tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13282275603559717252024-03-12T23:27:20.799-07:00Rooster Hill FarmA farm in transition from a traditional farm to a more whole farm model.
Farm–noun 1. a tract of land, usually with a house, barn,silo etc...on which crops and often livestock are raised for livelihood.texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-74326000407357202592010-10-27T13:11:00.000-07:002010-10-27T13:11:04.326-07:00Living the slow easy life<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEtHO6myvv8HqbE_gLYDpygE7qmUJmX9BI8tVoSFqpTD981X-24x95ncr7V24b4Eh1jzYAfdAbX6aYBBRZZvmiGCpf3Qu2PhsctiXYqNwDNuv7_EMogDvr1asY_COJQw-NtoFj8OPvIQJ/s1600/Kevin's+Lake+Party+542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEtHO6myvv8HqbE_gLYDpygE7qmUJmX9BI8tVoSFqpTD981X-24x95ncr7V24b4Eh1jzYAfdAbX6aYBBRZZvmiGCpf3Qu2PhsctiXYqNwDNuv7_EMogDvr1asY_COJQw-NtoFj8OPvIQJ/s200/Kevin's+Lake+Party+542.JPG" width="200" /></a>So today is day 31 of bunny gestation period and Flopsy was sitting in her nest. She is arranging the straw and appears to be pulling out her fut to make a nest. She is very lazy today we can only hope she is in labor and we will soon have baby bunnies. However, we shall see what happens next.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Yesterday we did some clean up and planted a couple of Buford Hollies around the house.I'm really focusing on simplifying so anything we do not use is going to the dump or to Goodwill. So we've been filling up the </div>back of Wayne's truck.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I am procrasting on the garden but we have to get this thing under control. Since the twins got here we have not been in the garden. I was surprised to walk out there and find onions, okra & banana peppers were still surviving and producing. I really need to mow between rows and weed the back corner where we grow things in rows and weed out boxes. Sometimes I wonder if life will get back to normal around here? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxj9tQo1PuaFmDKM2U-hw1SVA7ISGma9-yzbBfkPiHmqVwxke96p3x5I5F_LJZs9FRJq5inDAwxgDbDjNp36L3SpK3JsgAg9S0KOjU-5bOA8GqNjP8ccIB8KwQlyXRZaww6etcgBiahVD1/s1600/Kevin's+Lake+Party+543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxj9tQo1PuaFmDKM2U-hw1SVA7ISGma9-yzbBfkPiHmqVwxke96p3x5I5F_LJZs9FRJq5inDAwxgDbDjNp36L3SpK3JsgAg9S0KOjU-5bOA8GqNjP8ccIB8KwQlyXRZaww6etcgBiahVD1/s200/Kevin's+Lake+Party+543.JPG" width="200" /></a>We have 50 chicks arriving on Wednesday, So Parks will be busy preparing the pool with bedding, food & water and the lights this weekend. We even have a few things to do for our bees too. We still have some more planting to do today, a Camellia and more Hollies (which were on sale!). The garden is over run the bunnies are not producing and my mind keeps drifting to a milk cow or goat. Maybe if we get a goat they can eat all the grass in the garden? Hmmmmm.....</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">It seems there is always a little something to do around here.Which is good because idle hands are the devils workshop!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Rooster Hill!<script src="http://static.ak.connect.facebook.com/connect.php/en_US" type="text/javascript">
</script> <comments></comments>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-65326251616873857672010-09-25T22:40:00.000-07:002010-10-02T08:52:46.329-07:00Rabbit UpdateSo we have had bunnies since about April when Jess & Pearson decided to take them on as a new farm project.We have, however, been unable to breed them successfully to to this point. Flopsy has had litters that have all died.<br />
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Breeding attempt 1 Flopsy - The rabbits were born on the wire, fell through the wire (several times) and we put them back in with the rabbit. We put Vicks on the Mama's nose but she never took any interest her kittens. So they all died in less then 8 hours.<br />
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Breeding attempt 1 Cottontail - Did not fertilize.<br />
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Breeding attempt 2 Flopsy - Flopsy had 1 baby on time and then she had about 6 more babies 2 days later. Rabbits have two uterus so we managed to get both uteri fertilized. This time Flopsy took care of the bunnies for a few days before she abandoned them. Thus, all of these bunnies died within a few days.<br />
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Breeding attempt 2 Cottontail - Did not fertilize.<br />
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Tonight was breeding attempt 3 Flopsy.<br />
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There will not be a 3rd breeding attempt with Cottontail as we sexed the bunnies and determined she was actually a he. So we have tried to breed two males together and we can now confirm this does not work! Oh and by the way Cottontails new name is Bob. Additionally, Bob is for sale on Craigslist so if you need a male rabbit please give us a call!texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-59325155474961900152010-09-21T07:53:00.000-07:002010-09-21T07:53:23.727-07:00We've missed you all!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDNjm8fU2VTvStsqccHZ7c8eQJF2CpmtNqx-8EjXBavTr46lEVZyh8yKfCo-Bs2CtjEtiiGIkIr6NlTsrNKpgJgGQ3ZU8ghV_vudhWP7O66dPCZNBCXDUAsluCUZ2Sj8WwcXGBEGsZoLY/s1600/twins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDNjm8fU2VTvStsqccHZ7c8eQJF2CpmtNqx-8EjXBavTr46lEVZyh8yKfCo-Bs2CtjEtiiGIkIr6NlTsrNKpgJgGQ3ZU8ghV_vudhWP7O66dPCZNBCXDUAsluCUZ2Sj8WwcXGBEGsZoLY/s320/twins.jpg" /></a></div>Sorry we've been absent for so long. But as some of you may know we have been trying to foster/adopt for a while and we had a placement of twins. Frankly, life is still not quite back to normal but it is getting more manageable. Despite all of this activity we have some exciting stuff going on around here including Wayne's new Habanero Peach Hot Sauce, which sold out in less then a week. <br />
