tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37732387717447186822024-03-21T19:39:59.035-07:00Caerwyn Farm and SpiritsA hobby blog for a hobby farmerFrustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.comBlogger287125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-91030990417011709542015-07-20T10:42:00.001-07:002015-07-20T10:42:55.527-07:00Renewal <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This last weekend Jess and I took a break from the farm for a few days and went down to Seed Savers Exchange just outside Decorah Iowa. If you are not familiar with <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/">Seed Savers Exchange</a> it is first and foremost an organization dedicated to allowing gardeners and farmers to preserve heritage varieties of plants. The do this first by establishing an exchange where members can exchange seeds of heirloom varieties of plants. They also offer catalog sales of some of these varieties as well. I encourage you to get to know them and become a member. </div>
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They have an annual camp out and conference at the amazing farm in Decorah. They have a number of speakers every year as well as seminars relating to many aspects of small farming and homesteading. This year I attended sessions on cider making,garlic types,isolation structures and perennial plant propagation.I plan to talk more in depth about these in future posts.<br />
Jess was particularly impressed with her lectures on preserving food via fermentation and solar drying as well as a talk about Mohawk native food traditions.<br />
We both came home excited to put our new knowledge into action. </div>
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First thing to do when we got back to the farm was to see how well the plants and animals had done while we were away. I first went into the corn field as I knew it was going to have grown quite a bit in the heat. I wasn't ready for it to be quite so tall. I am 6ft tall in boots and i can not touch many of the tassels if I stand in the garden. Some plants appear to be pushing 10ft! </div>
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I then checked on the orchard to see if we had any damage from the storms over the weekend. I did see that many of the apricots were ripe and that some had fallen from the wind. I gathered the fallen fruits up and brought them to the pigs. </div>
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The pigs have grown so quickly this summer that it can be a bit overwhelming even if you just don't see them for a few days. They loved the apricots and apples. And I am sure it will improve their flavor. They really are starting to get to a size where you can envision how the meat is shaping up and look forward to meat on the table and yet also feel the slight sadness that their last day on the farm will bring. </div>
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In the garden everything has gone a bit wild. July heat and plentiful rain has lead to things running each other over. The big dogs of the garden have taken to pushing the little ens about. Cucumbers have begun to colonize ground in earnest. The climbing beans have reached the top of their trellis and are attempting to take to the sky. Sadly the weeds are likewise making a play for domination. </div>
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So back to the weeding and the tending. <br />
I still have a fair amount of wood to split and stack in the pole barn as well as everything else as well. But for now at least I am refreshed and inspired again. </div>
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Rick<br />
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Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-70217991689805865342015-06-08T11:19:00.001-07:002015-06-10T06:54:53.860-07:00Peas and pork. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We are getting off to an amazing start this Spring. We finally have to geese sitting on ests and hope to see goslings soon. Our pigs continue to grow at an amazing rate. We are making arrangements to purchase a woodstove and cut down some of our older trees for firewood. Things are going really well for us but the garden has been the real showstopper this Spring.<br />
We have head enough moisture as well as enough heat and sun to really get the plants off to a running start. We planted a bunch of potatoes back in april and they seem just about ready to flower already. We have had to hill them twice. The great asparagus glut has come and just about gone.The newest thing to come online has been strawberries. There really is nothing like a strawberry straight from the garden and still a little warm from the summer sun.<br />
After that it looks like peas will be coming in and we can't wait. Peas are favorite for us. I grew up in a time of tight budgets and limited access to fresh produce. When I was younger I liked peas but I had only had canned or boiled peas. The sort of peas that were ready for war in Vietnam, olive drab and reliable if not exactly enthralling. It wasn't until I had frozen peas that I really fell in love with them. They were so sweet and had a bit of pop when you chewed them. They also had a flavor that spoke of Spring time and lush and growing plants. Then I had garden fresh peas and it happened again. I fell deeper in love with the humble pea. What frozen peas had garden fresh peas had even more of. Jess and I usually "compete" for the first few spoonfuls of peas and I look forward to it every year. </div>
Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-77121663805786195142015-05-12T11:55:00.000-07:002015-05-12T11:55:21.703-07:00Piggels<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This year is off to a great start. We have been able to get a lot of things going this Spring already. We have planted most of the garden already. We have already been able to have some modest harvests from our polytunnel greenhouse and our perennials in the garden.<br />
Another of this year pleasures is working with some friends that have recently moved to the area and are on a similar path as us. Our new friends moved to the area last Fall and it has been great getting to know them. They are younger and have an almost unlimited amount of energy for homesteading projects and seem to really shine where animal husbandry is concerned. This has been a great help to me this Spring because while I may be one of the least competitive people out there I am still easily motivated to keep up with others most days. And our new friends have gone in big! They have already started bees,goats,geese and rabbits and recently pigs. They have already planted a garden an orchard as well and are doing quite well at all of them!<br />
