Homesteading - "The stormy March has come at last..."

Mine are pastured. The perimeter fencing is woven wire but the cross fences are hot wire. The pigs (once trained) never challenge it.

Thanks, Porkpal. I've about decided to just go ahead and fence in as much as I can just for the pigs with a roll of woven wire fence (330', I think). Maybe make it 115' x 50'. If we continue raising pigs in the future, we have another 10 acreas on the other side of the center wooded area, where we could do the rotational pastures.

How high is your fence, 3' or 4'? And you keep the electric wire at back heighth.

This message was edited Mar 13, 2011 6:36 AM

The perimeter fence is 5' woven wire: 4' above the ground, 1' buried. It has a hotwire on top to deter predators. The electric cross fences are set at nose height.

I'm envious of the energy Robin is expending... Yesterday I took out a door and built a wall, just over 3' wide, and it wore me out! Of course, I've been a couch potato (so to speak) all winter! Today I hope to get it painted and some shelves cut and installed; hopefully I won't be as pooped. I cannot imagine doing what Robin is doing all alone.

Porkpal, thanks for the additional info.

Darius, don't be too envious of my energy. I work in short spurts with lots of breaks, plus the weather has been perfect and I'm on some new meds that are working wonders.

I finally went to bed about midnight after doing much reading online on rotational grazing and "slept" on it...and I use that term loosely. I need to go finish my little pig pen and shelter and while doing so will give a lot of thought to what I want to do and can do.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

I'm always amazed by the women here. I can't say that I keep up, but I'm smart enough to know where to find good company!

My san marazano tomatoes are looking good about 8" , but the other heirlooms barely have their second leaves..ugg.

I was telling DH last night about the tomato problem and he reminded me that the store was out of my usual soil and he had brought home a different one...AH HA! Won't help the tomatoes now. Live and learn, I won't be changing soils ever again.

Can't you replant additional tomato seeds in new (preferred) soil, or will those eventually be okay? I haven't even ordered seeds yet.

It's raining here so I won't get anything done outside... and some yard clean-up is really necessary. Plus I need to start scrubbing and sterilizing the old refrigerator I got for a cheese cave.

I did get my new "wall" caulked around the edges (lots of air coming down the hallway) and the first coat of paint. Cut 3 narrow shelves to go above the counter and managed 2 coats of paint on them.

Everything is painted a pearl black. The Kid asked me why black? Reminded me of the story about a boy in kindergarten who colored everything black. Teacher became concerned, parents took him to psychologists, and he tested normal. Finally they asked him... and he said it was the only crayon he had!

If my check for jury duty comes today, I may dodge the raindrops and go out to buy a short, wide board for the "counter". This wall area will be for cheese making other than cooking: draining, drying, equipment, etc., and the built-up corner (3 pcs 2 x 4) will be perfect for me to anchor a lever press, which I hope to build next month when $ comes in again. I've designed it so that I can swing it up out of the way when not in use, otherwise it would significantly (but not totally) block the pathway to my office.

A little too late to replant. Tomatoes are a race against summer in Texas. It gets too hot for them to pollinate. My smaller types, like the cherries and pears should be ok, even if I have to wait for fall. I'll still plant them all, because I'm an optimist.lol

I love the design of those swing out presses. Are you going to use weights or water?
I need to get something set up to handle 5 lb wheels, just need to get a few irons out of the fire first!
I had my March all planned out, that the only thing to focus on would be planting. The minions, I mean chickens have thrown me for a loop tho. We're getting over 100 eggs a week! Egg salad, frozen eggs, pickled eggs, egg sandwiches.....I would feed eggs back to the birds, but then I'd have more milk to deal with..always a juggling act.

I need to get the incubator going. I hope I can sell some chicks, at least enough to get some blue berry shrubs!

The kids are out for spring break. It's fun, and their help is much appreciated in the garden! Plus free labor, well almost free. They must work for egg salad sandwiches.lol

I plan to rig a pulley system, then calculate the MA (mechanical advantage) to know what weights to use. For now, I'm limited to 2 pound cheese until I get either bigger pots and an induction heater, or more likely a large turkey roaster w/PID. I won't use water as weights because it is too close to the kitty racetrack...

