Well my promise to keep this blog updated definitely wasn't kept. Sometimes life gets busy, too busy to even stop and think. My new goal is to just slow down. These past weeks my oldest son Joseph got his driving permit, I have to admit he is a very good driver. My son Andrew graduated 8th grade another Palmer at the High School. Christian made it onto the honor roll at MJS and Gracee earned her deep water badge at the pool I couldn't be prouder of my kids!
All is well here at the garden, I really don't even know where to start so many things have happened here in the past two month. I did go to Fishawak in Chatham and had a great time and made some wonderful contacts. One lady I met came over to not only interview me for the Madison Patch but has taken the time to teach us how to trim the goats hooves and actually trimmed them twice now. Thank God it's harder job then you think. Check out the article and slideshow at www.madisonpatch.com, it's really cool, the ladies did a tremendous job. This Saturday I went to Maplewoodstock. It started pretty slow, major storms were in the forecast, but once the weather finally broke it was a pretty successful show. The music was great and I'll be back next year for both days if they'll have me. Tuesday I'll be at Whole Foods for the local vendors Farmer's Market from 2:00 till 6:00 come check it out. I'm sending an application out to the craft show at Frelinghausen Arboretum in December, keep your fingers crossed, I think it could be a great show!
Now to my garden, let me just say WOW! My tomatoes have become a great green tomato forest, next year I've got to space them out better. Lots of big beautiful green tomatoes, can't wait to eat them. Cayenne peppers are doing very well and we have found 4 watermelons growing on the vines creeping all over the place. Cucumbers, beans and zucchini have already found their way to our table. The cucumbers are doing so well I've gotten to try the Cucumber Cream recipe, it has grated cuke skin as well as cucumber puree. It's still curing but I can't wait to try it. It will be ready for the first Farmer's Market in Chatham.
I took a chance and bought a mystery collection of container plants from Park Seeds, the window boxes are spectacular, I hope I can make them look like this every year. The whole property looks just beautiful it's really too hard to describe. I'm still bouncing around the idea of a garden party, I think it would be so much fun. Joe & I spend so much time working on the yard we forget to enjoy it. It would be a shame if no one saw it this year.
The chickens are doing so well, we're still getting around a dozen eggs a day. One of our hens has gone broody, which means she wants to have a family, she sits on her eggs and gets quite agitated when you try to gather the eggs. I feel bad for her but with no rooster there won't be any chicks:( Although it is kinda of funny to watch Joe gear up with his beekeeping gloves to take the eggs out. The language that comes out of the coop is not G rated, if you ever got pecked you'd totally understand. With the terrible heat wave that went through here last week Joe installed a fan in the coop to keep the girls cool. I think he's in the wrong line of work he is a natural with all the animals even the ones that attack him hee hee hee.
The bees have again left us... beekeeping may not be in my blood. I have one hive left and will have no honey again this year, very sad. I do see the current hive working away in the garden which is one benefit I will happily take.
The goats are growing so quickly! I have taken away the 2:00 feeding and I'm slowly cutting the other 2 bottles down to ween them completely by September. Kota is a very spoiled goat. After she is milk she chases me to the back door where she waits impatiently for her treat, either a carrot or 3 sugar plums, the plums being my personal favorite too. She is starting to slow down a bit with milk we're getting 3/4 to a gallon of milk a day. Still more than enough for the business right now. The babies and Kota do go together into one pen after the night milking. Kota has taught them to pull leaves off trees and play the way goats do. It's really something to watch.
The soap is doing very well. Lettuce and Lemongrass worked out well. I did get an order for a baby shower and found a great new fragrance that I'm calling Oh Baby, it reminds me of Loves Baby Soft. The other kid scents are Butterfly Garden, Innocence's, & Giggles. All very sweet. I'm making personalized labels for the shower "Baby Palmer", (an example only, no babies here unless they're goats) I was thinking about maybe approaching the local kids clothing store here in town and see if they might be interested in carrying the kids scents. Several of the customers at Maplewoodstock suggested I approach a shop called 165 in Maplewood, who knows maybe I should go more wholesale.
I've changed so many times in my life, always reinventing myself, but this new direction has made me the most content. I love these animals, I love doing these crazy things, like making soap from milk, chasing escaped chickens through the woods, meeting people at these shows and sharing what I've learned with anyone who will listen. I sat with my nephew on my lap and taught him how to milk a goat. A skill he'll probably rarely use, but he was so proud of himself. How cool is that? I wish I could open a camp for kids and let them experience the things I'm doing here. Growing veggies, caring for animals and in turn the animals caring for us with the wonderful food they produce. It's hard work but satisfying. Live simply so others may simply live. Kids should know this, it makes for a more full-filling life and a better place to live for everyone.
Check out the new photos, I'll post when I can, have a good night.
Tracee
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
A little of my soapbox
My hope was to update my blog every Saturday, as you can see I'm late, very late. It's another goal. I think I'll break from my usual rantings about the garden and just write what's on my mind.
I did have 2 shows this past week, one was a green fair and I did OK, the other was a fundraiser which I completely tanked at, such is life. My next show should be the Chatham Borough Fishawak Festival on June 12th and of course Maplewoodstock in July. I may have my soaps at a local business which is very exciting, we're just ironing out the details. A business course may be in order for me in the future.
