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Sustainable Living:  Urban Backyard Animals

2/26/2018

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If you live in an urban area and are interested in raising your own meat or animal products. there are more options than what you might think.  Before investing in the animals, housing and other supplies, be sure to check with your city ordinances!  Doing so could save you a lot of trouble and money down the road.  If you are wanting to be a breeder, you will also need to check regulations before raising and selling.  The intent here is to provide information on small animals suitable for raising in backyards.  Our focus will be on meat and other animal products.    WARNING: Keep your distance and don't become too attached!

Chickens

Chickens are becoming a popular backyard farm animal.  One of my favorites.  Eggs are an obvious product.  Eggs can also be hatched producing more hens or roosters for the dinner table. 

As hens age, they will slow or stop laying.  At this point you will need to decide if you want to then eat the hen or keep feeding her as a pet.  Rehoming is also an option.
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Another awesome product from chickens is all that poop!  When aged, it's great for your gardens.

Ducks & Geese

One's first thought would be to raise ducks and geese for their meat.  Another product would be their eggs.  Duck and goose eggs are great for eating.  Some people prefer to use duck eggs over chicken eggs for baking.  Another use of the eggs would be to blow out the insides and decorate the shells.
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Rabbits

So they say rabbits are fast breeders.  Given all the rabbits in my yard, I believe that. 

However, I was not as lucky with breeding above ground caged rabbits.  I believe the results would be different in a larger, on-ground rabbit pin. 

There is a need to reiterate my earlier warning here.... Due to cuteness, don't get attached if you are wanting meat! Otherwise, you will find yourself
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raising rabbits to produce lots of beneficial fertilizer.  Again, let it age to prevent burning the plants in your garden.
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Bees

There are so many products one can get from a beehive other than just honey!  The bee colony and all the hive products will require study and patience.  One can't just buy a hive, put it in the backyard and wait until time to harvest the honey.  Beekeeping requires a lot of hands on observations and work to protect the bees and keep them healthy.

Turkey

Turkeys are mainly used for meat.  Can you eat their eggs?   If you are not focused on raising meat birds, yes, go ahead and enjoy eating the eggs.  If you are wanting meat the eggs are too valuable to eat as a turkey only lays one or two eggs a week.  If you choose to eat the eggs, you might want to blow out the insides and keep the shell to sell or decorate.
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Before starting with goats, know they are herd animals and do not like living without one or two other goats around.  I had to give away my last solo goat as she was always jumping the fence looking for a companion. 

In addition to meat, some raise goats for the milk and cheese making.

Goats

A good backyard goat breed would be the Pygmy goat as it is small.  I hated breeding Pygmy goats as mine had lots of problems birthing naturally due to their small size.  That problem could be avoided by not keeping a billy goat.  As a backyard urban farmer, one should not keep a billy goat due to their strong odor and destructive behavior.  Definitely check the city ordinances on billy goats.  If you only want meat, buy a young goat from a farmer or auction to raise.

My favorite breeds are the larger Boer and Spanish goats!  Not the best choice for a small yard though. Remember, don't get attached.
Now for a couple animals I have never been around or raised...  Quail and cattle.  I will share what I do know.

Quail

Quail are much smaller than chickens.  Meat production would be greatly reduced.  However, if your city ordinances do not allow for chickens in the backyard, quail would be a great alternative.  Their eggs are considered a delicacy.  There eggs are about the size of a quarter or slightly larger.  Despite the small size, these eggs are great boiled, deviled, or pickled, making a great finger food or appetizer.  Some countries serve them raw. 

The beautiful speckled shells are great for use in decorations.
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Minature Cattle

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Aren't these faces cute?  Above is a Scottish Highland cow.  To the right is a Dexter cow.  These, as well as other miniature breeds, do not get large.  Miniature cows are good for both meat and dairy production.
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Exercise caution before breeding!  Due to their small size I would be concerned about breeding and the ability to give birth naturally.  To avoid the stress and expenses associated with problem deliveries, do you research first.
I hope the information above has been helpful and inspired you to raise a few backyard animals.  But watch out, before you know it you will be moving to the country in search of larger pasture!
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Slowly reclaiming my lawn from the weeds

6/5/2017

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Time for a breather from all the yard work! I'm sure the neighbors appreciate the fact that we are now beginning the process of mowing down the expired wildflowers from parts of our yard. Saving the pasture mowing until late June so the bees and butterflies can continue to take advantage of the variety of flowers found there. Though the yard looks wild and overgrown, there is still a beauty in the wildness. The birds, along with the bees and other insects, have enjoyed our beautiful mess. Some patches with a dense population of flowers can still be seen growing in the yard. We just can't bring ourselves to mow these beauties down when bees are found buzzing all about collecting pollen and nectar.
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Want a greenhouse without spending a lot?

12/2/2016

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In recent years I have developed the desire for a greenhouse.  This has come about for a few reasons.  Mainly, I don't like all the leaves that fall off my ferns when indoors!  Then there is the space issue and a bad case of spring fever which usually hits late January or  mid February.  Not totally sure what all I would use the greenhouse for, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on one.  After a little thought, it hit me I could convert my arch garden into a greenhouse for the winter.  In the winter the arch garden sits there as waste land.  In the summer, I really have no need for a greenhouse.    Also, having a greenhouse around the arch garden would allow me to get the archway plants started a little earlier.  Sounds like a win/win.  At least for the moment.
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I will save the details on how I built this for another day.  Mainly because I want to see how well it holds up first.  Most of you get the gist just by looking at the picture.  In short, the arch garden is made with cattle panels and t-post.  Basically just added plastic and duct tape to enclose it.  If you decide to try this, or have a plan of your own, I would love to see pictures and hear about what worked, or didn't work, for you.
Cheers and God Bless!
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How Can Monarch Butterflies Migrate 3,000 Miles With Such A Short Life Span?

