| Lighthouse Farm |
Back in blogdom after chasing sheepLet's face it, when the sheep escape their pasture, the choice between sitting down to blog or chase sheep never really even presents itself. It's a no-brainer! Our normally very well-behaved sheep have suddenly become very ornery. We have taught our children that animals will not escape if they are provided with greener pastures. However, if the pasture is greener on the other side, expect trouble. This theory has proved true up until recently. Our beautiful gourmet sheep have decided that the grass is greener on the other side, even if it is not. Even if it's shorter, even if it's just been plowed, they want to be everywhere where they are not supposed to be.The good news is that we think we have the problem somewhat fixed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us to his own way....There is a reason the Lord compares us to sheep. We have taken a looooong sabbtical from blogging and plan on returning intermittently. With full plates, something has to go at times and as much as we enjoy blogging, that is usually the first one to get shoved off. With farming, escaping sheep, spring babies and a very sick elderly family member, we haven't had much time to sit these days! Not complaining at all. We are very much enjoying being outside working, producing, being fruitful. We are halfway done with kidding. Three does are due next month. We also have a heifer due next month. Five sows are due withing the next couple to few months. We will have pigs ready for processing starting next month. In a few weeks the co-op we sell our meat to will be coming to the farm for a tour, so we're very busy trying to get ready for that. We are still cleaning up the farm and it is quite a large task. It's amazing what our little family of four can accomplish and we're very thankful for that! We are finished with planting the garden and if all goes well will have enough food to last us all winter. All the sheep have been sheared and lambing is finshed. With all of our ewe lambs now and all of our current sheep and if they all produce lambs like they did this year and if we can sell them all, we will almost have enough to pay fo property taxes (until they raise them with all the new building projects they have in line). We have mixed feelings about this. We are happy to maybe have enough income off of one venture of our farm to pay for property taxes and yet at the same time, our entire family works hard at this venture and we will see none of the profits nor will we enjoy them indirectly for we use none of the services which the majority of our property taxes go toward. I personally can think of many, many ministries and small businesses I'd rather support with that money for they are very fruitful, productive and frugal, but we are to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and I need to stop allowing my mind to wander into that area.  John was invited to speak more about Authentic Agriculture at a workshop at the Iowa Homeschool convention with Dr. Jim Bartlett of Biblical Concourse of Home Universities. They thoroughly enjoyed their time there and had a wonderful visit with part of the Bartlett family. Thankfully, things went rather smoothly with chores while John and one of our daughters was gone. Our other daughter and I took care of the animals and the animals cooperated (for the most part). If all goes well and I am able to have time to sit, I'll write about "The Egg Hog". Until then, Lisa The Farmer's Wife 12:33 - 2007-Jun-12 - comments {1} - post commentOde to Winter 2007The Winter That Wouldn't Let Goby the Mesko Family As we sit here in April Huddled against the cold, The winter of 2007 Is getting very old. It started in October With rain and freezing temp's. The cattle braced against the sleet And looked like four-legged wimps. November brought the first snow And we started feeding hay. The sheep preferred to forage Out in the pasture day after day. The water pipes froze in December As the temperatrue dipped below zero. "This is Minnesota," we said "Where the weather is as cold as Nero." On the 10th of January Our sow went into labor. Twelve below and shivering, This moment she did not savor. The white stuff came in February. The piles they did grow. The children dug and played and made Houses in the snow. We had to use the snowplow And sometimes got stuck. The pigs piled warm and high And the sheep showed lots of pluck. March is spring in most places, With green starting to peep. In 2007, March brought blizzards Through which we could only sleep. March 26th proved an odd day, We all grinned with glee, For the sun came out, melted the snow, And it was 81 degrees! Our hearts turned toward spring, Four inches of snow on April 10th Spring has