tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31056564754410641812024-03-06T15:00:57.430-05:00Farming in the shadeA look at life on a small family farm Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.comBlogger1049125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-26048337874822987212019-10-01T17:44:00.002-04:002019-10-01T17:44:30.145-04:00First Beans Harvested<div style="color: #454545; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first beans have been harvested.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Don’t get too excited—these are southern peas that we grew in the garden to have (hopefully) enough seed to plant in the field in a year or two. They’re a black heirloom variety. We hand-pulled them and they will dry on a tarp for a few days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The truth is the rest of the beans are still very green, and the fields have standing water in spots. We’ve had a fair amount of rain over the last couple of weeks. We didn’t track it or add it up, as sometimes we just don’t want to know. More rain is predicted for the next few days. Again, don’t ask us for details, as we are trying not to look at the forecast too closely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At this point we don’t know if we will get a harvest. We hope so. Stay tuned! And if you are the praying sort, we’d appreciate prayers for some warm, dry weather, to finish off the beans and keep them from standing in the water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the meantime, we will have lamb brats back in stock in the on-farm store Wednesday and Friday (open 1-4 pm), and we have a good supply of beef in the freezer, including beef bundles. Check out our <a href="http://shadysidefarm.com/" target="_blank">website</a> for more information about the beef.</span></div>
Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-89298668976343366982019-08-20T15:18:00.000-04:002019-09-10T11:31:19.398-04:00Cheap Food?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The topic of cheap food has been on our minds lately. Many people value what we do, but there is the inevitable comparison with grocery store prices. We see it at the market. We overhear the talk as people walk away. We discuss it with other vendors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These photos show the extra value that comes with the way we grow food. We are farming in a way that heals and sustains the land. When the soil is healthy, the plants, animals, and insects will thrive and be healthier themselves. When we eat this food, we will in turn be more healthy. We are working toward environmental sustainability.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But a farm that is ONLY environmentally sustainable will not last. It must also be emotionally and physically sustainable—farming can be a demanding job. (Not sure we’ve figured this one out yet.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And there is also economic sustainability to consider. You can help with economic sustainability by buying what we grow and raise, even if it costs a little more. And you can buy from others who also pay attention to the health of the soil. By doing this, you help to promote the type of farming that heals and sustains the land. </span></div>
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Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-59284381477838714372019-08-08T13:23:00.003-04:002019-08-08T13:23:43.222-04:00Cover Crop Experiments<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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Over the past few weeks we have been working the field that we weren’t able to plant with corn due to spring rains. A lot of fields in our area were not planted this spring and are now full of weeds. It is the nature of soil to produce plants. And if we don’t cultivate and intentionally plant certain plants, others will come and fill in.</div>
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One of the things we can do for the soil on a year like this is to plant different species as cover crops. This both keeps the weeds at bay and allows us to experiment with crops and combinations of crops we haven’t grown before. This field was a pasture/hay field for many years, but next year it is slated to have beans planted. In an effort to get ready for that, we plowed and disced the field. We worked it several times, because established pasture does not go quietly.<br />
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Once we were satisfied with the seedbed, we planted sorghum and peas in part of the field. The rest is planted with oats, peas, clover and turnips. This will hopefully keep the weeds to a minimum, as well as provide additional forage for our animals to graze. </div>
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Now we just need some more rain on our freshly-seeded field.</div>
Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-11862562739465058612019-08-05T09:35:00.000-04:002019-09-10T11:31:50.053-04:00A $450 Service Manual<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The $450 operators manual we recently purchased for the combine that we’ve owned for 8 years has paid off already. We were able to find the problem and get the grain head hydraulics to work again. The first of the small grains are in the bin.</div>
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This year we are harvesting four small grains--einkorn (an old variety of wheat), oats, barley, and rye. Much of the field drowned out in the Monsoon of Fall 2018 or the Monsoon of Spring 2019. But it looks like we will be able to harvest some of each of what we planted, and we're grateful for that. </div>
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For more on our combine woes through the years, search “combine”. It’ll make you feel better about your life, I promise. </div>
