Oh, Ernesto



We've been internet-less for a week or so here due to Ernesto knocking out our connection (and more then a few tomato plants) but eveything's almost back to normal. The barn is slowwwwly drying out, and none too soon. We use a deep bedding system with our flock, adding straw every week to create a self composting system which gets cleaned out and re-started about every six months, but just like a compost pile too many rainy days throws the whole system off, and you get icky anaerobic muck. Lots of straw, removal of some of the old bedding, and most importantly, sunny dry days and it rights itself, but it was stinky in there for a few days. I think the damp also contributed to our chick losses which have been higher this year then I can ever remember.

Delia is still pregnant, if she's pregnant at all. With her swollen udder and teats I'm leaning towards that, but she may also just be a hormonal mess, in which case I think the old girl's earned her retirement at age 9. No new goat yet, but hopefully we can get in touch with Mystic Farm and pick up Midnight soon. The kids are already looking like mini-adults, though still racing around and acting kooky. I haven't put them up for sale yet, since I'm hoping our camera will turn up in MA when my parents head up there this weekend, but regardless I'll have to dig out an old camera and get them up on the farm website this Sunday.

Tomorrow will be our first farmer's market in two weeks! We'll have lots of kale, swiss chard, herbs, radishes (thought the first planting failed, but I knew I was erring on the early side - the minute they saw the heat they bolted), roma tomatoes, red cabbage, leeks, sunflower seeds, and mesclun mix along with our eggs. Speaking off, I should be off cleaning and packing eggs now, so I'd better go. See you soon!

p.s. Gi's Aunt Sarah brought her that outfit back from her summer in India and it finally fits. Too cute!

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Posted: Fri - September 8, 2006 at 05:07 PM        

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