The most interesting part of these shows are the people. I've always enjoyed people watching, but to listen to them is remarkable. I met two very impressive young ladies from Drew University. I was lucky enough to have them stop by and feed the babies and we got to chatting. I can only hope my own kids will be so on the right track at the same age. The one question these ladies asked me was why am I doing this, I've been trying to figure it out ever since. I started with the chickens to show my kids a different way of life and give them a sense of responsibility. It didn't work by the way. Then the bees were to help pollinate the veggies and flowers with the bonus of honey as well as to help care for a creature that is so very important to our planet. The goats were just the next logical step, a kind of backyard homesteading. But why am I really doing this? Have you ever felt true peace, I know corny, but to be outside with my animals or in my tiny soap kitchen creating something wonderful, it gives me a sense peace. I'm happy,I mean really happy, I don't need anything else. Do I think every one should do this, absolutely not. I think everyone should take the time to find something that makes them HAPPY no matter what it is. If you do what you love you will have no choice but to be successful. Success should never be measure in things, but in joy. The older I get the more I appreciate the people in my life and the things just don't mean all that much. It's just stuff. My soapbox... the girls know what I mean :)
Quick updates, I have 250 bean plants sprouted in the greenhouse, now that's a lot of beans. Zukes are up as well as 2 watermelon plants no yellow squash yet :( about 60 tomatoes and countless pepper plants. This weekend the plan is to plant out the front porch and garage window box, maybe till the garden. I was planning on do the veggies and back window boxes around the 17th.
The chickens are amazing, I promise to get those pic's up this week. Still 12 to 15 eggs a day. I'm selling them at my school as well as TJS if you're interested just stop by, $3.00 a dozen. I'll give you the .50 tour and maybe you can feed the babies.
I did finally feed the bees,syrup NOT sugar, next I must get 10 new frames for the new hive. We don't want another swarm. Keep your fingers crossed that the frames arrive in time.
The goats are just fun. Still about 10 lbs a milk a day from Kota. The babies are growing way too fast and are very funny. They do these jumps and kicks that just blow me away.
The soap is getting better and better. Kota's milk is so rich it pours into the molds like silk. I did start 2 new fragrances, one on the recommendation of my best friends mom. Lettuce a very clean scent and sage lemongrass, which will replace my coffee and cream as a wonderful kitchen soap. How yummy do they sound! Next will be cucumber cream.
I hope that everyone finds this "thing" that I've found. I'm 43 almost 44, (my birthday is the 25th yeah me!), which I explained to my daughter is about 1/2 dead, and I've finally found what I love to do I'm a bit of a late bloomer. I know I'm terrible and I say ridiculous things but to know me is to be entertained by my ridiculousness. My family will always be my greatest accomplishment, but my "backyard homestead" is my personal joy. I think I'm going to start dreaming of a farm, not too big, maybe 10-15 acres with a nice big barn, chicken coop and a milking parlor, oh the cheeses I could make! I will write again soon.
I did have 2 shows this past week, one was a green fair and I did OK, the other was a fundraiser which I completely tanked at, such is life. My next show should be the Chatham Borough Fishawak Festival on June 12th and of course Maplewoodstock in July. I may have my soaps at a local business which is very exciting, we're just ironing out the details. A business course may be in order for me in the future.
The most interesting part of these shows are the people. I've always enjoyed people watching, but to listen to them is remarkable. I met two very impressive young ladies from Drew University. I was lucky enough to have them stop by and feed the babies and we got to chatting. I can only hope my own kids will be so on the right track at the same age. The one question these ladies asked me was why am I doing this, I've been trying to figure it out ever since. I started with the chickens to show my kids a different way of life and give them a sense of responsibility. It didn't work by the way. Then the bees were to help pollinate the veggies and flowers with the bonus of honey as well as to help care for a creature that is so very important to our planet. The goats were just the next logical step, a kind of backyard homesteading. But why am I really doing this? Have you ever felt true peace, I know corny, but to be outside with my animals or in my tiny soap kitchen creating something wonderful, it gives me a sense peace. I'm happy,I mean really happy, I don't need anything else. Do I think every one should do this, absolutely not. I think everyone should take the time to find something that makes them HAPPY no matter what it is. If you do what you love you will have no choice but to be successful. Success should never be measure in things, but in joy. The older I get the more I appreciate the people in my life and the things just don't mean all that much. It's just stuff. My soapbox... the girls know what I mean :)
Quick updates, I have 250 bean plants sprouted in the greenhouse, now that's a lot of beans. Zukes are up as well as 2 watermelon plants no yellow squash yet :( about 60 tomatoes and countless pepper plants. This weekend the plan is to plant out the front porch and garage window box, maybe till the garden. I was planning on do the veggies and back window boxes around the 17th.
The chickens are amazing, I promise to get those pic's up this week. Still 12 to 15 eggs a day. I'm selling them at my school as well as TJS if you're interested just stop by, $3.00 a dozen. I'll give you the .50 tour and maybe you can feed the babies.
I did finally feed the bees,syrup NOT sugar, next I must get 10 new frames for the new hive. We don't want another swarm. Keep your fingers crossed that the frames arrive in time.
The goats are just fun. Still about 10 lbs a milk a day from Kota. The babies are growing way too fast and are very funny. They do these jumps and kicks that just blow me away.