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Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-86498963298109799872019-07-29T17:56:00.000-04:002019-07-29T17:56:23.562-04:00Combine Troubles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHBKa_2uARJQD0feC4Bvtqh1OKrTjO-QJjzHgTMkRwyUXaq2Z0X7_5XlhEdurI0Uu6Q4EEgGpEuUg1SfZ_SQ_nuv-tyE6xAQs94C2jQ28YbH7L3Q9nvFE2zQ1HaHRqCgXWT14LLgne88/s1600/IMG_6679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHBKa_2uARJQD0feC4Bvtqh1OKrTjO-QJjzHgTMkRwyUXaq2Z0X7_5XlhEdurI0Uu6Q4EEgGpEuUg1SfZ_SQ_nuv-tyE6xAQs94C2jQ28YbH7L3Q9nvFE2zQ1HaHRqCgXWT14LLgne88/s400/IMG_6679.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The problem du jour is nothing new. If you can’t afford new farm equipment (and really, who can?!), you buy what you can afford. And fix it when it breaks.<br /><br />Some of it is pretty specialized equipment which is only used once or twice a year. We try to maintain and care for the equipment after each use and before we fire it up for the next go-around. But we do have a saying for this part of farming: “Stuff only breaks when you use it.”<br /><br />Equipment can look good, start well, and run smoothly, but when it’s time to actually do the work, some little thing will go wrong. Right now it’s the wiring on relay switches in the combine. Right at wheat harvest, of course. With oats and rye waiting their turn.<br /><br />Yes, we have had our share of problems with this combine. The former owner used it hard, and it shows. Some have asked us why we don’t just buy a different combine. The answer is near the top of this post—go ahead, scroll up. I’ll wait.<br /><br />YouTube is good, provided the person making the video actually knows what they’re talking about. A manual would be helpful, and is due in a mailbox near us mid-week. For the cool price of $450. In the meantime we fiddle, and think, and wonder how it is that stuff only breaks when you use it...</span> Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-1609269593061792452019-07-26T07:40:00.001-04:002019-07-26T07:41:33.391-04:00Moldboard Plowing<div class="p1" style="font-size: 14px;">
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What great weather we’ve had this last week! We had rain over the weekend (and we didn’t lose power like half the people in West Michigan), and then cooler, drier air all week. We mowed more hay, and some small grain. More about that later, perhaps, if our experiment works.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today, in addition to cultivating the beans, we continued plowing the field that was SUPPOSED to be planted to corn. We will plant cover crops instead, in an effort to nourish and rest the soil. Moldboard plowing has fallen out of favor in recent years, but there is a time and a place for it. It’s another tool in our toolbox. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This time of year always includes a lot of tractor time. It’s even more intense this year, as everything is compressed into a shorter time frame by the Spring With Endless Rain.</span></span></div>
Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-73099204706672008852019-07-19T12:12:00.000-04:002019-07-19T12:12:44.097-04:00A Hot Week<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This has been a hot week! We put up 450 small square bales in the heat Monday night. There was a good breeze—check out the first photo closely to see the flying hay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wednesday afternoon, after a hot day at the markets, we brought the sheep in from the far pastures. In the relative coolness of the barn, we separated lambs from ewes. It was time to wean the lambs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today is our annual audit for our organic certification. Wish us well—the certification process involves a LOT of paperwork and good record keeping.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In between these main events, we’ve been plowing, cultivating bean fields, and caring for the animals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wednesdays and Fridays our on-farm shop is open from 1-4 pm. Feel free to stop by for the best selection of cuts of beef. Also, the “buy 10 ground beef, get 1 free” special is still available at the farm store.</span> Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-83617857794814088172019-07-16T12:10:00.000-04:002019-07-16T12:10:05.922-04:00A New Sink and an Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ghL6dWLxu1OyzzTbWBMgkDfiLEjbD8nEqqCmX1Iq7CXMq-UvYYLBHS2krbLsMU7Ulw4vJm8mUE3gBgvr_FY4AyXHDpRjiA-40oH_ZQAFOOhgSymteG_vbNo6Hzsn8IbdMFWGSwLon1Q/s1600/IMG_6576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ghL6dWLxu1OyzzTbWBMgkDfiLEjbD8nEqqCmX1Iq7CXMq-UvYYLBHS2krbLsMU7Ulw4vJm8mUE3gBgvr_FY4AyXHDpRjiA-40oH_ZQAFOOhgSymteG_vbNo6Hzsn8IbdMFWGSwLon1Q/s400/IMG_6576.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">We added a sink to the entryway of our house during a spring remodel. So handy for lambing season and watering plants right up by the house and washing up before heading in the house. Today, after my dentist appointment, I stopped by a little shop in a nearby small town. This vase called my name. Those who have seen our entryway will know I have a thing for red and white enamelware.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">More later on the remodel, perhaps.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">We continue to cut hay, ted hay, rake hay, bale hay, and bring the hay bales in. All with a side dish of fixing equipment. We run out of steam most nights about 9:00, which just leaves time for showers before we fall into bed exhausted. But we’re still grateful for all the work we can accomplish!</span> Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-35130088952899367952019-07-08T16:40:00.000-04:002019-07-08T16:40:02.251-04:00Beans!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjec4JTNmHAJLvL2AjuZa6yz0wXmUfko5buHpMxxv9XZlYQSDUk7JXnnaCPvhsqV69L1eYyEH0LM38hhfyWqWnhwnxCJOKJh7Oh2pRJ4SVfjU7kyjusZ05PoSDdc_HwdDooxktmn-YUJOM/s1600/IMG_6544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjec4JTNmHAJLvL2AjuZa6yz0wXmUfko5buHpMxxv9XZlYQSDUk7JXnnaCPvhsqV69L1eYyEH0LM38hhfyWqWnhwnxCJOKJh7Oh2pRJ4SVfjU7kyjusZ05PoSDdc_HwdDooxktmn-YUJOM/s400/IMG_6544.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px;">We have spent the last few days planting beans as fast as we can. We put the last of the beans in the ground just before the 4th of July, and with this hot weather, some of those planted first are already poking their little heads out of the soil. We are so grateful!