After Hypatia (a.k.a. Honeybunny, a.k.a. Mommabear) farrowed her first litter of piglets on St. Patrick’s Day, we gave her some time alone with her new family, separated from the rest of the herd. After about 5 weeks, we integrated momma and babes with the other two adult pigs, Alexander Hamilton and Eliza, which went smoothly.Continue reading “Making Mistakes: Life and Death on the Homestead”
Author Archives: Gwen.
Oktoberfest comes to Bellfern Homestead
The pig has been butchered; cans of pickles, sauce, and fruit are put up for the winter; the wine is bottled; the kitchen is 98% finished with the remodel. Last weekend we finally took a step back from the bustle of autumn to host the second annual Oktoberfest at Bellfern. Online descriptions of the officialContinue reading “Oktoberfest comes to Bellfern Homestead”
Home butchering the homestead pig
At the beginning of September, over the course of 3 very long days, we butchered our first pig on the farm. I’ve been struggling to write this story because I couldn’t think of a way to make it engaging or funny. But Josh helpfully pointed out that wit and narrative aren’t always necessary. Until 70Continue reading “Home butchering the homestead pig”
Growing up as farmers and processing our own pork
“If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly first.” -Joel Salatin Whenever Josh and I tell someone that we live on a farm, the polite followup question is inevitably “what do you raise?” I think most people are hoping we’ll say tomatoes, but “pork and chicken,” is what we say. “Raised on grass, organic feed,Continue reading “Growing up as farmers and processing our own pork”
Hatching chicks
Did you know that a chicken can “collect” fertilized eggs for up to a week before she begins sitting on the eggs? And that the 21-day gestation cycle doesn’t start until she begins sitting on them? Which means that there’s a one-week period where that fertilized egg could become either a chick, or an omelette? OurContinue reading “Hatching chicks”
Automation comes to Bellfern Homestead
I work in a big office environment, where people tap away feverishly at keyboards for 8.5 hrs a day. It’s not quite an information services company, but IT impacts everything we do, and there’s not a single department in our building that doesn’t have a wishlist full of menial, tiresome tasks that could beContinue reading “Automation comes to Bellfern Homestead”
The Joyful Chicken, Part I
The natural progression of homestead animal stewardship usually goes like this: laying hens (females only), then after you build some confidence with chickens, a rooster is added to the mix, then chicks follow shortly. Because poultry is so much fun, ducks and turkeys come next, then meat chickens. Then goats. Goats are the gateway quadrupedContinue reading “The Joyful Chicken, Part I”
Tallow: a foundational homestead product
About 4 times a year, I make soap. Making soap is one of my favorite recurring homestead chores, and I deliberately make it in small-ish batches so that I’ll have to make it again a few months later, giving me an opportunity to try a new design, recipe, or fragrance. The main ingredient in myContinue reading “Tallow: a foundational homestead product”
Making Hay by Hand: Year 2
With a favorable forecast, a three day weekend, and hip-high grass in the pasture, it was time to make some hay. I got home from an 11 hour workday Thursday and busied myself peening the 85cm (33″+) scythe blade I’ve dubbed the haymaker. Peening is the process of hitting the very edge between a hammerContinue reading “Making Hay by Hand: Year 2”
Spring projects: piglets and kitchen remodel
We’ve been quiet in Blogville, but it’s not because nothing is happening. SO MUCH is happening. We’re starting our second spring at Bellfern, and–dare I say it?–it feels like we’ve got our feet under us. Our disasters are fewer and farther between. The Farm Update In early April, we castrated the piglets, and yes weContinue reading “Spring projects: piglets and kitchen remodel”
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