Saturday in Pictures



Last day of the pigs.  They had their "appointment" today.





The geese don't mind the snow



The new flock of ducks.  The mallard is on the far left.

The geese decided that the fences are down and they are allowed in the garden. 

Quickly harvesting the leeks.  Also picked the kale, carrots and parsnips.

The Plymouth Barred Rocks in their new pen

 

I'm Back

I know that I have been absent for quite some time.  It has been a busy and stressful summer.  First off, we have had the most rainy summer I have ever experienced.  This led to numerous problems situations that we have had to work around: 

First off we did not get the barn finished as we had intended as our property is mainly clay and to try to work around in the mud was just no fun.

With the barn not finished our animals have had to reside in makeshift pens and were shuffled several times to different areas.  Husband did finish the portion of the barn that hooked to the hen house, so we were able to get some permanent quarters for the geese and ducks. The old duck half of the hen house was taken over by the new laying hens (Plymouth Barred Rock).  The upper portion of this 'barn section' can now house the hay, and we managed to get most of that out of the garage (yeah! more room)

The pigs have been moved three times now.  One earlier post shows what should have been their permanent pen.  Unfortunately with the relentless rain the entire area became a huge mud pit with the muck reaching the pigs bellies in some places.  We worried that they would become ill or get some kind of foot disease, so we moved them once again.

Most of the garden didn't get weeded on a regular basis because it was just too wet and the water was sitting in the pathways.  A lot of our garden plants did not produce this year because of the weather, yet some did surprisingly well.

I seem to have made quite a bit of jam this year - grape, black currant (from our gardens) and apricot (from a coworker's brother who lives in the Okanagan).

We had several sets of visitors over the summer.  My penpal from Germany and her husband came to stay for a few days during their holiday to BC and Alberta.  It was so great to finally meet her!

It took me three months to get our rental house finished and it was listed for sale last Friday.  With that complete I feel like I can breathe a sigh of relief.  I think that has caused me the greatest stress - trying to get the house repaired, painted and updated (Thank you Dad for all your help!) and the continual discovery of more damage caused by the last tenants not noticed on their departure.

We managed one day as a family holiday in which we travelled to Barkerville.  We all love visiting the historic gold rush town of Barkerville.

Husband and I also managed to get away to Kelowna for a few days in September.  It was a holiday for me but he had to work.  We drank lots of great Okanagan wine.  I know that most people don't associate Canada, or specifically British Columbia, with wine but we actually produce top quality wines in the Okanagan region.  I did a lot of walking around the hotel, downtown and the lake.   The weather was surprisingly good - rain overnight, overcast in the mornings and sunny and warm in the afternoon.

Husband also started a new job over the summer.  He has more stress but will not be out on the road as much which is a good thing because I always worry.

So that was about it for my summer (or lack thereof). Hopefully next year we will actually get some sunshine.  Now onto winter....

Wednesday in Pictures and Commentary

Foxglove - my favourite flower but unfortunately doesn't grow in our climate.  So what is doing in the flowerbed?  Well, Husband started some foxglove seeds last year and they all died off with the exception on a couple which I planted in front of the house (south facing) to catch the heat.  It grew but did not produce any flowers.  In it the fall I didn't pull it out and the deep snow must have kept it fairly insulated.  This spring it started to grow again and now it has flowered!  I love it and so do the bees!

The front flowerbed has finally filled in with perennials - it is looking rather pretty with all the pink flowers!




The new permanent pig pen is finally complete!  The pigs are loving it as there is greenery (almost completely mowed down now) and lots of space to play.

This morning's collection of eggs.  Look at that huge one in the middle! 

Life and Death on the Farm

Two weeks ago we hatched another six Americauna chicks. This was our second chick hatch this year (or perhaps I should say ever) and we increased our hatch rate from 33% to 70%. Unfortunately one of the chicks died immediately after hatching.

The other morning as I went into the garage to water and feed this second batch of chicks in the Rubbermaid container brooder box I found that one had died. It appears that it was smothered by the other chicks while they slept. (another of our existing hens died this way after we introduced them to the hen house a couple of years ago)

It is always unfortunate when one of your livestock dies, but it is the way of the world - all are born and all must die one day (us included)

I have really been enjoying the pigs and geese. They have such wonderful personalities, and the pigs are extremely curious and playful. A far cry from their fearfulness when they first arrived at the acreage. The geese are just lovable.... when free ranging they just want to be where ever we are. They especially like to follow me (all the animals love me because I'm the 'food lady')

I'm beginning to wonder how I'll be in the autumn when it is butchering time.  Daughter has named all the animals.  I know we shouldn't name our food, but then we talk about them all the time so its easier if they are all named.  I'm not unfeeling or uncaring and I so enjoy the animals, but in my head I know they will be food for us one day.  So many people can't imagine butchering and eating an animal, but we are practical people.  I would rather know that the meat I am eating came from an animal that was raised properly and humanely, and that it had a happy life.  Purchasing a plastic wrapped styrofoam tray of meat where you have had no connection with the animal and have no history of how it was raised seem unnatural to me.  Though we have also purchased meat that way for a long time, I prefer to shop at our local butcher and buy free range beef, chicken and turkey that he brings in from local farms.

