Get Your Goat
November 14, 2008|Comments (35)
If that goat is not meant for our farm, then I don’t know what is — would you look at that face??? More importantly — that anteater tongue? My goodness gracious laws-a-mercy ! I go weak at the knees from exposure. Exposure? To unbelievable cuteness. Need a hearty dose of cute?
Would you look at those bright mischievous eyes, those soft furry lips, and those velvety ears? **melts** Speaking of velvet: I was in the car with the radio cranked up the other day and a Garth Brooks song (That Summer) came on and there’s this line:
“And then I watched her hands of leather
Turn to velvet in a touch”
Does this mean that she had furry hands? I want to know.
And this one? My wonderful husband looking like a Wranglers commercial for homesteaders. Am I right? **swoon**
Obviously this goat is wondering about that Garth Brooks and his furry-handed woman, too. Would you look at that smile?
These goats belong to the neighbor of John, our friend with Irish Dexters, and I don’t have to tell you that goats are on the list of animals we want on our farm. Josh will be fencing all winter in preparation for dairy goats this spring. Yes, that’s right: dairy goats. Vegans beware: I fully plan on making cheese, yogurt, and soap with their milk — then posting how-tos and results on the site.
Anyone care to answer my many questions (ranging from velvet hands to favorite pictures)?
Irish Dexters, The 4-door Sedan Bovine
November 10, 2008|Comments (23)
Why a four-door sedan bovine? Well, Irish Dexters are the perfect breed of cattle for a family who wants cattle simply for meat and dairy for their own consumption. Not long ago, Josh read about them in GRIT Magazine and decided that we would have them on our future farm. We searched the web for local farmers who might have some Dexters for us to see in person but came up short. No test drives for the family bovine sedan… or so we thought.
Yesterday, friends at our church invited us over for dinner at their farm. We knew that they had cattle but we didn’t know many details about their operation. Josh and John went out to feed the cattle and discovered that they had Irish Dexters. Don’t faint! They were only thirty minutes from our doorstep all along!
Considered the perfect cow for homesteaders, Irish Dexters require half the amount of grazing space as the regular-sized popular breeds. They are small in size and extremely laid back (like surfer-dudes of the bovine world). The Irish Dexters in these pictures are quite friendly and gentle. At about 800-1000 pounds, these sweet babies are full grown. Their size makes them considerably less intimidating considering that they all have horns and are completely unafraid of humans.
As the face of farming changes (thanks to farmers like Joel Salatin), farmers are learning that large-breed cattle are simply not as practical as homesteader-friendly breeds like the humble Irish Dexters. Yes, the large breed cattle produce a great deal of meat per steer but they cost a fortune to feed. So, when one weighs out the cost of feed compared to the amount and value of the meat — the stats don’t lie — the Irish Dexter wins every time.
Josh will return to feed the cattle again this evening and is still marveling that all it takes to winter this breed which produces about 500 gallons of milk each year (the steers easily provide 300-500 ponds of meat) is little more than a bale of hay each day for mother and calf. Read more in The Amazing Irish Dexter.
Sweet Valley High Chicks
November 5, 2008|Comments (24)
Remember our little nudists? The Buff Orpington twins have blossomed into Teen Magazine reading young ladies who have permanent seats at the popular table. Everyone loves twins, but buxom blondes with piercing golden eyes and legs that go on forever — well, it is little wonder that they have such a following.
With all the confidence of couture models and the athletic prowess of the Lakers Cheerleaders (though considerably more class), one could easily picture these gals as the famed California-dwelling Sweet Valley High Twins. Tell me you remember the Sweet Valley High series and secretly wanted to wake up as Jessica or Elizabeth Wakefield. Maybe you still do. Or, for all the poor guys forced to read this site who are feeling uncomfortable about now: perhaps you just always wanted to date them. Secretly, of course. Jessica and Elizabeth — not the Buff Orpingtons.
Confession: I still can’t tell them apart. Does that make me a bad mom?
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