Our boar, Alexander Hamilton, got really sick this fall. I went out to the paddock we set up under the ancient gravenstein to feed AH one evening and found him napping. At that time the tree was still raining down sweet snacks. There were a couple strewn about. Odd. But, maybe he didn’t hear theContinue reading “When Pigs Flop; Physical Therapy for our Boar”
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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”
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”
Upgrading the mighty 5 gallon bucket
I spent many years working landscape construction specializing in steep slope installations and other sites with difficult or delicate access. Sites where an excavator or other heavy equipment could not/should not go, Some places where even a wheel barrow would be too cumbersome. On a couple jobs we used a military surplus medic stretcher toContinue reading “Upgrading the mighty 5 gallon bucket”
Water, an abundantly scarce resource
The Thursday morning before Christmas, I got up to get ready for work and discovered that we had no running water. NOOOOOO!!!! I knew it was below freezing outside, and my first thought was that our pipes had frozen. But it wasn’t that cold. Why would they freeze now? I hadn’t had coffee yet, so myContinue reading “Water, an abundantly scarce resource”
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