Belle Can't Fly

I was standing in the kitchen sipping tea looking out the back window. The barn is in full view with the forested hill behind it; the goats and Rocky wander around munching and enjoying themselves; goats eating the trees new leaves and Rocky (guard dog) pulling and eating cleavers! I love to watch them. It's peaceful and fulfilling and gets me in tune with my bliss.

Yesterday, as I stood there feeling good about life, taking a garden break, talking on the cell and hearing every fourth word being said, Belle my beautiful sweet little Boar goat was on top the hay stack playing Queen of the World. All of a sudden she fell off, did a flip and landed on her back on the ground. I was stunned as they never, ever fall off that hay.

She lay there unmoving. I yelled something into the phone and headed out the back door, FarmBoy Gary close behind. I kept my eye on her as I ran; no movement. Across the yard. Through the open gate. Across the barn lot. Through the locked gate. Still no movement. My heart raced and I just knew her neck was broken as I could see she lay at an odd angle, her little legs sticking up in the air.

I knelt beside her, no sound, laying perfectly still. I reached for her head calling her name softly. As I raised her head up I realized her little horns were stuck straight down into the ground. She was pinned! As I pulled her head up and her horns out of the ground, she came to life, jumped up, wiggled her tail and nuzzled me for a treat! I examined her head to toe--perfect.

I felt exultant! Not only was she alive, she was not injured. Belle, you silly. You cannot fly.

The Goat Herd

I have been waiting for MILK GOATS for years. My last one was in 1977--that's a long time between goats! I purchased Daisy and her daughter, Button, about two weeks ago. She's a Saanen--a white breed which produces copious amounts of milk. Hilda (my 70's goat) gave over a gallon a day, so I have high hopes for Daisy. She has had a few health problems: parasites, bleeding, iron deficiency, poor coat but I have a good start on getting her healthy. I put her on an involved mineral and herbal protocol and she is showing marked improvement.

Daisy

Daisy is in "training" for milking; she's not too happy about it, but she does love her carrot and apple treats with mollasses! FarmBoy Gary got the milking stanchion just right for her and me so milking time will be a happy time.

Her kid is just adorable. Since she is cute as a button, I thought it an appropriate name.

Button - three weeks old


The other goats weren't too sure about the new additions to the family, but they are adjusting. Although Belle is disgruntled at being replaced as First Queen of the Barn Yard, Willie is delighted to have another female. He has already gotten in trouble for pestering Daisy with his bites on her legs. Cocoa Puff likes having someone her size to romp with. I hope they remain friends when Button outgrows her two or three times over!

Willie is a black Nigerian whether (neutered) and Cocoa Puff (short and brown) is a Pygmie

Belle is a Boar goat and has the sweetest personality ever.

I have several breeds so my goat classes will have a nice variety.

I am so excited to have started my milking "herd" and have only tasted one squirt but it was delicious!

More Than Meets The Eye

I am always telling my herbal students that it is better to take the whole herb than a tiny part that has been extracted, strengthened or standardized. It is better to eat whole food than it is to eat parts that have been isolated, fortified or instantized.

THERE IS MORE IN THERE THAN MEETS THE EYE.

The constituents in plants are ABUNDANT and LIFE-GIVING. Nourishing and toning.

My daughter sent me a link about breast milk which, once again, proves this point.
There's more in there than JUST food.

Take a few moments to read THIS ARTICLE. and you will see how breast feeding affects your baby long after childhood.

HERB CLASSES

This month it's all about women. MAIDEN, MOTHER AND MENOPAUSE I and II. We will explore many herbal allies for females from cradle to grave. There is so much information in this class it takes two sessions to cover it. Some of the subjects we will be covering in our alternative approach: pregnancy/fertility,fibromyalgia, depression, headaches, fatigue,PMS, heart health, memory, osteoporosis, breast cancer and menopause.

I only offer these classes once a year, so don't miss it!

MMM I Tues March 6 10 am to noon $20
MMM II Tues March 13 10 am to noon $20 OR BOTH CLASSES FOR $35

Call or email me to register: class size limited.
816-853-0440 lizzy@rcvfarm.com

Warms Me Up!