sprung, it’s here for sure, 11:46 - 2007-Apr-16 - comments {1} - post commentVideo clip of the birth of a pigletWe posted a video clip of a sow giving birth to one of 16 piglets! If you are interested in viewing it, you may go here http://www.lighthousefarm.com/video/piglets.movAbout 5 weeks ago, the sow in the video gave birth to 16 piglets one evening at 10 below temp's. For those of you who don't know, 16 piglets is phenomenal. As a matter of fact, that's a first on this farm, ever. Sows usually average around 8-12 per litter. I will add that the runt died due to his mother laying on him. This is not unusual. But to have 15 piglets and to have that many survive, brings us to our knees in humble gratitude. They are all doing very well at 5 weeks of age now. They continue to nurse from their mother and are now eating along with her. I grew red mangle beets this summer specifically for the animals and throw one in to them now and then. They love them. I left the dirt on the beets which they consume very quickly. Confinement piglets need iron supplements shortly after birth. We just give our pigs soil which contains iron naturally. Piglets are fascinating to watch. Unlike many other farm babies, their mother does not lick them clean after they are born. As a matter of fact, the sows never lick their offspring at all. The piglets know to go to the sow's udder and they know where to find nourishment and warmth. Within days of their birth, they begin rooting with their tiny disk-shaped snouts. They also quickly learn to get out of the way when big mamma comes along or they will get stepped on. If they are suddenly startled, they bark very much like a dog and scatter to hide and stand very still. Did you know that birds are not the only ones who build a nest for their young? Pigs also build nests to give birth in. They also build nests to keep their young warm. If they are outside, they will dig a deep pit (2 feet deep) in the ground which blocks wind. If they are inside, we provide hay, which they will pick up with their mouths and make elaborate nests - sometimes with edges 2-3 feet high. The piglets learn very quickly to bury themselves in the hay to keep warm. We do not confine our hogs like the hog industry does. We do not put the sows in tiny crates which do not alow them to move around, where they are forced to stay in one place with room only to lie down. Nor do we confine our hogs in buildings in tiny small spaces on concrete. We do not give them the hormone which is given to pretty much all confinement hogs which makes them lean. We believe in working with the way God created animals to be instead of working against His design. We believe this contributes to healthier animals and healthier people. We believe God made pigs fat for a reason and do not work against His design in that way by feeding them the "lean" hormone. We render the lard and use that for cooking much the way all of our country did prior to the industrial revolution. Enjoy the clip! The Farmer's Wife (Lisa) www.lighthousefarm.com 08:21 - 2007-Feb-23 - comments {2} - post commentAuthentic AgricultureTMDo we really need another word to define agriculture? I think so. Folks, I don't come at this easily. I am not normally one to wrangle about words, but we all must agree that the government has adulterated words like "organic", and "natural", and they are working hard at "grass-fed". Remember, once the USDA defines a word, it's open to legislation. This means it can be re-defined by the highest bidder.I say let's coin our own word, define it first, and lay claim to it before anyone else does. I put forth "Authentic Agriculture". Authentic means "made or done in the original, traditional way, or in a way that faithfully resembles an original." What is "original" agriculture? Well we look to our origins and the Bible for our guidance on that. Ask yourself this question. If you were stranded on a desert island, and had nothing but the Bible in your hands, no TV, no grocery stores, no big ag coumpaines, no universities, nothing but the island and the Biblie, what would you conclude about agriculture? Would you think it normal to pump animals full of drugs to help them live in cramped quarters? Woudl you think about food in an industrial, efficiencey-minded manner? Would you think about killing weeds with chemicals? Would you conclude that man should buy all his food from a grocery store, where it has been grown and prepared by minimum-wage-earning strangers? I say not. Here's what I would conclude, using the Bible as my guide: 1. God created everything. Gen 1:1 2. God was the original, authentic farmer 3. Man was created to cultivate the soil. Gen 2:5,15 (infact, nothing grew until man showed up. God put it all on hold for us to care for.) If man desn't in some fashion practice this God-directed, God-ordained accupation, he is not fulfilling his purpose as given to him by his Maker. 