Getting Ready For Winter

Along with all of the traditional activities of fall: getting firewood split and stacked, laying in some hay for the winter, etc, I’ve been harvesting and drying herbs for the past several weeks, to be used as medicine. Some of my more favorite plants to harvest and dry are: Burdock, Sheep Sorrel, Blackberry, Peppermint, Echinacea, Lavender, Dandelion, Mullein, and Bergamot. Some are more difficult to find and/or are protected by law so, I purchase them (eg. Goldenseal root).
Of course, there’s a whole host of other herbs that can be utilized to keep one healthy, not to mention commonly used “kitchen spices” such as ginger root and caraway seed. If you’re interested in learning more about natural medicines, check out a local Naturopath by the name of Granny Earth. Go to: http://www.grannyearth.com

Cooking…share the love

Life here on the farm isn’t all about work.  One of my greatest joys in life is to cook for myself or for others.  It’s that time of year, when I begin to think of wonderful things to create in the kitchen.  Amidst the fermenting of the sauerkraut and the  bubbling of the sourdough culture and batches of home made wine, during autumn,  I began to feel the need to concoct culinary masterpieces. This feeling usually lasts until late May, when it starts to get too warm out to cook inside.

I was on a bit of a vegetarian kick the other weekend and whipped up a real fine feast.  Lentil soup, spinach pie, multi-grain rolls, and winter squash pie.  I have to say, the home made pie crusts turned out wonderful.

Just this past weekend, I made my “bread of the week”. sourdough bagels with flax, wheat germ, oat bran, and rolled oats.   Looking in the freezer for more inspiration, I found a rabbit from last year.  I roasted that rabbit up with red wine, vermouth, onions, carrots, garlic, and juniper berries.  It was a meal fit for a king.

Are we hungry yet?!  Enjoy your day.

 

More babies

As of yesterday, I’m a daddy….again. Lord give me strength.  New ducklings in the house!  And, for only being 24 hrs old, they’re pretty smart too…they like to keep up with current events.  Notice the photo in the newspaper article the one duckling is reading.  Something about a big rubber duck invading Pittsburgh.  How appropriate. LOL.

New addition to the family

Well, I should think it’s about time I post a picture of the new ram lamb.  He’s a Katahdin/Dorper cross and hails from Donegal, PA.  He was born May 15, 2013 and hopefully, will be ready to breed very soon.  He’s small compared to the ewes but he’s been growing well.