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I'll try to get everything updated as soon as possible!<br />
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RH Farm <script src="http://static.ak.connect.facebook.com/connect.php/en_US" type="text/javascript">
</script> <comments></comments>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-62260553194475783922010-07-18T11:32:00.000-07:002010-07-18T11:32:00.921-07:00Our First Farmer's Market<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB21dX2yCzBKSUcFPBzQqWHkQZBsXpApWMf_Rd83W-Yt0KFcOh3mCfqjqqx5dPA05r106X-mzgG-xKGD1e9USAMd0Er8CJJx2VS9P4ZS4qLd4Y__tqtKfrFgs9xmg37SittjP59EeeHfiy/s1600/IMG_3031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB21dX2yCzBKSUcFPBzQqWHkQZBsXpApWMf_Rd83W-Yt0KFcOh3mCfqjqqx5dPA05r106X-mzgG-xKGD1e9USAMd0Er8CJJx2VS9P4ZS4qLd4Y__tqtKfrFgs9xmg37SittjP59EeeHfiy/s200/IMG_3031.JPG" width="200" /></a>We had our debut at the Navasota Farmer's Market this week. Boy howdy did we really learn a lot. Since we had to get up really early in the morning and I had not planned well I did not have my trademark list. That was a mistake so I now have list to remember the little things like Chairs!!!! Because, if you plan on being somewhere from 8-1pm you may want to sit down occasionally! I also wrote a very long list of things to do for our table itself to improve the presentation. Another issues is we were late because all of our things were not well organized the night before. Our location on the strip as a result was not very good because many folks did not even make it down to us! I also noted that I lingered at tables that were cute so the 'cutisfication' of the Roosterhill table is also going to be under way. Finally we need to have everything well and cutely labeled for our customers.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7I5mUaPiJDvf6rMUrLFYUOIoUbhTfuTmOtI0S_hPgrBm2pMfunvpTyJIZISUmzx2KA3xNcmOmou8yf3ZAo5GKrBdwcYLwQD38yFjGrVqHMavVdZcfPAnsDpu0PU6KjKVTprITt3SuYXXY/s1600/IMG_3027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7I5mUaPiJDvf6rMUrLFYUOIoUbhTfuTmOtI0S_hPgrBm2pMfunvpTyJIZISUmzx2KA3xNcmOmou8yf3ZAo5GKrBdwcYLwQD38yFjGrVqHMavVdZcfPAnsDpu0PU6KjKVTprITt3SuYXXY/s200/IMG_3027.JPG" width="200" /></a> We have some plain jams that need to catch folks eyes and we need to highlight our special Candy Jam. So in the next few weeks I will reveal my Farmer's Market lists, new labels and our new look. We are blessed that Charlie Apel created a really cool logo for us and now I just have to use it. Right now we are planning on going bi-weekly to the market, however, we are going two weeks in a row so we can be at market at the same time as our dear Stephanie. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This week we should also have habanero jam as well as habanero hot sauce! But remember you do not have to go all the way to Navasota to enjoy our products we do have in town delivery to BCS available on Tuesdays.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-48588341873399042782010-07-11T10:49:00.000-07:002010-07-11T10:53:55.508-07:00Building the Chicken Nursery/RabbitryThough I've not been good at posting we have been busy around here. One of our recent additions is a chicken nursery/Rabbitry which is attached to the shed. This project was built completely with farm funds. We decided that we wanted to add rabbit meat when we seriously slowed our consumption of pork. (Not for religious reasons but because I read a little too much about commercial pig processing and got grossed out by how they are grown. We cannot afford grass fed pork so less pork it was!) We needed a chick house so we could have a system of 3 houses to hold our chickens at different ages and stages because these birds do not get along well together. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGXrfsiCl3SzXb7sT7yMiz9lQvf4ZPqRHWr1b6ZSEm6kydzI-kP0TA8Q88Bn5aH0n7BSLbp0mO36CxP8zddsmIYsNq4dA83oc2-QNKfIA88tFMiyBJHs4-LIVEu7643LH8n95wdbym3Tl/s1600/421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGXrfsiCl3SzXb7sT7yMiz9lQvf4ZPqRHWr1b6ZSEm6kydzI-kP0TA8Q88Bn5aH0n7BSLbp0mO36CxP8zddsmIYsNq4dA83oc2-QNKfIA88tFMiyBJHs4-LIVEu7643LH8n95wdbym3Tl/s320/421.JPG" /></a></div> Even though Wayne kept saying things like stuff about things need to be level and square I eventually got it built. So over the next few weeks will show you the nursery construction & update you on what's been happening around here. So here is what our shed used to look like before it became a multipurpose building. This was an interesting project like all projects we had a few snags but overall I would say it was a success. We have had about 3 rounds of chicks move through the nursery successfully. <br />
