Carla Burke

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since Oct 29, 2013
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Biography
A Christian & devoted Patriot, wife, soap maker, herbalist, formerly a homeschooler, baker, truck driver, and more. I was born in the South, but actually grew up around the Great Lakes. Both of my childhood families had big, lush gardens,& preserved everything they could for the winter. I carried that into my own life. But, change happens and for over a decade, it just wasn't an option. Now, retired in the Ozarks, on 29 heavily wooded acres of mostly ravines, our best crops are nearly inaccessible wild blackberries, rocks, wild herbs, and ticks. We're utilizing our burgeoning small-livestock collection, straw bales, raised beds, and containers to build soil, and a better, healthier life for ourselves and our beloved critters, who provide us with eggs, meat, milk, fiber, honey, beeswax, fertilizer, tick control, brush control, 'lawn' mowing, loads of entertainment, and even help turn the compost.
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Recent posts by Carla Burke

Isa Jardinera wrote:How do you move your panels? Do you put your goats in a barn overnight?

I've had problems with big cats overnight, so I'd be worried about using just fencing, even electric netting, knowing cats can clear the height easily. But if others' experience is that it's not an issue, I might sleep a little better if we choose an open top.



I haven't been able to do it, yet. As I mentioned, I'm stalled at the thinking on it stage, because of our tractor being kaput. My paddock are done with cattle panels, and my goats have access to the barn. But, the barn isn't closed up at night, either. And, we do have photo evidence of both wildcats and cougar, as well as coyote on our property, and a black bear was on our nearest neighbor's front porch. We've had this barn/ fencing set up with goats since Nov.2019, and none of the large predators have messed with our goats. Copperheads have - but not the big cats, dogs, or the bear.
12 hours ago
I don't think of a 1yr old turning mean as a late bloomer. Some just keep getting meaner, as they get older, and some start young. I think if I was your son, that feathered fool would have been dinner, already - especially if he's been chasing my mom around. Like I said, 3 strikes - on a case by case basis.
1 day ago
This is an idea I've been mulling over for a few years, now. I haven't acted on it, because our tractor isn't working, and I know until it is, I won't be able to move it.

I use hog panels, connected with spiral joints, for my goats, because we have no way to set fence posts. One of my ideas, to make them less floppy, was to shorten them from 16ft to 12ft long. But the loss of square footage was more than I was happy with.

But, I've been looking into ibc totes, overturned, with a door cut out, for shelters, and on thinner, ski-like skids, those would be movable, even without the tractor. I've seen folks put a (food-safe) ibc tote or 55gal barrel on the back of a trailer, set up with a spigot, to fill a small trough. Rain-protected mineral tubs could then be attached to the trailer, too. But, I know I can't pull that, by hand.

I haven't gone so far as the milking parlor, because I want my milk in the fridge or ice, within minutes of milking it, so I bring my girls to the stand, on the front porch of my house, to milk, lol.

1 day ago
The cooking develops the gluten, making it stronger and makes it stick together better.
1 day ago
art
Go, SCOOTER!! That's great news!! I wouldn't shave or cut - just brush. So good about the progress!
2 days ago
Wull, drat-it-all-anyway! The least Subi could have done, after all you've been through together, would have been to wait until the trip home, so you could see your new grandbaby!! At least no one got hurt (no steamy explosions), and Subi will be gittin' 'er done again soon. Hugs!
2 days ago