In order to keep up with the Joneses as it were we have a larger garden this year with a small 1/25th of an acre corn field set aside for the growing of heirloom dent corn . We have increased our plantings of potatoes this year. We also have planted four new elderflower bushes and five new gooseberry bushes. Lastly we fenced off a half acre of shaded pasture on the North of the property and converted part of our bunker in order to keep pigs.<br />
I am in love with the pigs already. It may seem odd to say that I am in love with an animal that I intend on eating but I don't have another word for it. I feel a real sense of duty to these animals. It is my duty to watch over thee animals and see to it that they are free from want and suffering as much as possible. To see that they have the best if environment, food and water that I can provide. It is my obligation to them to do this. I am asking that they give their lives at the end of our time together and it is the least I can do. But it is part of a bargain we make with animals. Those that we expect much of are cared for well and those that can do little for us are mostly ignored by us and left to the natural state of wilderness. I look forward to all the wonderful food our pigs will provide and the sense of balance that eating that food will bring.<br />
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Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-14618489326498657032015-04-22T14:02:00.002-07:002015-04-22T14:11:58.755-07:00Project Bacon Pt.1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ever since we moved to our home we have been on a steady trend of finding more ways to use our land as pasture,garden, or orchard. This has been in no small part due to my hatred of mowing, but also as part of a move to produce more and different kinds of food on our farm. We have had a lovely half acre of land on the NE corner of our property that we have really not done much with ever since we moved in. It is far to distant from the house to be used as a garden or yard and it is partially shaded by mature maples most of the day so it wouldn't be ideal for orchard. We have instead just mowed it once or twice a year and otherwise it has been under utilized.</div>
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Well we aim to change all of that. We have decided to raise pigs on it for a season. We have never raised pigs before and are very excited to begin. We look forward both to having more and different types of animals on the farm as well as the quality meat they will one day provide us. Our plan is to purchase some feeder pigs and raise them over the Summer and butcher them this Fall. Jess has found a supplier and I have been hard at work erecting fencing and getting the old "bunker" ready to function as pig housing. Everything is just about complete on that score. The fence has been erected and the door and window installed on the bunker. The last thing I need to do is to bury a few sections of the fencing and add a strand of electric wire around the fence to keep the pigs from digging underneath. </div>
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I don't have any pictures of the completed pen yet so please except this picture of home cured bacon I made last summer instead. </div>
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Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-81511159215263630402015-03-31T08:07:00.004-07:002015-03-31T10:19:45.324-07:00Musings on disaster. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yesterday our heat lamp fell into our brooder and burned
through the bedding, the plastic and the rolling dolly I had the brooder set
on. We were lucky in that we discovered it before it had the chance to ignite
and burn down the garage. We were lucky but this Springs chicks were not.</div>
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Life on a small farm is not without its successes and
triumphs but that is not what this post is about. This post is about failures
and setbacks. No matter what you do on a small farm you will have failures and
setbacks. I have had quite a few. From hail storm ravaged gardens to rabbits
that wouldn’t mother their young. Some are my fault either through ignorance or
mistake and some are simple acts of random chance. </div>
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As
small farmers we invest so much of ourselves into our farms. From hours
carefully tending gardens and herding flocks to time spent constructing pens
and buildings we shape and mold our farms to be a reflection of our desires and
dreams. For some this may be an intricately integrated vegetable garden with
carefully plotted and planted varieties, plants that were selected with promise
and tended with love and affection. For some of us it is a flock of busy little
hens whose antics and names came to be dear to us over the hours we spend with
them caring for their needs. And when we
invest so much of our hearts, minds and dreams in our farms it can be an especially
difficult blow when disaster strikes. Failures on the homestead can crush your
heart. Any time an animal dies I feel it is my fault, that I messed up in some
way in care or prevention of harm. That can be an especially heavy burden
indeed.</div>
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There
may be some luck few out there that will avoid all calamities but for the rest
of us the question isn’t if but when and where disaster will strike. We have
had many failures and setback and if you are a homesteader or small farmer than
my guess is so have you. So what can we
do about it. First from the outset decide that you will have setbacks and that
they may sadden you but that they will not stop you. Stiffen your resolve
before it is even tested so that when the blow comes you have something to lean
on. Second see destruction as a teacher. If you are observant you will find
that every failure has a lesson in it. Whether that lesson is specific such as
a hole in your fence or more general such as you can’t control everything is up
to you. But I urge you to find these lessons as they will make you and your farmstead better with every realization. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-31189546704021086822015-03-26T18:06:00.002-07:002015-03-26T18:06:18.387-07:00Just a quick update to keep up the habit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So last weekend we were able to actually start the process of getting the garden ready for the season. We pulled some weeds, turned some soil and removed last year's asparagus fronds. Then come Sunday we got nine inches of snow and I was immediately brought back down to earth. Spring in Minnesota is a time for flexible living. So the snow is starting to melt again and we wait.<br />