4. God gave everything to man, for his good, and for God's glory. Gen 2:16,9:3 These become foundational elements of Authentic Agriculture. It is imperative that we use the Bible and God's creative process as our foundational definition of Authentic Agriculture. Remember, "he who defines the argument, carries the day." The main reason for this definition is to redeem the current state of affairs in agriculture for the Glory of God. In addition to this, if Authentic Agriculture does no include as a foudnational element, our dependence on God and His authority over all of creation, then it will be twisted by supposedly well-meaning folks who want it to be regulated, challenged and defensible. As Christians, we can stand on the word of God in this definition. Once that has been established, the government won't touch it for fear of impinging on our freedom of religion. In addition, the reason for the trademark is to protect it from being stolen and redefined by corporate ag or the USDA. More details will be rolled out in subsequent posts... Good Farmer John 09:36 - 2007-Jan-31 - comments {3} - post commentBack in blogdom after chasing sheepLet's face it, when the sheep escape their pasture, the choice between sitting down to blog or chase sheep never really even presents itself. It's a no-brainer! Our normally very well-behaved sheep have suddenly become very ornery. We have taught our children that animals will not escape if they are provided with greener pastures. However, if the pasture is greener on the other side, expect trouble. This theory has proved true up until recently. Our beautiful gourmet sheep have decided that the grass is greener on the other side, even if it is not. Even if it's shorter, even if it's just been plowed, they want to be everywhere where they are not supposed to be.The good news is that we think we have the problem somewhat fixed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us to his own way....There is a reason the Lord compares us to sheep. We have taken a looooong sabbtical from blogging and plan on returning intermittently. With full plates, something has to go at times and as much as we enjoy blogging, that is usually the first one to get shoved off. With farming, escaping sheep, spring babies and a very sick elderly family member, we haven't had much time to sit these days! Not complaining at all. We are very much enjoying being outside working, producing, being fruitful. We are halfway done with kidding. Three does are due next month. We also have a heifer due next month. Five sows are due withing the next couple to few months. We will have pigs ready for processing starting next month. In a few weeks the co-op we sell our meat to will be coming to the farm for a tour, so we're very busy trying to get ready for that. We are still cleaning up the farm and it is quite a large task. It's amazing what our little family of four can accomplish and we're very thankful for that! We are finished with planting the garden and if all goes well will have enough food to last us all winter. All the sheep have been sheared and lambing is finshed. With all of our ewe lambs now and all of our current sheep and if they all produce lambs like they did this year and if we can sell them all, we will almost have enough to pay fo property taxes (until they raise them with all the new building projects they have in line). We have mixed feelings about this. We are happy to maybe have enough income off of one venture of our farm to pay for property taxes and yet at the same time, our entire family works hard at this venture and we will see none of the profits nor will we enjoy them indirectly for we use none of the services which the majority of our property taxes go toward. I personally can think of many, many ministries and small businesses I'd rather support with that money for they are very fruitful, productive and frugal, but we are to give to Caesar what is Caesar's and I need to stop allowing my mind to wander into that area. John was invited to speak more about Authentic Agriculture at a workshop at the Iowa Homeschool convention with Dr. Jim Bartlett of Biblical Concourse of Home Universities. They thoroughly enjoyed their time there and had a wonderful visit with part of the Bartlett family. Thankfully, things went rather smoothly with chores while John and one of our daughters was gone. Our other daughter and I took care of the animals and the animals cooperated (for the most part). If all goes well and I am able to have time to sit, I'll write about "The Egg Hog". Until then, Lisa The Farmer's Wife 12:33 - 2007-Jun-12 - post comment
