LAUGHING WATER FARM

The early spring is propelling us to get inside projects finished before we need to do gardening chores and other outside activities. Jamie makes hand hooked rugs, using strips of wool she gets from old coats. She has been working on a carpet for the stairs, which has been a rather challenging project. Today, is the day, she lays it on the stairs; it is not a simple procedure. It is a very beautiful carpet and I could not do justice in an attempt to describe it. It is a magnificent addition to our household.

Everything on our homestead is going nicely. We are getting a gallon of milk a day from Lilly [goat] and Sophia had two very healthy doelings a few days ago. Starting tomorrow, we will get two gallons of milk a day. It will be time for cheese and yogurt making. Our chickens are laying enough, that we now have plenty for ourselves, and a, some, to give away.

Our sheep have yet to lamb; we have two ewes that could lamb any day and one that has a couple weeks to go. We just want a small herd, no more than seven, so we have plenty of pasture in case of drought. We do have more land that could be fenced in for pasture; something we have been meaning to do for some time.

We have turkeys and geese laying. I generally let the geese raise their own children. They are good parents and produce a good batch of goslings. They do a good job of protecting them from predators until their adolescence and then they often fall prey to the foxes that roam our neighborhood. Adult geese are safe from foxes, but half grown ones seem to be their favorite food.

I have not had success in letting turkeys hatch their eggs. Usually, I collect them and incubate a few. I sell about thirty young turkeys a year and raise up ten or so for ourselves. I may let the turkeys set on their eggs this year and hope for the best. We have a lot to do this Summer and it would be nice to be relieved of this chore. I know other people have had success letting their turkeys set.

Well, this has been a Laughing Water Farm update.

Love and Peace, Gregg