The soap is getting better and better. Kota's milk is so rich it pours into the molds like silk. I did start 2 new fragrances, one on the recommendation of my best friends mom. Lettuce a very clean scent and sage lemongrass, which will replace my coffee and cream as a wonderful kitchen soap. How yummy do they sound! Next will be cucumber cream.
I hope that everyone finds this "thing" that I've found. I'm 43 almost 44, (my birthday is the 25th yeah me!), which I explained to my daughter is about 1/2 dead, and I've finally found what I love to do I'm a bit of a late bloomer. I know I'm terrible and I say ridiculous things but to know me is to be entertained by my ridiculousness. My family will always be my greatest accomplishment, but my "backyard homestead" is my personal joy. I think I'm going to start dreaming of a farm, not too big, maybe 10-15 acres with a nice big barn, chicken coop and a milking parlor, oh the cheeses I could make! I will write again soon.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Chaos
I don't even know where to begin, it feels like so much has happened! As per my last post the goats have arrived and are settling in to their new home. The peas are growing very nicely. The babies are now laying about a dozen eggs a day... holy crap! The bees are working tirelessly on honey production. I had my very first craft show. We've had many visitors to our little garden the past 2 weeks, and I'm lovin it! Nothings perfect or 100% clean but God we're having so much fun. That's the overview, now let's get down to the nitty gritty.
The veggies are doing nicely in the greenhouse, my petunias aren't as healthy as I would like, the peas are about 4 inches high, the little swiss chard that grew is about an inch high and doing so-so. Tony the gardening guru has already planted beans and zucchini out, he wins again. Hopefully this week end I'll get a little lettuce outside and I'll start the beans and zukes in the greenhouse.
The babies are no longer babies they are CHICKENS. A very pretty flock, I am adding pic's today. They have almost gotten the hang of laying in the nest boxes, I have my dummy eggs in there show them but there is one chicken who loves to lay under the ramp. There is always one in every family, human or otherwise.
Goats, who knew? I'm quickly becoming the talk of Madison. I started out as the chicken lady, then the bee lady, now the crazy goat lady who makes soap. My mother always said I'd have a reputation, I just don't think this is what she meant. Milking is alot harder then it looks. I almost have sympathy for all those teen age boys in the backseat of cars, well you know what I mean. My first attempt at milking was bright and early on a Sunday. The sun was breaking through, the air was crisp, I had my bright, shiny new milking bucket and pure determination. I entered Kota's pen and tied her gently to the post and gave her yummy sweet feed, sat down, took hold and was promptly knock over and Kota was gone. Grace immediately started yelling, thinking I had been trampled to death in the little pen that I was attempting to do something so foreign in. After 3 more failed attempts I called Patty, the real goat lady crying at 6:45 on a Sunday morning. The goat hates me and I'm never doing that again! I stormed inside and got the bottles for the babies, Oreo and Brownie, to hell with Kota I thought, I hope she explodes. Well, the babies are charming. They jump right in your lap and drink a bottle in about 3 minutes. Just adorable. My confidence back on track and a long and soothing conversation with Patty I decide to make another attempt. This time I take her outside of the little house and tie her to a tree, better, ,more room to run like hell if she flips on me again. She looks like she really might explode. It was a feeble milking, but it was a milking. Next time I brought the big guns, my husband, which has become the routine here. We head out together at 6:30, morning and night and talking quietly and milk our Kota. It has become a wonderful part of our day, still not perfect milkings but definitely better. I'm getting around 9 to 10 1/2 pounds of milk a day, which is about a gallon and a 1/2. That's alot of milk. The babies are growing so quickly, they are bottle feed 3 times a day 7:00, 2:00, and 7:00. Not to be missed if you'd like to stop by. Kids are acrobats, who knew, they jump and well, frolic, (never thought I'd use that word) all day. The newest trick is when someone sits on the log in their pen and leans forward the 2 of them jump on your back and use you as a launching pad. Hopefully they will out grow this. Too much fun.
The bees are busy and a bit neglected, the goats have been overwhelming. I will be back on track this week.
My first craft show was yesterday, it went very well. I sold out of Grandpa's Lilac and French Lavender. Everyone was so nice and helpful. I was more than a little nervous. I had taken a break from making soap thinking that if I didn't do well at this show I would rethink the business. The deal I made with myself was if I sold 1/2 my stock at the show I would continue on. I brought 108 bars of soap and sold 58 bars. Looks like I'm in business. Time to make the soap. I will be at the Madison Green Fair this coming Thursday downtown 3:30 till 7:30. After that, Maplewoodstock is the other definite in July. I'm appling to Chatham's festival in June. Very exciting.
My boys have informed me that no one else in Madison has to do the weird chores they do. Nobody has to feed baby goats or close up chickens. I told them they are absolutely right, aren't they lucky! Joseph informed me he was leaving for college as soon as possible. I told him he better work on his grades. The rest grudgingly do the required work except for sweet Grace, she is up each morning early to bottle feed her babies. They come when she calls and follow her down their side of the pen when she leaves. There is a waiting list for play dates, if your interested talk to Grace. Every child that visits feeds a baby goat, collects the eggs, and Grace is now teaching them to sew pillows. Not a bad deal for a play date. Maybe a should charge a fee? lol
Beyond all that I'm tired, but it's a good tired and things are starting to really fall into place. Destiny, I believe in it, I know some may scoff but the choices are ours to make, take a chance, you never know. I tell my kids I'm giving them pavers, how they choose to lay them for their life path is completely up to them. I can only give the foundation. Time to fix breakfast, fresh eggs from coop and a cold glass of milk? I hear them waking up...