BRRRR. Even though we have had 60+ degree days, our nights are frigid. This morning it was 28; my toes got cold before I finished the chores. But, you know what warms me right up? In fact what gets me boiling? Corporations who love profit more than truth. Corporations who don't care what goes into your body and YOUR CHILDREN'S bodies.

Now I like chocolate. And, I like hazelnuts. And, I even like Nutella. HOWEVER, the commercial pitched it as a way to get children to eat BREAKFAST. OMGSH. And, to make it even more appealing, they touted how it's all preservative-free, no chemicals, and, oh yeah, it's made with SKIM milk. Just typing that stirs me up. What they DON'T mention is the very first ingredient on the label is sugar. SUGAR. Do our kids need any more sugar??

Parents, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make the effort to get sugar off your children's plate. They are depending on YOU for their health and their future health. Illnesses that are labeled LIFESTYLE diseases simply means YOU are in control.
You don't have to completely eliminate sugar; all things in moderation. But, make a start. Take a few minutes READ THIS ARTICLE about sugar.


Click the link! Don't take my word for it; there are NUMEROUS studies about the ill-effects of sugar.

Community Supported Agriculture CSA

CSA Open House - Saturday, 2/18 10 am to 2 pm Bad Seed Farmers Market 1909 McGee KC
Come on by and check out the local farmers offering CSAs.


What the heck is a CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture. They’ve been around a long time and in today’s climate of savvy consumers they are making a resurgence. Basically a farmer offers a specific number of shares to the public. A share usually consists of a combination of produce/fruit/berries/flowers/eggs/meat depending on what the farm produces.
The consumer shares in the rewards and risks of farming: there are bumper crop years and lean years. Often the consumer will also get to share in the labor a few hours a month. This allows families to be a part of where their food comes from and provides valuable teaching opportunities to their children.
Fresh, local food on your table is beneficial to you, your health and your environment.


This is our first year to offer CSA’s to the public. We are keeping our subscriptions low so we can give our families the best service possible.

We do not use HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES OR CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS. We practice sustainable, responsible gardening. We use many heirloom seeds and practice “seed saving”.

Our chickens are “true” free range—they have the run of the farm. Our eggs are rich, colorful and full of nutrients. Our happy hens run with an assortment of roosters

Subscriptions: May 1—Oct 31, 2012.
Full Share w/work shift: $350+ tax 7-9 veg & 1 doz eggs per week This should feed a family of 4.
Half Share w/work shift: $175+tax 4-6 veg & 1/2 doz eggs per week
Most folks like to have a hands-on approach to their food. If you would like to be involved we will schedule you a work shift in the gardens. Work Shifts: Full share: 12 hrs Half share: 8 hrs per season. Work shifts are optional; subscriptions are a little more if you choose not to work on the farm.

Pick up stations are Farmers Market-Liberty Square, Farmers Market-KC-Bad Seed, Mother Nature Health Market-Liberty, Heritage Home Place-Cameron and at the Farm. Your pick up site will be determined when you sign up.

Biodynamic Gardening

It's WINTER! Really, 60 degree days and no snow accumulation? My plants are so confused.
We've been busy here at the farm regardless of the season. Planting...YES, planting. Winter sowing.

These are my nine raised beds that my FarmBoy Gary made covers for. I've planted herbs and vegetables--every other row was planted using the "biodynamic" method: same seeds, same environment so I can easily tell if there is a difference. Biodynamic gardening goes a step beyond organic...or several steps actually. It is based on Rudolf Steiner's 1924 Agricultural Course. Check out the calendar in GOOD STUFF (look to the RIGHT--click on the book.) Last week I "milk" fertilized all the raised beds. It's no small chore to take off the brick weights and roll back the plastic. Today is a "leaf" planting day (biodynamic method) so am going to sow more seeds...this will finish up the raised beds.

I am also winter sowing in milk jugs; you can use any transparent plastic container. The seeds will germinate as the weather permits. When it's time to transplant, the seedlings will already be hardened off. This is my first year at this so we'll see how well it works. I love all the containers lined up against the little greenhouse....waiting, waiting till Spring.

HOW-TO-TUESDAY Rose Hip Honey

OK, I know. I should change this to How To Thursday since this is the second week in a row I've posted How To on Thursday. But, you see, I have reasons. And, I have goals. The reason: I taught class on Tuesday. And, I didn't have a How To ready to fly. The goal: post How To's on Tuesdays.

