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“If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.” Thomas Jefferson

Friday, September 25, 2009

Fall on the Homestead

This past year I started posting about projects and chores that we do around here that are seasonal. Homesteads usually run with the seasons and certain things seem easier at certain times of the year. So now, it is time for fall chores even though it still feels like summer outside. Here is the fall chore list for Whisper Wind along with what has been accomplished so far.

1. Split and stack the wood that was cut this summer. We really lucked out this year. Even though we had plenty of wood for this winter to cut because of a very large oak tree that had come down in a storm last year and we were still cutting from it, some friends down the road decided to remove a few smaller oaks from their yard. We took our chainsaw down there and help cut them down, cut them up, and burn off the smaller limbs. In exchange for doing this all that wood came home with us as they don't use their fireplace. We have wood now for 2 winters, but it still needs to be split and stacked.

2. The fall garden is in. It took me two weeks to get in the fall garden, but most things are looking pretty good and we will at least get a decent squash harvest (pumpkin, butternut, sphaghetti). So right now it is just a matter of maintaining the garden and fighting the grasshoppers and caterpillars.

3. Gather projects and materials for the winter and those "oh too cold and rainy days". Still working on this, sewing projects and materials are all done. Craft projects are in the works.

4. Check and repair the fence lines and remove any dead wood that could cause a problem. Fence lines are done and wood is currently being done.

5. Get in winter feed. With the rain the past couple of weeks we have not been able to get hay in other than what has already been put up to feed the bunnies. We will get in enough for the goats and horses soon. We don't have to put up much because of the nextitem on the list.

6. Overseed pastures for the winter and fertilize. This has been done.

7. Make any barn repairs and make sure they are wind proof for the animals.

8. Build 3 passive solar heaters to offset heating costs. We have gathered most of the materials and now just need to get them put together.

9. Get the horse blankets ready and make any repairs that need to be done. This has been finished and even my stallion's blanket was in pretty good shape. He is really hard on blankets and usually goes through them pretty regularly.

10. Make sure all the insulation is still on outside water lines. This has been done.

11. Make sure all butchering knives are sharpened. This has been done.

12. Get out all winter bedding and wash. We still have a little more time before we need this.

13. Get the wheat planted. We are running a little behind on this. I had hoped to have this finished, but I don't.

14. Turn the compost pile and start fresh pile. Done

15. Re-bed the chicken coop and make any repairs that need to be made. Done and the old bedding started the new compost pile.

16. Gather and process acorns for the critters and the family. Working on it.

17. Gather pecans and get them put up. Working on it.

18. Build greenhouse enclosure for the front porch for winter growing and passive solar heat. Started gathering materials.

19. Build a chicken run to make things easier on me this winter. Working on it.

20. Check inventories and replace anything that needs replacing such as batteries, candles, charcoal, food supplies, etc.

21. Have maintenance done on all vehicles.

22. Do any caulking around house to keep out those chilly winter winds.

The two toughest and busiest seasons around here are fall and spring. The weather is nicest then and makes it much nicer working on large outdoor projects. Winters are cold and rainy and summers are hot and steamy. Nobody wants to spend much time outside during those conditions. However, around here with my husband being injured and my mother needing so much help, I haven't slowed down one notch since last winter. I am looking forward to a little rest and a few slower activities such as sewing. Right now I am just trying to get everything to where it will run most efficiently while it is cold outside. I keep thinking of the ant and the grasshopper and now I know how the ant is feeling! God bless and have a great day.

