July 11th, 2016
Today, I was tending the garden. I noticed that many of the flowers on our hanging plants were drying up from the intense sunlight. I started plucking the dried out flowers to make room for new growth. There are loads of buds ready to bloom. Our flowers will look amazing by the end of the week. I was never good with flowers in the past. I gave them too much water and never pruned them. I feared that I would remove too much and kill the plant. The earth would get mouldy and no new flowers would grow because the entire plant was packed with dead flowers. My husband showed me how to prune plants and flowers the first year we lived at this home. His grandmother had taught him the art of pruning in her rose garden in England.
As I pruned today, I thought about the parallels between my gardening style and my habits. I hang on to stuff way too long. I have a lot of clothing that I wore when I was a teenager. I no longer have the body of a teenager but I am attached to the clothing. Each dress has a story, a fun memory associated with it. I hold onto books and paperwork-scraps of paper with notes, insights from experiences or books and, awesome quotes.
I was thinking about the importance of pruning in life in general. At any given time, we can pretty much fill a few boxes with items we have outgrown or simply haven't used recently. Having a cluttered home feels heavy and drains our energy.
There are people in our lives who no longer belong there. You may need to let go of a spouse, a friend, a colleague or a relative. It can be painful to end a relationship even if it's long overdue. You are inflicting pain on another person and, a break-up entails conflict which can feel scary and uncomfortable. If that person is part of a group of friends, you may also fear the backlash from other members of that group as a result of your pruning.
I often meet people who need to change careers. They have been in the same job for ten years, they used to love it but they no longer care about it, they resent it and feel run down every day when they have to go to work.
Like me, you may need to prune your closet and keep only the clothing that still represents who you are then donate the rest.
Activities can also be pruned. Look at your schedule and put an "x" on all the items in your calendar that don't need to be there. We tend to fill our schedules and we rarely have time to assess these activities later on to see if they are still meaningful to us.
Life is meant to be savoured. How much of your life do you love? I remember when owning and pruning Bonzai trees were a trend. You had to know what to cut out and what to leave in. Our lives are like that. Sometimes we need to stop and examine our lives. We can prune away the items that are weighing us down and the people who are draining our energy. By paying attention to how much time we devote to activities we no longer enjoy compared to what lights us up, we can see what needs to go. Pruning our lives, like Bonzai trees, is an art. We need to know what fills us up and what empties us and act accordingly.
If you're curious, grab a piece of paper and divide it into two columns. Write a heading for each column; Fills Me, Empties Me. Then, list all the people and activities that fit into each column. You may be surprised by how uneven your columns are or by who and what ends up where. Happy pruning!
Anne Walsh
www.artnsoul.org
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Monday, 11 July 2016
Friday, 22 January 2016
Triple B Ranch-Sheep and Cheerful
January 21st, 2016
Today was a treat! I met with Terresa Buffman at Triple B Ranch. I wanted to pick her brain as she runs a successful farm in Oxford Station and I am very interested in learning about farming. I'd love to own chickens, goats and grow our own vegetables.
Shortly after we moved to Kemptville, some locals approached us about boarding their horses. They had three horses and we have seven box stalls. I explained to them that I knew nothing about horses and I was very pregnant so they would need to come every day to take care of their horses. We also had them sign a waiver because we weren't sure if our barn was suitable or safe. They boarded their horses here until they purchased a home with a barn up the street from us and moved their horses to the new home. My daughters and I visited the horses every day when they lived on our property. Occasionally, we would feed them apples. When they left, I missed them and realized I really loved horses. I saw ads on Facebook for free horses and started talking to my husband, the realist, about my dream of having horses on the property again. I talked to horse lovers and they warned me that horses are NOT pets. They cost a lot of money and you need to know what you are doing.