The veggies are doing nicely in the greenhouse, my petunias aren't as healthy as I would like, the peas are about 4 inches high, the little swiss chard that grew is about an inch high and doing so-so. Tony the gardening guru has already planted beans and zucchini out, he wins again. Hopefully this week end I'll get a little lettuce outside and I'll start the beans and zukes in the greenhouse.
The babies are no longer babies they are CHICKENS. A very pretty flock, I am adding pic's today. They have almost gotten the hang of laying in the nest boxes, I have my dummy eggs in there show them but there is one chicken who loves to lay under the ramp. There is always one in every family, human or otherwise.
Goats, who knew? I'm quickly becoming the talk of Madison. I started out as the chicken lady, then the bee lady, now the crazy goat lady who makes soap. My mother always said I'd have a reputation, I just don't think this is what she meant. Milking is alot harder then it looks. I almost have sympathy for all those teen age boys in the backseat of cars, well you know what I mean. My first attempt at milking was bright and early on a Sunday. The sun was breaking through, the air was crisp, I had my bright, shiny new milking bucket and pure determination. I entered Kota's pen and tied her gently to the post and gave her yummy sweet feed, sat down, took hold and was promptly knock over and Kota was gone. Grace immediately started yelling, thinking I had been trampled to death in the little pen that I was attempting to do something so foreign in. After 3 more failed attempts I called Patty, the real goat lady crying at 6:45 on a Sunday morning. The goat hates me and I'm never doing that again! I stormed inside and got the bottles for the babies, Oreo and Brownie, to hell with Kota I thought, I hope she explodes. Well, the babies are charming. They jump right in your lap and drink a bottle in about 3 minutes. Just adorable. My confidence back on track and a long and soothing conversation with Patty I decide to make another attempt. This time I take her outside of the little house and tie her to a tree, better, ,more room to run like hell if she flips on me again. She looks like she really might explode. It was a feeble milking, but it was a milking. Next time I brought the big guns, my husband, which has become the routine here. We head out together at 6:30, morning and night and talking quietly and milk our Kota. It has become a wonderful part of our day, still not perfect milkings but definitely better. I'm getting around 9 to 10 1/2 pounds of milk a day, which is about a gallon and a 1/2. That's alot of milk. The babies are growing so quickly, they are bottle feed 3 times a day 7:00, 2:00, and 7:00. Not to be missed if you'd like to stop by. Kids are acrobats, who knew, they jump and well, frolic, (never thought I'd use that word) all day. The newest trick is when someone sits on the log in their pen and leans forward the 2 of them jump on your back and use you as a launching pad. Hopefully they will out grow this. Too much fun.
The bees are busy and a bit neglected, the goats have been overwhelming. I will be back on track this week.
My first craft show was yesterday, it went very well. I sold out of Grandpa's Lilac and French Lavender. Everyone was so nice and helpful. I was more than a little nervous. I had taken a break from making soap thinking that if I didn't do well at this show I would rethink the business. The deal I made with myself was if I sold 1/2 my stock at the show I would continue on. I brought 108 bars of soap and sold 58 bars. Looks like I'm in business. Time to make the soap. I will be at the Madison Green Fair this coming Thursday downtown 3:30 till 7:30. After that, Maplewoodstock is the other definite in July. I'm appling to Chatham's festival in June. Very exciting.
My boys have informed me that no one else in Madison has to do the weird chores they do. Nobody has to feed baby goats or close up chickens. I told them they are absolutely right, aren't they lucky! Joseph informed me he was leaving for college as soon as possible. I told him he better work on his grades. The rest grudgingly do the required work except for sweet Grace, she is up each morning early to bottle feed her babies. They come when she calls and follow her down their side of the pen when she leaves. There is a waiting list for play dates, if your interested talk to Grace. Every child that visits feeds a baby goat, collects the eggs, and Grace is now teaching them to sew pillows. Not a bad deal for a play date. Maybe a should charge a fee? lol
Beyond all that I'm tired, but it's a good tired and things are starting to really fall into place. Destiny, I believe in it, I know some may scoff but the choices are ours to make, take a chance, you never know. I tell my kids I'm giving them pavers, how they choose to lay them for their life path is completely up to them. I can only give the foundation. Time to fix breakfast, fresh eggs from coop and a cold glass of milk? I hear them waking up...
Friday, April 9, 2010
The goats are coming...
Today is a bit gloomy, it should burn off by this afternoon, so I'll take this chance to write about the past week and a half. As of April 1st I became a registered business in the state of New Jersey as well as receiving my tax ID number, so that I may join in the local craft shows. Very exciting and a little scary but nothing ever happens without taking a chance. I will be at Grace Church on the 23rd for their Spring Fling and I just got my acceptance letter from Maplewoodstock on July 10th. I'm still waiting to hear back on the Green Fair here in Madison and I'm hoping to participate in our Farmers Market as well. Enough business on to the garden.
I have the first signs of peas and swiss chard appearing outside in the garden. Yeah! I have about 65 tomato seedlings doing very well. Onions peppers, geraniums, and assorted flowers also coming along nicely. Unfortunately my friend who was willing to adopt the chickens has still not shown up, fingers crossed today will be the day. I may have to cut back on some of my garden plans for this year just because there is just too much going on. I'm considering adding 2 crepe myrtles to the yard to add interest to the goat house gate. I'll add a pic let me know what you think. The next big thing I would like to add is seckle pears, if you have ever eaten one you'll know why having them is well worth the effort. Delicious.