In other news I updated the blog a bit and added a link to my Pinterest boards which I think have some good ideas. I don't know when I might have a chance to put any of them into action but perhaps they might inspire some of you<br />
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-FFR<br />
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Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-77979777693783082272015-03-18T05:54:00.000-07:002015-03-28T09:05:57.691-07:00Catch up picture post. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here are some of the things we have done since I last wrote in this blog. From most recent to least recent they are...</div>
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We went to Kona this spring and got a chance to see coffee grow. </div>
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Jess is still amazing. </div>
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We continue to have our fall festivals every year and raise money for the food shelf. </div>
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I went hunting for elk in Wyoming</div>
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The views were amazing</div>
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It was a great trip. </div>
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I backed out of this spot 15 seconds before that branch came down right where I was. </div>
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Our rhubarb is kind of overwhelming now</div>
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I am getting a little better at catching smelt. </div>
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We are raising geese as our only waterfowl now. </div>
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Katz's deli </div>
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Jess looking suitably aloof for springtime in NY. </div>
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We took a trip to New Yor.</div>
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We cured and smoked some bacon on the farm. </div>
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The last few winters have been way too cold. </div>
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I tried to tan a deer hide. with mixed results.</div>
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I got to meet Hank Shaw in person. </div>
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We have harvested and eaten shaggy manes.</div>
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We added a poly tunnel for season extension. I still haven't got it quite figured out yet but I am getting better with controlling it. </div>
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We continue to harvest our hops and brew beer with them. </div>
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We were adopted by a barn cat named Florence. </div>
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We fenced off a large part of the yard as a field for annimals</div>
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We attended the seed savers annual convention</div>
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We attended a number of great lectures there. </div>
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I spent a week in the BWCAW </div>
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I have gotten better at finding morels in the spring time. </div>
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We made nettel and pumpkin ravioli. </div>
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We hatched our own baby chicks</div>
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Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-36866726852392427912015-03-15T18:18:00.001-07:002015-03-15T18:19:07.902-07:00Spring is sprung<p dir="ltr">Well Spring is the season of new growth. I don't exactly know what the new restart of the blog might entail but I hope to get the blog started back up again. <br>
     We have some big plans for the farm this year. We plan to try raising pigs for the first time which is very exciting. So far I have cleaned out half the bunker and filled it with straw. I have also arranged a heat lamp and made a feed trough for our future piglets. <br>
     We also are planning to raise a significant amount of dent corn this year as part of a project to produce a special corn grits. <br>
    We also kept six of the geese over the winter and while they don't appear to have much interest in laying eggs just yet we have hopes of raising our own goslings this year. </p>
<p dir="ltr">So lots of plans. Hopefully more to come soon! </p>
Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-90086680754421739902014-01-08T20:13:00.001-08:002014-01-08T20:13:51.700-08:00Polar Vortex<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It seems that this Winter we are getting a taste of future things to possibly come. I am no climate scientist but this irregular cold weather we have been having this year meets my understanding of Climate Change. It has been exceptionally cold exceptional early in Minnesota this year and it has lasted longer already than is usual. I suspect that there is more of this in the future. So I did the only sane thing I could think of and ordered peach trees for this Spring. Now Minnesota peach trees may not be the first thing that Springs to mind when I say the word polar vortex but they are connected.<br />
Firstly since the climate is changing it can go in either direction so for me on zone 4 that means planting both zone 3 hardy and zone 5 hardy plants. And secondly I have been thinking a lot of old Sam McGee and his home in Peach Tree Tennessee this Winter. Plus I just really love the idea of my own peach trees.<br />
I also ordered a pair of Paw Paw trees. As a native fruit that are hardy quite far north with a great taste I am excited about these. It will likely be at least 3 years before I get to taste a Paw Paw but I am playing a long game here on the farm.<br />
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Keep Warm<br />
Frustrated Farmer Rick<br />
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Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-8975574640361916562013-12-30T10:28:00.001-08:002013-12-30T10:29:44.143-08:00New car<p dir="ltr">As part of our long term plan to reduce our reliance on ancient carbon based fuels we have decided our new car needs to be at least a hybrid or fully electric car. After having driven a number of vehicles and doing the math it lools like the best car for us will be the Chevy Volt. The fully electric car is superior for short trips as we can run only on electricity for the first thirty or so miles. For longer distances however the hybrids have slightly better mileage. <br>
