magdalenfarm.blogspot.com
Magdalen Farm: Death on the Farm; Or, What Happens When Baby Chicks Arrive With Hernias
http://magdalenfarm.blogspot.com/2012/05/death-on-farm-or-what-happens-when-baby.html
Wednesday, May 2, 2012. Death on the Farm; Or, What Happens When Baby Chicks Arrive With Hernias. To date, in writing these posts Stephanie and I have for the most part confined ourselves to the happy, even idyllic, side of life as hobby farmers in Northwest Wisconsin. However, in the name of journalistic integrity, sometimes the reader needs to know the full story. You probably know where this is headed. I don't like death," she announced. Don't want to find it.". Almost every religion and philosophy ha...
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Magdalen Farm: The Real Life of the Gentleman Farmer
http://magdalenfarm.blogspot.com/2012/06/real-life-of-gentleman-farmer.html
Monday, June 25, 2012. The Real Life of the Gentleman Farmer. The rich brown leather of his loafers shined brightly beneath the pressed cuff of his designer slacks and, as he pivoted and closed the car door, the gravel made a satisfactory crunch. He set off in the direction of the horse barn to look for Eduardo, his farm manager. Since we decided to move to the farm two years ago, I have often been told that I was living the life of the age-old 'gentleman farmer.'. The day began early with reveille.
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Magdalen Farm: July 2011
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Friday, July 22, 2011. The Pigs and the Wallow. In recent weeks as the temperature gage sky-rocketed and the humidity hovered between 100% and 300%, sympathy for our panting and uncomfortable animals abounded. We racked our brains - brain racking sounds rather awful, doesn't it? For a way to cool off our pigs. Highly trained and well-seasoned in the ways of animal husbandry, we thought to ourselves: "Pigs like cool mud, right? Top Quality Pig Cinema! And elm (thanks Martin! Finally, the garden continues ...
magdalenfarm.blogspot.com
Magdalen Farm: May 2012
http://magdalenfarm.blogspot.com/2012_05_01_archive.html
Wednesday, May 2, 2012. Death on the Farm; Or, What Happens When Baby Chicks Arrive With Hernias. To date, in writing these posts Stephanie and I have for the most part confined ourselves to the happy, even idyllic, side of life as hobby farmers in Northwest Wisconsin. However, in the name of journalistic integrity, sometimes the reader needs to know the full story. You probably know where this is headed. I don't like death," she announced. Don't want to find it.". Almost every religion and philosophy ha...
magdalenfarm.blogspot.com
Magdalen Farm: June 2011
http://magdalenfarm.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.html
Sunday, June 5, 2011. The Cornish Cross and Chicken Tractor Part 2. I recounted the dilemma of pasturing the Cornish Cross chicken and and how a chicken tractor can help with the issue. Finally, I popped into one building I hadn't gone into in a while. The corn crib is a small building and doesn't have much in it besides garden tools, pots and some extra feed containers. But it did contain just what I was looking for - 8 screen windows. Two sides, of two screens each, with cedar 1x1's attached. The "Dona...
magdalenfarm.blogspot.com
Magdalen Farm: August 2011
http://magdalenfarm.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html
Sunday, August 28, 2011. Retreat at Summer's End. Leaving the farm in the competent hands of some kindly friends of the family - who we are delighted to learn enjoyed. A 'farm getaway' - we left late Tuesday morning and got back shortly after noon on Friday. The view from our patio. Wednesday, after a hearty breakfast at the Egg Toss. Thursday we ate a light breakfast on the mainland at Big Water Cafe. Got a quick tutorial, strapped on our remarkably attractive bike helmets and hit the road! We returned ...
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Magdalen Farm: May 2013
http://magdalenfarm.blogspot.com/2013_05_01_archive.html
Saturday, May 18, 2013. The Full Expression of Pigitas. What is our job as farmers? I fear that is a question seldom asked these days. Here at Magdalen Farm it is a question we have dared to ask. I say dared. Because it is one that often seems to arouse controversy and always seems to amount to interesting looks from 'real' farmers. What is our job as farmers? And what a plant is. And how we as stewards of creation are called to tend it. A pig As Joel Salatin has it, what is a pig's pigitas. Our answers ...
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Magdalen Farm: September 2011
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Thursday, September 29, 2011. No such thing as a free lunch. One of the intrigues of jumping into hobby farming from say living in a 600 square foot, second-story condo in Irving, Texas - just as a hypothetical point of departure - is that even if you're getting started on a pre-existing spread, there are going to be big costs. Luckily we had some funds saved up and luckily we're good at getting by and scrounging for materials on hand. And then there's foolhardy. Old utility poles = heavy duty fence posts.
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Magdalen Farm: October 2011
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Saturday, October 1, 2011. It is no small difficulty for a hen, accustomed to ranging over the barnyard and field, eating bugs, grazing and soaking in sunshine, to be shut up in a coop for several months in the cold of winter and expected to produce an abundant supply of eggs. However , with a little research and planning we are confident of keeping our flock healthy and content during the frigid months ahead. Thankfully many very nutritious crops can withstand frost and, with a cold-frame. In the spring...
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Magdalen Farm: November 2011
http://magdalenfarm.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html
Thursday, November 17, 2011. Hildegard and the Skunk Tail. What are the odds. Missing the cut on getting into the earlier post by only a few short hours, Hildy vanished for an hour or so this afternoon. We called and called for her and were getting our coats on to go look for her at the VFW - a favorite haunt of hers when she's on the lam - when she turned up. Here's what we encountered: a euphoric puppy delightedly playing with her favorite new toy. a skunk tail! Little 10 Week Old Pup. Hildy, as we cal...