Filed under: October 2020 | Tags: brown eggs, free range, Grazing, hog butchering, small farm effciencies, Small Farming
October 28, 2020
We finished husking/picking our corn last week. We got done just in time to beat a whole lot of rain. We have gotten six inches of rain the last ten days. The dry ground sucked up quite a bit of the moisture, but now the ground is saturated. I am glad that I don’t have to navigate the the mud!
We turned five growing pigs into the corn field. They are gleaning any missed ears and those knocked to the ground by raccoons and deer. They are happily munching and rooting. They have a shed, where dry bedding is supplied, to lay in to sleep. They are also fed additional grain as needed, but so far are mostly just eating from the corn field and surrounding pasture and fence line weeds.
Our hens are still enjoying their lot even though it too shows the effects of the recent rains. They have been eating the last of our cull garden produce as treats to supplement their diets. They reward us with nice brown eggs for our efforts.
Autumn and cool weather allows us to start butchering our hogs. The family’s meat for winter, grown here, processed here. We have been blessed with an amazing autumn. The crops did well all summer, in spite of the mid summer drought. Now, the wet, cool, days of late autumn, are proving beneficial too.
Winter is just around the corner. A few outside jobs remain, but for the first autumn in a long time, I am caught up. I owe this success to a great wife, wonderful family, good weather and good work horses to help me get the crops out and the harvest gathered. To everyone involved, I say Thank You!
4 Comments so far
Leave a comment
RicelandMeadows 
Hard to imagine a better feeling than being “caught up” by election day. Tip of the cap to ya! Good butchering weather for a few days, too
Comment by Rick Ward October 30, 2020 @ 9:21 pmThank you very much! Yes, the feeling is wonderful!
Comment by ricelandmeadows November 3, 2020 @ 1:23 pmSir,
Comment by Adam October 31, 2020 @ 8:01 pmJust wanted to drop another note to express my gratitude for your articles. I am knee deep in raising my three kids and in the second half of my Army career. We have a small piece of farm land purchased back in southern Ohio waiting on us and my day dreaming and articles like yours are what keep me motivated to get there! Thanks for taking the time to share.
Adam, Thank you for your service! I am glad to hear that your dreams are becoming plans. If along your way you have questions, feel free to ask. I will help in any way that I can. Yes, stay knee deep in raising your family. Hold them close and share your passion with them. This country needs farm families. I hope to meet you one day, perhaps even visit your Ohio farmstead. Until then, stay focused, stay safe and keep planning. Thanks for reading and commenting on my Blog… Ralph
Comment by ricelandmeadows November 3, 2020 @ 1:22 pm