Merry Christmas

Five days ago, I wrote the following note to include in our Christmas cards:

In mid-November I thought I was in good shape for Christmas this year. I had the hardest part of the holiday almost done – deciding what to buy for everyone on my list. I knew I was going to do the Black Friday craziness with my mom and sisters so I’d buy most of the gifts then. Life was good.

Life is still good, but here it is 6 days till Christmas and I’m finally getting around to sending Christmas cards. The shopping is done but none of the gifts are wrapped. The tree is up but it is not decorated yet, and neither is the house. So 6 days and there is still a lot to do. Where did the time go???

Here it is now, Christmas Eve, and somehow everything that needed to get done is done. Our tree has lights and candy canes on it but no ornaments and our house is not decorated, but we are all OK with that. The shopping is done, gifts are wrapped, cards are sent and the cookies baked.

Today, after the animals are fed, we will clean house, do laundry, pick up a few groceries, and go to the Christmas Eve service at our church. Not a glamorous Christmas Eve, but not a crazy-stressed-out one either - and for that, I am thankful.

I am also thankful for Jesus, whose birth we celebrate tomorrow. We like all the secular festivities of Christmas, but we don't want to lose sight of the real reason for celebrating Christmas. Take a few minutes to read the Christmas story. It is found in the Bible in the book of Luke, 2nd chapter. To read it online, click here.

Making Paddocks, Part 2

I am very excited that our new pasture is almost ready for the goats. We hired professionals to do the boundary fence and watering system and we did the interior fencing today. Now we just have to hook up the energizer and clean up some leftover fencing materials. If all goes well, we'll get the goats moved in later this week.

The hardest part will be moving the goats. That pasture is about a quarter mile from where they are now so we'll probably load them into the livestock trailer to haul them down there.

I'm sure it will be easier than loading the pigs. That was a fiasco! You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get a pig into a trailer. After many failed attempts, including chasing pigs down our road and falling in the poopy end of the pig pen, we finally left the trailer set up with their food in it overnight so if they wanted to eat they had to go into the trailer. It worked and we just closed the door behind them. Why didn't we think of that first?!? But I digress...

We now have 4 paddocks in the pasture so we will be able to rotate the does in 2 paddocks and the bucks in the other 2, and still have an empty paddock between them at all times. That's a good thing since we don't want any accidental breedings. We should really have about 3 times as many paddocks, but the pasture is not big enough. We have plans to add more pastures.

I am a little nervous about having the goats so far away from the house, but we have a neighbor whose house overlooks the pasture and I'm sure he will let us know if there is any trouble. Not only that, we installed a 4' high 4" wire mesh boundary fence that has barbed wire underneath it and 3 strands of electric offset to the inside. Our fencing contractors thought I was a little crazy to put in such an expensive fence but at least I won't be up at night worrying about our goats. Besides, if it prevents even one coyote attack it will have been worth it.

Making Paddocks, Part 1

Farming in the rain is not fun. Though if you have good rain gear and can connect with your inner child, it's not too bad. It has been raining a lot here lately but today it is sunny and we are going to install semi-permanent fencing in our new pasture to divide it into paddocks to facilitate rotational grazing.

Rotational grazing is used to maximize food production and minimize parasite problems. Basically, you do a multivariable calculation involving the number of goats (or other livestock) you have, the size of the pasture, how long it takes the grass to grow, and the life cycle of parasites to determine the size of the paddocks, how many you need, and how long the animals should remain in each paddock before moving to the next. Ahhh... the simple life; who knew I'd be able to put my math degree to such good use as a farmer!

If we were living in a perfect world, I would calculate all that and have a perfect pasture with perfect animals and a perfect life. But we don't live in a perfect world and the reality is that our herd has grown faster than our pastures. So, we are going to use the less scientific method and wing it. Since we are using semi-permanent fencing for the paddocks, it will be easy to adjust them as we fence in more pasture area.

Tomorrow I’ll post the results with photos.

(Side note: if you are looking for a farm, it is a REALLY, REALLY good idea to purchase one with good fencing or expect to spend a ton of money installing it.)

Rabbit Food Everywhere

This is what a 50 lb bag of rabbit food looks like when it is dumped on the floor. Not pretty! Apparently the bag had a tear in it and when Brett slung it over his shoulder it ripped apart.

Brett was a really good sports about cleaning it up (and me and Ryan laughing at him). He used a dust pan as a shovel and Ryan helped to vacuumed up the stray pieces. I took pictures and snickered ;o)

Cumberland Fall Festival

I was invited to demonstrate spinning at the Cumberland Fall Festival last weekend. They also let us set up a booth about our farm. It was the perfect opportunity to publicize our farm and upcoming knitting, spinning and crochet lessons. We took a cashmere goat kid and Angora rabbit.

It was a lot of work and some very long days but we had a great time. People were more interested in the animals than in spinning, especially the Angora rabbit. I think I could have sold 10 of them if I'd have had them. I'll be more prepared next year!

Lessons

Join us for classes to learn how to knit, crochet or spin, or to improve upon your existing skills. If we are not currently offering a class you’d like to take, let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

For more information or to schedule private lessons, contact us at (423) 869-8927 or info@mtnhollow.com

Beginner Knitting Series
Mondays, Oct 26, Nov 2 & 9
6 pm – 7:30 pm
$50, Includes a beginner knitting kit & yarn

Master the basics of knitting in the continental style: casting on, knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing, binding off, and pattern reading. You’ll knit a dishcloth first and then a hat. When you are finished with this class, you will have the skills and confidence you need to begin a new project.

Beginner Crochet Series
Tuesdays, Oct 27, Nov 3 & 10
6 pm – 7:30 pm
$50, Includes a beginner crochet kit and yarn

Master the basics of crochet including: all the basic stitches (chain, single, half-double, double, and treble), the granny square, and pattern reading. You’ll walk away from this class with a washcloth and scarf, as well as the confidence you need to begin a new project.

Beginner Spinning Series
Fridays, Oct 30, Nov 6 & 13
6 pm – 7:30 pm
$50, Includes a beginner spinning kit and fiber for creating yarn

Learn how to clean and prepare a fleece for spinning and how to use a drop spindle to turn fiber into yarn. You’ll experiment with a variety of fibers and colors. Upon completing this class, you will have a basic knowledge of spinning and the various fibers used to make yarn, and the skill to create beautiful yarns of your own.

This is a drop spindle class but each student will also have an opportunity to try a spinning wheel.

Private Lessons
Individual lessons and customized classes are available to anyone who wants to polish their skills at knitting, crocheting, or spinning. Contact us to make arrangements.

Basic Supplies
Students should bring these items to every class:


Class Registration & Policies
Beginner classes normally have 3-6 students. Advanced classes may be larger.

Please register in advance. Classes that do not meet the minimum enrollment requirements 3 days before the first class may be rescheduled.

If homework is required for class, please complete it prior to class. Contact us if you need help.

Please purchase class materials at Mountain Hollow Farm. A 10% discount will be given on supplies purchased for the class.

No refund or credit will be given for cancellations or no-shows on the day of the class.

Cumberland Fall Festival

I am excited to tell you that I've been invited to demonstrate spinning at the Cumberland Fall Festival in Middlesboro, KY this weekend, October 2-4. My booth is going to be in the "big tent" with the other demonstrators. We'll have a goat kid or 2 and an angora rabbit available for petting and I will be giving introductory lessons for knitting, crochet and spinning.

For more information about the festival, visit http://www.thefallfestival.com/

Please stop by and say hi. I'd love to see you.