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14px;">Here are the varieties we planted:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Arikara Yellow</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Black Turtle</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Calypso</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Dapple Grey</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Green Flageolet</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Hidatsa Red</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Hutterite Soup </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Jacob's Cattle</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Jacob's Cattle Gold</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Lina Cisco Bird Egg</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Marrow</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Painted Lady</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Pinto</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Spanish Tolosana</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Tiger Eye</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Valentine</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Yellow Indian Woman</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Zebra</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">And we planted a few experiments--a couple of new bean varieties, as well as some lentils and southern peas. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">We have been haying as fast as we can, in between pop-up rain showers and equipment failures. The hay is very coarse, but it's hay! It feels very good to be working again, instead of just waiting and worrying. </span></span></div>
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<br /> Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-33513243946909781452019-07-02T15:00:00.000-04:002019-07-02T15:00:11.768-04:00Diversity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">See this picture of diversity? Several species are in bloom, while others are still vegetative.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The grasses have mature seeds. The red and white clovers are in full bloom. Birdsfoot trefoil has started blooming, and the alfalfa is in bud.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Why does this matter? With a monoculture, the sheep and cattle would have a choice of one food source. If it happened to be in a later stage of growth, there might not be enough protein for the animals’ needs. But a multi-species crop gives choice of forage for different stages of nutrition.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Next time you’re near a pasture (or in your lawn!) take note of how many different species you see. </span></div>
Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-82984249241821064762019-06-28T08:44:00.000-04:002019-07-08T09:00:07.470-04:00On Community<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALUlAUteydq2h0spsIB72wFkTN6DYq0sfi4b7p43gML7irKPdFrbPOTjMrx27DEw49whefpDgWCEMR3wyBvbwmXmSY7zK7dWjwObGMPbxSXNCRMRqqUIWSpeQU98riJXrRLcdlJcCX7A/s1600/IMG_6467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALUlAUteydq2h0spsIB72wFkTN6DYq0sfi4b7p43gML7irKPdFrbPOTjMrx27DEw49whefpDgWCEMR3wyBvbwmXmSY7zK7dWjwObGMPbxSXNCRMRqqUIWSpeQU98riJXrRLcdlJcCX7A/s400/IMG_6467.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We have recently been encouraged by the kindness of good friends and total strangers, both. Thank you, all, for your comments, shares, good wishes, and prayers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We wrote about our struggles with the wet weather in part because we feel we have a relationship with many of you. We consider you friends, and friends need to let each other know what is going on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We also shared because we know that many of you aren’t familiar with the risks of farming. Each year we take our blood, sweat and tears, as well as most of our remaining money, and we bury it in the ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We hope and pray that everything works out so that we get all that money we buried back. And we also hope that the blood, sweat and tears fertilize it and make it yield an increase. That increase or harvest is what we convert to money over the winter and the next summer while the next set of crops grow. This money is what we use to pay the bills, fix things, take a small salary, and save a little to bury in the ground the next year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When one of these harvests are small or non-existent, we tighten our belts. That’s part of why we don’t have all our eggs in one basket. If the corn doesn’t yield well, we still have the other things to fall back on. But when more then one of the harvests are affected, things get scary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of you have asked what can be done for farmers who are struggling. I’m not sure what we can do for commodity farmers (corn and soybeans, etc), but I plan to try to find out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For market farmers, you can do the following:</span></div>
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1. Eat local. Buy food/products from your local farmers when they are at market or selling through a roadside stand. Feel free to ask questions about how they grew it and whether they grew it. That’s okay. But do buy if you can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />2. Be understanding about why our prices are sometimes higher than you would like. I’m as frugal as the next guy. But a small family farm cannot compete with big corporate farms, just due to the economy of scale. We are very sure that the food we sell is better quality than what you can buy in the stores, so remember that when you’re comparing prices. And keep in mind the law of supply and demand. When most of the peach trees freeze in the polar vortex winter of 2019, peaches are going to cost more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />3. Share the love. Tell your friends about us. If you liked the lamb you bought, spread the word. Give our handmade goods as gifts to friends and family. Donate our produce to the local food pantry so there is healthy food available. Check with a friend to see if they want to share bulk purchases of meat with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Pray (or whatever you do) and tell us you’re rooting for us. A kind word goes a long ways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I told a friend earlier this week that a no-plant spring is like being tied to the railroad tracks and watching the train approach, but very slowly. 1-2 mph, maybe. For now, you can only hear the whistle in the distance and see the puffs of smoke afar off. Nothing is happening right now. But you know darn well it’s gonna hurt like crazy later.</span></div>