I'm all about Vitamin C. And, rose hips. And, honey. So here is a SIMPLE recipe anyone can do. And, I found one already written out so here you go:

Hip Syrup-Rosehip that is!

This is a terrific site for all kinds of recipes---enjoy!

HOW-TO-TUESDAY - Healthy Pet Powder

Ok, so I'm running a couple days behind. Remember what I said yesterday about PLAN IT FORWARD!?

I spend a lot of time researching, thinking, planning and preparing food for my animals. Dogs, cats, chickens, goats, bunny and now a cow. Some folks feed the cheapest prepared food possible, and I understand the cost factor weighs in here. But, I think we come out ahead when it comes to the health (and consequently vet bills) of the animals. Not to mention (why do we say not to mention when we are mentioning it?) the animals need good health to do their work: varmint control, egg production, milk manufacturing, guard duty, round-up and look-out captain, and cuteness factor.

Charlie the Bunny and Sunny the Cat with FarmBoy.



You don't have to outspend your budget to start feeding healthy. Just remember, animals thrive on FRESH, WHOLE food just as we do. A modicum of thought and reading will yield ideas for food. Their are now scores of books for natural animal foods and the internet is crawling with information.

I use eggshells as one of the calcium sources for my cats and dogs: bake 'em (300 degrees for 10 minutes)and grind 'em (blender, food processor, mortar/pestle). (For eggshell calcium for YOU see blog post 3/22/11). One teaspoon equals 1800 milligrams of calcium carbonate and 6 milligrams of phosphorous. (You must keep calcium/phosphorous ratio 1 to 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorous.) Bone meal is another good source and already has balanced calcium/phosphorous levels. An EXCELLENT book on this is Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health For Dogs and Cats. I have several books on the subject and I like this one the best.

Here is a simple easy way to UP your pets nutrition: Healthy Powder (This is in Dr. Pitcairn's book--I tweaked it slightly). Just sprinkle it on commercial food or add it to your home made food.

2 cups nutritional yeast (or brewers yeast)
1 cup lecithin granules
1/4 cup alfalfa powder (or kelp powder)
2 T ground eggshell
1000 milligrams of Vitamin C (grind with mortar/pestle)

Sprinkle on food:
1-2 tsp per day per cat or small dog
2-3 tsp per day medium dog
1-2 tbl per day large dog

Cassie inspecting the cold frame.

Time Is A Slippery Slope

I've had my "Brain Box" for years,
















I keep a Planner,

(Yes, it's so full of IDEAS it won't zip.)



















and I keep a tiny white board in the kitchen with my weekly schedule in plain view.

To some this may appear annal. OCD. Controlling. To me it's sanity. I don't have to even try to remember what I want to do, what I need to do, what I have to do. This releases me from appointment anxiety. Sets me free from the trials of the dreaded What Did I Forget To Do. What time am I supposed to be in Braymer? I don't know but my planner does. When was the last time I checked for cobwebs in the corner? I don't know but my Brain Box does. Do I have time to play on Facebook? Check the whiteboard to see where I am on my list. I LOVE BEING SCHEDULED. Once a week or so I SYNC UP with those folks I interact with the most.

STUFF HAPPENS. Even in the best of circumstances stuff happens to derail the Plan. Take this morning. My Plan was to write articles as soon as the chores were done. But, Rocky had his own Plan.

Rocky in one of his most endearing moments.










He decided that being "outside" the barn-pasture was more fun than being inside. Never mind the electric fence. I saw him make the decision to get shocked. Three times. Afterall, chasing chickens is SO worth a second's worth of JOLT. By his third time out he had wised up and was no longer a breeze to catch. So, there went a good portion of my "planned time". Since I started this blog he got out twice more; FarmBoy is out there dealing with him. I'd better go.

No worries. I just PLAN IT FORWARD.

When The Cow Comes Home

One moment it's all jack o' lanterns and pumpkins and turkeys and the next it's tinsel and shopping and reindeer. I've always said once Halloween arrives, the year is gone in a flash.