My dear sweet baby chickens are HUGE and need to move to their permanent residence. The other day Gracee and I were headed out when a chicken took a slowly and leisurely stroll across the driveway. The girls have figured out that if they "fly" full speed at the screen door to the greenhouse they can dislodge it just enough to escape. Park Ave and chickens are NOT a good combination. I have about 10 dozen eggs from the babies in the frig right now if anyone is interested, there's no charge for these eggs since they are still on the smaller size, just let me know. I have one beautiful Barred Rock who has discovered the joy in pecking EVERYTHING. She got my finger last night and when I turned my back to gather the eggs she promptly took a nibble of my backside. I, in turn gave her a poke, our chosen way of chicken discipline. I have to say this is a beautiful flock of birds each with a different personality and hysterical to watch. I highly recommend chicken keeping to everyone. They are entertaining pets and the bonus is fresh eggs.
Now to the goats, they arrive tomorrow morning. We are so not ready, but like everything we do we somehow pull it together. I think we just work better under pressure. My order from Hoegger Goat supply arrive, all kinds of neat goat things that I won't bore you with but that I find very exciting. We have decided to give the goats only natural medicine keeping them on that organic vibe that we are striving for. The fencing is up and the gate will be done today. The boys and I are cleaning the pen area of any pricker bushes to keep the darlings safe. The biggest thing left to do is find a way to separate the small goat house so that mother and daughters are separate but still visible to each other. Until the babies are weaned from their bottles they may try to suckle their mom, which I know is the natural way but babies that are hand fed tend to be gentler and more people friendly which is a high priority here. I can't wait to milk my first goat... the things I get myself into. lol. I did make a promise to my husband that this was it, no more big projects for a while. I think I'm pushing him over the edge. As soon as the girls arrive I will post pictures.
The bee issues have been resolved! First I made contact with a fellow beekeeper right in Chatham whom I'm very grateful to know and plan on picking her brain for beekeeping knowledge on a regular basis. On the advice of Bob Hughes, the state apiarist right hand man, I kept my current hive intact and ended up buying a 3 lb package of bees from Brian Rowe and installed them in their own hive this past week. We are back up to 2 active hives and should have honey from at least one this season. I am feeding them, but only sugar syrup I don't know if I'll ever do the granulated sugar again. Too painful. Bees are amazing workers, well at least the ladies are, the gentlemen, aka drones pretty much just hang around waiting for a virgin queen. I'll let you draw you own comparisons on that.
Back to the business. I found a potter with the help of Georgia VanRyzin that produces the most lovely lace imprinted soap dishes. I'm working with her now to add them to my shop. The hand knit washcloths will be ordered this week, God willing. I have also found a packaging that I'm very happy with. It is completely biodegradable in keeping with our Earth conscience business. I found a wonderful company call Poole and Sons who is making my display boxes, I will post those too when they arrive this Monday. They also had 1/2 bushel flat baskets that might work for gift basket, maybe something in line with Goodness from the Garden, fresh veggies, soaps, preserves, Gracee's aprons, soap dish and towels. What do you think? I'd like to get something like that as a gift. Just a thought. I'm up to over 300 bars made and the number just keeps going up. I try to make at least one batch a day giving the soap ample time to cure before the craft show season starts and the bonus is it makes the house smell great. My favorite soap this week is Milk & Honey. My skin is so soft, I'm not even using my moisturizer. Maybe the bee stung me because it smelled the honey? Food for thought. I think that about covers everything. I better get back to it, or the goats will be in my sun parlor with the seedlings and my husband will definitely leave me for someone more sane.
I almost forgot, I am going to do a Garden Party, it will be an open house sometime in late May. I have to introduce the goats to society... a deb ball for livestock, you can only find an event like that here in my garden :)
Tracee
I have the first signs of peas and swiss chard appearing outside in the garden. Yeah! I have about 65 tomato seedlings doing very well. Onions peppers, geraniums, and assorted flowers also coming along nicely. Unfortunately my friend who was willing to adopt the chickens has still not shown up, fingers crossed today will be the day. I may have to cut back on some of my garden plans for this year just because there is just too much going on. I'm considering adding 2 crepe myrtles to the yard to add interest to the goat house gate. I'll add a pic let me know what you think. The next big thing I would like to add is seckle pears, if you have ever eaten one you'll know why having them is well worth the effort. Delicious.
My dear sweet baby chickens are HUGE and need to move to their permanent residence. The other day Gracee and I were headed out when a chicken took a slowly and leisurely stroll across the driveway. The girls have figured out that if they "fly" full speed at the screen door to the greenhouse they can dislodge it just enough to escape. Park Ave and chickens are NOT a good combination. I have about 10 dozen eggs from the babies in the frig right now if anyone is interested, there's no charge for these eggs since they are still on the smaller size, just let me know. I have one beautiful Barred Rock who has discovered the joy in pecking EVERYTHING. She got my finger last night and when I turned my back to gather the eggs she promptly took a nibble of my backside. I, in turn gave her a poke, our chosen way of chicken discipline. I have to say this is a beautiful flock of birds each with a different personality and hysterical to watch. I highly recommend chicken keeping to everyone. They are entertaining pets and the bonus is fresh eggs.