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Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-45622442303522137962019-06-25T17:57:00.000-04:002019-06-28T08:47:02.619-04:00Prevented Planting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="s1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: inherit;">Well, folks, we have zero acres of corn and dry beans planted so far this year. And no hay cut for the winter feed for our cattle and sheep. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: inherit;">We still have a chance on the hay, but every day that passes means the quality goes down. We still have a chance at the dry beans. But there is the little detail of standing water in the fields.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0); font-family: inherit;">The window for planting corn has closed. So there will be no corn crop this year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: inherit;">We have had crop failures and catastrophes before. Usually one thing at a time, though. We are trying to stay hopeful while still thinking about what Plan B looks like. God is faithful.</span></div>
Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-87968094230236925992019-02-17T15:02:00.001-05:002019-02-17T15:02:12.025-05:00Exploring Beyond the Traditional CSA Model<span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the time of year that many veggie farmers are offering sign-ups for CSAs. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture (read more <a data-cke-saved-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community-supported_agriculture" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community-supported_agriculture" target="_blank">here</a>), and this membership structure offers a win-win situation for both the farmer and the member. The farmer receives income at a traditionally low-income time of year from membership fees—money that can be used to purchase seeds or pay a greenhouse heating bill, or just keep the lights on and everyone fed and clothed until the next paycheck comes. And the member is assured that all summer long he/she will eat well, usually at a lower cost than he/she would have paid to buy all those veggies individually. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our farm is quite different from most market farms. We don’t raise veggies, and what we do raise is available off and on for much of the year. We continue to go to the markets all winter, as weather and our energy levels allow. So we aren’t so much in need of a CSA model for timely income. But we look at our veggie farmer friends and wonder how to build the close relationships that they have with their members. These relationships can mean the difference between a farmer making a living income or throwing in the towel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have good relationships with many of you. People who drive up from Illinois to Holland to visit their adult kids and who make a point of coming to the market to buy 16# of beans to take home with them because these are “the best beans ever!” People who grab us by the elbow when we’re out and about and ask, “When is Shearing Day again? We come every year and just love it!” People who send us unsolicited emails telling us that their hands have been warm while snow blowing during the Polar Vortex because our wool sweater mittens “are the best!” (All true stories in the last few weeks.) And we are grateful for this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But we feel like we should be doing more to cultivate these good relationships. Those of you who come and buy beans week after week—is there a loyalty rewards program that we could offer a gift or a discount once you’ve filled a punch card? Those of you who buy our bulk grass-fed freezer lamb or beef and tell your friends how good it is—is there something we could do as a thank you for sharing the love? We're thinking about this right now, and if you have any great ideas, shoot us an email.<br /><br />And, honestly, you could also help. We are a small family farm. We are endeavoring to farm in a manner that produces good quality and good tasting food while being careful stewards of the land and other natural resources. When you see that we have beef or lamb on hand, consider buying it when it’s available. The supply of our meat ebbs and flows and is somewhat seasonal—we are not Walmart, and we are not able to keep our shelves and freezers stocked at 100% variety 100% of the time. If you have a chest freezer, save up your money and buy in bulk (which is cheaper in the long run). Pretend it’s a CSA box of meat that you pick up just once. Never cooked a chuck roast or made bone broth? No worries! There are so many recipes and tutorials on the internet that you just have to be bold enough to pull something out of the freezer, search the internet, and give it a try. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When you see us at the market, you can buy from us. We often hear, “Oh! I have beans/corn meal/grits at home that I haven’t used yet.” Great. Go home and make a plan that involves using produce (from our farm and from other market farmers, too) during your week so that you use up that good food you bought. Cook extra on weekends, when you have time, so that you can eat well during your busy week. Beans freeze well once they are cooked—1.5 cups in some kind of freezable container is like having a can of beans in your freezer, but without the BPA lining in the can or the extra sodium or even the high fructose corn syrup. The beans can then be incorporated into future meals with ease. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We know it is easier to go to the grocery store weekly (or more often) for your food. We prize convenience, too. We know it’s even easier to eat out at restaurants. But if you can purchase from us and other small farms when the food is available and in season and put it up yourself, either by freezing, drying, or canning it, you will find that work now equals convenience later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And you may find that your actions help keep small farms in business in your community. If that’s important to you, please show us and our other farmer friends in the way you shop, cook, and eat.</span> Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-56495614161510375742019-01-23T20:37:00.001-05:002019-01-23T20:37:26.210-05:00Hibernation<div style="text-align: center;">