Ode to Winter 2007The Winter That Wouldn't Let Goby the Mesko Family As we sit here in April Huddled against the cold, The winter of 2007 Is getting very old. It started in October With rain and freezing temp's. The cattle braced against the sleet And looked like four-legged wimps. November brought the first snow And we started feeding hay. The sheep preferred to forage Out in the pasture day after day. The water pipes froze in December As the temperatrue dipped below zero. "This is Minnesota," we said "Where the weather is as cold as Nero." On the 10th of January Our sow went into labor. Twelve below and shivering, This moment she did not savor. The white stuff came in February. The piles they did grow. The children dug and played and made Houses in the snow. We had to use the snowplow And sometimes got stuck. The pigs piled warm and high And the sheep showed lots of pluck. March is spring in most places, With green starting to peep. In 2007, March brought blizzards Through which we could only sleep. March 26th proved an odd day, We all grinned with glee, For the sun came out, melted the snow, And it was 81 degrees! Our hearts turned toward spring, Four inches of snow on April 10th Spring has sprung, it’s here for sure, 11:46 - 2007-Apr-16 - post comment
Video clip of the birth of a pigletWe posted a video clip of a sow giving birth to one of 16 piglets! If you are interested in viewing it, you may go here http://www.lighthousefarm.com/video/piglets.movAbout 5 weeks ago, the sow in the video gave birth to 16 piglets one evening at 10 below temp's. For those of you who don't know, 16 piglets is phenomenal. As a matter of fact, that's a first on this farm, ever. Sows usually average around 8-12 per litter. I will add that the runt died due to his mother laying on him. This is not unusual. But to have 15 piglets and to have that many survive, brings us to our knees in humble gratitude. They are all doing very well at 5 weeks of age now. They continue to nurse from their mother and are now eating along with her. I grew red mangle beets this summer specifically for the animals and throw one in to them now and then. They love them. I left the dirt on the beets which they consume very quickly. Confinement piglets need iron supplements shortly after birth. We just give our pigs soil which contains iron naturally. Piglets are fascinating to watch. Unlike many other farm babies, their mother does not lick them clean after they are born. As a matter of fact, the sows never lick their offspring at all. The piglets know to go to the sow's udder and they know where to find nourishment and warmth. Within days of their birth, they begin rooting with their tiny disk-shaped snouts. They also quickly learn to get out of the way when big mamma comes along or they will get stepped on. If they are suddenly startled, they bark very much like a dog and scatter to hide and stand very still. Did you know that birds are not the only ones who build a nest for their young? Pigs also build nests to give birth in. They also build nests to keep their young warm. If they are outside, they will dig a deep pit (2 feet deep) in the ground which blocks wind. If they are inside, we provide hay, which they will pick up with their mouths and make elaborate nests - sometimes with edges 2-3 feet high. The piglets learn very quickly to bury themselves in the hay to keep warm. We do not confine our hogs like the hog industry does. We do not put the sows in tiny crates which do not alow them to move around, where they are forced to stay in one place with room only to lie down. Nor do we confine our hogs in buildings in tiny small spaces on concrete. We do not give them the hormone which is given to pretty much all confinement hogs which makes them lean. We believe in working with the way God created animals to be instead of working against His design. We believe this contributes to healthier animals and healthier people. We believe God made pigs fat for a reason and do not work against His design in that way by feeding them the "lean" hormone. We render the lard and use that for cooking much the way all of our country did prior to the industrial revolution. Enjoy the clip! The Farmer's Wife (Lisa) www.lighthousefarm.com 08:21 - 2007-Feb-23 - post comment
