It’s a blustery afternoon here in eastern Ontario and at this time it helps to focus on Spring and all the good things to come. For me, Spring is all about new life: hatching chickens and ducks, sprouting seeds and my favourite: baby goats! The baby goats should start arriving at the end of March and soon after we’ll have hens and ducks sitting on eggs too.
We have a lot planned for 2012. Our big project is (knock wood) our production of cold-pressed Sunflower Oil. There are a lot of things to sort out but we have a field ready to go in May with oil to follow in the Fall. We are sourcing an oil press and looking into all the other aspects beginning with planting and ending with ‘tastes like sunshine’ oil in a bottle.
We’re also planning to set up a couple of beehives for honey and wax production. This will be a joint effort with some friends of ours from town. We’re thinking to expand our workshop program too to include goat and chicken keeping 101. And of course we’re always thinking of new varieties of goat milk soap and new flavours of goat milk fudge. So, check back often to see what we’re up to or sign up for our email newsletter to get regular updates from Kricklewood Farm. All the best for 2012 from us to you!
Wishing everyone the best of the holiday season! Even the goats get a special Christmas treat. Here we have Avigail, Lucy, Marcie, Tova, Emily, Devora, Patty, Lily and Reese enjoying some branches I brought from a neighbour’s felled pine tree. They seem to enjoy it judging by Lucy’s and Tova’s little wagging tails.
That seemed to be the theme of the afternoon this past Sunday at our goat milk cheesemaking workshop. That is, after we had a chance to milk the goats – some for the very first time and give Pitou the pot-bellied pig some scratches on his belly. He somehow managed to sneak into the group photo in the barn, showing his less attractive side unfortunately.
Thanks to all who attended and hope everyone learned a bit about chevre, feta and tuma, farmstead goat cheeses that are easy to make at home for you and your family to enjoy. Start with step 1 and get yourself a few goats. Aside from the milk, as everyone saw, the Nubians are the friendliest and cutest goats in the world!
We woke up this morning to more than a light dusting of snow. They had predicted rainfall mixed with snow so I guess it was on the negative side of zero. It’s always fun to watch the reaction of the animals. For the chickens and ducks hatched out earlier this year it’s a whole new experience. Pitou prefers to stay inside and it takes a little while for the goats to step out and realize that they won’t melt. Buddy is not too pleased either. Only 5 months until Spring…
Ah, the life of a buck. For most of the year of the year he spends his time with other bucks and gets to look at the does through the fence. For a few weeks in the Fall he has many opportunities to be intimate with many does. I guess you could say he gets to make up for lost time.
We don’t keep bucks and luckily our friend Judy does. She sends one over for a few weeks in the Fall so we can breed our does. Last year it was Silver, this year it is the buck known as Blacky (until he gets his real name). Yesterday was his first day meeting the does he’ll be spending the next little while with.
See the rest of the pics in the photo album. Be sure to pay particular attention to the last one in the series. It shows Blacky getting himself gussied up to be more attractive for the ladies. If anyone warns you not to pet a buck (no matter how friendly they are), this is the reason.
Thanks to everyone who attended the goat milk soap making workshop this past Sunday. I think everyone had a good time and learned a little about making soap too. Above, Mel and Donna are getting ready to milk Reese. Photo Album
Kevin Costner wasn’t the only star at the Spencerville Fair this past weekend. Patty took home Junior Champion for the Nubian breed so we were quite excited and proud. Thanks to Ed who showed her and of course Judy for the great breeding that produced her!
We’re worried that it may be going to her head though. This photo was taken after returning from the show and she was greeting Lucy and Marcie….
We entered our three doe kids into the goat show at the Perth Fair and came home with a third place ribbon for Marcie. She was born this Spring so was part of the Nubian Kids 3-9 month section. Lucy and Patty weren’t quite as lucky as they placed 6th and 9th respectively. The kids were away from their Mama’s for the day and all were happy to be reunited. More Photos
Thanks to everyone who attended this past weekend’s Kricklewood Farm Goat Milk Cheesemaking workshop sponsored by New Farm Project. (Thanks Miguel and Ian!) I think everyone would agree that the highlight was going right to the source for the milk! That and the abundance of garlic in the chevres!
