Lisa Mich

Hi. Did you build your wall?

Those look nice. I might need to ask for tools for my birthday. What do people use the hori hori knife for?

Rebecca Norman wrote:

Faber vanmolkot wrote:Rebecca Norman,

What kind of plates/trays do You use?

I use random plates and trays from around my house. I bought several large tea trays to use under flowerpots on windowsills in winter, and for drying food in late summer.

To keep flies off, I use a tiny tent meant to keep bugs off a baby outdoors, or various screens from the kitchen. Maybe this summer I will build a nice enclosed cabinet with mesh sides and shelves for drying things, but for most items I expect I will continue to start them on trays inside the cabinet.

I love the tent idea. We might still have one around. I am glad I found this thread.

I have been meaning to build somthing to use for dehydrating, but was going to use left over fabric from our window screens. This conversation has caused me to reconsider and has expanded my ideas. Thank you all.

That red neck wine glad is great. You could make your own. The bottom looks like a candle stick holder they sell at dollar tree.

Hi Dre. I had a good friend who mowed almost exclusively with a hand sickle. I never saw him in action. He had moved of his land by the time I met him. I think a sickle would work great for areas of our little homestead.

Amanda Parker wrote:I am raising dairy sheep right now and I love it! I have several east friesian ewes and some Finnsheep ewes who are also known to be quite milky.  My ran is a Finnsheep/friesian cross. I did it because I raised goats when I was younger and im just not a fan. I am also a spinner, Weaver, felter, and knitter so I really wanted an animal that could pull double duty. They actually pull triple duty as I get milk, wool and meat ;) from ram lambs that we don't need or cull.

I wouldn't go back to goats for anything. I love the taste of the milk and the wonderful cheeses I make. Their wool is beautiful and provides an extra source of income for us. And sheep are much easier to care for than goats in my opinion.

I did have trouble finding breeding stock as well. I had to have my babies transported from the Midwest and I paid about 400 per ewe lamb. The Finn's were much cheaper. ...

I think your set up will do fine if you do rotational grazing but you will need a place for your ram unless you choose to keep him with the flock, I don't because I don't like not knowing when lambs are due. Just be diligent with parasite checks and field hygiene. Small acreage can be bad for parasites as they tend to build up.

Best of luck with your dairy flock!!!
-Magnolia Knoll Farm and Fiber

I am new to keeping sheep. How do you check for parasites? Thank you.

Thank you for this information on the added layers. Our land is an oak savannah. When we moved onto our acre a year ago, the vegetation was pretty sparce, except for the perimeter. We have seven established trees, oak, box elder, black locust, 2 blue spruce, 1 yet to be identified, and a half dead confiferous tree, the name if which is escaping me, all around the perimeter. We also have bamboo, oleander, and blackberry brambles around the perimeter, oh and two crepe myrtles.

I have planted apple, plum, cherry, almond, peach, mulberry, and a few citrus trees. I planted blueberries in part shade of our larger crepe myrtle, to give them a cooler microclimate. I planted two pomegranates, two elderberry, and male and female kiwi.

One area where I have tried to start citrus seems to be too cold, at least for the little ones. We have a neighbor with a large citrus in an exposed area, and it does great. We have had to remove two large branches of our box elder due to damage, and still have some logs at or disposal. I am wondering if I could use a log or two to warm up the area with the struggling citrus. It is currently completely exposed to winds.

I also wonder about when/how I can plant plants that will be companions to my fruit trees when the fruit trees are still small and not yet providing enough shade.

Thank you again. I am off to read the earlier blog posts.