A Busy Few Months!!

Well friends, I must apologize for the lack of posts over the last few months. It's been busy but full of blessings! I'm so grateful to have the time to sit down and write again!! So, I'm easing back into the blogosphere with an update on the happenings here, at the Williams Homestead...

First, our lovely hens began laying and we are enjoying their nutritious (and pretty) gifts!!

Our white Auracana laid the pale blue one, they're my favorite!

They have definitely earned the expansion my husband added to their run...

The girls seem very happy to have space to get away from Henry the rooster!!

We got brave for a few days and let them free range in the evenings until our neighbor's dogs came over for a taste... everyone survived, but Harriet, a Golden Comet (and daily layer might I add), did suffer from a nasty bite wound across her back. We almost gave up on her, but she eventually began to walk again! I think she enjoyed her time on the back porch though!

Our dog Luke, he liked having her around too.

Our tomatoes (the only plants I was able to get in the ground this year) are so abundant, and our son has become quite the tomato picker!! I am so excited for him to do even more in the garden next year!

And the biggest news here on the farm is the arrival of our second child... another sweet boy!

'B' striking a pose.

God is so good!! 

I look forward to sharing the birth story once I get some time to write it down! Maybe I'll start by posting my first birth story so I can truly share the faith walk I have been on from the beginning!  This little one is precious! His eyes are turning blue and he has the sweetest little way he smiles... I could go on and on!!

'T' is such a loving big brother.

That brings you full circle!

 Melissa started a new job and her son a new school year so she's been busy too! She and I still have lots to write about... Schwarberg Farms now produces honey, goats milk, and a gazillion eggs!! Her son showed his lamb at the Kentucky State Fair bringing a close to his first 4H summer. We have our first Feast of Tabernacles to celebrate in October, and lots more!! Hope everyone is well and enjoying the gifts of summertime!!

Love,

Katie

The Good Shepherd

It has been a sad day here at Winter Wood Farm. My heart is heavy. Our beloved little lamb Simon passed away last night. He had been doing so great and was my ever faithful shadow, following me around the farm and even through the house. He is truly missed. 

Simon went from completely normal to very sick within hours with what's called "foamy bloat". Our best guess is that he ate too much clover yesterday afternoon which caused his rumen to build up with gas. We were up until the wee hours of the morning passing a tube to try and relieve the pressure, nothing seemed to help. 

Within hours he was gone.

Throughout the day, I have been really pondering in my heart what Jesus meant when He told us that He is the good shepherd (John 10:11).  My short time with Simon has given me yet another example of how vast and how immense Jesus' love is for each of His sheep. And knowing now how fragile a lamb can be, I have been shown just how amazing it is that not one of us will be lost (John 18:9). I do know His voice (John 10:27), and I will follow it all the days of my life. Thank you Lord for your never ending love and for laying your life down for this sheep crying at her computer over a little white lamb. You are truly so good!

The 'sucker' homestead...

So, I know that homesteading implies becoming more self sufficient by raising your own food. And I know that in order to do that, the homestead must focus on plants and animals that serve a purpose and provide something for the homestead, whether that's eggs, meat, milk, more stock, produce, honey, fiber, etc, everything needs to pull its weight. 

But sometimes, you just fall for a cute face. Sometimes you just need to accept that you have 'sucker' clearly written on your forehead and, as a result, sometimes you just have to forget what's practical...

Meet Simon.

Simon is a one month old lamb. He was a triplet and mama wouldn't take him. So, yes, I am chasing a 16 month old, 8 months pregnant, and bottle feeding this sweet, precious, adorable little guy. And as I'm sure you could figure out, he will serve no purpose other than to bring a smile to our faces.

Here I am giving my son a ride in the wheelbarrow on the way to feed the chickens, with my little white shadow and our dogs. God is so good!!!!!!!

Why we have chickens!

Update from the Williams Homestead!!! Our chickens are living in their newly built coopdominium!! My wonderfully talented husband was able to finish the coop and run (with a little help from the Schwarbergs) and the chicks have adapted well! There are still some finishing touches like a window (with a flower box, of course), wrapping the coop with wood from our old barn, a roost in the run, nesting boxes... I better stop or he'll get discouraged;) Anyway, I am so grateful that they aren't in the house anymore (I'll never do that again!!!) and for all my husband's hard work!

I don't know if I'm anticipating the first cockle-doodle-do or the first egg more!

I'm putting a little wood fence around the base using cut firewood. I LOVE the old barn door he used!

 

But honestly, THIS is why we really have chickens!

Update from the homestead and Easter weekend!

This week has been a busy one for Melissa and me! We wanted to let everyone know a bit of what's going on around the homesteads before this holy weekend begins! 