I know who to contact when I have math questions.lol

I need to think about whether I'm going to need a heating vat of some sort. I can manage 5 gallons as long as I don't need to move my pot. Or seem to manage transferring curd from sink to pot, vise versa. But, I've been limited to what I can make in 5 gallons because I don't have the psi need to finish the recipe.
I need to go though my recipes and see where it would be needed. What cheese would you be making the most of with a heating vat?

Lulu, FYI regarding extra eggs and pigs...I've read a couple of places online where people hard boil their extra eggs for 15 minutes, cool and then stick them in the freezer to later be fed to the piglets for additional protein. (A note was made to feed them a consistant amount, as in not 1-2 one day and 12 the next day) These people were feeding the pigs foodstuffs that were good for them, ie: eggs, pumpkins, apples, chestnuts, etc. and cutting back on the bagged hog feed.

Tonight is our last Beginner Gardening Seminar. Got all of my hours in already and have made some new friends!

I haven't a clue what kinds of cheese I will end up making on a regular basis, but even at this beginners' level, I don't have enough temp control for anything. My burners are electric cast iron raised hobs and they neither heat up quickly nor cool down quickly. I'm lucky if I can control the temp within 10-15º. From what I've read, something like the turkey roaster with a separate, precise temp control allows adjustments of just 1 - 2º and maintains it. There are some other things to use, like the restaurant heated buffet warmers, but if I can find a used roaster, that will be much cheaper.

I just want a press that's capable of delivering a wide range of psi. Then of course, each mold will need to be calculated for surface area... but I only have 2 molds right now and one is homemade from 1 gallon berry buckets. It will take a little weight but not much.

Robin, that sounds like a good idea for extra eggs. Good for the piglets, and good for the pocketbook!

Ah, Darius, yes I see where one would come in handy for you. It had me worried for a moment, as a larger heated vat was not in my mental roledex of needs. Tho, if I were to come across one at a garage sale, I'd snag it in a second!

Robin, that sounds like a perfect solution! Was there an explanation as to 'why' you couldn't fluctuate the amount of eggs? I'm also wondering if there would be any reason why I would have to boil them first? Not that big of a deal, but would save me some propane, if I could just freeze them.

Here's the link to feeding pigs cheaper and the "eggs for pigs" info and why to cook the eggs. http://adventuresinthegoodland.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-grow-out-feeder-pigs-part-2-feed.html

How could anybody not love these goat babies?

All that cheesy talk is making me hungry ladies!

Cute goat babies :)

MsRobin is in the hospital tonight with breathing issues; I'm waiting for a callback now after she sees the Doc. Seems it got a little dicey and 911 was called to be safe and she took a ride in on the ambulance. Her DH is in touch and we're all playing phone tag - I'll head up that way if I am needed/wanted.

Please keep them in your thoughts.

~H

Update on MsRobin:

I spoke to her for about ten minutes, she sounds much stronger after a breathing treatment. Doc is keeping her overnight to observe her oxygen levels and to see how her airways open up after a steroid is administered.

In true MsRobin fashion, she intoned "I don't have time for this being sick stuff, I have too much to do!" :)

Thanks for continuing to keep her and her DH in your thoughts.

Bless her heart! I am sorry MsRobin has to repeatedly endure that. It must be terrifying ~ more so when one is home alone. And please, do tell her she is in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for letting us know what is going on. She (and we) are fortunate to have you as her guardian angel. 8 )

Sorry I have been out of pocket with houseguests.

Darius ~ jury duty pay very well? Here it is six bucks and won't even cover fuel costs. OTOH, I feel it is my obligation so will gladly attend if needed.

I need to add, I rarely buy books. Have a circle of friends with common interest. They will bring a book and say here, I think you will enjoy this book. I ordered your recommendation as I not only want to read it but need to occasionally return the favor and provide one for the rest to read.

Most of my literature comes second hand from flea markets and garage sales. I will look for a copy of Alas Babylon for you. It has a cult following and is dated although I don't recall the time frame.

