Spring 2010

Spring has definitely sprung here in Kentucky. With a winter that seemed to last 10 months, I wasn't sure we'd ever see sunshine or warm weather, but Mother Nature didn't disappoint. We had a very dry March and April, with not much rain at all. However, we certainly made up for it during the first weekend of May. Most of central Kentucky received between 5 and 8 inches of rain in about a 24 hour period. So, many people are now dealing with lots of flooding damage. Thankfully, Foxhide Farm was spared. Other than some high water, we were blessed with no damage. All animals are safe as well.

With the coming of spring also comes baby goats. We bred fewer does this year since we aren't currently shipping milk to a cheese manufacturer. The fewer number of animals has allowed us more time with the babies that we do have. We currently have only 7 doe kids and are enjoying watching them grow. One is an AI kid sired by a buck that has been dead for close to 25 years. I am always intrigued by the science of frozen semen and the resulting kids.

The chickens continue to produce lots of farm fresh eggs. We have 13 hens and usually get around 10 eggs per day. At least a couple of days each week, all 13 will give us an egg. They are kept inside a stall in the barn when we are not at home and allowed to free range when we are there to help supervise. The taste of these eggs is amazing, with the added bugs, worms, grass, etc.

Ruby, the Jersey cow, continues to bless us with an abundance of milk. She will give between 5 and 6 gallons per day. We use this to feed the goat kids, drink, cook with, make butter, and will soon try our hands at making some homemade mozzarella and ricotta cheese. I can only imagine the homemade lasagna with Ruby cheese in it.

The seed that we sewed this spring has come up with a vengeance. With the addition of 11 more acres of pasture, we are in great shape for grazing this year. The horses, cows, goats, and chickens are utilizing forages and thoroughly enjoying it.

That's a brief update for now. If you're ever in central Kentucky, stop by Foxhide Farm for a visit. We'd love to show you around.