I made my first batch of jelly yesterday using violets picked from our yard! The recipe came from The Nerdy Farm Wife, make sure to visit her site for many more recipes! I haven't tasted it yet so fingers crossed it tastes as delicious as it looks! I'm planning on handing a few jars out as Easter gifts to the neighbors with a little scripture attached! I'll post the recipe once I make sure I did it right ;)

The chickens at our house are growing so big and are in that awkward "teenage" stage! They desperately need a bigger space so next week the coop will be the number one priority! (For all of you who warned us to have the coop BEFORE we got the chickens, now is your chance to say it... You told us so!!) 

This is Norma (she's my favorite!)

 We are also beginning our adventure into drinking raw milk! We are so excited and will share more details soon!

Melissa and I are planning a Seder meal for tomorrow night at my homestead! We are so excited to begin celebrating this feast and making it a yearly tradition to teach our children the redemptive nature of our Father and Jesus' fulfillment of the Old Testament covenant! I have been waiting on the Lord's direction as we plan this celebration! We will let everyone know how it goes next week and how we will plan for next year! 

My official Seder plate! Found it at a flea market and LOVE it!!

Melissa and I will be taking these next few days to focus on preparing our hearts and our spirits to celebrate and remember all that Jesus did for us that day on the cross and even more so when He rose again! 

Wishing all of you and your families a blessed Resurrection Weekend and praying that we all may draw nearer to Him so that we may know Him even more!

Your sisters in Christ Jesus,

Melissa and Katie

Poison Hemlock... my nemesis.

Well, praise His Almighty Name, spring is here!! What a blessing this weather has been!! Sunshine beaming, flowers in full bloom, grass greener than I can remember...wonderful!! 

Oh, and the weeds are thriving as well. Our farm sat empty for several years and in the back near our creek, poison hemlock has taken over. Hemlock is poisonous to just about everything including people, horses, goats, chickens, so needless to say it has got to go!  

This is the year that we claim victory over this battle!! Hemlock...your days are numbered...

First, we had a weed expert come out (from a nearby university) and he recommended treating with 2-4-D. He said it was safe and just fine to use near the creek. 

Look at the rap sheet for this chemical...

 Symptoms of 2,4-D poisoning in exposed people include irritation and inflammation of eyes and skin, hives, nausea,
vomiting, throat irritation, headache, dizziness, coughing, and difficulty breathing.
In laboratory animals, human cells, and exposed people 2,4-D caused genetic damage. Scientists have also demonstrated that 2,4-D affects hormones in exposed people and laboratory animals. Three recent laboratory studies indicate that 2,4-D has the ability to reduce the effectiveness of the immune system.
2,4-D (and the entire family of phenoxy herbicides) is classified as possibly carcinogenic by the International Agency
for Research on Cancer. Studies of exposed farmers support this classification.
New studies indicate that 2,4-D reduces fertility in several ways. 2,4-D exposure is associated with low sperm counts.
2,4-D also damaged sperm and male sex organs in laboratory studies. When low doses of a commercial 2,4-D herbicide were fed to pregnant laboratory animals, average litter size was reduced by about 20 percent.
According to the most recent data collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, some 2,4-D is contaminated with 2,3,7,8-TCDD, a potent dioxin.
Monitoring by the U.S. Geological Survey showed that 2,4-D is frequently found in rivers and streams. It is also often measured in air samples.
2,4-D use on lawns is linked with an increased risk of cancer in dogs.

From: pesticide.org

Umm, I think we'll pass! Between the babies (present and future!), dogs, broodmares, and us it is not worth the risk!

So, we've decided to attack the hemlock with 1. our weed eater, 2. fire, 3. good ole' white vinegar. 

I'll keep you posted! The vinegar definitely weakens the plant with one treatment, but I'm trying to figure out if and how often it might need to be reapplied. There are two dirt mounds that are covered with hemlock and ... we have our burn permit ready to go!

Make sure as you get ready to tackle any weeds you have to read the labels on these chemicals! Or better yet, don't use them at all! A gallon of vinegar is about $2.25 at Walmart (get the Heinz brand, as it is not made from petroleum)  I'm using full strength for this project but for more mild weed control, I bet you could dilute and it would go further.

If anyone has other all natural herbicides (or suggestions) let me know!!

A homemade brooder and baby chicks!!

Well folks... the time has finally arrived! After two years of patiently waiting, day dreaming, and saving egg cartons... we brought home 10 adorable brand new baby chicks!!!  Yeppers, we are officially chicken farmers!! And let me tell you, they are more entertaining and cute than I ever imagined! But, then again, isn't that what Yahweh tells us...infinitely above all we can ask or imagine. 

My husband built a brooder that is fantastic and just what I wanted! The supplies from Lowe's cost $40 and he had it done in an afternoon. It's so funny getting to know their little personalities (and believe me they really do have personalities)! As I'm typing, they are all pecking and chasing each other. We have 3 Easter Eggers, 2 Golden Comets, 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Buff Orpingtons, and 1 Buff Orpington rooster. Oh, how I long for that first morning I hear him crow!!

The brooder. He has since added pieces of wood around the bottom to keep the shavings in. I plan to paint a scripture verse on the front. Any suggestions? 

Aren't they adorable?