The chickens are almost full grown now and we've acquired a few new additions to the homestead.
We borrowed a goat from Abe's work (we hope to get a few pygmy goats of our own eventually) to help with a noxious weed problem. We have 2 patches of a particularly difficult to eradicate perennial weed called Russian Knapweed. I'm sure I'll post more on that as I've made it my personal crusade to prove to the Home Owners Association that it can be taken care of without using toxic chemicals.
Kensi and Salem have their birthday next week and Salem has been asking for a dog. We're not ready to spend the time necessary to train a dog yet but we were able to get him a bunny for free off of KSL with
cage, bedding, feed, and waterer all included. We gave it to him early and he has been carrying it around like a baby all day today. So sweet! Its the cutest lop ear and he named it Frosting. Just a little tid-bit you might not have known--one of the great things about rabbit manure is that it can be applied fresh as a plant fertilizer and will not burn the plants like most other fresh manures which tend to be very high in nitrogen. The goat manure will be helpful as well in building the deficient soil here. And in addition to our imported animals we also have the native populations in full summer swing. Lots of grasshoppers that I know are going to be a challenge in the garden and these cool lizards that are everywhere.
I am now thouroughly convinced of the benefit of raising animals--its good for the children and its therapeutic for me as well. Seriously, watching the chickens peck in the dirt is as entertaining as any cable TV and much more relaxing and contemplative.
We borrowed a goat from Abe's work (we hope to get a few pygmy goats of our own eventually) to help with a noxious weed problem. We have 2 patches of a particularly difficult to eradicate perennial weed called Russian Knapweed. I'm sure I'll post more on that as I've made it my personal crusade to prove to the Home Owners Association that it can be taken care of without using toxic chemicals.
Kensi and Salem have their birthday next week and Salem has been asking for a dog. We're not ready to spend the time necessary to train a dog yet but we were able to get him a bunny for free off of KSL with 
cage, bedding, feed, and waterer all included. We gave it to him early and he has been carrying it around like a baby all day today. So sweet! Its the cutest lop ear and he named it Frosting. Just a little tid-bit you might not have known--one of the great things about rabbit manure is that it can be applied fresh as a plant fertilizer and will not burn the plants like most other fresh manures which tend to be very high in nitrogen. The goat manure will be helpful as well in building the deficient soil here. And in addition to our imported animals we also have the native populations in full summer swing. Lots of grasshoppers that I know are going to be a challenge in the garden and these cool lizards that are everywhere.
I am now thouroughly convinced of the benefit of raising animals--its good for the children and its therapeutic for me as well. Seriously, watching the chickens peck in the dirt is as entertaining as any cable TV and much more relaxing and contemplative.