FarmBoy and I can't believe we have lived on our farm a year. Wow. We just put the gardens to bed and are already planning next year's crops; my shelves are filled with new and exciting seed catalogs.

I'm planning something new in the way of planting: WINTER SOWING. I'm pretty excited and am collecting "planters": cartons and containers of all kinds. Planting time will begin on Winter Solstice-- December 22.

Emma


Our miniature Jersey cow, Emma, is home. After a couple of delivery snafus she arrived before the turkey on Thanksgiving. What a difference in the barnyard dynamic. We knew Rocky, our Anatolian, would be all stressed and confused and that the goats would wonder what the heck?

We isolated Rocky in another pen so he wouldn't spook Emma. Sure enough he went hyper as soon as Emma stepped out of the trailer--barking and pacing the fence. Emma took advantage of her size and stature by intimidating the goats and promptly took over the barn and the barn yard.

Willie and Coco


FarmBoy built the goats--Belle, Coco & Willie--a ramp to the barn loft so they could get away from Emma when they chose to. They exercised that option immediately! Don't let the "miniature" fool you; Emma is hefty and round and knows how to throw her weight around.

Emma discovered the zap in the electric fence so we have not had to retrieve her from neighboring pastures but she has made a cow path parallel to the fence circling the entire enclosure. The grass is long and lush so she takes time out from her travels to munch.

Rocky and Cassie


Thanksgiving evening we left for a while and when we got back home we discovered Rocky had gone to the "rescue" of his goats. He had either jumped or climbed the fence in his isolation pen and joined his little darlings. I have no idea how he managed to get inside the electric fence as he has never tried to get out of it.
That night the goats went up to their loft and Emma promptly lay down in front of the doorway blocking Rocky outside to bark all night.

So now we have a 3 ring circus: Rocky and Emma barking and butting (Emma usually the instigator) and Belle, Coco and Willie just trying to stay out of the way. It really gets hectic when I go through the gate at feeding time. Since rain was in the forecast FarmBoy and I put up a hasty shelter for Rocky, but that night Rocky got into the barn first, so Emma spent the night outside. Ei yi yi.

It rained all day yesterday and it looked like everyone was dry so they must have worked it out to their mutual satisfaction. Emma has been home 3 and a half days and the barn seems to have quieted down somewhat. She is due to calve in April...FRESH MILK A COMIN'! The goats go up and down their ramp like it was the Himalayas, Rocky does his best to stay between Emma and his goats and Emma is still searching for a break in the fence. I am looking forward to the day when the lion (Rocky) lies down with the lamb (Emma). After all we have entered the season of PEACE; a FarmGirl can hope you know.

How To Tuesday Pumpkin Pie

Is this cheating? I posted how to cook a pumpkin about a month ago, but that was the cliff notes--this is the book. And, this one has a happy-ever-after ending: A PIE!

Start with a pumpkin...any pumpkin will do but I had this luscious, beautiful Galeuse D'Eysines. Or, as we say in Missouri, Peanut Pumpkin.

Clean the pumpkin with a good organic cleaner. I use Basic H from Shaklee.

Cut into average sized slices.

Remove the seeds. Roast 'em or save them to plant!

Add small amount of water to baking pan.

Arrange slices skin side up in pan, cover with lid or aluminum foil and bake at 325 until pumpkin is fork tender. The amount of baking time will depend on how large your pumpkin is; this one took 90 minutes.

Remove the pumpkin from the skin; this is a breeze, it comes right off.

Puree the pulp to remove the fibers. You can do this with a hand held crank type or an electric mixer.

Now you have a bowl full of beautiful, creamy pumpkin. This one made enough for four pies!

Recipe:
2 cups pureed pumpkin
1 1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 eggs
1/12 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon each nutmeg, cloves and cardamom
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Bake 425 for 15 minutes; reduce temp to 350 for 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. The baking time will depend on the amount of water in your pumpkin.

Wala. The perfect Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.

CLASS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Herbal First Aid scheduled for Dec 13 is POSTPONED until January 17.

NEW UNSCHEDULED HERB CLASS: Winter Solstice Planting Dec 20 10 am to noon $20. This class is all about WINTER SEED PLANTING. Get a head start on spring!

