We'll be baaack!

And when we are, I'll fill you in on what's been going on around the farm.

I promise.

Just for the weekend. . .

Some great friends have come out to the farm for a long weekend to help out with some 'farm chores' both here and at a neighbors' place. And since they have a cow that needed to be milked, they brought her along as well! So for the weekend a milk cow has been added to the pasture with the sheep and the chickens.

And not just one cow, but three! These little guys are being bottle fed right now, so they made the trip too. Aren't they cute?

And our farm grows. . .

Well, the farmer is busy, so once again I've been elected to post. In the past couple of weeks, much has been added to our little farm. And it's still growing. We've added laying hens, sheep, a sheep dog that can't stand the sheep, and broiler chicks for eating later on, all on top of having a new baby in the house! (for pictures/info of him, you can go here) We're definitely having fun and learning a lot!

This is Reba, after Reba McEntire. The ewe does try to sing, but even Reba sounds better than that.

Here's our rooster, diligently guarding his hens. Or posing for a picture. Funny story--he stopped and looked up when I came out with the camera, and as soon as the shutter clicked, he walked on as if he had paused just to pose for me!

They're cute now. . .but they already smell badly. They sent us about 83 and we've lost about 2 so now we're down to about 70. . . chicken math. . . No, we've still got about 81, as far as I know.

And then there's Buck. His original name was 'Coon', derived from the markings on his face. Caleb, however, didn't like it, so it was changed. So far this dog has run away several times (making us spend about an hour searching for him, only to show up as soon as we decide to quit), eaten eggs that the chickens laid, stepped all over my lettuce and spinach growing in the garden, and crushed some of my transplants that I had outside on the porch! And he can't stand the sheep! Caleb secured four cow panels together out in the field and put the dog in it, and don't ask me how, but that mutt found his way out and ran back to the house. So I don't know what we're going to do with him. I felt like shooting him earlier when Kenan came in and held up half a broccoli plant that he had smashed.

Even Hannah loves the sheep! She's always asking to go out to "see seep"; her face lights up every time she talks about them!

Bill: HR 875

I know it's been a long time since I've posted but this got my attention and I need your help.
There is a bill that is being reviewed right now (HR 875 and S 425) that will hurt all natural, organic or even just small farmers, gardeners, etc.
They want to track and monitor all food and food ingredients, and farms will be subject to all the Laws in the Act applying to food establishments. This bill also gives the "Administrator" rights to inspect food establishments and detain and seize any food that he/she has reason to believe is unsafe. And anybody that resists or violates the food safety law "may be assessed a civil penalty by the Administrator of not more than $1,000,000 for each such act."

We need to do our part in trying to stop these bills from going any farther. HR 875 has been assigned to both the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Agriculture. We need to contact our elected representatives and the members of the two committees to ask that they oppose HR 875.

I would also recommend reading the bills (links below) to see for yourself what is trying to get passed.

Here is the bill HR 875

Here is the bill S 425

Also, HERE is an article on it at the Farmers to Consumers Legal Defense Fund website.

TEST!

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-Caleb