I  am fully aware that when we charge an electric vehicle we are most likely still using ancient carbon but future plans for us are to begin producing electricity which would completely change the equation. So for now we have decided on the Chevy Volt. </p>
Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-82508709804905061212013-12-27T07:50:00.001-08:002013-12-27T07:50:32.978-08:00So much to tell.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been a heck of a long time since I started this blog. I have stopped and started it over the years and it seems I have the itch to start it up again. A lot has changed since I stopped writing a few years back so I will just go over the highlights.<br />
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We are continuing our self sufficient and low impact lifestyle and increasing the possibilities on the farm. We have added more perennial plants in the form of some mulberry bushes and black currants. We have also made an investment in the future by the planting of two small white oaks that may provide acorns to some lucky soul in the future. We have also established a Jerusalem artichoke hedge at the south east end of the yard to help shade and act as a windbreak. Last fall we put up a small 12 by 20 poly-tunnel and we had some greens all the way into Thanksgiving this year from it. We moved the chicken coop and yard adjacent to the garden in order to use the garden as an expanded run during early and late season and increase fertility in the garden. We also fenced in a a large portion of the center of the yard this summer and have turned it over to the farm for livestock. This last season we raised a geese in the yard and it was a great success. We also started raising chickens in a chicken tractor in the yard with some moderate success. We also successfully hatched chickens last spring with our incubator. Lastly we are switching out rabbit breads due to the difficulties we had with our rabbits to see if it was us or them.<br />
Ongoing projects include a smallish water retention pond located near the pole barn, a planned increase in goose numbers this year and full use of our poly-tunnel for planting in the Spring.<br />
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And last but not least we need to announce the addition of a our new farm dog Lazlo.<br />
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Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-89505257902268491592011-11-15T19:30:00.001-08:002011-11-15T19:54:10.822-08:00The reason I have been away<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well it was my intention to post every day this month and apart from a few slips I think I have been pretty good. But you will have noticed that I have not posted in some time. That was due to our annual deer hunting trip to north western Minnesota.<br />
I alway had an interest in hunting ever since I was a child. I remember my grandfather hunting a few times and I remember his guns and hunting clothes in the front hall. Hunting always seemed like some great and mysterious secret that men knew, or at least the kind of men my grandfather was and that was fine enough an example for me. I wanted to hunt. Sadly my father was not a big part of my life at that age and my step father had no interest in hunting at all. I satisfied my self with learning woodland skills like tracking animals, making camp fires and learning to identify and forage for plants. I also developed a keen interest in fishing as well, also to be more like my grandfather. But hunting had to wait. <br />
Many years after high school and my time in the Navy I spent some time in the Army National Guard as a medic and it was there that I met my hunting mentor and all around great friend James. You see he was also ex-navy and also had a love for fishing and food. I also learned that he had some experience hunting. I don't exactly remember how I first talked him into letting me go duck hunting with him but for me it was a door opening and I rushed through it. In the many years since we have hunted everything from squirrels to deer. I have introduced other friends of mine to the joys and challenges of hunting as well. It is through him that I have met many great and wonderful people and had many fantastic days in the field. He helped me learn to butcher what I managed to harvest and even been a fine example of just what a person can do with wild game. <a href="http://youhavetocookitright.blogspot.com/">You really should read his blog if you have not yet</a>. Thanks James!<br />
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<br /></div>Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-49677900079876976142011-11-09T19:45:00.000-08:002011-11-09T19:45:45.217-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Great video I found over on <a href="http://cricketbread.com/blog/">Cricket Bread</a>. It is not really about crop mobs but rather a reading of the essay <a href="http://cricketbread.com/blog/2009/02/05/new-blood-in-the-old-body/">New Blood in the Old Body.</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31605892?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/31605892">Crop Mob: An Introduction</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3240315">Cricket Bread</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Lastly since I will be away deer hunting this weekend I want to present another version of somone preserving the past as a way to save the future.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31575162?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/31575162">There's No Place Like Here: Liberty Tool</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/etsy">Etsy</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<br /></div>Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-70864686318677397932011-11-04T20:54:00.000-07:002011-11-04T20:54:03.460-07:00Wordless Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUw7ufaTZLq0QPu56RpP7wUDimrbFad_zpL1rFn1IeotFtKXzU-LRqHLARNlQ1NV1do9gxE450-s5tdJi7MYIun4YUB8ZipRG12Naxe9KFcEsnBYy7MgEWM4_Up7k3laVogjClVRAfbN9J/s1600/2011-10-22+12.13.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUw7ufaTZLq0QPu56RpP7wUDimrbFad_zpL1rFn1IeotFtKXzU-LRqHLARNlQ1NV1do9gxE450-s5tdJi7MYIun4YUB8ZipRG12Naxe9KFcEsnBYy7MgEWM4_Up7k3laVogjClVRAfbN9J/s320/2011-10-22+12.13.46.jpg" /></a></div>Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-41503924588413062382011-11-04T03:48:00.000-07:002011-11-04T03:48:41.044-07:00Well that didn't last too long now did it.Last night I got to cooking and totally failed to make my promised blog post. I don't have much to tell you this morning so I guess I will tell you what I was cooking that made me miss my appointment with you.
