Winter School Auction

Goat kids being entertained by a human visitor during a Winter School break.

At the Tennessee Master Gardener 2011 Winter School--just passed--P&CW Farm donated two goat kids to the Silent Auction. The third kid in Nigerian Dwarf Jennifer's winter 2010 litter, Kendall, and Fainter x Dwarf cross Mitzi's 2011 kid, Eeyore, were entered in the auction on the eve of February 23rd. Winter School, a series of classes organized into two tracks--teaching and leadership--and held over three days, opened on Thursday, February 24th. Again hosted by the most generous Rutherford County Master Gardener association, the event was a huge success. Attended by close to 200 registered participants, presenters, and volunteers, Winter School made Murfreesboro's Lane Agri-Park beside the Rutherford County UT/TSU Agricultural Extension offices a bustling center of activity.

When the Silent Auction opened on the 24th, attendees browsed the myriad of offerings--a vast collection of garden-related items donated by businesses and master gardeners from across the state. The goats were marketed as producers of natural fertilizer and consumers of weeds and invasive plants. Both items are useful to gardeners. By afternoon I was fielding questions about the goat kids up for auction. The doeling, Kendall, received a bid before day's end. Then on Friday, the kids came to school.

Friday turned out to be overcast, windy, and chilly. Although I had planned to pen the kids outdoors, when the temperature refused to rise out of the 30's, I tucked the pair into a plastic tub and toted them into the shelter of the building. Although Kendall was already socialized to humans, Eeyore had yet to trust these two-legged creatures. He was quite nervous at first. By lunchtime word had spread: the goat kids were present and ready to be cuddled. By early afternoon, Mr. Eeyore was leaning into the arms of his admirers, looking fully content.

Goat kids revel in the late-February warmth and dine on the season's first greens.

With master gardeners being savvy bidders, a bidding war for Kendall ensued. When the auction closed in the late afternoon, both kids had new owners and together the pair had netted half again as much as the Great Pyrenees dog P&CW Farm had entered in last year's auction! We were glad to be able to contribute to Winter School, and thrilled to have our goats going to master gardener owners. Indeed we even sold a third kid, from Jennifer's early 2010 litter--Todd. The goats would come to school for one more day before heading off to their new homes.

On Saturday, the skies cleared and the sun broke through. By the first morning break we were able to rig a fence outdoors where the kids could enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. And enjoy it they did. Eeyore bounced and twisted, butting his pasture mates around with his little goat self. He even conversed with a woman who repeatedly bleated at him; the two held a fascinating conversation for several minutes. The kids and people enjoyed the day as the temperature rose into the 60's.

When all the workshops were over and the ample food demolished, the gardeners were ready to go home. Kendall and Todd left the grounds together, co-owned by a pair of fine gardeners and enthusiastic goat owners. While it was a little hard placing Eeyore in a home without other goats, I was pleased by how well he took to his new owner--and her promise of boys at home to play with him.

The weekend's last question remains: what will we bring to the Silent Auction in 2012?

Two Roosters for the Freezer

Cooped up, some roosters are getting too big for their britches.

This weekend we prepared two roosters for the stew pot. First to go was a big, handsome red rooster who had been preying on the other roosters in the kennel area. We had planned to put the roosters in the kennel for finishing for only a few weeks, but the time got away from us. Some of the red roosters are huge.

The second was a smaller black rooster. I selected him because he has been the target of the others' malicious attacks. More than once I've saved him from a corner where he cowered, allowing the big roos to claw at and peck on him. He wasn't as big, but his presence seemed to bring out the worst in the others--so he had to go.

The guts of two roos. One laden with fat.

All went smoothly outdoors and the dogs were happy to clean up the pan of rooster blood left behind. Indoors, however, I was in for a surprise. The little black rooster came apart smoothly, but the big red rooster did not. His innards were packed tight within his chest cavity and glued together with fat. We've processed birds with fat pockets before, but this guy's internal organs had no room to move about for all the fat pressing upon them.

