You've got to be kidding, because we are!

The does have starting kidding with a vengeance. Currently we've had 29 kids born. Of those, only 8 are does! This is unfortunate, but I am trying to keep a positive outlook. With a smaller number of doe kids, they can be given more personal attention and will hopefully thrive as a result. Also, among the large number of bucks are two that are sired by Tempo Aquila Freelance. So, they will both be left uncastrated for now and allowed to grow and develop. One of them just might be the new jr. herdsire here at Foxhide Farm. I will post pics of these 2 boys soon.

This past weekend was one of hard work and determination at Foxhide Farm. We cleaned out the dairy barn. We hauled manure all weekend and the barn is back in great shape. We also cleaned out one of the "horse" stalls in the old barn. This stall will be utilized as a chicken coop for the new hens that are coming this spring. I want to thank everyone that helped us with this major undertaking. I couldn't have done it without the help of my Uncle Mike and cousin Joe. They provided the equipment (tractor, bobcat, and manure spreader). Goose, Gator, and a couple of Eastside FFA students who helped prepare the chicken coop. It was great to have them on the farm. I think we've got to visit with Goose and Gator every weekend for the past 6 weeks. We always have fun when we're together.

The milking continues and there are still around 10 does left to kid. Surely there will be a doe kid or two in that mix.

Hope things are going well on everyone else's farm.

Todd

Spring isn't springing fast enough!

This has been a crazy winter. It seems to have lasted 10 months already. With the forecast for warmer temperatures in the coming days, I am ecstatic. I can't wait to put this cold, dreary winter behind me. I'm sure I'm not alone.

With the promise of spring comes many other things. The first kids of the year have arrived at Foxhide Farm. The oldest kids are now about a week old. There have been 11 kids born with 4 of those being does. Typically, I would be disappointed with the low number of doe kids, but with there being 15 dry yearling does from last year, I am pretty sure the future of the herd is solid. Plus, there are still close to 20 does left to kid. I'm sure there will be plenty of does.

In those 7 buck kids, there is one high spot. My first AI kid of the year is a buck, sired by Tempo Aquila Freelance. Freelance is doing some AWESOME things for the Redwood Hill herd in Sebastopol, California (http://www.redwoodhill.com/). This kid is out of Foxhide's Sneak Preview, a 4 year old doe that show a lot of promise. She isn't the largest doe in the herd, but is very correct. Hopefully, with the size coming from his sire, this kid has some potential and will be evaluated as a prospective herd sire. If he makes the cut, he will be the first buck retained in the herd.

Some of you know that I am currently struggling with some things related to agriculture. I just finished reading The Omnivore's Dilemma and am currently reading The Righteous Porkchop. Both of these books delve into our current food supply and American agriculture. I find myself questioning much of what I have been taught my whole life about agriculture and food. I am at a point in my life where I have to strive to educate myself further than my college courses, my family history, and everything I've been exposed to thus far in my life and make up my own mind. I must develop my own beliefs about agriculture and arm myself with the information to defend my standing. I do not know where this road will take me, but I am hopeful that I can document the journey on this blog.

As a first step in this journey, Kendal and I are planning to attempt to raise a portion of our own food this spring. We will be attempting to construct and develop a square foot garden. (http://www.squarefootgardening.com/). The concept revolves around the fact that our traditional method of gardening with putting 3' rows between plants served our interest when we were plowing the garden with tractors or horses. However, in today's agricultural world, this is just an additional area where weeds can quickly take over. So, the square foot method condenses the area that each plant occupies and thereby reducing the space available for weed infestation. I will plan to include pictures of this process as it unfolds. I am very optimistic and hope that by late this summer, we'll be dining on the fruits (and vegetables) of our labor.

On the livestock end, at this time we plan to purchase a small flock of laying hens. I think they will be a welcome addition to Foxhide Farm. I had many great experiences as a kid one of those was gathering eggs. One of my earliest memories was of my sister Heather and I gathering eggs and deciding it would be a good idea to throw them and bust them against the wall. Great fun! I'm confident we got into trouble and were probably spanked, but the memory of us laughing lasted longer than the one of the spanking.

With the addition of 11 more acres to the farmstead, we will be in the market for a tractor to help keep the pastures mowed and the manure spread. So, if anyone has a good used dependable tractor for sale, let us know. We have toyed with the idea of using horsepower to mow and such, but not sure if it is a good fit right now. Not sure we could devote the time and energy to another livestock enterprise. At this point, I am putting my draft horse dream on hold. Notice, "on hold" not "giving up on". I still one day want a team of draft horses that I can do farm work with and drive a wagon hitched to them. After all, if you know my family, draft horses are part of the legacy.

That's about all that's going on right now (plenty to keep us busy). Will update you soon.