I decided to aim lower, perhaps we could start with chickens. There used to be chickens on this property. Everyone I spoke to assured me they were easy to care for, they even eat dinner scraps and compost. Someone told me they eat egg shells, that just seems wrong. My husband has warmed up to the idea over time, he eats three eggs a day. I know a number of people who purchased lots of chickens and they end up with too many eggs. My goal is to have two chickens. We'd get fresh eggs every day.
I also love goats. They are adorable and, we can get goat's milk, cheese and soap, all from one source. I heard they eat everything and climb on stuff so I thought I would talk to people before we move any further in that direction. Terresa tells me there is a demand for goat's cheese at the moment. She knows someone who owns goats and she thinks they are very much like sheep.
My other goal is to grow our own vegetables. We have a tomato and herb garden every year but the chipmunks always eat our tomatoes before they are ripe. Very frustrating. If we could build a small greenhouse, I'd love to have spinach, kale, onions, tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and herbs.
I was raised in the city so I need to do my research if any of this is going to succeed. That is where Terresa comes in. She is also a city girl. She moved to the country in 1993 with her husband and they built their first house together on a one acre plot of land. They lived there for 17 years. They purchased 50 acres of land with nothing on it, just trees and moved to their home on this property in November 2007. They have since expanded the land to 100 acres. They weren't sure what to do with the land at first. Then, their three daughters became interested in horses. They bought a horse from the 4H lady for one daughter, got a second horse for free and, seeing as their youngest daughter wasn't sure yet about getting a horse, they gave her five bunnies. The girls learned to be responsible for their animals.
Terresa felt intimidated by the horses at first, they are huge. It took her over a month just to get into the paddock with them. When their youngest daughter decided she'd also like to have a horse, they got her a pony. The Buffham family decided to try their hand at chickens. They had watched Food Inc. and it turned their life around. The were determined to know where their food was coming from. They built chicken coops and purchased 2 laying hens, 10 meat birds and 3 turkeys. They now have 85 laying hens, 100 meat birds and 50 turkeys. Terresa says the demand has grown over the years and they plan to have even more meat birds this year because the meat birds always make money.
The Buffhams wondered what their next step might be. They wanted to have something fun that could subsidize their true passion, horses. They decided to launch Triple B Ranch as a business and purchased 18 sheep. This was an investment they made as a family, every member help. It has been a great experience for their three daughters. They learned about responsibility, caring for animals, the food chain and, they spent time in nature (not on technology). The farm became something the girls could fall back on and they just soaked up the experience. Terresa says the children "are like sponges". Her eldest daughter can't wait to own her own farm one day. The farm also helped the family through some tough times. "Farming is a full-time job but it centres you. You are out in nature, the animals are always happy to see you and they won't talk back".
Terresa has started sharing her passion for this way of life with other children through her Agriculture Day Camp. Children aged 6+ can sign up. They get a binder which they are responsible for until the end of the program. They decorate their binder and receive inserts. They must learn about the proper care of animals and the various parts of an animal. They also get to garden together. Each child chose an animal to present, walking up and down the driveway. The children are learning about the food they eat, they are getting fresh air and exercise and, they go home dirty and tired. Many of them fall asleep on their way home. If you'd like to sign up children for the Triple B Ranch Summer Camp, I suggest you do it now. Children are already registered. You can e-mail Terresa at triplebranch2008@gmail.com or call her at (613) 285-6243.
She has had to learn about farming the hard way, losing part of her herd, costly vet bills etc. She taught me so much in our short time together and now I will share her tips with you.
Tip #1 Fencing is key, to keep the animals in and to ensure coyote stay out. Otherwise you spend a lot of time chasing the animals when they escape. Having a donkey is also a good safety measure to keep coyote out.
Tip #2 Start small, you can always expand. They had 18 sheep from the start. It was too much. You must consider how many people are on hand to help.
Tip #3 Sheep don't stay healthy just from being in an area, eating grass. You must take preventative measures to keep the animals healthy. By the time you realize a sheep is ill, it's too late, it will die within three days. Preventative measures include livestock management, you can't have too many sheep in one area or too many animals crowded together. Animals need deworming, vitamins, minerals and antibiotics right away when they get sick.
