There is always one...

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There is always one... one hen that refuses to be caught... who hides each night in some outbuilding on the farm and won't join the rest of the hens inside... there is always one!

Crisp & Clean

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Beautiful day with sunshine, hoar frost and gentle breezes. 

Birthday bash

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Tonight we celebrated Farmer Phil's birthday (one day early). Fine cheese and a growler full of craft beer was his request. #yum

Farmer Friday Game Night Fun!

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Even when we take a night off to play some board games... they still involve farm animals!? 

Just because...

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Baby goats... just because! 

This is Merry born a few summers back. She has such a pretty face!

Pig play...

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The pigs are loving the snow and can often be found rolling, digging and generally frolicking in the drifts. 

Better together...

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Today was spent inside, talking to other small scale farmers about the value of collaboration and cooperation. 

I always enjoy spending time talking to others who get what we do and why we do it about how to do it better...

Curry cravings

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With a cold storage room full of squash, we are finding all kinds of creative ways to use them! 

Tonight I'm mixing up some curried butternut squash to add to tomorrow's supper of Butternut and Lentil Bobotie! 

Snowy days

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What a difference a week can make! Last Sunday, we were working outside without jackets! 

... and today I had to dig out the pig's feed dishes from the snow!  

The winter coop!

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The winter coop is warm and snug and the girls seem to be adjusting well to the move inside. 

While I'm sure like all of us that they would prefer to out in the field and sunshine scrounging for bugs (well I'm good without that last part...), they seem to be happy enough scratching in the leaves and straw that we use for bedding in the coop. 

They sure have lots to say anyway.... #cluckinghens

The great silence begins...

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I'm always struck by the shroud of silence that seems to descend on the  world along with the first snow. 

The snow muffles the land and sends critters burrowing underground. #silentwinter

It's that kind of night...

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The wind and snow continue to swirl... A quick tour of the chicken coop to collect the eggs, throw a bale of hay to the goats and cow and it's a cookie baking kind of night....

In with a bang...

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Winter has arrived with a bang! Sitting here in the dark, listening to the wind roar and howl. #electricityisunderrated

Playful pair

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This pair of playful pigs are a new breed for us. They are a cross between a Longrace Duroc and Berkshire. (We typically do purebred Berkshire)

The Duroc produces a long body, different colouring and smaller eyes than the Berkshire.

This pair are curious, vocal and very aware of what is going on around them. There is no sneaking up on them!

Puppy pose

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The saga of our poor pooch continues... Avery has been recovering from a broken leg for over two months now. At the last vet visit, they ordered 4 more weeks of cast and confinement. 

We are running out of sweatshirts to put on her (they keep her from chewing her cast off..) but it is all good for a giggle once in a while. #puppypose

Fair weather helpers!

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Hard to believe that it is the middle of November! This weekend, we planted a new row of raspberries in the back field (merci notre cousin, Adelard!)

As you can see I had lots of help planting #nonotreally #chickensdontcount

If you give a pig a pumpkin...

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Our pigs are happy Hallowe'en is over as they are enjoying everyone's leftover jack-o-lanterns! 

Sweet wine!

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Our ground cherry wine is percolating....

Love at the end of the day...

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At the end of a long day full of stress, strain and struggles, its so wonderful to bask in the simple love and acceptance that only a dog can give.... well as long as I keep scratching her ears!

Stored away...

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A winter-full of veggies are now tucked away in our cold storage room. 

Sunset drive

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Feeling blessed to live in a beautiful country full of beautiful people... and that I end most days driving towards this gorgeous view! #sunsetdrive

Harnessing the power of green

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The mild fall weather has meant an seemingly unending supply of cold weather greens such as kale, spinach, swiss chard and lettuce. 

Besides eating them fresh daily, we prepare for winter by drying them and making green powder to use through those cold months when getting your greens is difficult. #harnessthegreen 

It's all about preparation!

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Much of the fall is about preparing for next season. Today we moved our chicken tractors (shelters) from one area of the property to one of the back corrals. 

We are planning next spring to run the chickens in this particular area because it needs some nutrient replenishment... that the chickens will provide aplenty! This will nourish the pasture for future years to come. #failingtoplanisplanningtofail

Sweet Saturday

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Today was caramel making day. We make these is big batches to sell and share with family and friends using our own goat milk.

 They've become a hot item! #sweetsaturday

Consistently inconsistent!

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Store bought eggs seem boring.... all one colour and size. Our hens give us all shades, shapes and sizes! #fiftyshadesofbeige

Making sunshine!

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If you are like me... you are missing sunshine! In our area, we have been under cloud cover for almost 11 days in a row! Everyone is feeling as gloomy as the weather! 

So... sometimes you need to take matters into your own hands and make your own sunshine... sunshine squash that is! Cut up one for supper tonight! 

Seedy business

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A good year for pumpkins means its a good year for roasted pumpkin seeds!

Salted, spiced, even sugared pumpkin seeds are a healthy snack that provides a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals, that are hard to find in other foods. 

Pumpkin seeds are also known as pepitas (spanish) and can be eaten raw, shelled or toasted, roasted, in the shell, even sprouted! 

The seeds pictured were toasted after being tossed with salt, pepper, and cajun seasoning. Yum!

Chicks like our car....

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You know you live on a farm when you are greeted with messy chicken prints on the hood of your car in the morning! #chickslikeyourride

The saddest eyes....

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Avery has the saddest eyes these days....

Two weeks ago she went to the vet to get her cast off and they weren't happy with how well it was healing and prescribed another two weeks in the cast. 

She promptly set about chewing it off her leg, hence the attire..

Tomorrow she goes back to the vet....fingers crossed, prayers and best wishes accepted! Let's hope they relent and free this sad dog! 

Moving day....

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Today was moving day for the girls.... 

We moved our laying hens inside the winter coop as their water lines were freezing most nights in their summer shelters. 

They immediately got to work scratching and pecking in the deep piles of leaves and straw that form the floor, searching for morsels of food, bugs and seeds. 

They will be cosy tonight!