Where have we been?

Time has flown! We have had our share of challenges here on our little farm in the past year. I know each season in life has its challenges.... but boy am I ready for a break! Good news first..We are doing well with our Seramas and Sizzles.Spring has been productive and lots of broody mamas!

Our two dairy goat girls Primrose and Snowflake will be ready to be bred this fall, which means babies and milk in the spring! Ducks are well and we added some Snowy Mallards to the farm.

We also have a big turkey left from last years turkeys, and a couple new poults. My wonderful beekeeper of a hubby is currently leasing hives at an olive orchard as well as at a local ranch. Every laptop and tablet I blogged with died within days of eachother! I just got a chromebook for Mothers Day! Can't wait to catch everyone up again! Now for the tougher stuff.. I will be getting a full hip replacement on the left side in a couple weeks. Not really looking forward to surgery.. but it will be worth it. I had my right one done almost six years ago. Holding onto our place is a challenge..but we are believing that God is for us! Tomorrow I am butchering chickens and will post and show you the awesome plucker my guy made for us. I leave you with a Texas sunrise from Seven Pines..

Turkey Lurkey

We got four bronze breasted turkey poults a week ago. I love their wise brown eyes! We are hoping for a tom and three hens, but we will see!!

Cooler temps equal Projects!

Cooler weather and rain inspired us to get to work on the farm! It has been in the mid hundreds for the last week! Today a high of 80!! We are setting fence posts for new Serama enclosures.  The farm boys were busy cutting down overgrown bushes. We sure are thankful for the help of our sons!

We are getting Legit!

Each small step for our farm is so thrilling. We have been approved by the Farmer Veteran Coalition to proudly display the Homegrown by Heroes label on all our goods!

In Bee Business

Summer has been busy to say the least! After going to a Texas Agribility Conference we are more confident in our farm direction. A focus on bees and poultry is where we are heading. We are offering hives for lease to interested land owners and installed four this weekend at a local olive orchard. Will be installing two more at a heritage turkey farm in a couple weeks.

Fodder works..pretty much!

Well at first try we had a sour smell and horrific fruit flies.. After consulting with folks on a homesteading Facebook page I'm on I drilled many more drainage holes..rinsed more and..Voila! Nicely sprouted barley. Chicky approved!

Fodder System

We finally got every last teeny hole drilled and the trays are tilted just so.  We will soak barley seed overnight and start our system up first thing on the morning. Woo woo fresh barley greens for our chickens!