Tip #4 If you get an animal from another farm, don't mix it with your animals right away. Animals have Coccidia, a parasite that lives in their feces. When they poop, this contaminates the grass where your other animals are eating, infecting all the animals. That's why you never throw their food on the ground, you don't want it to get contaminated. You must treat the Coccidia with an antibiotic before introducing new animals into the herd.
Tip#4 Get a mobile fence and partition your animals. Rotate the animals so you are not putting the same bacteria into the ground. You can also get Guinea Fowl, they will detox your grass for you.
Tip #5 If you can't afford to buy or build a greenhouse, you can raise the garden beds to keep animals out. Terresa will experiment with growing starter plants in the straw bales with a bit of earth this year.
Tip #6 Terresa rescued some pot bellied pigs when a farm was ravaged by a fire. She realized she could never have pigs. They are messy, they destroy the pasture and the smell is intense, especially their feet. So, if you are considering this animal, you may want to visit someone with pot bellied pigs to assess whether this animal is right for you.
Tip #7 They purchased a cow for beef one year ago. She highly recommends it. They'll eat the hay no one else wants, the coarse stuff and, they are hardier than the sheep. However, if you get a male, you must have him de-horned and he should be castrated so he doesn't get too aggressive. They are gentle and affectionate. They will be expanding their beef business so please help get the word out. The Buffham's beef and poultry are free range, without chemicals or by-products.
Tip #8 If you decide to have meat birds, females take longer to grow. Cockerels eat more and grow faster but they get aggressive and start pecking each other. You need to be careful otherwise you start losing your birds.
As you can see, my visit to the farm was very informative. We ran out of time for me to actually see the animals. I will be back to meet the animals. Next time, I'm bringing my daughters.
Anne Walsh
Today was a treat! I met with Terresa Buffman at Triple B Ranch. I wanted to pick her brain as she runs a successful farm in Oxford Station and I am very interested in learning about farming. I'd love to own chickens, goats and grow our own vegetables.
Shortly after we moved to Kemptville, some locals approached us about boarding their horses. They had three horses and we have seven box stalls. I explained to them that I knew nothing about horses and I was very pregnant so they would need to come every day to take care of their horses. We also had them sign a waiver because we weren't sure if our barn was suitable or safe. They boarded their horses here until they purchased a home with a barn up the street from us and moved their horses to the new home. My daughters and I visited the horses every day when they lived on our property. Occasionally, we would feed them apples. When they left, I missed them and realized I really loved horses. I saw ads on Facebook for free horses and started talking to my husband, the realist, about my dream of having horses on the property again. I talked to horse lovers and they warned me that horses are NOT pets. They cost a lot of money and you need to know what you are doing.
I decided to aim lower, perhaps we could start with chickens. There used to be chickens on this property. Everyone I spoke to assured me they were easy to care for, they even eat dinner scraps and compost. Someone told me they eat egg shells, that just seems wrong. My husband has warmed up to the idea over time, he eats three eggs a day. I know a number of people who purchased lots of chickens and they end up with too many eggs. My goal is to have two chickens. We'd get fresh eggs every day.
I also love goats. They are adorable and, we can get goat's milk, cheese and soap, all from one source. I heard they eat everything and climb on stuff so I thought I would talk to people before we move any further in that direction. Terresa tells me there is a demand for goat's cheese at the moment. She knows someone who owns goats and she thinks they are very much like sheep.
My other goal is to grow our own vegetables. We have a tomato and herb garden every year but the chipmunks always eat our tomatoes before they are ripe. Very frustrating. If we could build a small greenhouse, I'd love to have spinach, kale, onions, tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and herbs.