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Meet Liesl (a.k.a. "weasel"). She is our daughter's cat, and makes herself at home in our home. She is wild and full of weirdness. But she also knows how to relax. I need to learn about relaxing.</div>
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What do farmers do in the wintertime? Care for animals. Fill out applications for the upcoming market season. Order seed. Look back at the past year and plan for the next one. Struggle with the cold. Gather everything needed to have the taxes done. Catch up on website work. Relax.</div>
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And maybe blog. </div>
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Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-63318199794729444752018-04-11T09:52:00.000-04:002018-04-11T09:52:35.864-04:00Book Review: An Everlasting MealA year (or more) ago a customer/friend from the <a href="http://www.sweetwaterlocalfoodsmarket.org/" target="_blank">Sweetwater Market</a> eagerly thrust a book into my hands. She said, "You will like this book. Here, read this chapter on beans." So, while I should have been paying attention to my customers, I was surreptitiously devouring Chapter 9, titled "How to Live Well."<br />
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I was hooked both by the writing style and the author's approach to cooking. I have <i>assembled</i> meals (for better or worse) for most of my adult life. But you could hardly call it cooking. Growing up I spurned my mother's offers to teach me the ways of the kitchen. (Sorry, Mom. I really was a pain.) And that lack, along with my careful approach to most of life, has made me stay in the shallow part of the pool--the place with predictable results. 1 cup of this + 1 pinch of that = something that would fill bellies.<br />
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I came home from market that day and placed the book on my <a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php" target="_blank">PaperBack Swap</a> wish list. I use PaperBack Swap as a way to slow down my acquisition of books, as it forces me to wait until someone puts their copy of the book I want up for swap. If I'm impatient, I use the library.<br />
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Eventually, someone mailed me a very nice copy of the book I was hoping for, and I've decided it's a keeper.<br />
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From the chapter on beans: "Our beans are rarely as good as they can be. They're usually so bad, in fact, that basing an opinion of their merit on prior experiences is very much like deciding you don't like Bach after having heard the Goldberg Variations played on kazoo."</div>
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"I suggest you set your doubt aside, fill a pot with cold water and two cups of dried beans, put it on your counter, and leave it there overnight. You will be on your way toward making beans that taste like those that have fed laborers and fighters for centuries."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fwueu2lY9lsOn16AW30My9nWQsCCRC9he0vUGWhyphenhyphen5e9WiRXETsqMpAHhhNNkDZMUtm8zRteYnhagKTvZgZbar9as05mqXAfLG3j_-mh4p7c4b6kVIHm3ObfmARFuizwfCX0hbes4-g4/s1600/Untitled+design-33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fwueu2lY9lsOn16AW30My9nWQsCCRC9he0vUGWhyphenhyphen5e9WiRXETsqMpAHhhNNkDZMUtm8zRteYnhagKTvZgZbar9as05mqXAfLG3j_-mh4p7c4b6kVIHm3ObfmARFuizwfCX0hbes4-g4/s400/Untitled+design-33.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Other chapters focus on herbs ("How to Light a Room"), rice ("How to Make Peace"), meat ("How to Be Tender"), mistakes ("How to Snatch Victory from the Jaws of Defeat"), and more. The author sprinkles tips and recipes throughout the book--things that I was eager to try and that I have incorporated into my cooking since first reading it all the way through last summer.<br />
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The book's whole approach can be boiled down to cooking (and living) simply and well. The author suggests keeping a well-stocked pantry, using what you have on hand, and folding the little bits of leftover into the next meal, making it an everlasting meal.<br />
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<i>An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace</i>, by Tamar Adler, is so much more than a cookbook. It's an approach to cooking, and to life, that makes me want to slow down and savor the moment. Check it out from your local library if you can. If you love it enough to own it, buy it from an independent bookstore or check out <a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php" target="_blank">PaperBack Swap</a>. Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-546309130302983572018-04-05T12:49:00.000-04:002018-04-05T12:49:27.284-04:00Lambing Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last weekend the lambing season of our larger group of ewes began. We breed a small group of ewes early so that we can have a few lambs available for our visitors at Shearing Day. But the bulk of the flock starts lambing in early April. Generally it's a bit warmer by then, although yesterday we had snow...</div>
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These are the ladies in waiting. (Note: It's hard to get good photos in our dark barn backlit by sunlight.) This is the group that The Farmer is scanning each time he goes out to check for lambs. He looks and he listens. There is a special "baaaa" that we only hear from the ewes during labor and delivery and for the first few days of the lambs' lives. When we hear that, we look harder. We look for a ewe standing or laying off by herself, or one who has her head turned back to look at her stomach. We look for lambs already born. If someone is in active delivery, we don't move her until she's finished and the lamb is cleaned off. </div>