11/2/2016

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This fall I have noticed many Monarch Butterflies gracefully flying about in my pastures and yard.  Don't recall noticing so many, if any during certain years, in the past.  Hopefully my little farm is now in the migratory path!  While watching these beautiful creatures the other day, I wondered how they could migrate to Mexico if their life cycle is only two to six weeks.
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Curiosity got the best of me and I did a little research.  It seems butterflies produce four generations during the summer.  My suspicions concerning migration were partially correct in that it takes multiple generations to make the journey.  The journey north, that is.  Three generations are needed to make the northward trip.  BUT, to my surprise, it only takes one generation to fly south back to Mexico or southern California!  Seems this fourth generation is special!  It can live up to nine months.  Butterflies east of the Rocky Mountains will migrate to Mexico, while butterflies west of the Rocky Mountains migrate to southern California.  In North America there is a third geographically distinct population.  This is the Central American population that migrates northward to southern Canada from Mexico.  Millions of butterflies make this trip each fall with tens of thousands roosting in a single tree along the way.

Fun Facts:
1.  How far do they travel in a single day?  50 to 100 miles
2.  How long does the journey south take?  Up to 2 months
3.  Monarchs cannot fly when their body temperature is less than 86 degrees.  They will sit in the sun or let their wings shiver until their body temperature rises.

To help report sightings and follow the tracking of migration for the Monarchs and other animals, check out this site:
  www.learner.org/north/maps/monarch.html

Cheers and God Bless!



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Bubbling Stream

10/26/2016

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A BROOK WOULD LOSE

ITS SONG IF GOD

REMOVED THE ROCKS!



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Don't eat the Queen Bee, Levi!

10/6/2016

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Love this dopey dog of mine!  He is so much fun and full of energy.  Wish I had half his energy and nimbleness!  He leaps over the fence like a gazelle, as he runs through the different pastures.  Here he is in the apiary on one of our trips out to check the beehives last January.  We usually get an escort to the bee yard, then it's off to frolic through the prairie grass and trees.  Levi's a good dog in the apiary, but in the yard.....
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He's always trying to eat the bees!!  Yes, he succeeds at catching and eating them.  It's amazing to watch his head move around as his eyes focus on, and follow, the bee just before he leaps in the air to catch it with his mouth!  I know what you're thinking, and no, most of the time he doesn't get stung.  Only on one occasion did it appear he was stung.  Not sure what it is, but those little buzzing ladies really irritate him.  For the most part, it's not a big deal.  That is, unless he eats the queen!  Queen bees can get pretty pricey if you need to buy one.  It is also possible to lose the entire hive without the queen.  The chances of this actually happening as pretty rare.  You see, the queen bee only leaves the hive once or twice for her mating flight, at which time she is matted for life.  After just a few weeks of emerging from her honeycomb cell as an adult, she leaves the hive to take flight to a drone congregating area where she will mate with up to 15 or 20 drones (male bees).  The mating takes place in mid-air.  Hope you enjoyed this tidbit of bee information.  Have a wonderful day and God Bless!
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October 03rd, 2016

10/3/2016

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I just LOVE Monday mornings!  Most of the rest of the nation, and my family members, jump in the car and begin their commute to work.  I get to stay here on the farm and work!  Honey orders filled and shipped for the day.  A country greeting sent out for your day!  Running errands into town on a Monday is always fun as the farm supply, and other stores, are not crowded.  Roads don't seem as busy on a Monday after rush hour.  Just me, some John Deere tractors and other farmers running around.  Some plowing and planting, others cutting or hauling hay.  Then there are the rest of us running errands and picking up supplies.  Time for me to head out and work with compost and worm bins next.  Then it's back inside to my computer for a little more office work today.  I absolutely love my life!  Please, let me know about your favorite day of the week!  Cheers to all and God Bless!
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Honey is For Sale Online!

9/26/2016

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Order Honey
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Honey is extracted, bottled, labeled and for sale at the new online store!  This is exciting.  Be sure to order soon before supplies run out! 


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What's Up With The Bumps??

9/23/2016

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I've used cast iron dutch ovens for years without knowing what all the pointy bumps were for on the inside of some lids.  Well, as of today it's no longer a mystery.  Turns out they are for basting.  Having these bumps on the inside of the lid turns it into a self-basting oven.  That's right, there's no need to open the oven, pull out the heavy pot, remove lid and bast the contents.  Continuously basting while braising or stewing results in meats, soups and stews coming out very moist and juicy!  Steam rises to the top of the pot, condensates on the lid and drips down the pointed bumps back into the soup or stew.  It's like a little rain storm raining wholesome goodness on the delicious food inside.
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Hummingbird Reminders

9/12/2016

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While enjoying my morning coffee and breakfast on the patio, I watched one of my frequent Hummingbird visitors eating nectar from the Ruellia plant.
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I was thinking how these blooms are a lot like the manna God provided for the Israelites.  The Ruellia is bursting with purple blooms each morning, but by the end of the day all blooms have fallen off.  No worries though, as God will provide more blooms in the morning!

This serves as a reminder to me that just as God has provided for the daily needs of the Israelites and Hummingbirds, so too will he provide for mine.  There have been many times in my life that God has provided exactly what was needed at just the right time!  At this , I paused to thank the Lord for the daily provisions he provides.  Share a time when God has provided manna for you.

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  • Home
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