The birds had lived similar lives, and had eaten the same food--although the big red rooster may have been one of those bullies who hogged much of the feed for himself, so I was amazed by the differences between them on the butcher block. Even the big guy's organs looked different--his liver was not the deep healthy red we're used to seeing, but a lighter color.

Hearts and livers of the same roos--left/right positions swapped from above.

When I enjoyed their hearts and livers pan fried with onions for supper, served on buttered bread, the flavor of each was just fine and I was reminded of how my mother used to fix me snacks of chicken hearts and livers some afternoons. Such meals just don't get old. Rooster stew, on the other hand, is getting old, so we packed up the rest of the rooster pieces for the freezer. A few days off before our next pot of stew will be a welcome respite.

Hank's Got Charisma

Nubian x Boer cross goat buck, Hank--the hunk.

This week it seemed that all of the does in the home pasture cycled, very closely together. We placed Brad Pitt in with them for a couple of nights, but when more tails started wagging a few days later--and the gals were mooning up against the fence for Midnight Hank, why, we put Sting in the home pasture to work.

We don't know what it is about Midnight Hank, but some of these does have their caps set for him and no one else. Unfortunately for them, they don't get to choose. Especially since we've been told that a meat goat buck like Hank can produce kids whose heads are too big for the big dairy does to birth comfortably--the dwarf does wouldn't stand a chance. We are not ready to lose goats during kidding just because we allowed the does to choose the big-boned buck.

Brad makes beautiful peach-and-white kids. He should have bred Dwarfs Thumbelina and Jennifer when he was in the home pasture. Sting has all of BullyBob's good features. Most of the Fainter does and Cocoa will be having his kids come summertime.

We have not had summer kids before. Those does who are still here for kidding will be pastured in the cool shade of the wooded areas; however, most will have been placed elsewhere before they kid again.

Shagging for Hay

A stately tree dominates the yard of this farm complex.

We're between hay deliveries at the moment. Jeff, our friend from Barns & More and our usual hay supplier, has no more hay to sell this winter. Local hay is running anywhere from $3.00 a bale to over $8.00, and having hay delivered adds to the cost. Last week we located another local farmer with well-priced mixed grass square bales.

On Saturday morning we headed out into the chill air and drove to a farm in Watertown to pick up the few bales our capped truck can carry. The sky was a deep, clear blue in color. It made a lovely backdrop for the farm while we waited to meet up with the farmer.

He, too, stores his square bales in closed trailers. The roll-up door on the trailer we visited was frozen shut when he arrived. I doubt I could have convinced it to move, but Clint just rattled the door a few times then heaved it open. (We fondly remember the strength of our younger adulthood.)

His mixed grass hay is somewhat loosely baled and quite fine. The strings are tight enough that we cut them more often than just "springing" the bales open. When loosed, the grass is delectably fine. The flakes come apart readily, spreading out to be eaten. Our quadrupeds burned through the first load quickly, one that our operations manager obtained midweek, and were eager for more--necessitating a trip on Saturday.

Next time we'll take our little rattletrap farm pickup with its little trailer. With its open bed, we should be able to carry more hay in one trip.

Eeyore Thrives

Mitzi tends to her kid, Eeyore, while--in pursuit of Jennifer--Brad earns his keep.

The new little TN Fainting x Nigerian Dwarf buckling, Eeyore, appears to have his dam's steadfast temperament. He doesn't flinch when the herd pours around and over him, converging on pans of grain. He keeps his eye on Mama, and makes his way to her if she runs off (which she does for food). Having a compliant dam, he nurses briefly and often--a luxury that little Kendall did not enjoy. As a result Kendall still gorges at every opportunity she spies and sports a full, rotund belly. Eeyore is slender but fit. He gets the nutrition needed for growth in a timely manner.

We love his floppy ears. Being the only goat outside of the Nubians to have floppy ears, I still question his parentage on occasion. Is it possible for one kid to have two sires? I highly doubt it. Perhaps a litter can have multiple sires--much like a litter of canine pups--but even that I do not know. However, anyone seeing Eeyore up close knows BullyBob's genes are in him. Clearly, Sting must have sired this little buckling.

