tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post4136002720993531216..comments2023-11-03T08:56:03.162-04:00Comments on Grow the Change: Homesteading Skills: Building BarnsFreija and Beringian Fritillaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11591614320106389316noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-15706597256541188882008-10-06T13:57:00.000-04:002008-10-06T13:57:00.000-04:00Producing dairy poducts at home is an intensive bu...Producing dairy poducts at home is an intensive but managable process. I really admire the way you are approaching and organizing the way you use your land and animals. <BR/><BR/>We grew a small plot of mangles (fodder beets) this year to see how the cow and/or goats would do with them. <BR/><BR/>All of our composted manure has been needed in the garden as yet, but we intensively graze (horse, cow, pig or chicken) over any new ground we are turning for grains and garden. The hay fields would produce a much heavier crop with composted manure.Freija and Beringian Fritillaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11591614320106389316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-20402743514195390642008-10-05T10:35:00.000-04:002008-10-05T10:35:00.000-04:00We have Australian Shepherds (another herding bree...We have Australian Shepherds (another herding breed) to keep most of the predators away, but the cattle have to fend for themselves as far as the cougars go. We have changed our calving season to a little later than the deer and elk (cougars preferred food)and we rotationally graze, so the cattle do not have access to the forest during calving. The cattle would prefer to calve in the woods, but with the hunting laws being changed to enhance the cougar populations, I don't see that happening anytime soon. The real worry is there is some talk of introducing wolf pairs, and we live near one of the areas that the government is considering. That would be a huge problem. Coyotes here are not a problem, unless people make it so, they stay with the cows at calving time to get that milk rich calf poop. We can tell by the cows actions that they are not bothered by this, however a strange dog will upset them.<BR/><BR/>I hope the goats work out better for you. I will go to once a day milking in the dead of winter, and that helps the cow and gives us less milk to deal with. A family cow is a lot of work. Now we raise roots for winter, instead of feeding grain, and that has helped the health of the milk cow quite a bit. Probably the single thing that has made a difference on our carrying capacity and pasture/hay quality has been to follow the MiG (management-intensive grazing) with electric fencing. This in conjunction with composting our cattle's manure for a year and applying that to our hay ground.Throwback at Trapper Creekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12418370592659531735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-89887084132822546582008-10-01T15:37:00.000-04:002008-10-01T15:37:00.000-04:00Throwback at Trapper Creek, cougars wow, do you ke...Throwback at Trapper Creek, cougars wow, do you keep any livestock guardian dogs? We have some cheeky coyotes and the occasional hungry bear, but no cougars to worry about. Our three little border collies keep the predators away. And they are shaping up into great herders, so they could be helpful with a small flock of goats and sheep.<BR/><BR/>I have gotten hooked on that rich Jersey cream, but on our scale, the cow requires too much pasture and hay, and gives so much more than we need. I think goats will be enough of a relief that I will make the switch to goat milk and white butter without bellyaching too much!Freija and Beringian Fritillaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11591614320106389316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-13346711523788449122008-09-12T17:25:00.000-04:002008-09-12T17:25:00.000-04:00Love your barn, and woodstove. We find our woodst...Love your barn, and woodstove. We find our woodstove to be very economical heating and cooking. We too have an abundant supply of wood, so using wood for fuel is efficient in our area.<BR/><BR/>Cattle are best for our area, as we have to deal with cougar predation and the cattle for the most part can protect themselves. We do not feed grain so that isn't an issue for us.<BR/><BR/>Your homestead is beautiful, and I'm looking forward to more posts.<BR/>Thank you.Throwback at Trapper Creekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12418370592659531735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-72916746168982501612008-09-11T16:09:00.000-04:002008-09-11T16:09:00.000-04:00susy and farm mom, thanks for the recommendation, ...susy and farm mom, thanks for the recommendation, we will check it out this winter!<BR/><BR/>susy, the stove is the centerpeice and the workhorse of the household. It can heat 2,000 sq ft, and I can really process some food on this baby. The oven will bake 8 loaves of bread. It also heats all of our domestic hot water.<BR/><BR/>farm mom, thanks for the praise on the barn, we are usually pretty shy about the way it looks. We would love to build a beautiful barn, but functionality won out this time!Freija and Beringian Fritillaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11591614320106389316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-57834718639896878042008-09-11T13:06:00.000-04:002008-09-11T13:06:00.000-04:00first I have to agree with susy, LOVE "Good Neighb...first I have to agree with susy, LOVE "Good Neighbors!" :) And secondly I'd just like to say how amazing I find all the work you've done! (I LIKE the look of the barn too, btw.) I cannot wait to hear all about how you power the place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3420957879376754270.post-62923063178972380182008-09-10T23:21:00.000-04:002008-09-10T23:21:00.000-04:00I LOVE your stove. Have you ever seen the UK show...I LOVE your stove. Have you ever seen the UK show "Good Neighbors"? Reminds me of when they bought their old wood stove. If you haven't seen it you should get it from the library this winter. You guys would appreciate it. Mr Chiots and I loved it.Chiot's Runhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05086153621579437021noreply@blogger.com