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Thanks for coming along on the adventure.texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-65357414686820631262010-05-27T06:14:00.000-07:002010-05-27T06:14:48.495-07:00The Buzz around the farm! Bee's & Raw Honey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOhzNRQOFwCKeenMdhT0NgywfeYfDoGM770mNsfOtJj2tNbCFs77pEP5pd4LBYj_PxGo2hu034NB-43xSlMxI8HifxgdXrj1iMwUuT1RshBM93WIFZJC8IluHJrYx-MMVq-1qm75Y-Tuf/s1600/beehive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOhzNRQOFwCKeenMdhT0NgywfeYfDoGM770mNsfOtJj2tNbCFs77pEP5pd4LBYj_PxGo2hu034NB-43xSlMxI8HifxgdXrj1iMwUuT1RshBM93WIFZJC8IluHJrYx-MMVq-1qm75Y-Tuf/s320/beehive.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Yes, ladies and gentlemen Wayne finally got his bee hives. We will be selling raw honey. It will be filtered because most folks don't like bees and stuff floating in their honey! But other then running it through a sieve that's it folks. So if you are interested in laying your hands on some raw honey please drop us an e-mail or give us a call. Real Honey is harvested only twice year. We will start accepting pre-orders for summer pick-up.<script src="http://static.ak.connect.facebook.com/connect.php/en_US" type="text/javascript">
</script> <comments></comments>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-82960788274998467852010-04-25T19:26:00.000-07:002010-04-25T19:26:00.949-07:00Seed saving<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5B3o6DoHIiGYtEIvUxG99O7Djy-MDZ9JoZBrYH8Jl2i4_ItMcvOBNN5gtucEmD0ho5PL_itaWWfdSMMtIgBn3aBgWtrgQblfMUPpoyGH_L55Gzmqio1g0xl1zSviZ9rKlfTd3l20QI-lK/s1600-h/100_4321.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449054573173422978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5B3o6DoHIiGYtEIvUxG99O7Djy-MDZ9JoZBrYH8Jl2i4_ItMcvOBNN5gtucEmD0ho5PL_itaWWfdSMMtIgBn3aBgWtrgQblfMUPpoyGH_L55Gzmqio1g0xl1zSviZ9rKlfTd3l20QI-lK/s320/100_4321.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 181px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 263px;" /></a> <br />
<div>As I am trying to become self -reliant I am picking up the new skills, one of which is seed saving. So while I was at Homestead Heritage I picked up a little book on growing seeds called "Growing Garden Seeds" it was $2.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklQNnQ4MNZbGHE8YEfZkDHSlgKcuHYauf-O4BoKBXlmsSlkwnEce80vKxVJ57qPYVw8c7OVXEq-ql0cAyUr5l0bUqVje9GpJUQT6fTtOmeOslbPHGAIs_ZFmvS2iJ7pwEE-jsQYCA81TO/s1600-h/9877.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449066290179925010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklQNnQ4MNZbGHE8YEfZkDHSlgKcuHYauf-O4BoKBXlmsSlkwnEce80vKxVJ57qPYVw8c7OVXEq-ql0cAyUr5l0bUqVje9GpJUQT6fTtOmeOslbPHGAIs_ZFmvS2iJ7pwEE-jsQYCA81TO/s320/9877.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 161px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 154px;" /></a>40. The people at Homestead are serious about self reliance and the gentlemen behind the counter informed me he has been using it for years and still hasn't had to buy another book on seed saving. </div><div></div><div>So with the help of this book I was able to save my own cream peas and okra. One important thing about saving seeds is that you have to make sure that you do not purchase GMO seeds because they are unable to pollinate...in other words you will not be able to grow anything! I am buying more of my non GMO seed from Homestead Heritage so I can start to save more of my seeds and perhaps even sell some.</div><div></div><div>So if you are interested in seed saving this is the first book I would buy. It has been very helpful and think you might like it too.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br />
<div></div>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-38646373845058702922010-04-18T08:44:00.000-07:002010-04-18T08:44:00.745-07:00Planting Tomatoes<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSeUjWfGz8P46o2Po7MGrDckjxSp7896JT1l7JdfUmjeXxP3C6z4tBJ9CCtK7IMSXZlEmEuEy49HaVQ6lGuUrut2nBvCbatN7BoOPeKWb5A1yXlpu0OsAw9efOD1tC0_zm0edcrwRG6uk/s1600-h/100_4281.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449073765726404194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSeUjWfGz8P46o2Po7MGrDckjxSp7896JT1l7JdfUmjeXxP3C6z4tBJ9CCtK7IMSXZlEmEuEy49HaVQ6lGuUrut2nBvCbatN7BoOPeKWb5A1yXlpu0OsAw9efOD1tC0_zm0edcrwRG6uk/s320/100_4281.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
It takes a lot of work to plant 40+ tomatoes and it took us into the night. I learned a lesson about tomatoes last year, which was it is hard to can 20-50# of tomatoes at a time. So I planted Early Girls for the early season, Roma's & Carnival for the mid season harvest and Brandywine and Beefsteak for the late harvest. I also planted Roma's specifically so I could make paste out of them for spaghetti sauce. My goal this year to have enough spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes and paste. I am also going to try to save my tomato seeds so I can start my own tomatoes next year. I hope you enjoy your tomatoes this year. </div>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-57821485467050611792010-04-11T11:26:00.000-07:002010-04-11T21:45:35.218-07:00Farmers must fight...