Welcome Eeyore!

Eeyore is Mitzi's new TN Fainter x Nigerian Dwarf buckling.

This morning when the female goats flocked to the fence for feed, I did not see anyone trailing behind Mitzi and so assumed she had yet to kid. But when I got closer, I saw that her tail was bloody and so went in search of her litter.

Halfway up the pasture I found a little buckling standing in the sunshine. He's tan with a white belt and a couple of white stockings. At first glance, his floppy ears made me wonder if the Nubian buck Samuel had fathered the kid. Closer inspection revealed bright blue eyes and the "goat jewelry" (wattles) so often present in our Nigerian Dwarf buck BullyBob's offspring. Given the timing, we gather Bully's son Sting sired this litter.

Remembering that Mitzi had kidded twins in her last litter, I searched further. In the stall I found a red-brown doeling who hadn't made it. She would have been as pretty as her feisty dam. It's sad to lose new kids, but she apparently wasn't ready for this world. Likely she would have been as vulnerable even if she'd been delivered in a maternity stall beneath a heat lamp.

Mitzi's 2010 doeling, Josie, stands by the close-trimmed wreath.

The afternoon was filled with farm chores--tending goats, alpacas, chickens and such. As the shadows grew long, I happened by the wreath I'd set out yesterday. The goat girls have done a fine job trimming its branches.

In the evening I settled Eeyore--so named because of his floppy ears and the way he tilts his head down--and his dam into the maternity stall. Mitzi was very well behaved and allowed me to lift her over the barrier and into the stall without a struggle. Considering the fight she put up this morning when I tried to take a peek at her tail, I'm impressed that she trusted me to place her in with her new kid.

Still Celebrating the Holidays

Our goats celebrate Christmas in February.

We're still celebrating the Christmas holidays here on the farm. Yesterday I brought back a wreath for the goat girls to enjoy. It graced the front of our church in December and January, but I noticed it piled with other greenery outside the church the other day. On that occasion I brought home two of the branches someone had removed from the Christmas tree, just to see how the goats would react to this type of greenery. I cannot say that I was surprised to see that, yes, they like it!

When I drove up by the pasture gate today the goat girls raced down to see what I had in store for them. Before I could even fasten the wreath to the gate post, the herd had descended upon its branches. They were so cute gathered around the wreath, that I had to slip into the pasture with my camera.

On the left, the Nigerian Dwarf x Fainter cross Mitzi, appears close to kidding.

Before leaving the enclosure, I quickly surveyed the does from the rear, to check for udder development indicating a possible pregnancy. Lo and behold, I saw that Mitzi's bag is full; we expect that she may kid tonight or tomorrow. I considered putting her into the maternity stall overnight, but decided against it as she prefers being with the herd. Plus, she's a good mother and will likely kid indoors if the temperature drops tonight. We wonder who will prove to be the sire of her litter.

Hamilton Explores

Hamilton reaches beneath the fence to graze.

As the alpaca males trim away the fodder in their pasture, they've begun to look out beyond their fence. Although with the tube panels I am able to restructure their enclosure fairly readily, I don't always move fast enough to please "the boys." Hamilton serves as the herd barometer, because he's the first to stretch his neck past the fence line. So far he is the only alpaca to leave the pasture of his own accord. When I come home or look out of the porch and see Hamilton reaching beyond the fence, I know the time is nigh to reconfigure the pasture.

Recently Hamilton sent me word to move the fence, but I did not heed his warning. The next time I looked his way, Hamilton was out front grazing on the lawn. Since the perimeter fencing is good, I left him to graze for the day. I knew he would return at feeding time, if not before.

Hamilton enjoys greener pastures.

By afternoon he had moved from the greenest area and had ventured uphill where he could check out the action. There he could browse at will while looking over at the female alpacas and the goats. I imagined that he enjoyed his time abroad. Before feeding time, I moved fence panels to give the boys a chance to reach some new green patches. Hamilton returned when I opened the gate, wandering in just in time for dinner.

