3.19.10

It's a crisp morning but we're supposed to have a very nice day.

Everything has been going very well after a few weeks of drama and a bit of chaos. All natural as far as life goes, I suppose.

The bucklings, Frodo and Nigel, are growing like weeds and in with the girls now. They're very smart and very sweet. Matilda doesn't like them but tolerates them anyway. Ruby just doesn't care.

I've been doing a bit of spring cleaning, getting all the stuff that got stuffed away in winter straightened out. I do it every year but I usually can't call it spring cleaning because I generally stat in January. This year I'm preparing for a large sale as well as straighten things up. I try not to accumulate to much that we don't really need but it does happen anyway.

There are lots of tiny sprouts in the little greenhouse :) soapwort, a herd of tomatoes, english thyme, wormwood, yarrow, feverfew, 3 kinds of basil and bell peppers :) Most of the herbs will be to sell at the farmers market as plant starts. A few of the tomatoes and peppers for plants but most to keep for the garden and sell the fruit at market. I can't wait for the Farmers Markets to begin again, I love selling and shopping :)

This year we'll be raising Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds and Black & Red Stars, I'll keep some hens to replenish ours and sell the rest. I may try to keep some roos to turn into meat but so far I haven't been able to. We have a waiting list for chicks this year, we've sold chicks a few times over the years and never had one before. If i had more room for more hens I would sell eggs at Market too.

I'm hoping to switch over to all heritage or rare breeds by next year, I want Black & White Giants, Laced Wyandottes and Delawares. I really want some Indian Runner ducks again too and a few Royale Palm Turkeys and two Red Wattle pigs. I don't know what will happen now with the Burrow tho so I'll just stick with chickens and goats.

Someone recently offered to trade me a 4 month old Overo filly for Ruby, one of our goats. If I had a bit more land and it was truly mine. Then I could get a cart and teach her to help plow the garden and tie dandelions in her mane and :)

I've been working a bit on both main websites HealingHouseTeas.com & TheCottageCrow.com but I really need to spend more time on them. I usually get that done in January too but it seems like time has sped up this year.

And I'm expecting to get worms next week ! A friend is sending me some Red Wigglers :)

It's almost time for morning chores now.

Merry day everyone !