First the hens have begun laying eggs and I had been purchasing hard boiled eggs for breakfast at work so I figured it was about time I hard boiled a dozen eggs for lunches and such.
Next we had some onions , carrots and celery that were going soft in the fridge so I decided to make a big batch of veg stock. We ended up with 4 liters or so of stock. Gotta love having stock on hand.
Then I had some pumpkin puree I was cooking down with spices and brown sugar in the crock pot. I am really happy with it.
Next I decided to see how the Musquee de Provence pumpkins were doing so I started cutting up and processing one. I roasted around a quarter of one in the oven and steamed the other quarter in the microwave.
So that was last night, two stove burners, the oven, the microwave and the crock pot all rocking in the kitchen.
Now I have to get changed and go to work to get some rest.Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-63765392615833900282011-11-02T19:06:00.000-07:002011-11-02T19:06:21.487-07:00Shed dreams<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I have been following the videos of Deek Didrickson of <a href="http://relaxshacks.blogspot.com/">Relaxshacks.com</a> for a while now. I love his take on reusing materials and his punk rock shed esthetic. I was also looking through the redesign of <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/">Treehugger</a> yesterday and found <span id="goog_633824096"></span><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/backyard-house-built-recycled-barnboards.html">this<span id="goog_633824097"></span></a> great garden house. I am thinking of trying to combine the two and see what I can get built this Winter. I am hoping to make the small guest cottage be the majority of the space with a weather tight tool storage area built into the back. I am thinking that with the proper planning I can build it in sections and move it out to the fielden this Spring and assemble it on site as soon as conditions permit. It would be great to have a small sunny space to sit out in the fielden as well as being able to keep tools and supplies closer to hand. <br />
This evening for dinner we had Sunchokes that I cooked overnight with a rich rabbit stock in the crockpot. I have heard that a long slow cooking can reduce the "windyness" of the sunchokes. Will let you know tomorrow I guess. We also harvested a big bunch of kale and made kale chips for dinner as well. <span id="goog_633824110"></span><span id="goog_633824111"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJf43bKwcvFUF84fXCmprLXD6sk18buYYhDaOt-rJgeSh3cQ28SXQWFwlnqL6bSE572feF2ZKazlC5J8GNJuZeNr4iR6_3un4NynraNGQXh0GSqaOOv_OlLWuLjG5MOZE3G2DbPZOcLaK/s1600/2011-11-02+18.38.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJf43bKwcvFUF84fXCmprLXD6sk18buYYhDaOt-rJgeSh3cQ28SXQWFwlnqL6bSE572feF2ZKazlC5J8GNJuZeNr4iR6_3un4NynraNGQXh0GSqaOOv_OlLWuLjG5MOZE3G2DbPZOcLaK/s320/2011-11-02+18.38.29.jpg" /></a></div>Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-34644829961794972052011-11-01T19:05:00.001-07:002011-11-01T19:05:18.621-07:00Fear Not Mortal!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Do not be alarmed. This is an actual blog post you are actually reading on Caerwyn Farm and Spirits. </span></div>
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Sorry I have been away a while. Lots of things have gone on of late and I plan to tell you about them soon. </div>
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You see I am making a pledge to post something at least every day this November starting today. </div>
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So what do you have to look forward to? </div>
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Duckies,</div>
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Bunnies</div>
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Chickens</div>
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Worms</div>
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Cooking</div>
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Hunting</div>
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A recap of our 10 year anniversary trip to the shores of lake superior.</div>
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A permaculture inspired windbreak.</div>
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All that and much much more!!!</div>
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Welcome back!</div>