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The Farmer will pick up any lambs and back out of the pen slowly. The ewe will follow nervously and the family group will be placed in a "jug"--a special bonding pen that houses just one ewe and her lambs. Sometimes she will have her second (or third) lamb in this jug.<br />
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Once the lambs are born and cleaned off, they get up pretty quickly, and they have their first meal. This is the most important meal of their lives. Colostrum (first milk) gives warmth, energy and immunity that can mean the difference between life and death.<br />
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Once the lambs are a few days old, they and their mothers are moved into a mingling pen consisting of 3 or 4 family units. It takes a little while to sort out which lambs go with which mothers. The ewes know their lambs by smell (note the ewe sniffing a lamb), and the babies know their mothers by the sound of their voice. Anytime we combine family units or move them, there is a LOT of noise and commotion.<br />
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Occasionally the lambs are able to wiggle out of the mingling pen. Each pen's lambs are marked with a non-toxic mark (red in this photo) to tell The Farmer which pen they belong in. Eventually, the family units will be moved to larger mingling pens, and once the pastures are ready, they will all go outside for the summer.<br />
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It's a busy time of year, but one of The Farmer's favorite times. There is such joy when birth goes well, and it's a delight to watch the lambs grow and explore. Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-42033729269544484482018-03-31T09:33:00.003-04:002018-03-31T09:33:33.462-04:00Inside the Shop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In preparation for Shearing Day, we set the shop up to house all our products and 3-5 demonstrators. This year we had people demonstrating needle felting, spinning and sock knitting. Most of the 500 visitors who came also took the time to walk down the driveway to the shop to see the demonstrators and the wool (and other farm) products we have for sale. </div>
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This barn was the original chicken coop on the farm, and a few years ago we took the flat roof off and built a second story on top. You can read more about that process by clicking <a href="https://shadysidefarm.blogspot.com/search?q=barn+renovation&max-results=20&by-date=true" target="_blank">here</a> for all the "barn renovation" posts. </div>
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We sell roving and combed top for needle felters and spinners. Many spinners have not had the opportunity to spin the wool from Polypay sheep. They are pleasantly surprised at the loft and sheen in our wool.<br />
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Our unique wool socks are popular to give as gifts, and are a full-circle "Made in Michigan" product. We care for the sheep, send the wool to a Michigan mill to be made into yarn, dye the yarn ourselves, and knit the socks one pair at a time back here on the farm. </div>
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We also have yarns for knitting, wool dryer balls, handwoven rag rugs, our beans and corn products, and more. While it's a smaller set-up than on Shearing Day, you can still find all these wonderful products available on the farm. Our shop is open from 1-4 pm each Wednesday and Friday. Take a drive out one of these afternoons, and stock up on good things fresh from the farm. We are located at 13275 Blair Street in Holland, Michigan. Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-79708434765007728592018-03-29T12:01:00.000-04:002018-03-31T09:37:40.610-04:00Before, During and After -- Shearing Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This year's Shearing Day was warmer than usual. And, thanks to a dry spell, there was no MUD! What a gift. Just over 500 people attended our Shearing Day this year, and I think most of them had a good time. </div>
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Here are some of the ewes before shearing. Sometimes I ask the kids what it would feel like to wear the same clothes for a whole year without washing them. The outside of the fleece is fairly dirty, but the inside is very nice and clean!</div>
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Our shearer worked alone this year, and did a great job. Timothy has a strong back and his own shearing equipment. We hire him to do our shearing, and he travels all over the state of Michigan to shear on a regular basis. He is an award-winning shearer (did you know there are sheep-shearing competitions in many places in the world?) and has traveled internationally to compete and to shear sheep. Want to see the world? Become a sheep shearer.</div>
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Our capable skirting crew sorted off the wool that was extra dirty or full of hay, and the rest went into a large bag to be processed or sold. </div>
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A few lucky lambs got extra attention from obliging kids.<br />
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After shearing, many of the ewes headed outside for a meal and some sunshine.<br />
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Thanks again to all who helped our Shearing Day go smoothly, and to all who visited! Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-65983405568749523152018-03-27T10:32:00.001-04:002018-03-27T10:32:32.955-04:00Planting Oats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This morning it is raining. We are glad for that, as it's been a bit dry lately. But that was good, too, because it allowed us to get the oats planted on time for the first time in several years. We worked the sand field that had beans in it last year several times over a two-week period in preparation for planting. </div>
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This is the "new" tractor we purchased last year. We sold two of our older tractors that were pretty tired in order to be able to buy this one. </div>