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUx19RiowB4evjmbHpArm780rFv33bMgBAtFhOV2GiuFQxMuZHIhylFCFpHHJghsqG3DWqEJeqWmUAgJX4gQil8GyUj3evbND439LGoCqpunQOfyWVREomAkIfZw3cTmNMJVeIxmQJpREP/s1600/imagesCAVWXL5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUx19RiowB4evjmbHpArm780rFv33bMgBAtFhOV2GiuFQxMuZHIhylFCFpHHJghsqG3DWqEJeqWmUAgJX4gQil8GyUj3evbND439LGoCqpunQOfyWVREomAkIfZw3cTmNMJVeIxmQJpREP/s320/imagesCAVWXL5D.jpg" /></a>"There was no time to lose, no time to waste in rest or play. The life of the earth comes up with a rush in the springtime. All the wild seeds of weed and thistle, the sprouts of vine and bush and tree are trying to take the fields. Farmers must fight them with harrow and plow and hoe; they must plant good seeds quickly.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Almanzo was a little soilder in this great battle . " pa 124 Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Sometimes homeschool and homelife blend together perfectly.texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-58509496639142333332010-04-06T07:29:00.000-07:002010-04-06T10:01:06.321-07:00The Tale of the Poor Chicken, Crazy Duck & 1 mad Rooster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzd7_vLM6GqdSSlAbAkOv401Odyi5oY0k5W85Q6IlMI_hkOi0hncgH5y-bj9NJbkaeBUhiVZhCgwIL7CP2PG-6LcAgOVfGsYYpyr65_QhZk4GjGEPT1nCmsXvy2YcPbmBB4EgcXGwpML4/s1600/imagesCARUOXJU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzd7_vLM6GqdSSlAbAkOv401Odyi5oY0k5W85Q6IlMI_hkOi0hncgH5y-bj9NJbkaeBUhiVZhCgwIL7CP2PG-6LcAgOVfGsYYpyr65_QhZk4GjGEPT1nCmsXvy2YcPbmBB4EgcXGwpML4/s200/imagesCARUOXJU.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So during homeschool I stood up and noticed the medium sized chicks had escaped their enclosure. So, I got the chicken wrangler (Parker) and her side kick (Sugar-Pie) and went out there to get them back into their jimmy-rigged coop area. After they were rounded up we looked up and saw what can only be called an abomination. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The ducks were chasing the pullets around their yard and then trying to mount them. So feathers were truly flying throughout the pen. What else is a farmer to do, we stood there and watched the show. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The kids kept saying "Look Mama their playing!" "</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Mama just said "Uh-huh"...they know animals mate but there is no way to explain this mess.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Finally a duck caught a chicken and mounted it. The chicken was squacking like crazy. Then the beautiful Buff Orpington rooster got mad (how dare you touch one of my women!) and he comes running across the pen and jumps on top of the duck. So, now I am standing there looking at a duck on top of a chicken with a rooster on top of it! What I truly regret is that my camera was not set to 'sport' and I was unable to get a picture of this mess. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>The ducks were an early farm experiment, in the future we do plan on offering duck eggs. But these two remaining ducks are both males and we had just been slow in getting rid of them. Well, after this incident I posted these fellas on Craigslist with a 'nice low' price and they were gone within 3 hours. Like I said on my facebook, its a good thing my Dad's a psychologist because now I need counseling.<br />
<br />
<script src="http://static.ak.connect.facebook.com/connect.php/en_US" type="text/javascript"></script><fb:comments> </fb:comments>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-24378588964064777072010-04-02T22:24:00.000-07:002010-04-03T08:28:46.131-07:00Ex-Californians get Californians<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLxWKzv5Lj4_NKJd5v-X9nlvWAUwh-6wRs7zx-iUjI_TtCDLZs_40aBDruVDHWTiWbOFycj5Sc2eZUyQwhc_8_RMO8zOtc2JNuXAF0atDHUjs2wc8d1K0NwWNBFrpjgcogrKYTXAQKcrI/s1600/100_4698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLxWKzv5Lj4_NKJd5v-X9nlvWAUwh-6wRs7zx-iUjI_TtCDLZs_40aBDruVDHWTiWbOFycj5Sc2eZUyQwhc_8_RMO8zOtc2JNuXAF0atDHUjs2wc8d1K0NwWNBFrpjgcogrKYTXAQKcrI/s320/100_4698.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The bunnies are here, sadly they lost the battle of cuteness against my sweet little Sugar Pie. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are Californian bunnies they are for show and meat. We will build a range coop for them and they will be housed in the chick house. Chickens can act as <a href="http://alibi.com/index.php?story=22486&scn=feature">sanitizers</a> for rabbits. The first of many moves as we slowly move toward a more "whole farm" model. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Does anyone know anything about lamb?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-11602981861782699302010-03-22T05:47:00.000-07:002010-03-22T05:47:00.716-07:00New Animals on the Farm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRowfhETIxiyaICE1_dZylsLDVMfllSODk0ItwFPpCGy9aCpoAKEjoeU-82R61SsJeRNK9ph1S8qookucA8grvBff3lU2rDQswMSQyTjS4OwlifggdXDZErYWHlGphm2F9k2oA7PkA92-/s1600-h/red+wiggler+composting+worm.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 107px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451162524919245298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRowfhETIxiyaICE1_dZylsLDVMfllSODk0ItwFPpCGy9aCpoAKEjoeU-82R61SsJeRNK9ph1S8qookucA8grvBff3lU2rDQswMSQyTjS4OwlifggdXDZErYWHlGphm2F9k2oA7PkA92-/s320/red+wiggler+composting+worm.