Authentic AgricultureTMDo we really need another word to define agriculture? I think so. Folks, I don't come at this easily. I am not normally one to wrangle about words, but we all must agree that the government has adulterated words like "organic", and "natural", and they are working hard at "grass-fed". Remember, once the USDA defines a word, it's open to legislation. This means it can be re-defined by the highest bidder.I say let's coin our own word, define it first, and lay claim to it before anyone else does. I put forth "Authentic Agriculture". Authentic means "made or done in the original, traditional way, or in a way that faithfully resembles an original." What is "original" agriculture? Well we look to our origins and the Bible for our guidance on that. Ask yourself this question. If you were stranded on a desert island, and had nothing but the Bible in your hands, no TV, no grocery stores, no big ag coumpaines, no universities, nothing but the island and the Biblie, what would you conclude about agriculture? Would you think it normal to pump animals full of drugs to help them live in cramped quarters? Woudl you think about food in an industrial, efficiencey-minded manner? Would you think about killing weeds with chemicals? Would you conclude that man should buy all his food from a grocery store, where it has been grown and prepared by minimum-wage-earning strangers? I say not. Here's what I would conclude, using the Bible as my guide: 1. God created everything. Gen 1:1 2. God was the original, authentic farmer 3. Man was created to cultivate the soil. Gen 2:5,15 (infact, nothing grew until man showed up. God put it all on hold for us to care for.) If man desn't in some fashion practice this God-directed, God-ordained accupation, he is not fulfilling his purpose as given to him by his Maker. 4. God gave everything to man, for his good, and for God's glory. Gen 2:16,9:3 These become foundational elements of Authentic Agriculture. It is imperative that we use the Bible and God's creative process as our foundational definition of Authentic Agriculture. Remember, "he who defines the argument, carries the day." The main reason for this definition is to redeem the current state of affairs in agriculture for the Glory of God. In addition to this, if Authentic Agriculture does no include as a foudnational element, our dependence on God and His authority over all of creation, then it will be twisted by supposedly well-meaning folks who want it to be regulated, challenged and defensible. As Christians, we can stand on the word of God in this definition. Once that has been established, the government won't touch it for fear of impinging on our freedom of religion. In addition, the reason for the trademark is to protect it from being stolen and redefined by corporate ag or the USDA. More details will be rolled out in subsequent posts... Good Farmer John 09:36 - 2007-Jan-31 - post comment
|
Description Sharing our thoughts, events, ups and downs, as we restore a once profitable farm to its former greatness as a Christian agrarian family. Home User Profile Archives Friends Lighthouse Farm Our DVD's for homesteader's Homestead Series e-books Lighthouse Farm Podcasts No NAIS Recent Entries - Pig-headed or chicken-hearted???? - Health care - the way it used to be - The Egg Hog - Back in blogdom after chasing sheep - Ode to Winter 2007 - Chicken and Hog DVD's are now finished!! - Video clip of the birth of a piglet - News about Haitian friends!!!!! - Authentic AgricultureTM - Welcome! - A Peaceful Night in the Pasture - Big Sale at The Old Schoolhouse!! - Rendering Lard - Hog Butchering Time - John Ray - Founder of Biology - A Breath-taking Field Trip - Fat and Sassy - Real Men Eat Quiche - Green Tomato Recipes - Harvest - Two Cents Worth on Pinching Pennies... - Cockle burrs and stinging nettle a blessing? - Gourmet Meals At The Farm Table - Seeds Worth Saving - Sweet cartoon - Commercial rice supply has been contaminated - Spermicidal Corn - Agricultural Science Fiction Horror Flick or Truth? - SImple Entertainment - "Gardening is like a treasure hunt!" - Pigs don't stink - Diggin' For Gold!! - Rain - a Blessing or a Curse? - My Sheep Know My Voice - er - Chain Saw... - The Old Farm Dog - An Alarming Nightime Visitor - Farming Magazine - A Pig's Nest - Meager chicken harvest - Bacon + Garlic = Piglets? - A Rare July 4th Tribute to Farmers - Fencing in more pasture - Three months on our new place.... - Blood suckers in Minnesota :( - Miss Bacon and Rocky Mountain Oysters - Sheep without a shepherd - Haying with my man! - Mink solutions, anyone? - Goat meets pig... - I Smell a Skunk... - URGENT!! Please forward!!!! - Did Adam Smell Like That? - Minnesota!!!!! - Problem solved - God is good - The Rat Trap and One Happy Girl - New Podcast - Farm Restoration - The Beginning - An Honorable Gentleman Has Died - Why teach our children about agriculture? - Cheap, Safe Food??? - New NAIS links worth reading - Old Tractors Never Die - A Lawyer comments on Constitutional Rights and NAIS - Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks - Big Bellies and Big Bags - Hosting Haitians on the Homestead - Minnesota, Here We Come (after we sell our house) and "the Chip" - And God saw that it was good - Greetings |