FINAL KIDS CLASS: Plant Reproduction. Dec 6 Tues 10 to noon. $5. There will be NO KIDS CLASSES January thru May. The summer program will begin in June.

CRAFT CLASSES: Gift Boxes --charming paper boxes with matching cards or gift tags--November 29 10 am to noon $20 No craft class in December.

Fences and Roots

I hate, hate, hate to see animals penned up, cooped up or otherwise crammed into small spaces. I like them to be able to free range as much as possible. In the wild west, I would have been one of those fighting for no fences!

When we brought our goats home we separated and isolated them for a while until we managed the parasite situation. Then I moved them into the new barn and holding pen along with their guard, Rocky, and kept them there for a day. Then, I tested the new electric fence, held my breath and opened the gate. They love it. LOVE IT. There is lush pasture, thick brush, hanging limbs still filled with leaves. Goat heaven. I was afraid they might head for the hills, literally, as there is a LOT of land on the OTHER side of the fence. But, they graze and browse for awhile, then they always come back to the barn and holding pen to relax and hang out. The "browsing" ...eating tree leaves and brush adds so much to their natural diet and contributes to their over-all health.

In the evening, when they hear me calling the chickens in, they come flying into their pen for supper, Belle's bell clanging in the cold air. I lock them in the holding pen at night for safety. We have coyotes running out our ears and a couple of bobcats for good measure. Cougars, too. They nestle in their straw bed in the barn. I couldn't be happier with the fence. It only took a couple of little zaps for the goats and Rocky to learn to keep away from it. I test it every morning before I let them out to make sure it's working. One day a sycamore branch had blown across it but that was an easy fix. Now my beauties can roam to their little goat-hearts content.

Rocky (Anatolian puppy) is learning not to chase and nip at the goats hind legs. He has a log and chain attached to his collar for an anchor. It sounds awful, but it slows him down just enough that he tires easily and gives up the chase. We are on day four. The man where we bought him suggested this treatment. Rocky's mother also had the idea to chase and bite the goats and this remedy worked like a charm.

Tomorrow is HERB CLASS. The Herbalist is in....the field. Come on out and we'll DIG herbs! Increase your knowledge of herbalism. You can take the herbs you dig home and we will also make a remedy in class. FIRST FROST HERB CLASS. Tuesday 11-1 10 am to noon. $20

The Herbalist Is In...

It's here! FIRST FROST HERB CLASS. You've been waiting for this class, asking about this class and wondering what the heck is this class about. Herbs must not be harvested before their time! ROOTS are wonderous, marvelous sources of good juju but there is no need to harvest them if all the medicine is up in the leaves and flowers. As soon as it freezes all that good stuff hurries back down into the root for the winter. DIG NOW!
And, that's just what we are going to do: TUESDAY NOV 1 10 am to noon. First we'll dig, then we'll study and learn all the great things it can do for our bodies, minds and souls then we'll make a natural remedy for you to take home. We will work on two or three different herbal roots depending on the time we have. If you have a small shovel and gloves bring them along. Wear old clothes. Get ready to have fun and learn.

We will start with Dandelion-my all time fav and Burdock-my all time fav. OK, I can't choose between them! They are just so hated by conventional standards and I want to teach anyone who will listen about all their many super-duper qualities and all the GOOD they can do for you and your family. It's truly amazing.

Natural remedies have been around a long time for good reason. I've used them for myself and my family with excellent results. You will be able to choose between making a tincture or a salve to take home. Don't miss this once a year class.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1 10 AM TO NOON $20 CALL TO REGISTER. Bring a friend; it's a beautiful country drive, all paved roads except for the last block.

Elizabeth 816-853-0440 lizzy@rcvfarm.com

The last Farmers Market of the season is Saturday in Liberty, but not to worry. Rocky Creek free range eggs will be available at Mother Nature's in Liberty. 816-415-4638. Tell them I sent you! And, as always, they are available at the iFarm Country Store here at Rocky Creek.

Unmentionables

iHerbs

It's one of those undesirable facts of life; one of those things you don't like to think about let alone talk about. And, when you mention it to folks, and as an herbalist, I do mention it, they get that look in their eye. That look that says "eeeeew". That glazed look that says they wish they were anywhere discussing anything with anyone else but me.