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Well, as we are slowing moving forward with our farm venture. The first of the two animals and I use the term loosely is....red wiggler composting worms. These worms are going to serve many purposes on the farm. First, these are composting not fishing worms. Second these worms can compost manure. We plan to use them to compost both the chicken and the new 'mystery' animals manure. We will be purchasing a pound a month for a 4-5 months so we have enough worms process the manure produced by the animals and the kitchen scraps. So, hopefully by the Fall we will start selling composting worm and worm castings, i.e. worm compost. Once the worms process the manure we have a compost that we will be selling by the gallon. </div><div> </div><div> We are also adding a mystery animal in the next two weeks. We are currently preparing a place for them. This is an unexpected venture that we hope will do well in the near future. Farmer Jess will post more information on the mystery animal soon!</div>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-71226979313707048252010-03-15T19:10:00.000-07:002010-03-15T19:25:50.159-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdlcp9HXf4wTdbxkHjc4k7b5Z1G2Q39hAhsCiR2ome8q4bVqst9xNnWqodnnIFmoupZZa_tK0wB_iVlxUyhMPG0Q1aVQkg31d_B7z93GSI1GBe6u2F9O5-pNfb2evnXaPOKU49ScgpW4L/s1600-h/100_4186.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449051411330532834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdlcp9HXf4wTdbxkHjc4k7b5Z1G2Q39hAhsCiR2ome8q4bVqst9xNnWqodnnIFmoupZZa_tK0wB_iVlxUyhMPG0Q1aVQkg31d_B7z93GSI1GBe6u2F9O5-pNfb2evnXaPOKU49ScgpW4L/s320/100_4186.JPG" /></a><br /><div>When people find out you like to garden they start to bring you things. With the hope that you will be able to make it grow! I know it doesn't look like it but these are blueberry bushes. These blueberries are going to be a project because they hate our soil so I have to make special planters for them. Which will be filled with mostly peat moss. They also do not want too much salt in their water. But it looks like our water is okay. Two of the plants I purchased prior to receiving this generous gift are already budding. The man at producers said I should clip off the buds and encourage a much bigger crop for next year. Silly man....we are talking about blueberries here! I can already taste the blueberry pie, pancakes, muffins <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">yummmmmmmy</span>!</div><div> </div>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-22929565762487895372010-03-15T05:30:00.000-07:002010-03-15T05:30:01.885-07:00Something to crow about: Eggs $2.25<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBfxUEqkgnwjNOOI89Cc1kodUbbE9ywmf-ob0hTvmnhjAPtE6F9IgWSxqFBgGB6A1gew19OdXfIEpFmOXOGqz6kHtnfzTZm2VnZP2BXipOYSPAMRg43pBSVOWTQ8fTkt0obl3YL3NGqbZ/s1600-h/rhsmallbanner.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 56px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448576675768253874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBfxUEqkgnwjNOOI89Cc1kodUbbE9ywmf-ob0hTvmnhjAPtE6F9IgWSxqFBgGB6A1gew19OdXfIEpFmOXOGqz6kHtnfzTZm2VnZP2BXipOYSPAMRg43pBSVOWTQ8fTkt0obl3YL3NGqbZ/s320/rhsmallbanner.jpg" /></a><br /><div>As the quarter is coming to an end we have re-evaluated our egg costs and our prices are going down. A dozen eggs now costs $2.25. Right now we have openings for 2 dozen eggs. We can drop them off in town or bring them to church with us.</div><div> </div><div> </div>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-41910546927360457402010-03-06T14:23:00.000-08:002010-03-07T09:32:13.932-08:00Growing Carrots<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-ZDwhNlltzVIx_l2BaBFT2VeGtTevooE6DIP4NohGHCwwUYh7CHMqtG0ycMMTpnWItcoBag0wQgpdZ6FTnkpK54M4YwjeAHLIjZH8xx7tUzBF9wvLEYG3UBHsNiFvSEwhk_gDxsXldIo/s1600-h/100_4199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444497232128298882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-ZDwhNlltzVIx_l2BaBFT2VeGtTevooE6DIP4NohGHCwwUYh7CHMqtG0ycMMTpnWItcoBag0wQgpdZ6FTnkpK54M4YwjeAHLIjZH8xx7tUzBF9wvLEYG3UBHsNiFvSEwhk_gDxsXldIo/s320/100_4199.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div> This is the first year we have grown carrots successfully. Now we have grown a lot of super sweet garden carrots. It is difficult to grow carrots in clay soil. So most people around here grow fat short carrots. But by introducing our square foot boxes we have grown 6"-12" long carrots. I also learned a lot about growing carrots. I know it seems like in the gardening books they are constantly pestering us to thin out the plants. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444167172742729970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZcdQKk_ExmfhcVdIEPH-4Ie70WYNqTk6p46hKUvZFtr4uxv6oi590zwTGBRcVU1caLGlfScQWU5ZO2mGoB-mJylCRhyphenhyphenCbBI7MguvTEB4KApgKlreqltwvL5i4XsF97n74L7sZm7VCQez/s320/100_4200.JPG" border="0" />The more I garden the more essential I see that the plants have enough space. Now spacing will differ according to how you garden from traditional row garden, french intensive or square foot but make sure you pay attention to the plant spacing and thin them!<br /><br /><div></div></div>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-7916214924083170372010-02-27T12:08:00.000-08:002010-02-27T12:12:53.312-08:00Planting Potatoes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAx7tLWs4CF1CEjbV4qgOy9DfNkKTOs1PYHyBMi-jLDrZxa-5wxowG-WyjFCuqzGg359t2dhaReIawcbxHjfFDnwC0vsHAdC5mDx-bDJcK_oTbyZ5kD_CbjdnXqQADdwZrsqr0MxpjONn/s1600-h/1528.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443018523734259250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAx7tLWs4CF1CEjbV4qgOy9DfNkKTOs1PYHyBMi-jLDrZxa-5wxowG-WyjFCuqzGg359t2dhaReIawcbxHjfFDnwC0vsHAdC5mDx-bDJcK_oTbyZ5kD_CbjdnXqQADdwZrsqr0MxpjONn/s320/1528.