posted by jax1215 on Feb 24
Southern Appalachian Family Farm will have their meeting on Monday, Feb. 28.
This month we will be focusing on our local Farmer’s markets. Frances Juhlin will be giving a 20-minute presentation on market gardening/tailgate markets. She and her husband Stephen operate Candy Mtn Farms and have a productive year-round garden that supports the local area, and they are the primary sellers at Cedar Valley Farmer’s Market in downtown Murphy. She’s also been the recipient of 2 grants for her greenhouses and has put them into full operation
We will also have a brief time of updates to keep you informed of progress being made.
Please remember to spread the word about SAFF to anyone you think may be interested and invite them to come to our meetings. We will be meeting in Marble at the Tri-County Community College building at 7 :00 p.m.
I can’t wait. Check out Frances’ video here on Green as you Can Be. Her farm is wonderful.
I am interested in starting a tail gate market in Brasstown this spring. If you are interested, let me know.
Jax
posted by admin on Feb 18
Our chickens have finally started producing. We get about 5 eggs per day. We have 9 hens and 1 rooster. That’s enough for the two of us. Last Fall Casper and I went to a chicken class. It was really interesting. I was surprised at the number of folks that turned out. My friends at Sleepy Hollow Gourd Farm have just increased their brood.
Mike & Joan Glover, Sleepy Hollow Farm
$6,000 — Heritage Birds
The Glovers are purchasing Heritage Breeds (Buckeyes and Partridge Chanteclers) that are on the near extinct list and are hatching their own chicks, using a new incubator. With the purchase of a poultry processing unit, they can offer meat to their customers for the first time. They are also selling baby chicks to other local poultry farmers and offering the use of their equipment to them.
The Glovers are increasing the number of laying hens from 60 to 100 to satisfy the high demand for brown eggs to Swain County residents and restaurants. With this expansion, they will be considered one of the largest egg producers in the county.
Keep up the good work!!!!
Jax
posted by jax1215 on Feb 9
The age old question of which came first the chicken or the egg…well, at this house it was the chicken. Last March my son gave me 6 peeps for my birthday. I was so excited, could not wait for my first eggs. We even took a class on raising chickens.
Five of the six peeps were roosters. Some dogs came on to our property while we were out and killed the only hen and a rooster. No hope for eggs at that point. then we heard of a lady that could not care for her flock anymore and we rescued 9 hens. They were really stressed and sad looking. No eggs still. During the worst snow storm something got two of our roosters.
Then on one of snowiest days my husband came in with one little egg. Yea !!! I cooked it just for him. That was 6 weeks ago. Finally this week, more started laying and now we have all we can use. (I will never try to figure out the cost of my eggs. LOL)
The chickens are so much fun to watch. No matter the cost of the feed, just the joy of watching them is worth every penny. The eggs taste wonderful, too.
Jax
posted by jax1215 on Jan 14
We have been snowed in for most the year. (all 14 days of it) I got out on the 4th to run some errands and have been stuck since. It’s not really a bad thing. It’s given me a chance to think of the direction I want this blog to go. I had not been happy with what I had been doing. Anyone can tell you to change your light bulbs and insulate your house. It’s not all of the big picture. I’m talking about sustainable living, a more simpler life. Those who know me, know that I’m the queen of stuff. I NEED to simplify.
So, I will still give green tips but I will also add in more “make do” comments, a lot of organic gardening and growing tips, some interviews with those that are doing and links to “good to know” sites.
Right now we are “making do” with wood heat. We have electric heat but really hate using it, so we have a wood burning stove in our living area. We have been harvesting all the fallen trees that have been cluttering up our woods. As we chop the wood for burning, we set aside the pieces I can use for craft projects. I have several projects lined up for warmer weather. I like the wood heat and the glow from the stove, really cozy.
I promise to post at least once a week with some interesting link or idea. Sorry I’ve been away so long.
Jax
posted by jax1215 on Aug 10
Remember going to the county or state fairs and seeing all the canned goods or bakery items??? I do. I always wished I could taste some of those items because my mom did not can and she was the world’s worst baker.
August 28 and 29 in Young Harris Ga. there will be a chance to see “old time” canning and bake goods being judge while enjoying a great craft show.