</span></div>Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-75374637816465021412011-06-12T07:42:00.000-07:002011-06-12T08:33:23.249-07:00It has been that kind of SpringWe are so far behind this Summer. Crap! Is it Summer already? I have not been posting as much as before and here is why.<br /><br /> We have had a very cold and wet Spring. It was colder than our average except of course for the few days it didn't rain but instead went to 100F with 20 MPH winds. I guess it is better than hail.<br /><br />Also this Spring I took a long planned trip to th boundary waters on the Minnesota Canada border.I had a great time and can not wait to go again next year but it also pushed back planting a week. I did catch my first lake trout, one more MN species off the lifetime fish catch list.<br /><br />Then our new senior doe rabbit appeared to be gaining weight. Turns out she was just being too well fed. This combined with a previous failed breeding by the folks we got her from means she is probably too old to conceive That sets us back on this plan as well as our junior doe will not be old enough to be mated until September.<br /><br />Also earlier this spring an old ash tree decided it would be much more comfortable laying down. Unfortunately for us it decided to lay down on the house. There was a fair amount of damage to the old summer kitchen and we are now getting bids to make the necessary repairs and dealing with the insurance company. So far they have been unlike a good neighbor and not so there.<br />We are also moving the ducks and chickens along. They have booth been moved to their permanent housing and are being introduced to the pasture today. Which mean I need to quit messing around here and get out there.<br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/i1kqFu2YYQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0rwJyVtlj70/TfTbS1gFIEI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/Kh-nEtVg-Bw/s512/2011-05-09%25252017.35.33.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />FF Rick.Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-17277347489050987092011-05-04T18:57:00.000-07:002011-05-04T19:29:07.169-07:00Update on Spring happeningsIt has been a while so forgive me if I ramble a bit.<br />First the weather. Following one of our colder and wetter Winters, we are now starting on a cooler and wetter spring than normal. This has made it a bit tricky to get into the garden but with a bit of diligent help from my darling bride we have managed to get almost half of last years garden expansion planted up.<br />Next came the rabbits. We had been thinking that rabbits would make a good addition to our homestead for some time. Our friend Jamie had a chance to taste and fall in love with a rabbit terrine at Corner Table. He was very supportive of us getting the rabbit project off the ground so we thought now was the time. We decided on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rabbit_breeds#Champagne_d.27Argent">champagne d'argent</a>. We were able to find a local breeder and meet up with them in a gas station parking lot. It was all quite cloak and dagger. We brought them all home and set them up in the garage and they have been doing well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXezgZfuTlCGIety5UpOVMppfR6Em6s1umjM0ZzvZx9Vtb5rCk1gpjX1QfPPfi4pkuXnhEyF_nSIYVPg2exjl1ZRcxpeGcu4XObj-ef6hWoZ4VgGG2gB0uNfyT_hEMrMbDbrqowjaPvGbI/s1600/rabbits.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXezgZfuTlCGIety5UpOVMppfR6Em6s1umjM0ZzvZx9Vtb5rCk1gpjX1QfPPfi4pkuXnhEyF_nSIYVPg2exjl1ZRcxpeGcu4XObj-ef6hWoZ4VgGG2gB0uNfyT_hEMrMbDbrqowjaPvGbI/s320/rabbits.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603049695458310290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then we have been looking to get a flock of layers back on the farm. We ordered 15 silver lace wyandottes and 5 araucanas. We received those on Monday and set them up in a brooder in the garage as we have been seeing freezing temps at night. We also got a few indian game roosters for future meat bird breeding stock.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjwM67weMcwgRTCQUtpB1M6n5zvSkThwdKBxcCGayXEfA61D8unhC5S7P_i1mWqSGXE40Bmpl_RsXMktMZ-dF3ctN6Od54p4sDvTAmZmElAYDeiTGCgyARoQDnhNvc83nwAiRzTwTjq0L/s1600/chix.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjwM67weMcwgRTCQUtpB1M6n5zvSkThwdKBxcCGayXEfA61D8unhC5S7P_i1mWqSGXE40Bmpl_RsXMktMZ-dF3ctN6Od54p4sDvTAmZmElAYDeiTGCgyARoQDnhNvc83nwAiRzTwTjq0L/s320/chix.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603051200360000466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lastly we also ordered ducks again this year. We decided to try a Rouen ducks. We plan to raise them in the orchard again this year. They also arrived this week. We had to pick them up this morning. We brought them home and placed them in a second brooder in the garage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtsNbvAT-c__f4c7YKbiLg-xM_VBDl_pu86xEOyVXgcEvQEeWnUIGmIPLeHpOFxQ_YTagMOHdP8CqSFfAS50k5lnZwj6btn2cuNYwNhuYPrPEqAE2S0u3mINYiMu35RKDJ7njacVimlwK/s1600/ducks.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtsNbvAT-c__f4c7YKbiLg-xM_VBDl_pu86xEOyVXgcEvQEeWnUIGmIPLeHpOFxQ_YTagMOHdP8CqSFfAS50k5lnZwj6btn2cuNYwNhuYPrPEqAE2S0u3mINYiMu35RKDJ7njacVimlwK/s320/ducks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603052872265497634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Well that is enough for now. We have also begun composting in a big way. More about that later.