Dreaming of land....

When we get old, we plan to live in the city. But for now we're dreaming of land and all the possibilities. At last count, we have 15 chicks, in addition to our 12 laying hens. So when they grow up that will be WAY to many chickens for the area we have for them. We live on 4.5 acres, which was completely available to us when we moved in. But then the guy renting the shop decided to live there. And next the landlord decided to build a "shop" way out back.  So we basically have an acre for our goats, chickens, gardens and kids.

Chickens are rather destructive. If you let them out to free range, they scratch up the gardens and eat the seedlings. So for now they have to stay in their chicken run. The goats I can take on walks on the property, but after an 8 hour day there are kids to feed and get in bed so the walking doesn't happen as often as it should. There is so much for them to forage right now! If only we could fence off the back half of the property we would save oodles on feed. Hay is not cheap. Now that we only have two goats, it is more reasonable and a bale of hay, which costs $13+, will last at least a week. But I'm dreaming of them being able to feed on fresh grass all spring and summer and then feed hay in the winter. Would make goat keeping much more cost effective. Same with the chickens, however there are a few people who buy eggs from us so it pays for about 3/4 of their feed - a 50 lb bag of layer pellets is going for around $18 right now. So I have to sell 6 dozen eggs to pay for their feed. Comes out ok during the laying months but once October hits and they stop laying as much, more of our hard earned money goes for feed.

It is not cheaper to keep animals, but I feel so much better about it than buying from a grocery chain. Even though we do not feed organic food to them, we know where the animals have been and how they have been treated. That is worth the extra money.

Someday we will have the land to be able to provide more of our own food to them and more room to roam. And as a result they will be able to provide us with cheaper food for us in the form of milk, eggs and meat (though I will never be able to eat goat, I could get a couple of sheep for that purpose).

~T

After work plans go sideways....

My plan for the day....get up at 6am. Leave for work at 6:55am. Pick up kids at grandparents at 5pm. Stay for dinner. Go home. Plant corn which I pre-sprouted and is now 2 inches tall (should have been done last weekend but the rain got in the way). Get kids in bed. Milk goat. Clean up kitchen. Sit down and watch Grey's Anatomy on hulu.

Actual day...went as planned except that I stopped at home before picking up kids to check on my doe whose udder, it was reported to me by P, was very full. I find her laying in the barn with goo coming out of her hind end, which means she is going to give birth soon. Call grandparents and have them get kids here asap so they can watch. Wait in barn as goat takes her own sweet time having her baby. Kids get bored and wander off. Goat finally has baby. We wait for her to have more. None show. Grandparents bring dinner over since we missed having dinner at their house. Get kids fed. 30 minutes past their bedtime notice they need to fold and put their laundry away. Kids put away laundry and finally get in bed an hour after their bedtime. Milk goat. Doe still has only one baby - how is that possible when she's as big as a house? Give up on doe. Get half the corn planted.  Clean up half of kitchen because there is only so much room in a dishwasher. Think about sitting down then realize I have to brine two different kinds of cheeses, make bread and pasteurize milk. Look at the clock....it's 30 minutes past my bedtime. Decide to ask P to put the chickens away when he gets home because I am too tired and to go outside again. Instead of watching Grey's Anatomy, I'm blogging.

Darn goat made my relaxing evening turn into complete and utter chaos. But her baby is so cute it's worth it.

~T