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Pearson & Ms. Stephanie are planting potatoes in our new square foot gardening boxes. We are planting red & yellow potatoes. We will have 3 boxes square foot boxes full of potatoes when we are done. </div>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-37602605609028988732010-02-20T15:48:00.000-08:002010-02-22T07:53:30.518-08:00Chickens for saleWe have loads of news to post and we are looking forward to updating you on the happenings around the farm. But for now we just wanted to let everyone know we finally, have chickens for sale. We currently have 12 week <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">old</span> (28) and 4 week <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">old</span>(50) pullets for sale.<br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Black <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Austrolorp</span> $11</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76UxvBDp9iAVhIh7Sr5JRZ2Gk_t2asPlktV09BVk_lKYUff3Jk_vxcQXL-a518Kk0_Oca_de9cjEFcNYdxEPE3H-nIo0tXWzWW1K2U6KGnxIkpksXRjt4jDRBPrYopJfO8OOrT4cET6GJ/s1600-h/IMG_3008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441076641309524194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76UxvBDp9iAVhIh7Sr5JRZ2Gk_t2asPlktV09BVk_lKYUff3Jk_vxcQXL-a518Kk0_Oca_de9cjEFcNYdxEPE3H-nIo0tXWzWW1K2U6KGnxIkpksXRjt4jDRBPrYopJfO8OOrT4cET6GJ/s320/IMG_3008.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div align="center">Buff <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Orpington's</span> $11</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441077159247774130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPZ8whoyLWSWQH7kBomEX0d-evnk6iM74KvoIaZ0lARqW82O326E31OhHMEuobXBVrZAHQTEMvz4WqW9DfrFUX1d2T_31wG9B2mmRuMxuQyiDQzbITO9Xpvli9zQCwnPNphzYQlo6ZI9k/s320/IMG_3009.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>We also have Rhode Island Red's for $10.50. We do not ship we offer farm pick up. Please do not forget to bring a container (dog crate or something similar) to transport your new chickens home. </p><p>Thanks for looking!</p>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-49686063225055178582009-10-24T11:41:00.000-07:002009-10-24T11:49:27.437-07:00Wednesday Drop off option! ..Pullets for sale!New ...Wednesday drop off option!<br />Many of our veggies are going to be ready for delivery starting in November.<br /><br />**A limited amount of 8 week old Pullets<br />Ready for pick up week of <strong>January 11<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span></strong> to reserve your chickens contact us now. You must place a 50% deposit with your reservation. (Buff <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Orpingtons</span>, Black <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Austrolorps</span>).<br /><br /><br />See below regarding the cloudy skies and our poor <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Internet</span> reception! There is a lot of exciting stuff going on at the Hill so hopefully we will have reliable <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Internet</span> access ready soon!texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-37910436691343925612009-10-21T18:56:00.000-07:002009-10-21T19:08:36.696-07:00Online OrderingHello friends!<br /><br />Due to the rainy and cloudy weather, the internet at Rooster Hill Farms is patchy at best. So what does that mean for you? Well the veggies are growing like crazy, but we can't get online orders!! So...if you send us an online order, please call us to make sure we received it!<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Rooster Hill FarmsJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18235513294689026492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-67357253168696559662009-09-16T14:17:00.000-07:002009-09-16T14:17:00.225-07:00Customer Update: What is in the ground<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8In4mjmf4XD_-FP8tx4SDtX4whALoiHECGkXPm2URZNy6rhBrZ4XEY0VxsJUTjesh1C1VuMfiOocUatoa2gVDy4amqQJ94JmoTvjr05tczg3klTP0no4cp4naHGpwtLiIgqaWD2AXZki3/s1600-h/farmersmarketbag.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 92px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379211725702127458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8In4mjmf4XD_-FP8tx4SDtX4whALoiHECGkXPm2URZNy6rhBrZ4XEY0VxsJUTjesh1C1VuMfiOocUatoa2gVDy4amqQJ94JmoTvjr05tczg3klTP0no4cp4naHGpwtLiIgqaWD2AXZki3/s320/farmersmarketbag.jpg" /></a> We are currently taking orders for our October & November deliveries. You must prepay by either handing or sending me a check and you can pick your desired delivery location & time. Deliveries will be fulfilled on a first come, first serve basis. To place an order simply fill out the order form on the side bar and mail us a check. Your order is considered complete upon receipt of the check.<br /><br />We always have a couple dozen extra free range yard eggs.<br /><br />So what's in the ground ...........