It’s not to late to enter. You can get your application CLICK HERE.
All my friends are busy canning or freezing their great, fresh foods but not me. I had the worst time with my garden. Caterpillars, worms and the hottest summer in recent history. I got a few tomatoes, a small crop of red onions and my gourds are finally setting on. (They are way late doing this)
We lost two of our chickens so we are down to 4 roosters. Normal people would think that all the failures I’ve had this year, I would just give up. Not me. This is my dream and I will just keep trying until I get it right. It’s the journey (right ?) not the destination. Besides, I have the best compost pile in the area !!
Jax
posted by jax1215 on Jun 2
Finally we have our chickens in their new home. This was a long time coming. My son had given me chickens for my birthday in March.
While they were tiny we could keep them in a box. After they got too big for the box we made a 7 ‘ cage and they were happy. Now they are adults and need to stretch their legs and the weather would not cooperate. Took forever to get the coop done.
We used scrap from a timber framers burn pile. I had an old window we re-purposed. Some one had given us some metal roofing we had used to build the bar and still had some left. The chickens nesting boxes are old wine crates. The only real cost was for chicken wire and some 2×4′s
The chickens love their new home. Now let’s hope they can start to lay.
Jax
posted by jax1215 on Apr 23
You really know Spring has arrived when you see Farmer’s Markets open. Our market in downtown Murphy, NC opened a couple of weeks ago but I didn’t get down there until last week. It’s not running full blast yet but there is more than enough wonderful looking produce, yummy looking cakes and lots of crafts.
My favorite organic farmers from Candy Mountain Farms were there. Their produce is the best. (at least in my mind)
There are many farmer’s market popping up in every town. Check out you towns or near by towns and frequent them. The food is fresh, chemical free and good for you. Most importantly you are keeping your food dollars local and helping the community to thrive.
Jax
posted by jax1215 on Apr 22
This is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. I remember the first one and how I thought “it’s about time” I have been green my whole life and have been teased, ridiculed and sometimes supported. I had a Scout Troop for 13 years and the one thing I always stressed when out and about was to always leave a place better than you found it. I just hope those girls (now in their 30′s and 40′s) have remembered and passed it on to their children.
I’ve been lining up new shows for this season and had an opportunity to talk to our county extension office and Keith Wood said something that really hit home. People think that you have to invest a lot of money and make big changes to be green and that is not the case. It’s the little things we do every day that make the difference.
So, today, change one thing toward being green. Take you own reusable bags to the store, change out your light bulbs to energy saving ones, plant a small garden, car pool (even one day a week), turn out lights, etc. I’m sure you have more ideas than I could ever list.
You can make a difference.
Jax
posted by jax1215 on Feb 28
Yep…we have 64 eggs. Well, we HAD 64.
We want chickens really bad. Only a few, though. My friend Judy went out of town for a few days and wanted us to babysit her chickens. We could have all the eggs we gathered. She has 19 chickens. I didn’t think they would all lay everyday. They laid about 15 per day. So then we had a lot of eggs. I don’t waste anything. (ever)
Now what to do with 64 eggs. First I gave a dozen to my son. We have had many breakfast where I have fried, scrambled and poached them. My husband wanted to make crepes. they turned out excellent, I made a cheesecake, yummy. I still have eggs. I know they will stay fresh for 45 days, so I think we can eat them all.
Last week the county extension office had a workshop on raising chickens. It was very informative. (check you local county office, they may have classes, too) Got lots of hand-outs. The turnout was huge. There were over 50 people there. Seems everyone wants to have a few chickens in there back yard.
“Someone” ate a piece of cake before I could take a picture.
Jax
posted by jax1215 on Feb 14
It’s never too early to be thinking about Earth Day. Last year we had a celebration in Brasstown NC and it was great. So it’s time to plan Earth Day 2010. It will be on April 24 in Brasstown. I’m looking for crafters, green vendors and any green businesses that want to set up a table. (no jewelry unless made from re-founded items and no food vendors.)
Deadline is April 15. Cost is $10 a table. You can contact me thru this blog or email me at jax1215@gmail.com.
Hope to see you there.
Jax