<br /><br />RickFrustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-9366010530411241882011-03-22T18:23:00.000-07:002011-03-22T18:40:37.249-07:00Season extension works<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7v1gbK4eUABFkjVL4Uy58uqAzlALUB7vpJayznTA211Ki4ckKmtEB5uvb1GNpzclIU1Oj6z9DdSbtd0XNMuKXXTDIC-SoBGGQz331oGVIZjPhsBxKvmFupjsjJW3XMl65RXWRSunquyK/s1600/poly2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7v1gbK4eUABFkjVL4Uy58uqAzlALUB7vpJayznTA211Ki4ckKmtEB5uvb1GNpzclIU1Oj6z9DdSbtd0XNMuKXXTDIC-SoBGGQz331oGVIZjPhsBxKvmFupjsjJW3XMl65RXWRSunquyK/s320/poly2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587080488938454610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This past Saturday while it was out in the yard I decided it was time to peak under the low tunnel and see how things looked. It was high 40's and breezy and I had to shovel nearly a foot of snow off the tails of the poly to get access to the tunnel. I was amazed by the hot wet waft of air that hit me as I stuck my face into the enclosure. I was quite happy to see the mustard, spinach and mizuna all looking great. And I had my first taste of fresh home grown greens since November right then and there, on my knees in the mud. It was fantastic. The ground outside is still frozen hard but under the cover it was soft and moist. I ran my hands through the soil just to remember how it felt and was even more surprised to watch a worm pull away back into the soil. That sold it right then and there. We will have a hoop house constructed as soon as finances and conditions permit. I have been reading Eliot Colman's book Four Season Harvest and am quite excited about what we could produce with even a small greenhouse.<br /><br />Will let you know how it goes.Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-89883406376469407782011-03-10T18:14:00.000-08:002011-03-10T18:23:44.879-08:00No worms part two for now.I decided the other day that, as we have just had our worm bin for a short time I would probably just increasing the noise about the issue on the Internet with a follow up post on the subject. I guess I don't like doing "how to" posts. I would rather share with you what we are doing and whether or not it works for us. That way you can decide what works best for you.<br /><br />We have a couple of other irons in the fire at the time.<br /><ol><li>We currently have some maple taps out and I hope to produce some of our own syrup this year. </li><li>We have started looking for breeding stock to raise meat rabbits this year and acquired some cages to house them in. </li><li>We have ordered ducklings and replacement laying hens for the season.</li></ol>Lastly we have submitted the paperwork to the secretary of state's office to become incorporated. To me that is a big step toward making the farm a legitimate business enterprise.<br /><br />Busy, busy, busy!Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-89780263506599262222011-02-22T17:21:00.000-08:002011-02-22T18:11:03.239-08:00The Worm Bin Part 1This winter my lovely wife let me set up a worm compost system in the kitchen. I had dragged her to enough lectures on vermicomposting so she was on board but you have to recognize just how awesome she is.<br /><br />So why compost with worms anyway?<br />Well first of all you can compost kitchen waste all year long. For many people this may not be that important but for those of us up in the frozen north being able to compost during the winter allows you to produce more valuable compost. The compost you get is also said to be superior to conventionally composted material. Plus you also get worms that you can either use for more composting operations or even take fishing with you.<br /><br />So the bin we built started with two plastic storage containers. like this one.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TS38yLWmBxqO_K2JnmJQUmXeZjTYXMfY098WWnEVtzGF5fCjtzDnxgofOtLlrtX82uhrtxv_GfLAFxmbcMMUaBcN8s3BMWM24QfVOtXCT8gbncxZaq2g_-MXfAZeceRcgCOpoxSDmiqM/s1600/2011-02-08+17.45.48.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TS38yLWmBxqO_K2JnmJQUmXeZjTYXMfY098WWnEVtzGF5fCjtzDnxgofOtLlrtX82uhrtxv_GfLAFxmbcMMUaBcN8s3BMWM24QfVOtXCT8gbncxZaq2g_-MXfAZeceRcgCOpoxSDmiqM/s320/2011-02-08+17.45.48.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576690427162637122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The first thing you need to do is provide a way to manage the moisture in your bin. Worms exude moisture during the composting process and the food that you add also has moisture in it. That means that if their was no way for water to leave the bin your worms would soon drown. So we made a bunch of holes in the bottom of one of the bins. I have been told that quarter inch holes are small enough to avoid plugging but large enough to keep most of your worms from leaving.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeB0en-SB8SWYF30QyBMIiGWzmuntNmfkRcV0Xbg_3XiQdOVkavH5o4bVUk1Icxniw_GMFj00MQPbcPLegIGAFNdZo1FcqVuWcqy3aPDqCX8iJZ7ni6zj4yEWRSMDliT23NVmlmtAgg9d/s1600/2011-02-08+17.47.31.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeB0en-SB8SWYF30QyBMIiGWzmuntNmfkRcV0Xbg_3XiQdOVkavH5o4bVUk1Icxniw_GMFj00MQPbcPLegIGAFNdZo1FcqVuWcqy3aPDqCX8iJZ7ni6zj4yEWRSMDliT23NVmlmtAgg9d/s320/2011-02-08+17.47.31.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576690443732373106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It is also important to make sure that the worms can get enough oxygen so I drilled holes in the top of the bin as well. The lid also helps to keep light out of the bins as the worms are also sensative to light and we don't want to stress them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkBF6ENsyExiaXmKq-swk-wYMO5Gqdnn3g-x25mz1GaRjQ4y9pAC9j0cOf-45BgoQOnkTu62HLH8b69wkWWQ3DM5_-rfA43mRnmgjA2ToTKTs_Zapx4bYZj690gqevWWFevac_PThSzoG/s1600/2011-02-08+17.46.55.