I was raised in the city so I need to do my research if any of this is going to succeed. That is where Terresa comes in. She is also a city girl. She moved to the country in 1993 with her husband and they built their first house together on a one acre plot of land. They lived there for 17 years. They purchased 50 acres of land with nothing on it, just trees and moved to their home on this property in November 2007. They have since expanded the land to 100 acres. They weren't sure what to do with the land at first. Then, their three daughters became interested in horses. They bought a horse from the 4H lady for one daughter, got a second horse for free and, seeing as their youngest daughter wasn't sure yet about getting a horse, they gave her five bunnies. The girls learned to be responsible for their animals.
Terresa felt intimidated by the horses at first, they are huge. It took her over a month just to get into the paddock with them. When their youngest daughter decided she'd also like to have a horse, they got her a pony. The Buffham family decided to try their hand at chickens. They had watched Food Inc. and it turned their life around. The were determined to know where their food was coming from. They built chicken coops and purchased 2 laying hens, 10 meat birds and 3 turkeys. They now have 85 laying hens, 100 meat birds and 50 turkeys. Terresa says the demand has grown over the years and they plan to have even more meat birds this year because the meat birds always make money.
The Buffhams wondered what their next step might be. They wanted to have something fun that could subsidize their true passion, horses. They decided to launch Triple B Ranch as a business and purchased 18 sheep. This was an investment they made as a family, every member help. It has been a great experience for their three daughters. They learned about responsibility, caring for animals, the food chain and, they spent time in nature (not on technology). The farm became something the girls could fall back on and they just soaked up the experience. Terresa says the children "are like sponges". Her eldest daughter can't wait to own her own farm one day. The farm also helped the family through some tough times. "Farming is a full-time job but it centres you. You are out in nature, the animals are always happy to see you and they won't talk back".
Terresa has started sharing her passion for this way of life with other children through her Agriculture Day Camp. Children aged 6+ can sign up. They get a binder which they are responsible for until the end of the program. They decorate their binder and receive inserts. They must learn about the proper care of animals and the various parts of an animal. They also get to garden together. Each child chose an animal to present, walking up and down the driveway. The children are learning about the food they eat, they are getting fresh air and exercise and, they go home dirty and tired. Many of them fall asleep on their way home. If you'd like to sign up children for the Triple B Ranch Summer Camp, I suggest you do it now. Children are already registered. You can e-mail Terresa at triplebranch2008@gmail.com or call her at (613) 285-6243.
She has had to learn about farming the hard way, losing part of her herd, costly vet bills etc. She taught me so much in our short time together and now I will share her tips with you.
Tip #1 Fencing is key, to keep the animals in and to ensure coyote stay out. Otherwise you spend a lot of time chasing the animals when they escape. Having a donkey is also a good safety measure to keep coyote out.
Tip #2 Start small, you can always expand. They had 18 sheep from the start. It was too much. You must consider how many people are on hand to help.
Tip #3 Sheep don't stay healthy just from being in an area, eating grass. You must take preventative measures to keep the animals healthy. By the time you realize a sheep is ill, it's too late, it will die within three days. Preventative measures include livestock management, you can't have too many sheep in one area or too many animals crowded together. Animals need deworming, vitamins, minerals and antibiotics right away when they get sick.
Tip #4 If you get an animal from another farm, don't mix it with your animals right away. Animals have Coccidia, a parasite that lives in their feces. When they poop, this contaminates the grass where your other animals are eating, infecting all the animals. That's why you never throw their food on the ground, you don't want it to get contaminated. You must treat the Coccidia with an antibiotic before introducing new animals into the herd.
Tip#4 Get a mobile fence and partition your animals. Rotate the animals so you are not putting the same bacteria into the ground. You can also get Guinea Fowl, they will detox your grass for you.
Tip #5 If you can't afford to buy or build a greenhouse, you can raise the garden beds to keep animals out. Terresa will experiment with growing starter plants in the straw bales with a bit of earth this year.