<br /><p>Estimated for mid October delivery:</p><ol><li>Okra</li><li>Pumpkins </li><li>Lettuce (leaf varieties) </li><li>Turnips</li><li>eggs 3.35 dozen (no antibiotics, free range)</li></ol><p><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Estimated</span> for November Delivery</p><ol><li>Tomato cherry & salad size</li><li>Carrots</li><li>Radish </li><li>Kale</li><li>Lettuce (variety) estimated for mid October delivery</li><li>eggs 3.35 dozen (no antibiotics, free range)</li></ol><p>After November</p><ol><li><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Brussel</span> Sprouts</li><li>eggs 3.35 dozen (no antibiotics, free range)</li></ol>Look for some posts on our new gardening method and monitor the results!<br /><br />See you soon!<br />The RH Garden Girls + a boytexasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-53695578376961229802009-09-09T15:20:00.000-07:002009-09-09T15:20:00.517-07:00Our Garden...<div>Well, I have to admit I love the garden so I guess I am a garden girl. The only thing about the garden is it's a lot of work. We are currently experimenting with square foot gardening. As we have been shamed by the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dervaes</span> at <a href="http://www.pathtofreedom.com/">Path to Freedom </a>, as we have 5 acres in comparison to their. These people are some <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">veget</span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377752175475700786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDqChNWw8POSeTg_6Lx8WFX0Eod0d76k5QVocTlIRkxpdNeadsO0Rxhzp1TVuLWqhwXz44jgIRrZYOytY7OhAFTgooVbgPZRq0iAfxhZhyLESRN4D9QeMMF2v_KB_vVc9b7MWnynjVKdB/s320/100_3579.jpg" />able growing & energy saving fools! You know we are all about it...they are growing their veggies in raised boxes and harvesting 1,000's of pounds more then we are in about 2X the space. So more boxes are going in this weekend with turnips, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">chards</span>, carrots & lettuce. We will add a box a month until we have filled the area this is kind of mammoth undertaking because our garden is 2500 square feet. </div><br /><div>But as I have gone crazy anyway...I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">smush</span> bugs with my fingers. I look up organic treatments (don't tell my friends!) for stuff because we eat the food straight out of the garden. And I have been permanently scared by "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fastfood</span> Nation". </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4WMiqV6bcFeKRaAFdZM_eT3YCi94EE9G95OXjsIz5MVd-V4z54JPJx1Z6YPBSunLfaKlpSE8ReJZJPRiE8POP72kALcr3RF3dkgE0BNc-UblUKmYpag9eLq7kwjWlykPwFvRv6gW8mmh/s1600-h/100_3583.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377799109315564322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4WMiqV6bcFeKRaAFdZM_eT3YCi94EE9G95OXjsIz5MVd-V4z54JPJx1Z6YPBSunLfaKlpSE8ReJZJPRiE8POP72kALcr3RF3dkgE0BNc-UblUKmYpag9eLq7kwjWlykPwFvRv6gW8mmh/s320/100_3583.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><div>So here are some pictures from the garden. Right now we are still getting plenty of food from the summer garden. In fact we are over run with butternut squash & okra (1/2-1# a day) so we are selling the extra to help pay for the fall garden. Hey, we might turn a profit just yet! </div><br /><div>We also have a few pumpkin vines. Which seemed <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">harmle</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMtPODQvVXA-B7djNmBgk6XQRgSL7xESVQ-xgDF2kF0p4FS0XELdc2S7qak2YXdxbQdE0CTKH6_zCXYM9M9ZmsLur7KCpNufJVwHLXBbelqmHMW0nfeHZRik9ejOhlNueez1leOjOctMS/s1600-h/100_3586.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377796637806827794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMtPODQvVXA-B7djNmBgk6XQRgSL7xESVQ-xgDF2kF0p4FS0XELdc2S7qak2YXdxbQdE0CTKH6_zCXYM9M9ZmsLur7KCpNufJVwHLXBbelqmHMW0nfeHZRik9ejOhlNueez1leOjOctMS/s320/100_3586.jpg" /></a><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">ss</span> when we planted them but now we are going to have a lot of pumpkins. I did make a mistake with the pumpkins I let them climb up the fence because the blooms look so pretty from our room. Well now some are growing on the fence and they are trying to break the fence. Regardless of the fencing situation we should have PLENTY pumpkins for sale in October - November. These few pumpkins are sort of a training ground for growing a lot of pumpkins and watermelons for next year. Both vegetables are known for being a little bit tricky to grow. But isn't this baby pumpkin just beautiful? I just hope that she and her cousins don't break my fence!</div><div> </div><div>RH Farm</div>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-83395362930998227262009-08-31T11:12:00.000-07:002009-08-31T11:31:57.925-07:00Slap Your Mama Butternut Squash Soup<div align="justify">This soup was so good I ate so much that I gained a pound, I am not kidding who knew vegetables could have so many calories! If you have butternut squash you MUST make this soup...NOW! Thus the name, "Slap your Mama...in my house you had to be crazy to try to slap your mama and that is how good this soup is...let me know what you think. And of course we have butternut squash for sale right now to make this soup...but please do not really try to slap your Mama that would be sin and if your Mama is like my Mama it is also not a good idea! </div><div align="justify"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 140px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 140px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376193880301570050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx09GZADLl-N8b53NJ5D1wIyapvwhCwo4KBNYPTdIGFiAJmmlVvhCImQfUF0J3P1NrfM3G3GUCuv9rHyPmLExm3ORTBJEYy1Jeybr2vbbdUARuoUjtQj5MNh0Nn86nekwqHq7a5d7A9xt/s320/squashsoup.jpg" /><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>(Make you want to ...)