Something Sweet

February 2, 2024/in Cooking, The Farm, Uncategorized

Winter Hives

Although our hives appear to be quiet, much is happening inside. Thousands of bees are humming and moving about, keeping one another warm. They are feasting on stored honey and bee candy (solid blocks of sugar syrup that beekeepers provide to insure the bees’ winter survival). Are they, like us, thinking about warmer days ahead?

Meanwhile, my family happily feasts on the fruits of our bees’ labors. We would be delighted to share some with you

Raw honey is one of our farm products. Just after the holiday season, we bottled up enough to last us all for many months. Would you like some?

Love Led Farm Raw Honey is sold in 3 sizes: 8 oz., 19 oz., and 43 oz. bottles and jars. Because it quickly crystalizes in cool temperatures, we store this liquid gold in the house during the winter. Simply contact me, and I can have your honey waiting for you to pick up in our shop.

Sore throat? Soothe it with raw honey. How about hot tea on a cold day, sweetened with raw honey? Perfect. Want a thoughtful gift for a friend…well, you get the idea. Knowing that this golden goodness comes from your local Farm Friends? Pure Nectar!

Next week, let’s talk about something delicious to spread your raw honey upon: fresh, homemade breads from Love Led Farm and Flourful Bake Shop.

Warmly,

Getting Through Winter Means Planning for Spring

February 7, 2019/0 Comments/in The Farm, Uncategorized

As I told you before, Winter and I don’t exactly get along. By last November, I had already saved a Spring Countdown Calendar on my computer just for the blissful assurance that, “this too shall pass.”

Thankfully, in February another calendar speeds Winter right along: Spring Planning.

In March, the piglets and lambs will arrive. On April 1st, the does are both due to give birth. The barn will be bouncing with babies! Milking and cheese making will resume. By May, the first 100 meat bird chicks will arrive and it will be time to start planting the garden.

Hmm, I might actually enjoy these last few weeks of winter rest!

So what does all of this mean for you? It’s time for you to start planning, too! Are you thinking of fresh meat, eggs, and milk? I can help with that!

Since they will arrive first, let’s talk about hogs today. We start them in March and butcher in the fall, just when you are filling your freezer. Our precious piggies are fed plenty of fruits, vegetables, and goat milk and are handled with the kindest of care. The result is excellent, tender meat without an over abundance of fat. You will work directly with Byron Center Meats to create a package that is perfect for your needs. Imagine reaching into your freezer next winter for chops, ribs, a roast, or a pound of bacon because you planned ahead.

We sell our hogs by the whole, half, or quarter and we purchase our piglets according to the number pre-ordered by our friends and customers. Don’t miss out!

For more information and to reserve yours, simply call, text, or email. Then when they arrive, why not plan a visit to meet your very own pig ? How fun is that?!

Thinking about farming for friends like you warms my heart! And that puts some Spring into any cold Winter day.

Warmly,

Robin

Furry Varmints!

July 23, 2017/0 Comments/in Meat Birds, The Farm, Uncategorized

Rats! I really mean it! Rats!

Last year, we were invaded by furry little beasts who had discovered a delectable banquet of animal feed to feast upon. Store-bought traps? No effect. Super-cool, Youtube-inspired trapping devices? Nope. Poison? Somewhat. Aha…barn cats!! Now we are making serious progress. This has helped in the big barn. But then there is the chicken barn.

An old worn-out garage houses our up-and-coming hens-to-be and our meat bird brooding pens. Perhaps being pecked and trampled by 36 young hens has convinced the rats to leave them alone. Instead, the pests have set their sights on the babies. And so we are at war.

My husband and Hayden, our new friend and helper, have tried to stay a step ahead by building tightly wired pens with cement floors but…they missed a hole. Only a few hours after introducing our newest and largest flock to their home, I went in to check on the tiny birds and gasped in horror. Our flock had been reduced by over a third.

Muttering, “Oh no! Oh, no!” as calmly as I could, I gently transferred the survivors into a newly finished–and fully protected–pen, and wrote a note to my sleeping husband.

“I Really Hate Rats!” he declared the next day as he grabbed cement and a trowel. I found his reaction to be rather calm…

Not to worry, meat bird customers…the remaining chicks are alive and well; replacement chicks have been ordered; and the hole has been filled with cement–along with every other crack and crevice David could find.

I have two reasons for sharing this sad story.

First, when my web designer and I were setting up this site, she encouraged me to share the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. Since transparency is one of our foundational life principles, I readily agreed. When you own a business, especially a farm, some days are delightful and others are downright nasty. What will you do with such days? Will you throw up your hands and walk away or declare war and grab the cement?

The second reason for sharing is to let you know that we had to make some changes to our September butchering plans. We added a few extra days to allow the remaining flock to settle down and grow. And, we added a fourth Pick-Up Day to accommodate the replacement chicks. We will now have meat chickens available on Tuesday, September 5 and Tuesday, September 19. You will find these changes on our ordering pages.

We have only a few chickens available for August 4 pick up. If you haven’t ordered, now is the time.

And as for you rats, we have planned a secret weapon for you…Manny, the exterminator, is on his way.

Rats! I really mean it! Rats!

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