That subject? Worms. Parasites. Trust me when I say they are everywhere and no one and no place is immune. And, yes, you most likely have a few. A few can be good. It helps make you immune to them. So, by the same token, a few can be good for your pets.

Farmers and multiple animal owners are the exception to the "eeeeew" factor. When dealing with animals it cannot be ignored, it must be managed or you and your animals will pay a heavy price.

Here at Rocky Creek Farm before we ever moved onto the property I decided to carry my herbalism philosophy over into the management of farm animals. Knowing next to nothing about how to control parasites in animals other than traditional chemical protocols, I set out to learn. I studied everything I could think of. My herbal training was great with how to get rid of them naturally in people, but not so much on the preventative and elimination side for animals.

After reading Juliette de Bairicli Levy's book for the Complete Herbal Handbook for Barn and Stable( available in the side bar) I was hooked on what this world-renown herbalist had to say about what she called natural rearing for animals. I got her book "The Complete Herbal Handbook for Dog and Cat" along with a pile of other natural method books and commenced to study. We already had our mini Auzzie dog, Cassie, a small array of cats for rodent control and a flock of chickens. I began my natural parasite regimen and crossed my fingers.

After taking in all the experts had to say I ultimately designed a protocol myself. I make my dogs meals and supplement a good commercial dog food. I made a dog and cat "Green Goodness" which is a vitamin/mineral/herbal supplement that I mix in their food. (I have one for people, too!) The parasite preventative also goes into their food, bedding and for the chickens wherever they "dust bathe".

Of the several cats we have, one came as a stray. A beautiful small calico queen (Katy Scarlett)...and you guessed it, she was full of worms. I was dismayed but at the same time anxious to see how my new protocol worked.

Goats were next on the agenda. We found two cute mixed breed (Coco and Willie) and a Boar doeling (Belle). Goats are notorious for getting parasites; all goat owners give a regimen of chemical vermicides rotating them so the worms do not become resistant. Before we brought them home I found a great resource: Natural Goat Care by Pat Coleby. I was satisfied with his credentials and experience so now I was armed with how to use the natural method for goats.

We isolated Coco and Willie upon their arrival. Then we added another dog; our future goat-guard. Rocky is just 9 weeks old and is a beautiful Anatolian/Akbash mix. I knew it was time to check the animals I already had to see if the parasite regimen was working and check the newcomers to see where we stand. I spent an hour collecting specimens: dogs, multiple cats, goats. Belle had not come home yet so I stopped by her farm to get her contribution and delivered them all to my vet.

I knew I wouldn't hear anything until the end of the day but I still jumped at the phone each time it rang. I'll admit I was nervous. I had been warned by several that I needed to use the chemical treatment if I didn't want serious infestation. I love my animals and this is a life or death situation for them so the outcome of the tests was important. I had been using the natural method for six months during the prime season . If we had infestation it would mean the natural protocol did not work. Was I ready to give it up?

When the vet's call came I ran for paper and pencil to write down all the info. Cassie: negative. All cats: negative. Coco and Willie: negative. Rocky: negative. Belle: positive. All of the animals who had been on the natural protocol were negative. Even Katy who without a doubt was infested. It was working.

Coco and Willie came from a farm where they had the run of a large forested area which helps to keep down infestation. We built an isolation area for Belle and will keep her there for 30 days. I've decided to give her a chemical dose to kill the worms in the beginning then put her on the natural protocol for the rest of the month. I know the natural protocol takes a little time and I want to kill the adult worms right away so I don't have to worry about that.

I am very excited about using the natural method. In fact, when I got off the phone with the vet I actually jumped up and down and did a happy dance. I plan to have tests done every in 4 weeks or so to keep an eye on things.

My entire protocol will be posted on my website in the articles section next week. If you have experience with this subject--good or bad-- I would love to hear from you.

iHerbs = intelligent, individual, integrative herbs

How-To-Tuesday Pumpkins

OK, so it's officially after midnight and not Tuesday anymore. But, I wanted to post this How-To and How-To-Wednesday just doesn't cut it.