Tip #6 Terresa rescued some pot bellied pigs when a farm was ravaged by a fire. She realized she could never have pigs. They are messy, they destroy the pasture and the smell is intense, especially their feet. So, if you are considering this animal, you may want to visit someone with pot bellied pigs to assess whether this animal is right for you.
Tip #7 They purchased a cow for beef one year ago. She highly recommends it. They'll eat the hay no one else wants, the coarse stuff and, they are hardier than the sheep. However, if you get a male, you must have him de-horned and he should be castrated so he doesn't get too aggressive. They are gentle and affectionate. They will be expanding their beef business so please help get the word out. The Buffham's beef and poultry are free range, without chemicals or by-products.
Tip #8 If you decide to have meat birds, females take longer to grow. Cockerels eat more and grow faster but they get aggressive and start pecking each other. You need to be careful otherwise you start losing your birds.
As you can see, my visit to the farm was very informative. We ran out of time for me to actually see the animals. I will be back to meet the animals. Next time, I'm bringing my daughters.
Anne Walsh
Wednesday, 6 January 2016
Country Living
January 6th, 2016
I'm not sure if you would notice this, living in the city but there is a growing trend of people moving to the country for a simpler life. My husband and I moved out to Kemptville with our 2.5 year old in 2008 to do just that. We were six months pregnant with our second and wanted to provide outdoor space and fresh air for our daughters. He also wanted to work from home without being "in" the house. The old carriage house on our property became his salon and the rest, as they say, is history.
When we moved out to the country, we spent more time outdoors, got exercise maintaining and renovating the property and got to know the key people in the area. Doug ploughs our driveway and dumps loads of gravel in our driveways for us. Greg mows our lawn (we have five acres so this is an important task) and chops down any dead tree that collapses on our property. The people all seem to know each other out here like one huge, extended family. I was facsinated when we walked down the street to pet the horses at the Williams' farm and neighbors driving by would wave at us. I learned early on to just smile and wave back. I'd ask my husband: "Did you know that person?", he'd say: "No, I thought you did". People just wave out here to acknowledge one another, how cool is that?! I grew up in the city where my neighbors shared a wall with us and if we opened our apartment door at the same time, they would wait until we had left before they ventured out. Why? I haven't a clue.
So, an increasing amount of city dwellers are moving out to the country, some get hobby farms and learn to make cheese or take over a winery. Others are just pleased by the friendly people, the slower pace, the fresh air and wide open spaces, they might get a few chickens or start a garden. My husband receives fresh farm eggs (numbered with feathers still attached), pickled beets, a warm loaf of bread,
freshly made jam or baskets of produce from his clients, a treat for all of us.
I love watching older adults gardening, mowing the lawn, shoveling, fixing something on their property, farming or tinkering with farm equipment. What a contrast to the frail elderly I encountered during my employment in long term care facilities. We've lived here for nearly eight years now and I no longer feel like an outsider. I recognize and chat with people everywhere I go. My children have always gone to school out here so they feel quite at home here. I am happy for them. We moved around a lot when I was growing up so it's important to me that my girls have childhood friends that they can grow up with, experiencing all the rites of passage together.
Ever since we moved here I have wanted to have chickens and goats. My husband who is more practical worries about the cost of having someone look after our animals when we go away for one or two weeks in the winter. I am less concerned with this as we already have someone house sit to care for our cat and dog. I am always asking people who have animals for tips and advice. I plan to use this blog as an excuse to visit local farmers and learn from them how to care for chickens and goats, when to plant what in my garden (flowers and veggies) and how to make fresh cheese from
goat's milk.