Here is a photo of the ducklings we hatched out last week.  Out of the nine eggs only four hatched.  We have decided to sell them, so if you would like to add some Khaki Campbell ducks to your homestead just let me know :)

Wordless Wednesday

  

Gourmet Dinner at Home

This was a long weekend for Canadians as today was Victoria Day celebrating the birthday of Queen Victoria (for our country's British heritage)

Husband, Son and I spent most of the weekend outdoors weeding, cleaning and getting the gardens ready for planting. We took breaks to talk to the pigs helping them get used to us and their new environment. The neighbours also brought their young children over to spend some time with the goslings and to see the piglets... there's nothing cuter then seeing toddlers with animal babies!

Daughter had a project to complete this weekend for her Foods 9 class - to cook and present a gourmet meal. How wonderful to come in after the garden work, have a hot shower and then be served a beautiful meal. Here are the photos documenting her meal... and it was delicious!

Menu



Table Setting

Appetizer

Mozzerella and Sweet Basil Bruschetta

Main Course

Savoury Chicken Bake

White Wine Asparagus Risotto

Cucumber Yogurt Salad

Dessert

Diabolic Cheesecake with Sliced Strawberries

The Pigs Have Arrived!

Thursday afternoon Husband and I drove to the next town to meet up with the people who were selling the piglets. We waited in the Co-op parking lot not knowing who we were meeting, or what they were driving. As we waited Husband made a comment wondering if this is what drug dealers feel like when they're waiting to make an exchange.

After about 25 minutes a silver pickup truck roared up next to us... they has obviously seen the dog crates in the back of our truck with which to transport the pigs.

They had a wire dog crate containing six piglets as they were meeting another buyer as well as us.

Pigs were grabbed by their back legs and ferried over into our crates. We expected a lot of squealing but only one protested... probably because they were fast asleep by the time they arrived at the Co-op.

When we got home and hour and a half later the pigs were fast asleep again. After getting the pig ark filled with hay Husband began to unload the piglets into their new pen, only to have one escape between the fencing slats... they were a lot smaller than he had anticipated when building the fence. So we ran around trying to catch her, looking like a bunch of maniacs I'm sure. Once caught and secured, we had to fix the fencing so that they wouldn't get out again. When all four pigs were in their new home Daughter had names for them all within a few minutes. We now have Boris, Delicious, Bacon and Miss Piggy at the acreage.

The pigs are very skittish but are beginning to slowly get used to us. Son was even able to scratch one's back as he fed them today.

So, our adventures in pig raising has begun!

















 Posted on Homestead Barn Hop #14

Heritage Pigs - Part 3 - The End

In the continuing saga of the heritage pig search....

 Berkshire - The Berkshire pig is also known as the "lady's pig" because of its smaller size and is a friendly and curious breed.  This pig is known for its excellent meat which is heavily marbled and flavourful.  The pig is black with white points on its snout, feet and tail.  The Berkshires have good mothering instincts and litter of 8-10 piglets.  Rare Breeds Canada lists eight breeders of Berkshire in Canada.

So, that is it for rare breed pigs in Canada.  Five.  Five rare breeds of pig - Tamworth, Red Wattle, Large Black, Hampshire and the Berkshire.  Oh, and don't forget the two Gloucestershire Old Spot located on Vancouver Island.

I find it very sad that so many breeds are becoming extinct because one or two breeds have become the predominant producers of bacon, pork, and lard, and all others have been thrown by the wayside.

The reason I want heritage pigs (and other animals and plants) is preserve the diversity of livestock which is dwindling worldwide.  They are part of our history - a living history of the farm.  They are what our grandparents, great grandparents and forefathers owned, bred and consumed. 

Genetic diversity is so important to the environment and also to humans as a species.  If the diversity of plants and animals is wiped out - in reality, then so are we. It may take a while, but it will happen.  Eventually.

Husband's Projects Around the Acreage

Husband usually has several projects on the go or in his mind that he is planning for the near future.

Yesterday, he worked in the large greenhouse fixing the roof ridge pieces that broke from the heavy snow, but the plastic will have to be replaced at a later time. He did manage to find an entire roll of poly in the storage box, so that saves us from having to buy more. He also wants to build up the boxes on the floor of the greenhouse so that we can add more soil as last year we found it wasn't deep enough.