Sending company home today and back to normal (whatever that is). Off to work....

Oh no, MsRobin. Hope you can get home and breath easy soon! Hope you had a chance to get to your class too, I know how much you enjoy them. That pig link is a great help. Thank you!

pod, this was Federal jury duty, a criminal case. They pay $40/day and 51¢ mile round-trip. I don't know what jury duty on the county level pays... this is my first jury duty in the 50 years I've been old enough!

I'm sending positive, healing thoughts out to the Universe for Robin.

hmmm... federal ~ slow pay I would imagine. Reckon the check will be any good? lol

I'm not holding my breath!

I spoke to MsRobin this morning - looks like perhaps another night is required for observation. She sounds improved, and I'll be talking with her again later in the afternoon. She had a lot of activity in the room today between nurses and doctors and aides and such.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!!

~H

Send her my best wishes! She is such a hard worker enforced rest must be difficult for her.

Please let Robin know I am praying for her.

Darius, you got a cheese cave?

Not yet, Caj... I'm using my root cellar (and a pan of water under the cheese to boost humidity) until I can figure out how to rig the controls I bought to convert an old refrigerator I acquired.

what do y'all do for St. Padraig's day?

Edited because I forgot to welcome NikB to our group! Welcome aboard! And a special Thank You for serving our country! Read a bit about your acres and projects...sounds wonderful!

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Irish Toast For Happiness:
"Dance as if no one were watching,
Sing as if no one were listening,
And live every day as if it were your last."

In my days of old, I'd have been drinking green ale. In my old days, I would be planting potatoes...if I were home! {stomping my foot in true temper-tamper fashion} Just had a thought...maybe I'm not to far off base...isn't there a potato-based adult beverage? Maybe my tastes are just being refined in my old age. LOL!

Appreciate all the kind words and thoughts and prayers. You all are so wonderful! Not feeling too woofy tonight, but I'm in good hands. Seems to be an epidemic of this particular problem with several people this past few days with the weather change. Hearing lots of the same sounds coming from several other nearby rooms.

This message was edited Mar 16, 2011 11:35 PM

the potato derived beverage in Eire is called poteene. It's usually made in a barn someplace or other. You can buy it at the bridge as you leave Ennis on the road to Cork. Just stop and honk and one of the Sullivans will bring you a jug. It's rough stuff, though.

It used to be everyone went to church on St. Padraig's and the bars all closed. But now with the tourists most of the big city pubs stay open.

Thank you for the welcome MsRobin

We can get fuel from fruit, from that shrub by the roadside, or from apples, weeds, saw-dust - almost anything! There is fuel in every bit of vegetable matter that can be fermented. There is enough alcohol in one year's yield of a hectare of potatoes to drive the machinery necessary to cultivate the field for a hundred years. And it remains for someone to find out how this fuel can be produced commercially - better fuel at a cheaper price than we know now.
~Henry Ford

My (few) Family from the emerald isle were Orangemen, so no green beer for me today. :)

Yay, Robin! I assume you made it home :0)

Welcome, NikB!

A quiet night with corned beef and cabbage. I save all my drinking and ruckus behavior for the 4th :0)

Back home we went to the parade and brought our laundry hamper so we could cart home all the vegetables we caught. Then we'd make soup. It was lots of fun. Don't do anything here in the mountains.

Now you are a resourceful woman! Great thinking!

I'll take veggies over beads and underware every day of the week! LOL

Joining the group! We just closed on our little homestead out in the country.

Congrats, and Welcome! Tell us more about your new homestead?

Its in northern Brazoria County, Texas. Right now, there is a 3bdr country style house, a 12x20 shed, a little tin shed, a water well, and a brand-spankin' new septic system. The property is 1.5 acres and has a large pond.

Cool.

Wish I had a shed that size...

Dh and I figured we could move our respective hobbies out there. My gardening, sewing, and crafting is all moving out and his reloading, fishing, and gun stuff will go out there too. Our biggest task after moving in will be to finish out that shed with insulation, drywall, and electricity. We're also putting the beer fridge out there.