On December 29th, 2015, Diana Leeson Fisher dropped off a few copies of her new book, The
Accidental Farmwife. This is a collection of stories taken from her column in local papers. She was a city dweller until she married a farmer and her book describes her adventure as she learned to be a
farmwife. I am loving this book and am nearly done reading it. I have learned so much already. I know donkeys need to be kept busy or they get mischievious, chickens are prone to heart attacks, it is better to mate sheep so their babies are born in the spring (otherwise some lambs won't survive the cold), I've learned that cows make good pets (who knew?) and that if a ewe has lambs when she is just a year old she may act as if she isn't pregnant and ignore her offspring when it comes. There is so much more to it but you really should get the book :). You can order a copy by e-mail: Dianafisher1@gmail.com
I am determined to get chickens next Spring and my friend Meredith has promised to reserve a few chicks for me. Stay tuned!
Anne
www.artnsoul.org
I'm not sure if you would notice this, living in the city but there is a growing trend of people moving to the country for a simpler life. My husband and I moved out to Kemptville with our 2.5 year old in 2008 to do just that. We were six months pregnant with our second and wanted to provide outdoor space and fresh air for our daughters. He also wanted to work from home without being "in" the house. The old carriage house on our property became his salon and the rest, as they say, is history.
When we moved out to the country, we spent more time outdoors, got exercise maintaining and renovating the property and got to know the key people in the area. Doug ploughs our driveway and dumps loads of gravel in our driveways for us. Greg mows our lawn (we have five acres so this is an important task) and chops down any dead tree that collapses on our property. The people all seem to know each other out here like one huge, extended family. I was facsinated when we walked down the street to pet the horses at the Williams' farm and neighbors driving by would wave at us. I learned early on to just smile and wave back. I'd ask my husband: "Did you know that person?", he'd say: "No, I thought you did". People just wave out here to acknowledge one another, how cool is that?! I grew up in the city where my neighbors shared a wall with us and if we opened our apartment door at the same time, they would wait until we had left before they ventured out. Why? I haven't a clue.
So, an increasing amount of city dwellers are moving out to the country, some get hobby farms and learn to make cheese or take over a winery. Others are just pleased by the friendly people, the slower pace, the fresh air and wide open spaces, they might get a few chickens or start a garden. My husband receives fresh farm eggs (numbered with feathers still attached), pickled beets, a warm loaf of bread,
freshly made jam or baskets of produce from his clients, a treat for all of us.
I love watching older adults gardening, mowing the lawn, shoveling, fixing something on their property, farming or tinkering with farm equipment. What a contrast to the frail elderly I encountered during my employment in long term care facilities. We've lived here for nearly eight years now and I no longer feel like an outsider. I recognize and chat with people everywhere I go. My children have always gone to school out here so they feel quite at home here. I am happy for them. We moved around a lot when I was growing up so it's important to me that my girls have childhood friends that they can grow up with, experiencing all the rites of passage together.
Ever since we moved here I have wanted to have chickens and goats. My husband who is more practical worries about the cost of having someone look after our animals when we go away for one or two weeks in the winter. I am less concerned with this as we already have someone house sit to care for our cat and dog. I am always asking people who have animals for tips and advice. I plan to use this blog as an excuse to visit local farmers and learn from them how to care for chickens and goats, when to plant what in my garden (flowers and veggies) and how to make fresh cheese from
goat's milk.
On December 29th, 2015, Diana Leeson Fisher dropped off a few copies of her new book, The
Accidental Farmwife. This is a collection of stories taken from her column in local papers. She was a city dweller until she married a farmer and her book describes her adventure as she learned to be a
farmwife. I am loving this book and am nearly done reading it. I have learned so much already. I know donkeys need to be kept busy or they get mischievious, chickens are prone to heart attacks, it is better to mate sheep so their babies are born in the spring (otherwise some lambs won't survive the cold), I've learned that cows make good pets (who knew?) and that if a ewe has lambs when she is just a year old she may act as if she isn't pregnant and ignore her offspring when it comes. There is so much more to it but you really should get the book :). You can order a copy by e-mail: Dianafisher1@gmail.com
I am determined to get chickens next Spring and my friend Meredith has promised to reserve a few chicks for me. Stay tuned!
Anne
www.artnsoul.org
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