Tough Day. Goodbye Bubba bunny

Well, yesterday was a tough day. Our Bubba bunny died after fighting (probably) bladder stones for a couple of days. We tried everything we knew how and talked to the vet, but outside of surgery there was nothing that could be done. Bladder stones are like a death sentence for rabbits unless someone wants to spend a bunch of money for surgery. Then you run into the problem of finding a vet who can operate on a rabbit. Our rabbits are for meat production. They are not pets even though we love our breeders and care for them a great deal. Surgery is just not an option for a 12 dollar rabbit. That is one of the sad facts of homesteading and farming. Bubba started to not feel well a couple days ago and wouldn't eat his grain. I did wet his greens and he ate those along with a small piece of apple and a small piece of pear. He was still urinating and pooping so we thought he just had a little upset stomach. He ate some raspberry and plantain leaves which are good for upset tummies. That evening he still wouldn't eat his grains, but was still using the bathroom. The next morning I talked to my vet on the phone and we determined it was not bloat, because his stools were normal and his belly was still soft instead of hard. Then Bubba stopped eating his greens and stopped drinking water. Another call to the vet, and it was suspected that he had urinary calculi. We talked about his food that he had eaten. We don't feed alfalfa pellets because we don't want to overload our bunnies with too much calcium. Calcium leads to urinary calculi (bladder stones). However, one thing that I had not thought about (and should have) was the amount of calcium in the greens that he ate daily. Dandelion, plantain, honeysuckle (higher in calcium than alfalfa), radish tops, etc. all are really high in calcium. When Bubba stopped drinking I began giving him eyedropperfuls of water in his mouth and he would swallow, but still no improvement. By this time Bubba was staying in the house with us (mostly in my lap)and I was doing what I could. Yesterday evening Bubba started having seizures and had not urinated most of the day. I already knew that it was coming because he had been pretty zoned out all day. Even the dogs, came to sniff him as if they were saying goodbye and he didn't flinch a muscle. He had several seizures in a row and died in my arms. We buried him out near where the pony is buried so he wouldn't get lonely (I know sounds stupid). My toddler took it hard as she loved her Bubba bunny and doesn't really understand. I feel like an idiot because I didn't think and can't help thinking that if I had paid more attention to what I was feeding him this might not have happened. Death is a fact of life on a farm, but it isn't something that you ever get used to. It is especially hard when there is always that nagging question of whether or not this might have been prevented. I started grasses in pots a couple of weeks ago for the rabbits and they are just about tall enough to start cutting for their fresh greens. We did get one litter sired by Bubba bunny. We were planning on keeping a doe, but now I think we will keep one of his sons also. So now we are down to Baby our mama bunny and their 6 little babies. It will be tough scrubbing his cage today. I'm sorry Bubba and we will all miss you.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Cold and Flu Season Tinctures

Well, cold and flu season is here. Actually, it never left because of the H1N1 flu that has been going around all summer. So I have gathered some home remedies for warding off all those nasties that are heading our way. Thanks to the ladies at Homesteading Today.

Immune Support
2 parts Echinacea
1 part Tumeric
1 part Goldenseal

Cold & Fever Fighter
1 part Elderberry
1 part Peppermint
1 part Yarrow

Cough & Sore Throat
2 parts Mullein
1 part Licorice Root
1 part Wild Cherry Bark
1/2 to 1 part Ginger Root

Mix each of these with water and take 1-2 dropper fulls 2-4 times a day.

Super Tonic
1 cup onion
1 cup garlic
1 cup horseradish
1 cup ginger
1 cup hot peppers, jalapeno or your choice

Grind all of this fine and place in a gallon size jar. Cover it with apple cider vinegar (the real stuff with the mother and unpasteurized). Shake well each day for a month keeping refrigerated. Then strain off the juice, place it back in the jar and in the refrigerator. Take 1-2 oz. daily during cold and flu season. You can chase it with honey or mix it with water and honey to get it down.

Between all of these and some of the other tinctures that I have posted before we should all have a healthy happy flu season. God bless.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Gather up the Sewing Projects

Well, the fall garden is in and growing pretty well. We have the firewood in, split and stacked, and a few more outside projects to do as fall is closing in on us. However, I am getting excited about cooler weather and wintertime. Why? Well....let me tell you. During the spring and summer I have very little time to sew. I love to sew and I love to sew heirloom type things for my children. Heirloom sewing is time consuming and tedious, but the outcome is absolutely beautiful. I guess it is more time consuming for me because I do all of my heirloom sewing by hand. I am saving my pennies for one of those fancy schmansy machines that will do the embroidery and all sorts of little things for me. However, right now I am doing it by hand. I guess I really don't mind. I have several old ladies handkerchiefs that were made by my great grandmothers by hand. The workmanship is beautiful but still there are those tiny little imperfections that to me make something special. So I have gathered my list and checked my supplies. I have made a list of what the children need as far as clothing. I will get started on new Christmas dresses soon so I won't be crazy by Christmas morning. I use a lot of lace, tatting and embroidery and I am well stocked in these areas. I really lucked out when it came to my lace. A woman that my mother in law knew passed away. Well, the woman made custom wedding gowns for a living so had tons of supplies for this venture. Well, the husband knowing that my mother in law made crafts asked her if she would like all of the lace, ribbon and fabric. Boxes and boxes of lace, ribbon and fabric were brought to my home. My mother in law figured I could use it. The funny thing is that at the time I didn't sew much and I had never attempted to do any heirloom sewing. I decided that I had better learn. So, with Martha Pullen's help and websites and sewing tutorials I have learned quite a lot in the few years since I got those boxes. Yes, I still have several boxes of all that stuff. I love it. My children don't wear too many heirloom things as each piece usually takes me several weeks to complete. I told you I am slow and do this by hand. However, they always have heirloom's for church and a couple to wear to nice outings. So, in gathering all my ideas and my list of what the children need I usually like to take a look around the internet to learn something that I don't know. I did that this morning and I found the most awesome blog. She has some great links to heirloom sewing supplies, tutorials, and patterns. So definitely check out The Handmade Dress blog, it is really great. Now for embroider techniques and lessons I don't think you can beat Primrose Design for lessons on specific stitches. Thanks so much to both of these ladies and there hard work helping the rest of us sew beautifully!