HOW TO COOK PUMPKIN. Ever see anyone try to wrangle a pumpkin? In our home school class this month we carved pumpkins. There's nothing quite so charming as kids hacking away at a pumpkin. And, over the years I've seen plenty of moms and a few dads wield and unwieldy knife at a pumpkin. It's really quite simple, like cutting up a chicken, once you have the basics down.

First, wash the pumpkin. Basic H is great for washing vegetables.
Get out your best SHARP knife and slice the pumpkin in half.
With a spoon, a serrated grapefruit spoon works best, (Sorry, kids, I didn't have enough of these to use in class) scrape out the punkin' innards. (Not unlike cleaning a chicken!)
Slice the pumpkin into smaller pieces; place skin side UP in a baking dish, add a little water and cover.
Bake at 325 degrees until the pumpkin is fork tender.
Let cool and scrape out pumpkin.
WaLa...you are ready to bake that pie...or cookies. FarmBoy Gary made delicious pumpkin cookies for class yesterday. I love autumn!

New Additions

We are gradually adding to our farm family. We've been looking for goats and a guard dog and finally found some. We purchased three goats, two of which are home on the farm. Two little mixed breeds for fun (Alpine/Toggenburg/Nigerian?), Coco, the little girl and Willie the whether. They were wild as March hares when they arrived via dog kennel in the pick-up but are taming down nicely. They actually let me touch the sides of their faces and yesterday when Coco escaped the goat pen (twice) she followed Farmboy Gary right back in through the gate. Guess they are loving their new diet!

Farmboy went to a conference and stopped en-route to check on some Anatolian/Akbash puppies I found on Craig's List. Sure enough, one male made the Rocky Creek standard! And, of course, his name is Rocky. I've never had a guard dog before...they are so different--in a good way. He made his escape twice his first night home and once the second night. At least he came right to the back door and woke me up. Both nights I put him in the dog kennel for the rest of the night until I could find the escape hole and fix it the next day. Now he seems content and is bonding nicely with Coco and Willie.

Tomorrow is class day for home schoolers. Life Science: PUMPKINS! We will be studying, carving, painting and tattooing! With a few games thrown in. It's $5 a kid, come on out and enjoy the fun. Call to register. 816-853-0440.

HOW-TO-TUESDAY - TURMERIC PASTE

Turmeric is one of the BEST anti-inflammatory herbs/spices. It is good for SO MANY health concerns. Here is an easy way to incorporate it into your busy lifestyle. This simple recipe for turmeric paste can be added to numerous dishes, made into a smoothie, used as a sandwich spread, eaten on crackers or veggies or added to warm milk.

1/4 cup turmeric powder
1/2 cup filtered water
1/4 tsp pepper (pepper makes the turmeric more bio-available)

Mix ingredients, heat on stove until thickened--this doesn't take long!

Store in frig--will keep forever. Well, maybe not forever.

Golden Milk
1 cup milk (for all of us dairy intolerant-use alternative milks: almond, rice etc)
1/4 tsp turmeric paste
Heat on stove, then add honey to taste. Can add cinnamon, too! This is a very warming and relaxing drink; afterall, Autumn is here!

When I have any inflammation, I drink 2 or 3 cups of this a day.

Smoothie
Use my smoothie matrix on my website for infinite possibilities! Or, short and easy: milk, turmeric paste, honey, cinnamon.

Autumn Comes

Autumn comes.

With cold breath
and changing colors.
Autumn comes.

With darkening moon
and paling sun
Autumn comes.

With slowing sap
and hoarding squirrels
Autumn comes.

With secret smiles
and glowing hope
Autumn comes.

Golden Rod

I spent all day yesterday harvesting this beautiful WILD herb. It grows abundantly all over our farm and all along the roadsides of Missouri and the U.S. Have you ever been blamed for something you didn't do? Golden Rod gets this all the time. He is blamed for allergies but is INNOCENT! Probably because he shows his golden plumes unabashedly while sneaky ragweed is less ostentatious--out of site, out of mind. Golden Rod pollen is much too heavy to be borne on the wind; it needs pollinators like our beautiful bees.

All parts of golden rod are used in traditional medicine making: the lovely tiny yellow flowers that form the plume, the long slender elegant leaves and the silent magic in the roots. Golden Rod offers us a plethora of healthy actions: anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic and vulnerary. That means you can use if for a HOST health concerns. The best part? He's absolutely FREE. Just give him a little bit of your time and he will give you a, well, a healthier you.

