no more appliances!!

Remember the room we started a few weeks ago? It's coming along! Paula spent the entire Thanksgiving weekend sealing all the cracks and getting it painted (four coats). Last Saturday we were able to clean the appliances and get them moved into the room. Eric removed the door to the room and reattached the weather stripping that fell off last spring making it easier, yet, to keep clean. The front porch now looks twice as big! Screening the porch has always been on the list. Can you see why?

This week marks the first time in MHf history that eggs have been removed from the weekly list of available products. The shorter days have really taken a toll on egg production. On the farm, fewer daylight hours equal fewer eggs. So why isn't that the case with the commercial industry? Simple - they install lights in the hen house to keep egg production constant year-round. MHf certainly could do that (we have the electrical capabilities). However, there's a reason God designed our year with varying lengths to the days. It's okay to be without something for a short time or even for an entire season. We just appreciate it more when it is available. MHf's journey to sustainability includes finding the benefit of every season so far as it relates to farm productivity. Right now the shorter days have a negative affect on egg production, but a positive affect on our ability to plan next year's garden. It all cycles. Next summer when the hens are laying by the boat-load and the garden has us wondering why we planted so much, we will be looking forward to winter's time of rest. Bear with us. Local food is not always convenient food. But our hope is that you think it's worth every bit of effort put into it.

fire season kicks off

Fall offers the most fantastic blessings of the year: vivid sunrises & sunsets, crisp air, serenading coyotes, migrating geese, simmering suppers, and fires in the stove. Last week’s frost marked the beginning of fire season. A new chainsaw has been busy cutting out trees for an extension to the permanent fencing around the farm. Armload-by-armload, the wood pile moves indoors. Last winter saw at least one meal cooked on the wood stove and we plan to do even more this year. Experimenting with the five-gallon buckets, wood ash = lye = soap (we hope). All is well and all are blessed.

Projects from the previous post are coming along - one quicker than the other. Eric's chicken schooner is about 3/4 complete. After the ends are closed off, feed and water tanks will be hung inside and it should be ready. Electric netting will provide a run for the birds to enjoy daily sunshine and fresh air (and protection from predators). This schooner will house the meat flock while the layers remain in the hen house.

Paula's greenhouse is currently postponed due to another project taking priority. Some of you have visited the brooder room, but almost everyone has seen the fridge and freezer sitting on the front porch. (We really wanted the appliances in the brooder room, but it was still being used.) If the greenhouse went up first, it was going to be nearly impossible to get the appliances in there. So, the brooder room has been cleaned out with the waste doing it's thing in the garden. After a vigorous bleach rub-down, minor repairs will tighten up the walls and everything will be primed & painted. Not only will the appliances be moved in, but the room will also hold all MHf supplies: egg cartons, packaging materials, other items for purchase, etc. In a sense, it will be an on-farm store!

Another herbal class has been scheduled (in Harvey County this time). Click on the flier to read all the details. Hope to see you there!

Do you like to fish or know someone who does? And would you like to get paid for it? Check out the most-recent farm venture: MHf Harvest Rebate.