We are moving into the last week of raising this crop of meat ducks. They are averaging over seven pounds now. God willing we will be butchering some of them on Thursday and the rest on Saturday. Why is Ellie so cranky? "Because you made it too hot out here!" Ellie is not the only… Continue reading Meat Ducks: Getting big!
Author: Ryan Kraeger
Garden odd jobs
We are a bit behind on the garden this year. The weather has not been cooperating. It is cold at night, cold enough to keep the soil from being warm enough to germinate the seeds for warmer season crops, but hot and dry enough during the day to keep the cooler season crops from growing… Continue reading Garden odd jobs
Subdividing the North Pasture: Final Anchor in the North Pasture, Part 2.
This post is long overdue, we did all this on May 12 and 13, the two days before Mommy and Daddy went to Ireland for our anniversary. But we didn't get around to posting this because Mommy and Daddy went to Ireland for our anniversary. But here we are, better late than never. You are… Continue reading Subdividing the North Pasture: Final Anchor in the North Pasture, Part 2.
Meat Ducks: Update
Pekins are getting pretty big. The average weight is about 3.2 kg, or just about 7 Lbs. One of the downsides of their size is that they are now too big to spend all day in the bird-mobile. By the end of the day the grass is all trampled down and matted with poop. So… Continue reading Meat Ducks: Update
Subdividing the Pasture: Final Anchor in the North Pasture, Part 1.
Saturday, May 10, we started digging on the last fence anchor on the North Pasture. By Ellie dad is digging a hole i am helping .dad is measuring the hole . we are finishing the hole i am giving the hole water . this is evie. dad is working on the fens. dad is screwing… Continue reading Subdividing the Pasture: Final Anchor in the North Pasture, Part 1.
Subdividing the Pasture: Third Fence Anchor, building for time.
Last Thursday Seppi and Winnie and Daddy built another fence anchor. Since we were trying to have a family day, we decided to see how fast we could build it. First step, run the straight line. Then download the tools. Third, measure exactly 12 feet for the gate. Fourth, mark the sod under the straight… Continue reading Subdividing the Pasture: Third Fence Anchor, building for time.
Morning Chores and Miscellany
Steers are on the North Pasture now, as of Monday, 5/5/2025. Beautiful green grass, so juicy and tender looking, I almost want to eat it myself. Uncle Adam running loads of mulch with a wheelbarrow. And when I say "running" I mean actually running as fast as he can. Since we overturned and rebuilt the… Continue reading Morning Chores and Miscellany
Subdividing the Pasture: First and Second Fence Anchors
Last Monday, after National Guard, we were off to a slow start. We often are after a National Guard weekend. Winnie in particular gets pretty clingy. We had some sickness in the house too, so we didn't really have time to do much on Monday, other than set up the irrigation in the garden. It… Continue reading Subdividing the Pasture: First and Second Fence Anchors
New Egg Ducks
Now that the meat ducks are out on the pasture, we have put our brooder back into business. This time, we are raising egg ducks. We bought 4 Khaki Campbells known for good egg laying abilities. Then Ellie asked if she could have a "show duck." So we got her a little Magpie hen. They… Continue reading New Egg Ducks
Lamb Prosciutto, the Final Chapter… For now
We got behind on our lamb prosciutto experiment, so we didn't get around to taking down the last leg on the day after Easter. First, the recap. Leg 1. Jan 2, Starting weight: 2.098 kg Recipe 1: 160g (90g salt [4.2%]) rub for one week in fridge. Jan 9. Salt box dredge without weighing for… Continue reading Lamb Prosciutto, the Final Chapter… For now