HERB CLASS: Golden Rod Tuesday September 27 10 am to noon $20 Bring a sack lunch and enjoy the country! We will be learning all about golden rod's good properties and making traditional remedies.

REGISTER TODAY: 816-853-0440 lizzie@rcvfarm.com

Summer's End

Well, two more days of summer and I say make the most of it! It was in the 40's here in the valley this morning. Crisp. Bracing. Makes me think of bread fresh from the oven (ok, bread machine), steaming stew and hot chocolate.

Grilling time may be short for some of you (we grill all winter long, yes even in Missouri) so here's a delicious herbal marinade that's delicious on meat or vegetables.

THYME TO GRILL: 1/2 cup red wine vinegar or red wine, 1 small onion, 1 clove garlic, sea salt & fresh ground black pepper and 8 to 10 sprigs of thyme. (Throw caution to the wind and substitute different herbs). Place all ingredients in flat dish, add meat (ribeye's are great), cover and chill about 3 hours. Remove meat from marinade (discard marinade), salt & pepper and pop on hot grill (400-450 degrees). Be sure grill is on HIGH HEAT and close the grill lid when cooking. For ribeye about 4 minutes each side. Or, you can broil them about 5 inches from heat. Ummmm, I can smell it now.

Jumpin' Jack Flash put up a valiant fight living several weeks after his dog and coyote attacks but he finally gave it up. I buried him with his Mables.

I LOVE IT when Rocky Creek classes start in the Fall. We've already had such a good turn out. This year we have added KIDS classes for homeschoolers and CRAFT classes for, well anyone to our regular line up of HERB classes. Next up is Herbal Antibiotics October 18. And, as soon as it frosts FIRST FROST herb class will be scheduled so be on the look out! The next KIDS class is October 11: Life Science-Pumpkin carving and painting--WHAT FUN. CRAFT class is bead weaving October 4. You will be making a beautiful bracelet in what I call 3-D! Check our website or facebook page for a full schedule. Don't be disappointed: register today. I encourage participants to bring a sack lunch and eat at the farm after class.

I will be putting the garden to bed very soon. It has been QUITE an experience in the garden this summer...good and bad. I will share all of it with you on a future blog.

Wiley Coyote

Poor little Jack cannot catch a break. A few weeks ago his beautiful plumage and his ability to walk were greatly diminished when a dog attacked him and killed several of his Mables. He hobbles around on one leg resolutely maintaining his top of the pecking order status. My heart goes out to him.

Two days ago I glanced out the window in response to the "chicken alarm" and a brazen HUGE coyote was in the barn lot. Earlier it had been storming so I had kept an eye on Jack to make sure he got in out of the weather and had watched him go into the barn... now ten feet from the coyote. I ran toward the back door, slipped on my shoes and grabbed my gun; Cassie hot on my heels. She now jumps up and looks out the window anytime she hears the chicken alarm. I flew out the door yelling like a crazy person. Wiley Coyote had grabbed Jack but upon seeing a deranged and demented farmgirl brandishing a weapon he dropped Jack and took off toward the woods. Jack furiously flapped his wings and hopped as fast as his one leg could carry him into the yard toward me. I fired a shot for good measure knowing there was no hope of hitting the would-be chicken killer but wanting to send a message. Chicken thieves shot on sight; questions later.

The next morning Jack wouldn't come out for breakfast until mid-day; I expect he was feeling the pain of the mauling. But, this morning he hopped out to eat with the others. He's short a few (ok a lot) more feathers, but seems to be ok. I've opened up the brooder house so he can bed down easier and his three remaining Mables and one Tilly sleep with him at night; the rest of the chickens go into the big chicken house.

Yesterday Wiley came out of the gardens which is quite a ways from the main chicken hang-out area around the chicken houses and pens. Again, I fired a warning shot to keep him his distance. As I have mentioned before, this is one of the perils of true free ranging so I will continue to stand guard over my flock. Farmboy Gary built a great pen for them around the chicken houses, so when I leave I put them in their pen; otherwise they are out catching worms, bugs and foraging herbs and other greens. It's the stuff good, no GREAT eggs are made of.