Now to the goats, they arrive tomorrow morning. We are so not ready, but like everything we do we somehow pull it together. I think we just work better under pressure. My order from Hoegger Goat supply arrive, all kinds of neat goat things that I won't bore you with but that I find very exciting. We have decided to give the goats only natural medicine keeping them on that organic vibe that we are striving for. The fencing is up and the gate will be done today. The boys and I are cleaning the pen area of any pricker bushes to keep the darlings safe. The biggest thing left to do is find a way to separate the small goat house so that mother and daughters are separate but still visible to each other. Until the babies are weaned from their bottles they may try to suckle their mom, which I know is the natural way but babies that are hand fed tend to be gentler and more people friendly which is a high priority here. I can't wait to milk my first goat... the things I get myself into. lol. I did make a promise to my husband that this was it, no more big projects for a while. I think I'm pushing him over the edge. As soon as the girls arrive I will post pictures.
The bee issues have been resolved! First I made contact with a fellow beekeeper right in Chatham whom I'm very grateful to know and plan on picking her brain for beekeeping knowledge on a regular basis. On the advice of Bob Hughes, the state apiarist right hand man, I kept my current hive intact and ended up buying a 3 lb package of bees from Brian Rowe and installed them in their own hive this past week. We are back up to 2 active hives and should have honey from at least one this season. I am feeding them, but only sugar syrup I don't know if I'll ever do the granulated sugar again. Too painful. Bees are amazing workers, well at least the ladies are, the gentlemen, aka drones pretty much just hang around waiting for a virgin queen. I'll let you draw you own comparisons on that.
Back to the business. I found a potter with the help of Georgia VanRyzin that produces the most lovely lace imprinted soap dishes. I'm working with her now to add them to my shop. The hand knit washcloths will be ordered this week, God willing. I have also found a packaging that I'm very happy with. It is completely biodegradable in keeping with our Earth conscience business. I found a wonderful company call Poole and Sons who is making my display boxes, I will post those too when they arrive this Monday. They also had 1/2 bushel flat baskets that might work for gift basket, maybe something in line with Goodness from the Garden, fresh veggies, soaps, preserves, Gracee's aprons, soap dish and towels. What do you think? I'd like to get something like that as a gift. Just a thought. I'm up to over 300 bars made and the number just keeps going up. I try to make at least one batch a day giving the soap ample time to cure before the craft show season starts and the bonus is it makes the house smell great. My favorite soap this week is Milk & Honey. My skin is so soft, I'm not even using my moisturizer. Maybe the bee stung me because it smelled the honey? Food for thought. I think that about covers everything. I better get back to it, or the goats will be in my sun parlor with the seedlings and my husband will definitely leave me for someone more sane.
I almost forgot, I am going to do a Garden Party, it will be an open house sometime in late May. I have to introduce the goats to society... a deb ball for livestock, you can only find an event like that here in my garden :)
Tracee
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Good Night from the Garden
Were you ever so tired you could barely move? Spring causes that here in the garden. It's a riot of colors, growth, and mud, it's messy and beautiful I just love it. Our magnolia tree is full of white flowers and the daffodils are starting to grow, my peonies are pushing their way up. It's time to get the screen porch ready for lazy warm afternoons, good books, and cool drinks. I have the next 2 weeks off and have great plans for tremendous progress with all our projects but of course as the saying goes the best laid plans of mice & men. I'm also thinking of throwing a garden party, more on that later though, too many other things to think about right now.
Tomatoes went in today, tomorrow I'll start more lettuce & the herbs. Tony has kindly offered me a flat of his lettuce which I can't wait to pick up. No progress in the garden itself, the peas and swiss chard have not sprouted yet and my dog Rubie decided to do a dance in the one row. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they grow at all, only time will tell.
My Araucanas have started to lay, little blue-green eggs. The Rhode Island Reds & Welsummers are doing a pretty good job too. The big girls are still here and laying the occasional egg as well. Hopefully this will be their last week end in the garden. The sun room is over-flowing with seedling. I really do need my greenhouse.
Great progress on the goat house! Joe & the boys got the whole thing up except for 1 roof panel which will be completed tomorrow. We've got to get the foundation down and then move the shed up to the mini pasture we've outlined for the new additions. I can't wait for the girls to arrive. I really need the milk.
After last week I've just avoided the bees altogether. I don't forget easily and my neck still hurts to remind me. We've got some really nice warm weather moving in around Thursday, maybe I"ll go out and open them up then. I might even make an attempt at feeding them again WITH full beekeeping gear on. The only thing with the gear is the veil is too big and always falls in my eyes and honestly I feel ridiculous all dressed up like that. It's easier to move in regular clothes and the neighbors don't freak out as much when you don't look like your from the CDC.
The soap molds have been revamped and work beautifully! I'm adding some pic's of the molds and the freshly cut soaps. Today at my favorite butcher, Green Village Meat Packing, they asked if I'd be interested in leaving a display of soap there. Crazy right? Seems he tried my werewolf soap and loved it. I have a fundraiser on April 23rd at Grace Episcopal Church, I'm always on board for a good cause. I'm trying to get into the Green Fair here in Madison on April 29th. I just hope I have enough soap. I did make contact with another crafter who represents a group of ladies who help support their families and communities by making these awesome hand knit cotton wash cloths, I'm very excited to start carrying her line. I'm also working very hard at talking a good friend of mine and potter extraordinaire into designing and making soap dishes for me. Since my soaps are made without fillers or preservatives they do "melt" more easily then the factory made types, a good soap dish is indispensable. If you really think about it though, isn't it a good thing the soap melts in water, that way it rinses off your skin easily too. No icky film, just clean skin. Perfect.