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Oats are drilled into the ground using the implement behind the tractor. Hopefully, the oats will come up thick and in very narrow rows that will eventually blanket the field. We harvest the oats to use as a feed for some of the ewes when they are in the late stages of pregnancy and sometimes during lactation. Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-27277093257269142902018-02-27T15:58:00.000-05:002018-02-27T15:58:06.876-05:00Picking Corn, Two Different Ways<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We grow Wapsie Valley corn, an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_pollination" target="_blank">open-pollinated</a> variety that dates (at least) back to the mid-1800s and has its roots in Iowa. We have found it to be much higher in protein than the hybrids we used to grow, and this is the corn that we have ground for our corn meal and grits/polenta. </div>
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Typically, we harvest the corn with our combine. This past fall, we had what amounted to a monsoon. Eventually the ground became so saturated that we couldn't use the combine anymore.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zcXbrWP5tM4bCerP3yTVu-mUJza6fflpZOUrqLC0o0q19UJWt5gSQ8YIjMpzRGY0LI4zIVcI1mucU3BwuXwDrNVUPlKnFz22DCDIgson5eGEsnBS65ovKisLb6CcNa2kciRbKNmrccU/s1600/Untitled+design-13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zcXbrWP5tM4bCerP3yTVu-mUJza6fflpZOUrqLC0o0q19UJWt5gSQ8YIjMpzRGY0LI4zIVcI1mucU3BwuXwDrNVUPlKnFz22DCDIgson5eGEsnBS65ovKisLb6CcNa2kciRbKNmrccU/s400/Untitled+design-13.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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So we harvested the remainder of the corn the old-fashioned way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcD9ZuAoY1x3jhr4NJix1IwOQQFlWu3ohs24Dztm0UXhlz0sB5KkYxqBDK8MfX5yVhyhKgqrE0GXCniZDR4n5qEAF8XyDBTvaOaXcVGSMmhrJF_AsstVGcubuLJJOkkC_9jPF7TVdG-Y/s1600/Untitled+design-14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcD9ZuAoY1x3jhr4NJix1IwOQQFlWu3ohs24Dztm0UXhlz0sB5KkYxqBDK8MfX5yVhyhKgqrE0GXCniZDR4n5qEAF8XyDBTvaOaXcVGSMmhrJF_AsstVGcubuLJJOkkC_9jPF7TVdG-Y/s400/Untitled+design-14.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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A gentle public service announcement: Please do not tell a farmer that his food costs too much. Either buy it, or don't buy it. You probably have no idea what has gone into the production of that food...<br />
<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 153px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 562px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 153px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 562px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span> Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-86330771304482043202018-02-24T14:46:00.000-05:002018-02-24T14:46:36.253-05:00Feeding the Cattle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our Belted Galloway cattle (a.k.a. Oreo Cows) eat fresh, luscious grass in the spring, summer and fall. But come winter, the grass goes away. This is when we haul out the hay that we put up during the spring and summer. </div>
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The big round bales of hay are heavy, so The Farmer uses the skidsteer/bobcat to haul them out to the field. He takes off the net wrap so that the cattle can get to the chopped hay. Often he has cattle who want to help him and hurry him along with this part of the process. So you will occasionally hear him bellow (he has ear protection on, and doesn't realize how loud he is) "MOOOOOVE!"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxLbMOiqAOh1yHCFIdYUbTOlENoFzKcQM4AxsaGdExb1ISQFiVu7oP2cqPT2oT1zGS9chN9cg-onapTug1QAI13-grM4tx-Lk0KN5l0W48GF_f0afbfjjpKtVmcx8YkqB3jIOS-8ELXA/s1600/Untitled+design-7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxLbMOiqAOh1yHCFIdYUbTOlENoFzKcQM4AxsaGdExb1ISQFiVu7oP2cqPT2oT1zGS9chN9cg-onapTug1QAI13-grM4tx-Lk0KN5l0W48GF_f0afbfjjpKtVmcx8YkqB3jIOS-8ELXA/s400/Untitled+design-7.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Whether the ground is bare or snow-covered, the cattle need feeding. After the net wrap is off the bale, he spreads it out a bit, so that all can get at it.<br />
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So far, we have had three heifer calves this year. This mama cow is heading for the hay pile, and assuming that her new calf can keep up.<br />
<br /> Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-47591962084508731202018-02-22T14:18:00.000-05:002018-02-22T14:18:07.915-05:00Rug Weaving Classes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last fall I took some light colored sheets, too worn for using, and dyed them. I had several different shades of RIT dye, and just kept adding dye and new sheets to the big canning pot that is only used for dyeing now. </div>
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This is what I ended up with--several shades of red. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcj_XjwEwfvjF5uQY2BZlmSp70n3UBW7IFOG2cI8idvtqnYZFxM1N-xpUeiSEGAGuUwP7E0yWMUCoS9LOSBmBIbx1aehGKl5vZHxIJoOrQ0Xh-tERiphaiqDyR-ezFK1Rr2J94rIheDc/s1600/Untitled+design-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcj_XjwEwfvjF5uQY2BZlmSp70n3UBW7IFOG2cI8idvtqnYZFxM1N-xpUeiSEGAGuUwP7E0yWMUCoS9LOSBmBIbx1aehGKl5vZHxIJoOrQ0Xh-tERiphaiqDyR-ezFK1Rr2J94rIheDc/s400/Untitled+design-2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I cut all these sheets into long strips, and sewed them end to end in a random pattern.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gAS5Z77J5PxOIFZvdfQCOY3qoBb1_AjV6sRXTLczv4xOll5XJfEQgI3rueQzRrCe2019YVfYDigi1_ZRmf7RVEamay3pJgyURz_QGf62WlHR0cPv2IVPTtWNInG0kBipI90yE3XQuMw/s1600/Untitled+design-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gAS5Z77J5PxOIFZvdfQCOY3qoBb1_AjV6sRXTLczv4xOll5XJfEQgI3rueQzRrCe2019YVfYDigi1_ZRmf7RVEamay3pJgyURz_QGf62WlHR0cPv2IVPTtWNInG0kBipI90yE3XQuMw/s400/Untitled+design-3.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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And wove a set of rugs...<br />