</em> Slap your Mama Butternut Squash Soup </div><p align="left">INGREDIENTS<br />1 large onion chopped</p><p align="left">4 tablespoons margarine<br />6 cups steamed butternut squash (when you steam it you can add it peel and all!)<br />3 cups water<br />4 cubes chicken bouillon<br />1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram<br />1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper<br />1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper<br />1 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese </p><div align="left">1 cup of milk<br /><br /><a style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" id="ctl00_CenterColumnPlaceHolder_RecipeToolsControl_lnkAddToShoppingListIcon" href="http://www.blogger.com/AddToShoppingList.ashx?rurl=http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Butternut-Squash-Soup/Detail.aspx&rid=12974&rserve=6" rel="nofollow"></a>DIRECTIONS<br />In a large saucepan, saute onions in margarine until tender. Add squash, water, bouillon, marjoram, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Bring to boil; cook 20 minutes, or until squash is tender.<br /></div>Puree squash, milk and cream cheese in a blender or food processor in batches until smooth. Return to saucepan, and heat through. Do not allow to boil.<br /><br /><br />This is mildly modified version of a recipe I found on AllRecipes.com <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Butternut-Squash-Soup/Detail.aspx?prop31=4">Butternut Squash Soup</a>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-30088960880263892472009-08-28T10:31:00.000-07:002009-08-28T11:24:47.210-07:00Customer Update: Order Form, Delivery Calendar, Butternut SquashAs we get ready to order chickens and gear up for a new and exciting year here at Rooster Hill Farm we have added two new items to our blog that we hope will enable us to serve our customers better:<br /><ol></ol><ol></ol><ol></ol><ol></ol><ol></ol><ol><br /><li>An on-line order form</li><br /><li>An on-line delivery calendar</li></ol><p>We hope that both of these items will streamline the order process for the Rooster Hill Family. Please look for more exciting changes and products. We currently have farm fresh butternut squash available for sale. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdaogMbL9NZASE0bJ6OxAHD8N_SjJhnMIMuI_fi1Ql9atwb4YUAruRsPU8rBLWD48geP_BKSRUOjrjMOOv06A54mojyRCtnPbfECZ3qC6GoGlLyemQ2oLwiMlxIT3KNupSEquEpqeQZep/s1600-h/farmersmarketbag.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 92px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 118px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375074263403807122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdaogMbL9NZASE0bJ6OxAHD8N_SjJhnMIMuI_fi1Ql9atwb4YUAruRsPU8rBLWD48geP_BKSRUOjrjMOOv06A54mojyRCtnPbfECZ3qC6GoGlLyemQ2oLwiMlxIT3KNupSEquEpqeQZep/s320/farmersmarketbag.jpg" /></a>We will also add an order form to purchase our layers as soon as some become available. </p><p></p><p>Thank you!</p><p>Rooster Hill</p>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-13680020829919917122009-07-09T15:16:00.000-07:002009-07-09T15:33:50.687-07:00Now offering jam...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcAT2otyllGJV3dGs7NmE1wz4lPA86ANbbLBvx6Fe5ElzhON5YAOmr8ait2EZqINhkewiRaiPuSw6zjrj06yGztKR3hSItR2ban62g51WY5dLUq_ojlb1n6vq806BKF_-3RTRPzXgmcFd/s1600-h/100_2974.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356591919566796642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcAT2otyllGJV3dGs7NmE1wz4lPA86ANbbLBvx6Fe5ElzhON5YAOmr8ait2EZqINhkewiRaiPuSw6zjrj06yGztKR3hSItR2ban62g51WY5dLUq_ojlb1n6vq806BKF_-3RTRPzXgmcFd/s320/100_2974.jpg" /></a><br /><div>We are now selling <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">GrapeMyrtle</span> Jam! Made from locally grown organic wild grapes. There is a limited supply of jam, as I am only one woman. We hope to add more jams, butters and loads of other products this year.</div>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328227560355971725.post-11752838857058658562009-06-11T16:26:00.000-07:002009-06-11T19:22:55.886-07:00Black Australorps<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJO0pIxaxun2-YuQTyf98jwSt2IK2X08TEjd3CicNDYt-GYcI7Jr3KwraunHqZiIs4gLD8KaV3Z3qUnpxTIOfhUYj6omCCoVjNbW2OtFBIsx4bajZ4ISjjsaprSCfeBi15aAgNfo2An2E/s1600-h/100_2664.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346217785098169026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJO0pIxaxun2-YuQTyf98jwSt2IK2X08TEjd3CicNDYt-GYcI7Jr3KwraunHqZiIs4gLD8KaV3Z3qUnpxTIOfhUYj6omCCoVjNbW2OtFBIsx4bajZ4ISjjsaprSCfeBi15aAgNfo2An2E/s320/100_2664.jpg" /></a> These little gals are Black <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Australorps</span> we are raising them for another family with a lonely rooster. It's a great chance to help someone out and to raise some heritage chickens with which we are not very <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">familiar</span>. However, according to my research they are friendly family birds much like our buffs and we plan to keep a few for our flock!<br /><div></div>texasmcvayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13672144667554705241noreply@blogger.com1