Newsletter #310 2025 Jun 04 Wednesday
For the first time since I cannot remember, everything on my Homestead Rebel Farm list for this week was completed, and I added to it. Timothy is on an absolute tear through the chores and projects.
Primal Woods
Easy job, ya think? Not with hand tools. The first thing that is “hard” is breaking the bead on all the old tires, and the second hard thing is setting the bead on the new tires. Since the old tires are of no further use, I used a fork on the tractor, and the weight of the tractor, to break the bead on the old tires, then we got them off the rims with old fashioned tire irons, which I bought when I replace the front tires two or three years ago. We got the new tires on the rims with tire irons, but were having trouble getting the bead to set. That’s when Timothy went to YouTube University, and learned that we could set the bead with starter fluid…yup, sounds dangerous!
And it works!
Sawmill Services
We started milling on Shane’s log this week, in fact we spent 5-1/2 hours on it.
Why so long, you ask…iron, and lots of it. We’ve gone through five blades, so far.
Not only are we cutting through the iron, but then we are removing every last remnant, so that in the planing stage of the process more expensive tooling is not damaged. We should finish this up this weekend, may Friday morning, maybe not, we’ll see.
Pure Maple Syrup
Timothy filled another 48 gift bottles this week; with a hang tag they are ready to go out the door. Get yours today!
Homestead Rebel
Oxen
Timothy and I retried an experiment I first tried (and failed at) last year, for getting the Oxen access to more grass, reduce the need for fencing, and to eliminate the need for mowing by machine to the extent possible. I am fond of saying, you do not have a mowing problem, you have a grazing animal deficit!
Timothy has one more cross fence to go, between paddocks 8 and 10; that is scheduled to happen tomorrow, Thursday afternoon. Then we will be on to the Sheep fencing; speaking of which…
Sheep
Tomorrow morning Timothy and I will help my friend Brian H. with his sheep; he has been raising Katahdin sheep for meat for over 20 years. We will help with some shots, castration of some rams, and so on, all the while learning everything we can and need to know about managing a flock of sheep. This will inform our Sheep fencing project, which is next on the list, and perhaps our use of the High Tunnel. So, expect a fuller report on this next week.
Pigs
The pigs are doing well; next week we will move them or expand the area available to them. We still have 1/2 of a pig left for sale, if anyone is interested; if not I will be happy to eat it!
Layers
The layers are laying, #whodathunkit. The pullets are now going out to forage, and returning to the coop at night, with one minor hiccup last night.
Meat Birds
We are expecting arrival of the “Cornish Rock Cross Fast Chicks,” the broiler chickens, tomorrow morning; the brooder is already setup for their arrival. According to the postman, Scott, if they arrive they will arrive by 0715. I will be there to meet them.
Farmhouse Airbnb
We are expecting guests, friends, and friends of Primal Woods all rolled into one, this weekend. We are excited for David and Charlotte’s arrival! Geri is of course, in full on hostess mode; lead, follow, or get out of the way!
News and Notes
Wind and solar…it’s not all it has been cracked up to be…
More on the FBI’s Whitmer fednapping case
And the ATF, not to be left out, perpetrates yet another atrocity; I had read of this before, but Bill Buppert links to the receipts.
Books & Such
Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Secret Battle to Save the World. Still in this one, and making some progress; almost, practically, nearly done. Timothy is meanwhile reading The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs, by Joel Salatin; it is as much about Christian stewardship as it is about pigs.
Oh, and Timothy has his U.S. drivers permit, but not a license; we are helping with that.
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All the best, and may God bless you and yours,
John & Geri
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