Kricklewood Farm

We thought our Barred Rock Hen was a bad mother when she abandoned her first clutch of 10 when they were pretty small.  It turns out she was back to work on her second nest.  It’s in the same spot as the previous nest right next to the house and they should be hatching within the next week.   The plan will be to scoop her and the eggs up one night before they hatch.   Her new home will be a dog crate inside the coop so she’ll have her own private quarters within the coop.

In the meantime, she stays on the nest 24/7 and only  gets off of it once every couple of days to get some food and water.    When that happens, she lets out some very distinctive clucking:  ”I’m off the nest, can’t leave the eggs very long but I need food and water and I need it NOW!”.  That’s my cue to run outside and make sure there is some food put out so she doesn’t have to jump over the fence to get back into the chicken yard.   I usually make an effort to give her some treats and extra rations too so she goes back to the nest full until the next time.

Luckily, the chicks from her first clutch have grown like weeds and are getting along fine.   At this point they are almost as big as some of the smaller hens.   I’m glad they made it this far, as they seemed too small to be on the own without Mom to protect them and show them food.    We’re looking forward to the new chicks and of course more of those big beautiful brown eggs!

Next to Sunflowers, probably my favourite flower,  I  find Calendula to offer their own more subtle bit of sunshine.  The range of colours in ‘Calendula officinalis’, an heirloom with origins in the 13th century  is quite special, from pale yellow to intense orange.    Herbalists consider Calendula one of the most effective remedies for skin problems, due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.  It is also considered an exceptional skin conditioner.

We use an ample amount of Calendula petal powder and essential oils in hopes that it will help soothe skin. With our formula including olive oil and shea butter it is sure to be a comfort for sensitive skin.  In keeping with the floral theme, we are introducing several new molds including this whimsical sun design, fresh blooms and a watering can full of blooms.

The seeds of Calendula offficinalis are not that easy to find but are available from the Cottage Gardener, a company that focuses on heirloom and traditional species, varieties and cultivars that grew in gardens of old.

Our goat milk soap is available at the farm gate and at several stores in the eastern part of Ontario.    For more information, please contact us.

Spring and summer have been up and down with regards to temperature and precipitation.    We had an early hot and dry spell which resulted in bolting of the Spinach and lettuces.   Then we had a cool wet spell which held back the peppers, tomatoes, basil and other heat-loving crops.   Now we are fairly dry but not a lot of heat.  The good news - we were spared the hail that hit some areas.   We’ve been publishing a list of availability week by week and can send out emails the first of the week, visit our weekly harvest page for more details.