He is already planning the construction of our third greenhouse which he's been talking about since last year.

The next big project is constructing the pig ark and fencing (once the snow is gone). He wants to build one like this but to hinge one section of the roof so that we can lift it for easier cleaning inside the ark.
The design can be found here.

We have also been talking about building a root cellar. We don't have an adequate space in the house, garage or crawspace, so we are considering going the old timers route and digging into the ground, building a 'box' that can be buried and accessed from one side. It needs to be investigated and planned some more, but should be doable fairly close to the house.

Other then the above he also has the garage full of bedding plants for the flower gardens and has started a lot of the vegetables... now waiting for the third week of May or so for the garden planting

Heritage Pigs - Part 2

Well in continuation of my heritage pig search this is now post #2.

This year we are getting the mixed breed weaner pigs which will be butchered disposed of in the fall. I still would like to own and later breed a heritage pig, but like all animals need to find the right one in temperament and traits for our circumstances.

Could this by the breed for us?

Large Black Pig - another domestic pig of England and the only one which is wholly black in colour. The Large Black is a docile pig perhaps because their large ears flop over the eyes partially obscuring their vision. They are known to have good mothering instincts with litter of 8-10 piglets. They are good for novice keepers and are a low maintenance grazing pig and is a hardy outdoor breed. I have looked at the Rare Breeds Canada website and there are several breeders around Canada and I know of some in BC as well. Now to find out of there is enough genetic diversity around...

Hampshire - This is another easy to handle breed originally exported from England. Another pig excelling in motherhood with litters of 8-10 piglets. This pig does well in any environmnet and is a good forager. It is predominantly black with a white saddle and is a lean breed. Rare Breeds Canada only has one breeder of Hampshires here.

Red Wattle - I already know this breed is not for us as this is a very active breed. It has ruddy hair and a fleshy wattle attached to each side of the neck. It originates from the United States and typically weigh 600-800 pounds but can reach 1500 pounds. Rare Breeds Canada only lists one breeder in our country.

Piggies!

Well my weaner pig issues seems to have been resolved! Yesterday someone responded to the ad I had placed on Kijiji.ca (used more here than Craigslist). They just had 7 piglets born on April 2 and will be selling four of them to us. They will even deliver to the next town on May 19th so it will save us a 3 hour drive (one way)!

Apparently the piggies are a cross of Yorkshire/Landrace and Berkshire. I'm so excited!!!!


Now we'll need to hurry to get a pen and fencing up once the snow leaves the area for the pigs.

Heritage Pigs - Part 1

We will be adding some weaner pigs to the acreage this spring.... I am determined even though I am having a really difficult time finding any. Who would have thought that this would be such a difficult endeavour. I have everyone I know looking out for piglets for me (I figure it's not what you know, but who you know). I have been in contact with a lady through the Alberta Chicken Etc forum from Tatlayoko Lake - she may have a couple of piglet for me, though I won't know for sure until later in April. Should it pan out, I'll be driving down to Williams Lake to pick them up... but that is just fine by me. I will consider myself lucky to be able to get some pigs!

I have been doing a bit of investigating about heritage breeds of pigs. One day I would love to add some to our little acreage for breeding purposes (though I'm not sure that Husband is in the same mind). I'm amazed that the two breeds (Gloucestershire Old Spot and Tamworth) I'm interested in, are either not available in Canada, or are in such small numbers that they are very closely related.

Gloucestershire Old Spot - I found a farm on Vancouver Island who had brought two in from the US, but has been unable to find a sire, or import semen. She has in turn cross bred them to Berkshire and Duroc pigs and the resulting pigs do retain their spots.

The GOS is a very early English breed and is sometimes known as the 'orchard pig' as they traditionally grazed on orchards and ate the fallen apples. Old Spots tend to be very calm, good-natured animals, another trait that makes them desirable to homesteaders and small farmers.

Tamworth - The Tamworth is listed on the Rare Breeds Canada website as on the critical list with less than 100 registered animals. I have found some breeders around, but again, most cross breed as there is a shortage of genetic diversity with the the pigs have too many common ancestors. In Canada, many farms had a few Tamworths until the 1960’s. Regulations against keeping pigs in barns with dairy cattle, new systems of grading pork and the introduction of confinement rearing systems contributed to the decline of the Tamworth in the last 40 years.

Tamworths are the oldest breeds and is the most direct decendant of the European wild boar. The Tamworth is a very hardy animal. Its background as the forest pig means that it is ideally suited to outdoor production, even in rough woodland. A rugged and thrifty animal particularly suited for grazing, salvaging crops or following behind grazing cattle.