The Ravages of Winter

Scruffy-looking mares munch hay. Trees they've denuded of bark stand in back.

At this time of year, the enclosures containing horses are less pastures than mud lots. The difference is readily apparent in the mares' coats. Not only are they long and shaggy from the cold, but also they're often plastered with patches of drying mud. At least most of the grime falls away once the spot has dried out thoroughly.

In addition to hay, the horses forage upon the few fallen leaves they have yet to devour. Plus, they are wont to strip tree trunks of bark in their grazing. Everyone here will be happier when the grass greens underfoot again. The horses will enjoy the fresh spring greens, and the trees will be allowed to rest and recover from the ravages of winter.

LaLa's Woes

LaLa goose stretches her wings.

Early in the winter, on the morning of a hay delivery, Biscuit--the youngest Livestock Guardian--saw fit to play with LaLa goose. Biscuit still thinks like a puppy, which makes him dangerous around feathered creatures. He's the first to snatch up an unsuspecting chick, and his game quickly becomes a tasty treat.

On that Saturday morning I heard LaLa fussing and went to investigate. There I found Biscuit, penned up for the duration of the hay delivery, romping after his feathered game. Unfortunately, he'd already put a good hole in her back by the time I arrived. At the time, LaLa allowed me to scoop her up, place her into protective custody, and minister to her wound. She spent several days wrapped tightly in a bandage that protected her wound while leaving her wings free to flap.

In about a week, though, she had managed to fully unwind and shed the bandage. By this time her wound was safely closed, and the fresh air likely aided the healing process.

Now, although she still spends considerable time in protective custody, the feathers have regrown across her back and she is about ready to reenter the barnyard full time. She'll be glad to get out and about again, so long as she doesn't find herself cornered by any playful, bouncy young dogs.

Someone's Watching Over Me

The sun shines through the cloud cover on a February morning.

Here is an entry about life beyond the farm.

This morning I decided to run errands before heading in to Nashville for an appointment. At the end of our road, I admired the sun breaking through the clouds. The light spilling through gave the effect of a brighter place beyond the clouds--much like one sees in the paintings of Thomas Kinkade. Perhaps such light is evidence of God smiling down upon our world; perhaps not. Either way, I pulled over to snap a photo then went on my way.

After running errands, I got on the highway two exits before where I usually do. Immediately after pulling off the ramp and into traffic, my car began acting strangely--swerving of its own accord. "Uh oh," I thought, noting that the next exit was just two miles down the road. When I pulled off of the highway, I bypassed a gas station and rolled on down the street to Rose Tire & Service. We take all of our auto business to them because they work quickly, do quality repairs, and charge fair prices. Plus, they are honest and friendly.

They showed me why this would be the day for my car to get new tires, and ordered a set for the car to come in this afternoon. After driving home to change vehicles and continue on with my day, I recalled the sun as I had seen it breaking through the clouds, and mused about why on this particular morning I had changed my usual pattern and entered the highway above the Rose Tire exit.

My mother used to tell me, "There's a Providence who looks out for fools, drunks, and missionaries' children." To that I add missionaries' grandchildren, for that would be me. Thank you, Providence, for looking out for me.

Hay! For me?!

Hay intended for feed provides soft bedding for Molly.

Our Livestock Guardians are anything but pampered pets. They have no pillowed beds, insulated dog houses, or squeaky toys, but they make do. Around the farm, they hardly want for shelter; they can duck into or underneath numerous shelters, most of which provide good vantage points for watching their flocks.

Of late, Molly has been favoring pillows of hay for bedding. Although she has the good sense to avoid bedding down upon those piles at which animals are actively feeding, seemingly-abandoned piles offer opportunity. These days the big dairy goats have run of the woods where there's browse aplenty, but should they appear when I'm doling out hay to others I may leave a flake out for them. Enter Molly.

Once the goats lose interest in the proffered hay, as they are wont to do, Molly may happen by to claim the pile. Her presence promptly turns fresh hay from fodder into bedding, for the goats rarely return to eat hay that's been utilized as a sleep surface. Picky goats = happy dog.