Good night from the garden,
Tracee
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Surviving the Garden
I am sitting here after a run in with a very unhappy honey bee. She taught me a lesson and the proof is on my neck. I'm now sitting, waiting for the anaphylactic shock to take me to a better place. If I start talking about a bright light you know it's the end of the road for me. If these are my last moments I figure it might as well be writing about how the end came about.
I did get some seeds started, the peppers are just starting to peek out of their pots and the geraniums are going wild. I would like to start my tomatoes at some point today and it seems it's time to plant peas & swiss chard outside. This is my first experience with either plant and I'm very hopeful. I do have a gardening guru/ nemesis, Tony, the crossing guard at my daughter's school. He is a true old school Italian gardener and knows EVERYTHING. Every afternoon at 3:15 I get his seedling report, and somehow he is always a day ahead and an inch taller. He also always shares his bounty with me, so I never complain, but silently I do vow to beat him just one time. He is really in my head now.
The babies are laying quite well now, at least 3 eggs a day. I still have been unable to get in touch with our adoptive chicken family yet, so the big girls are also still maxing and relaxing in the coop. Poor Delila is getting shaggier by the second, she is like a car wreck, you just have to look. I've added pic's for your amazement.
The goat house has had slow progress, it's still in the box, although we did manage to remove the direction book that came with it. I just hope my marriage is strong enough to survive the construction. We are heading down to Tractor Supply this evening to pick up the goat fencing, posts, goat & chicken chow, and maybe a pair of new overalls for me. It just doesn't get any better then that!
Now to those @#*% bees. Joe and I attending the first beekeeping meeting of the year. "Is there a doctor in the hive?", pretty clever huh? It was jammed packed with really surprising uses for all bee products, including honey, stings/venom, and propolis. Now to my sting, a very seasoned beekeeper explained the time has come to feed the little darlings. I bet you didn't know you feed bees, wait till you read what they eat. She recommended granulated sugar on a piece of slit paper. I have fed my bees a sugar syrup that is pour into a top feeder, never straight sugar. I'm game, I'll try anything once. Well guess what, paper blows in even a slight breeze. Bees really don't like you to repeatedly crush a piece of paper on top of them and then pour 2 lbs of sugar on top of the paper. Final score Bees 1 Tracee 0. I'm still typing, so I think I'm going to survive but man does that sting hurt.
I'm selling the soap as fast as I make it. People love it, they are buying it as gifts as well as for themselves. I'm sending out my first show application this week. I should be showing my line at Maplewoodstock. It's a cool art and music festival held in my old stomping grounds at Memorial Park in Maplewood on NJ July 10th & 11th. I will get some shots of my displays for you to check out. Joe has crafted a new mold for me with a lovely curve to hold your thumb as you use the bar. The first time out the results were less then perfect. The soap somehow adhered to the swoop and would not release, a double batch of milk & honey soap is now cut into chubby rectangles sans swoop. Live and learn. We're making our second attempt tonight after Tractor Supply. I think I will make 2 batches, an unscented bar that I've had a special request for and maybe Gardner's Bar in honor of the start of the season to sow.
If that's not enough I have started a really interesting read called "Radical Homemakers, Reclaiming domesticity from a consumer culture" by Shannon Hayes, try saying that 10 times fast.
It is really excellent and hits home for me. A short quote from the book that I loved so much I had to read it out loud to my family follows;
"A true home is inhabited by souls who live, breathe, eat, think, create, play, get sick, heal, and get dirty. It will wither in an antiseptic condition. A true home pulses with nonhuman life - vegetable patches, yeast, backyard hens, blueberry bushes, culturing yogurt, fermenting wine, and sauerkraut, brewing beer, milk goats, cats, dogs, houseplants, kid's science projects, pet snakes and strawberry patches."
As I read this I took mental note of all the things in that list which already or soon will be in my home. I may just be on the path to radical homemaking and I just wouldn't have it any other way. If nothing else I do feel better about my housekeeping.
Surviving the garden!
Tracee
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Little Eggs
A very busy week here at the garden, the most exciting news of all is our babies have stared to lay their first eggs. Check out the pic's I think the little dark brown ones are my favorite, they remind me of chocolate Easter candies. The big girls will be moving to a new home in Jockey Hollow. I will miss them but it's time for them to retire, not to mention I need my greenhouse.
It's time to start the seeds. This year I'm growing all heirloom varieties of vegetables. I found a wonderful company called Heirloom Seeds that sells the Victory Garden, a collection of 76 different vegetable seed. I've already got some of my flowers for the window boxes sprouting in the sun room. I make my own little paper pots out of old newspaper, they work great and can get planted directly into the ground so as not to disturb the roots. Today I'll start onions, chives, peppers, snap dragons, and lisianthus. There is nothing like the smell of potting soil in the winter, it means spring must be close.
On to the latest construction, the goat house is going to be coming late, so as a temporary measure we are building an 8 x 10 aluminum shed. The shed will become our honey house late this summer when the goats permanent home finally arrives. This is our first year to extract our very own wildflower honey.