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkBF6ENsyExiaXmKq-swk-wYMO5Gqdnn3g-x25mz1GaRjQ4y9pAC9j0cOf-45BgoQOnkTu62HLH8b69wkWWQ3DM5_-rfA43mRnmgjA2ToTKTs_Zapx4bYZj690gqevWWFevac_PThSzoG/s320/2011-02-08+17.46.55.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576690436413634706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lastly I nested the bin that was drilled into the un-perforated twin. The second bin will catch the moisture that comes off the bin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRjLiwT0Nbqik1sa7Evmlj2Kd7IVlmFQeRs3C7obM3yBd_Pp2s3fNxyeDvVIZdMy8EmIxFrC5kJHmjT8ZoQn_iEkmVCqGyv21Eof6M1QT1RNQrTCdA3OEbBsKHuK4HE9-3Xq-HKU1IBjR/s1600/2011-02-08+17.48.58.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRjLiwT0Nbqik1sa7Evmlj2Kd7IVlmFQeRs3C7obM3yBd_Pp2s3fNxyeDvVIZdMy8EmIxFrC5kJHmjT8ZoQn_iEkmVCqGyv21Eof6M1QT1RNQrTCdA3OEbBsKHuK4HE9-3Xq-HKU1IBjR/s320/2011-02-08+17.48.58.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576690461568501730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So that is the bin. later I plan to tell you how to set one up and how well our first one is working out for us.<br /><br />Frustrated Farmer RickFrustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-24849340587466585332010-12-12T12:02:00.000-08:002010-12-12T12:10:35.537-08:00Sometimes others just tell the story better.My friend writing about processing deer this year after the hunt<br />over at <a href="http://youhavetocookitright.blogspot.com/2010/11/one-of-my-favorite-days-of-year.html">You Have To Cook it Right.<br /></a><br /><br />Also my buddy writing about the fall festival we through this year.<br />also at <a href="http://youhavetocookitright.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-festival-and-fondness-for-goat.html">You Have To Cook It Right</a><br /><br /><br />And my lovely wife wrote a nice wrap up of what we have been up to as of late as well over at <a href="http://lefsekimchee.blogspot.com/2010/11/where-have-i-been.html">Lefse and Kimchee</a>.Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-31601718281540879402010-12-12T10:54:00.000-08:002010-12-12T11:45:05.832-08:00On The Folly of Going Lone Wolf.Good afternoon readers. Over the last two days we have received something on the order of 18 inches of snow! Now those of you that are only familiar with Minnesota via the national news probably think this is the norm for us but in fact this is one of the top 10 snow storms in modern recorded history for our area. This storm ground our roads to a halt, buried many cars and even collapsed the roof of the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome. In short it has made a mess of things. But something interesting can be seen happening. Everywhere you look people are banding together to help each other. Twitter is awash with stories of folks plowing out neighbors and helping to dig out drives and sidewalks. Today while plowing and shoveling out the few bits that my wonderful neighbor could not reach with his giant farm sized snow blower it occurred to me that this is just the sort of response we may need in the face of all challenges. It doesn't mater if the challenge is Climate Change, Peak Oil or just the plain old economic hard times we seem to be currently experiencing the response will need to be the same, we have to help our neighbors. But the key to all of this is that we will need community, we will need the strengths that we all have to make it through.Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773238771744718682.post-41473575662067871612010-12-11T15:25:00.000-08:002010-12-11T15:48:19.054-08:00Trying to get this started again.This blog has been difficult for me to keep my nose to as of late. This fall has been a bit difficult We are still following the path of increasing self sufficiency and have made some real gains in that department this fall. There are far to many things to list out but a few of the things we have done are,<br /><br /><br />We attended a weekend workshop put on by the Women's Environmental Institute (WEI) and Growing Power. There were a number of great classes on things like Hoop house construction and greenhouse operations. We particularly took inspiration from the classes about composting and vermiculture. Since getting back to Caerwyn we have started a large compost heap and also an indoor worm compost bin. <br /><br />We set up our first proper root cellar in an area under the kitchen. We dug up many of the amazing root vegetables we grew this year and stored them in wet sand inside coolers. Today I grabbed a hand full of potatoes for lunch and noted that the temp was 43F. Last time I picked up some potatoes and parsnips everything seemed to be doing well. I also hope the coolers will help keep the roots from any intrepid rodents which is good as we seem to have a plague of them this year. Probably shouldn't say plague, that might be next. <br /><br />There was also a hunting trip that was quite successful this year. In fact our freezer is full of great meat. <br /><br />So things are OK here.Frustrated Farmer Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.com2