Two more goose eggs hatching!!  Received 15 turkeys this morning too!!

The farm office at planting time.

Greens and herbs from the greenhouse and fresh wild violets.  Stop by the farm and pick some up!

Two new arrivals on the Farm!!!!  They arrived Friday morning, with our goose person coming to visit on Saturday!  Talk about timing!!

 

The nettles are in, though it is late this year, so it may be a short season. Pictured here are fresh nettles, steamed, and an awesome Nettles Soap.  Remember we do the picking for you so you don't have to get stung. And, you get them in a paper bag so that if you do not eat the whole batch you just let the rest dry in the bag for use later.  If your not familiar with nettles ask us for more information about this spring special, highly nutritious green, that is a part of cultures around the world.   

This picture doesn't quite do our pastured/free range eggs justice but you get the idea.  When you buy eggs from Black Sheep Enterprises each doz will have a variety of egg shells from our heritage and heritage crossed hens.  The doz will include eggs that come from blue, green, white, off white, various shades of light brown, med. brown, dark brown, light brown speckled,  or darker brown speckled eggs.
University research indicates that eggs coming from growing conditions such as ours have higher Omega 3's and nutrients than from conventionally grown hens. Our eggs come in clear plastic so that you can enjoy the variety and colors so we ask you recycle these containers, or bring your own container.  We also gift wrap with raffia and a chicken feather for that special occasion for free.  We've been told it's the perfect gift for the person who has everything or that foodie geek you never know what to get.  

Have split these apart, and now have organic hops plants for sale and ready to set out.  Call for more info. 

We got back into the field, (and it was dry enough to get back out too!!), soil still cold, brr!  Able to get potatoes and onions in.  We got in about 900 potatoes, (estimate 1300 more to go), and about 500 onions,(estimate of 2600 to go)  Next in line after these will be to start "The Indian Legend " Three sister's Plot""!!  Corn to be put in first, come out and we'll tell your kids/grand kids the story.  Then the popcorn which is an organic open pollinated variety I developed.  And transplants of brussel sprouts, tomatoes, sunflowers, and on and on!!  Pat to pick up seed shallots, and broom corn seed tonight.

Still have CSA memberships available!

Newest addition by its choice!

Had a least weasel join our operation last December.  To small to hurt chickens or their eggs, and this one seams to come and go.  Lives mainly on small mice type rodents.  Some people believe het are among other things witches familiars!

First Cherry Tree in Full Bloom.

Lamb water slide

Winter came back!  Cold, wet, rainy!  Shetland babies all went to the pasture to play in the wet grass.  When Mom finally got them back to the dry lot, they had to have several goes at the "water slide"!!  The tarp had been attached to the fence when the barn blew down last winter.  Now, with an East wind and the rain, what fun to chase each other up and tumble back down!!!

Activity todate:

Well, winter left for a few hours so we are getting a chance for some field work.  Cannot do a total field yet, but progressing!  Worked some in orchard clean-up, so more wood available for "meat smokers", also cleaning up equipment in the old bee yard, should have some boxes to sell cheap!  Watching for morels and wild asparagus.  Checked the mower out and started to mow between the grape rows, their buds look strong this year!  Getting ready to move sheep and goats back on pasture.  Should have two more ewes to drop lambs, and 1, (maybe 2) goats to go as well!  Getting about 15 chicken eggs per day, turkey setting, geese laying and setting, 2 nests, and the ducks, who knows!!!  They have snuck off into the wetlands and have a couple of hidden nests somewhere, with  one hen setting.  Started planting potatoes and onions outside, and prepped an area for early plants.  Plenty of activity in the greenhouse with starts for outside, and small offerings of spring greens.  Great to eat fresh veggies again.

Had two bee hives lost to colony collapse.  Still more to do, but have 20# of honey so far.  Other naturals coming are violet flowers, white only so far.  What a way to say SPRING with a salad with violet flowers.  Order a pint today!!  Nettles, cattails, and other natives are coming on too!!