Lastly the Soap Biz, I made, in my opinion, a really cool sample box that I brought to work for a quick critique. I ended up selling bars of French Lavender, Gardenia, & Grandpa's Lilac. I made a new batch of French Lavender tonight, the house still smells lovely. I wish I could send scent through the internet, I know that sounds ridiculous, but the soaps are almost intoxicating and it's hard to put into words, you have to experience it. The fragrance just makes you stop and enjoy. I"m always catching family & friends down in the soap kitchen inhaling all the different bars. I think I even wash my hands more now trying all the different kinds. I added some shots of the sample box and wrapped soaps, let me know what you think. Everyone's buying them as Easter gifts, what a great idea, why didn't I think of that?At least now I know what to get my mother-in-law.
It's funny I feel like I searched my whole life for my nitch, what I really wanted, I would have never guessed that my true joy would come from this new road we are now traveling on as a family.
Waiting for spring here in the garden,
Tracee
It's time to start the seeds. This year I'm growing all heirloom varieties of vegetables. I found a wonderful company called Heirloom Seeds that sells the Victory Garden, a collection of 76 different vegetable seed. I've already got some of my flowers for the window boxes sprouting in the sun room. I make my own little paper pots out of old newspaper, they work great and can get planted directly into the ground so as not to disturb the roots. Today I'll start onions, chives, peppers, snap dragons, and lisianthus. There is nothing like the smell of potting soil in the winter, it means spring must be close.
On to the latest construction, the goat house is going to be coming late, so as a temporary measure we are building an 8 x 10 aluminum shed. The shed will become our honey house late this summer when the goats permanent home finally arrives. This is our first year to extract our very own wildflower honey.
Lastly the Soap Biz, I made, in my opinion, a really cool sample box that I brought to work for a quick critique. I ended up selling bars of French Lavender, Gardenia, & Grandpa's Lilac. I made a new batch of French Lavender tonight, the house still smells lovely. I wish I could send scent through the internet, I know that sounds ridiculous, but the soaps are almost intoxicating and it's hard to put into words, you have to experience it. The fragrance just makes you stop and enjoy. I"m always catching family & friends down in the soap kitchen inhaling all the different bars. I think I even wash my hands more now trying all the different kinds. I added some shots of the sample box and wrapped soaps, let me know what you think. Everyone's buying them as Easter gifts, what a great idea, why didn't I think of that?At least now I know what to get my mother-in-law.
It's funny I feel like I searched my whole life for my nitch, what I really wanted, I would have never guessed that my true joy would come from this new road we are now traveling on as a family.
Waiting for spring here in the garden,
Tracee
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Welcome to the Garden
Let me start by stating I live in a very suburban area, lots of big houses and little yards. I have the opposite, a little house and a nice size yard. I used to dream of a big house with lots of room and stuff. Then destiny stepped in, the owner of a lovely bookstore- Sages Pages-recommended a book," The Reasonable Life" by Ferenc Mate. Everything changed and I, being who I am, dragged my whole family along in the quest for a reasonable life. There are six of us, my husband Joe who can build and fix everything and anything, he is the foundation that all these crazy dreams get built on. Joseph my oldest is 15 and completely brilliant, anything technical is handled by him. Andrew is 14 and probably one of the funniest, most kind hearted people I have ever met and a great builder as well, he keeps me smiling. Christian is 12 and a lot like his Dad very creative and able to build from just an idea, he's my go to guy. Then comes Gracee, just 8, very creative and artistic, she is my designer. I guess that leaves me, I'm the dreamer, looking for a better way for my family, a simple way that makes sense for us and doesn't impact anyone else. Our new goal is to live simply so that others may simply live.
Don't let me mislead you about us, my kids are teenagers . Every step is an up hill battle, one that I do not plan on losing. My husband & I have absolutely no farming background at all. Everything we do is with knowledge gained from books, the internet and friends. Basically we're flying by the seat of our pants. I cannot change the world, but I can change the way my family views it and what is truly important in it to us. Hopefully they will pass that knowledge on to their families.
Everything has been happening in steps, slow expensive steps, who knew simplicity could be so hard. It started with chickens. Twelve wonderful girls who have served us many fresh eggs in the past two years. Next came the green house, why pay for seedlings when it's so easy to grow your own. Maybe even extending the harvest to the colder months. Yeah right! Then comes the new chickens, nineteen of them to replace our old house hens who pretty much enjoy sunshine and food and haven't laid an egg in about a month. Can you say chicken stew? The nineteen babies live in the greenhouse temporarily so there goes the 3 season harvest, but that's another story. Not to be forgotten, we also keep bees, this we did end up taking a course on at Rutgers University. The bees not only produce lovely wildflower honey, they also help pollinate my ever expanding garden. Now the BIG move, we're getting goats. Three to be exact Dakota, soon to be known as Daisy, the mother of two beautiful does, Marigold and Rosie. Get the garden theme? From these beautiful ladies will come delicious raw goats milk to be made into so many wonderful, healthy things including soap. The business is born Secret Garden Soap of Madison. I make, with the help of my family, animals and the good earth, lovely all natural hand made soaps. This is our adventure and I'm posting it with hope of inspiration, shared goals and advice from more seasoned simplicity seekers like me.
Welcome to the Garden,
Tracee
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