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I've been a rug weaver since the kids were small. And that's a LONG time. If you would like to learn to weave, without the commitment of buying your own loom and finding a place for it, I have an idea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwJqOF24mspJiRgNMgoaG8GQGn0lvKgB39x6v9zDjJKxnbZHSuPfcGeA5r8N-GH9Uj6J6Jit__FRnYsrg-nCmjShYcHhG4gBvuxyBWx0-glvRCtKCHvjQBqQ7v4m2ic-NNNxGAU6w_Ww/s1600/Untitled+design-5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwJqOF24mspJiRgNMgoaG8GQGn0lvKgB39x6v9zDjJKxnbZHSuPfcGeA5r8N-GH9Uj6J6Jit__FRnYsrg-nCmjShYcHhG4gBvuxyBWx0-glvRCtKCHvjQBqQ7v4m2ic-NNNxGAU6w_Ww/s400/Untitled+design-5.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Why not come and learn from me and use one of my looms? Take a one-day class, one-on-one, in our upstairs studio. Learn to cut, sew, weave and finish (no dyeing this time!), and leave with a rug of your own. Contact me at info@shadysidefarm.net and we can pick a time that works for both of us. This class is only offered in the winter. Total cost is $90, everything (but lunch) included. Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-33996101954446297172018-02-20T14:54:00.000-05:002018-02-20T14:55:30.621-05:00Fiber Friday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LAglBYNE2ORXj7XHPBU0W_5LUWmdcs5zTjIpmClq8tL5m0BH-AcKXhmb88pf7E5p20z9Cgl_itdjpx9C_QF00qZmGgGlTVmtVC_XoV_ub5hAMT3a_HA1MZdQ0T7HYj9a5gq9WVvzXrc/s1600/IMG_0832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LAglBYNE2ORXj7XHPBU0W_5LUWmdcs5zTjIpmClq8tL5m0BH-AcKXhmb88pf7E5p20z9Cgl_itdjpx9C_QF00qZmGgGlTVmtVC_XoV_ub5hAMT3a_HA1MZdQ0T7HYj9a5gq9WVvzXrc/s400/IMG_0832.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We talked with many of you at the Kerstmarkt about our Fiber Fridays, and we have another one coming up on Friday, February 23. Bring your knitting, crocheting, felting, or other fiber-related project, and join us for an afternoon of fun. Feel free to bring along show-and-tell items that relate to fiber arts.<br />
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The farm is located at 13275 Blair Street, Holland, Michigan. Fiber Fridays are held in the weaving studio on the second floor of the red and white barn directly to the northeast of the house. Our on-farm shop is open each Friday, as well, so you can stock up on beans, corn meal/grits or wool while you're here.<br />
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More information and a schedule of Fiber Fridays can be found <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/175653196322684/" target="_blank">here</a>. Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-85557552908298478392018-02-17T15:43:00.000-05:002018-02-17T15:43:02.022-05:00Sock Knitting Classes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDR2nCYn25l80AYuVcmF7xHNXEZuVv0gj1-2Q7CCwMfKzvtnm8mUSdf24wXYWs3l_F8i6eGBy5VdxWAM6MlVgrocq6HlAoki3iCiyPV0tPOoI-nTJIrbkkf-5RV7nnYyWAjRomfLCZ8g/s1600/Untitled+design-9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDR2nCYn25l80AYuVcmF7xHNXEZuVv0gj1-2Q7CCwMfKzvtnm8mUSdf24wXYWs3l_F8i6eGBy5VdxWAM6MlVgrocq6HlAoki3iCiyPV0tPOoI-nTJIrbkkf-5RV7nnYyWAjRomfLCZ8g/s400/Untitled+design-9.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px;">Have you ever wanted to learn to knit socks on a circular sock knitting machine? Maybe you found one in an attic and need to learn how to use it. Maybe you're looking to buy one, but before you spend the money, you'd like to know for sure it's something you can master and enjoy.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px;">You can take a 1-day or 2-day class at a time that is convenient for both instructor and student. Sock knitting classes start at $90, and include everything (even the machine!) you need to take home a pair of fresh-from-the-farm wool socks.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 13px;">Email info@shadysidefarm.net for more info.</span> Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105656475441064181.post-30955338633656556192018-02-15T13:36:00.000-05:002018-02-15T13:36:00.302-05:00Shearing Day 2018 is Nearly Here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEOwQ8ATYrJ-Y7mdKfO7kEP9FbeY1exqheM16O5jWmu3ODZ6wiTu8xslKX2MNADUOzMOh8s0Wwzhr5ho7EJjg5vnrTpg80-AQEPi5JHNQ-1bdZgHXIsOvRD8bCIxc-ocw7s316x6sKpo/s1600/Shearing+Day+Square.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEOwQ8ATYrJ-Y7mdKfO7kEP9FbeY1exqheM16O5jWmu3ODZ6wiTu8xslKX2MNADUOzMOh8s0Wwzhr5ho7EJjg5vnrTpg80-AQEPi5JHNQ-1bdZgHXIsOvRD8bCIxc-ocw7s316x6sKpo/s400/Shearing+Day+Square.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mark your calendars for our Annual Shearing Day event. This is your chance to see sheep shearing on a working farm! It's an open house type event--come anytime between 9 and 3 and leave whenever you want. You will want to plan an hour or two to see it all. We are located at 13275 Blair Street, Holland, Michigan, 49424.<br />
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Many of our friends and family help us to put on this event. We need help parking and greeting people, herding sheep, skirting wool (you'll find out what that means when you come), answering questions, and demonstrating what can be done with wool. We are so grateful for our team--many of whom have helped us out for years.<br />
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Make sure you dress warmly and in old clothing. If it's a warmer day, there will be mud--boots are a good idea. You will smell like a sheep barn when you leave--but it's worth it!<br />
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Even though this is a free event, we ask that you consider donating toward the work of the Critter Barn in Zeeland. Miss Mary will be at our event to help answer questions, and we love the work that the Critter Barn does to educate families about farming. We will also have wool products and other farm-fresh goods for sale, including our organic beans, corn meal and grits/polenta. Buying from local farms keeps the money local and helps farmers stay in business. This is our one big on-farm event of the year!<br />
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Feel free to spread the word. There is an easily-shareable Facebook event <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/242939332914744/" target="_blank">here</a>. Lonahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11356390303823981248noreply@blogger.com0