easter

Do you need a rabbit for your Easter dinner?  I have 7 ready for the freezer, at only $4/lb.  If you need a recipe, I posted my family's recipe for Hasenpfeffer here.  It's super easy and tasty, but takes 2 days to marinate the rabbit, so plan ahead!  Call or email for your very own rabbit!  WildVitality at Gmail dot com!

Meats and Eggs

As I watch these Cornish Rock chicks growing by leaps and bounds, I realize that I don't know how many of these little darlings to raise.  I would hate for someone to miss out on chickens, rabbits, ducks, turkeys or eggs because I didn't raise enough.  If you would like to pre-order meats and eggs, or give me an idea of how many birds you will need for your freezer, that would be great!  

I will happily accept deposits, which while helpful, are not strictly necessary unless you are pre-ordering a lot.  Deposit money will go toward critter feed and building tractors to keep them safe from predators out in the pasture.

Poultry is free ranged or tractored on pasture and fed fermented feed and garden goodies to maximize flavor and nutrition.  Rabbits are fed a high quality commercial pellet and garden goodies.  

Rabbits are available throughout the year.  Meat chickens will be available the beginning of May, and again in the fall.  Turkeys will be available in time for Thanksgiving.  Ducks will be available 8 weeks after I pick up some chicks, which I will do as soon as someone places an order.  Eggs are available throughout the year, although I will happily increase my flock if there is more demand for eggs than my girls can currently address.  

Rabbit - $4/lb

Chicken - $12 each

Turkey - $2.50/lb

Duck - price TBD

Eggs - 3/dozen

Thanks again for your support!

March on the Homestead

Hi everyone!  Thank you for your interest in my little Homestead!   

Despite the snowstorm, spring is definitely here on the homestead.  The lilacs are budding, daffodils are coming up, and my critters are active!  I hope spring is finding you warm, well-fed and ready to spend more time outside as we are blessed with more nice days.

Most of my seeds for the garden are ordered, although I still need a few herbs and my seed potatoes.  I'm starting seeds this weekend.  Planning the garden expansion is so much fun!

My hens are laying again, and I've expanded the flock with some pretty black stars, rhode island reds and isa browns.  I'm planning on hatching out some of their eggs next month for fall eggs.  Eggs are $3/dozen, and the yolks are beautiful!

I've started my first batch of meat chickens.  These chicks are adorable, and fast growing.  To maximize taste and nutrition, I'm feeding fermented feeds and will move them out onto pasture soon.  They'll be ready for your belly or your freezer mid-May.

Turkey poults will arrive April 14th!  I've ordered some heritage crosses, as well as a couple of broad breasted and a pair of Sweetgrass turkeys.  Most of those turkeys will be available as Thanksgiving approaches.   The broad breasteds will be ready mid summer, and I'm hoping to keep those pretty Sweetgrass turkeys as breeding stock.

I have limited rabbit availability, and will continue to have rabbits available all year.  Right now I have 4 rabbits available.  Rabbits are $4/lb farm processed, and weigh between 3 1/2 and 4#.

I still have a few CSA shares available.  Please let me know if you are interested in a share, so I can plan the garden accordingly.  

Thank you for taking the time to read, and for your support!  Enjoy the spring!