Farm Days

Chickens enjoying my vegetable plate

My little vegetable garden provided so much for us this season and still is.  Even for the chickens!

Farm Transport

When the babes are tired I carry one of them in my ergo carrier on my back, the other in my arms or high up on the stroller.  My basket or chicken scraps go in the stroller.  Just like a bag lady!

Zucchini Pickles and Sauerkraut

I didn't realize that I had planted so many zucchini plants so we have an abundance of them.  I've made zucchini chocolate cake, fritters, we've grilled them on the bbq, raw in salads and now I've made quite a few gallons of pickles and they are yummie.  I have lemons, zucchini, cabbage and kombucha fermenting in the kitchen.  Loving all the cultured foods inspired by Cultures for Health.

Harvesting Garlic

The twins helped harvest all the garlic.  It reminded me of the story The Giant Turnip, we all held and pulled.

Quite a bit of garlic

My garlic is flavorful and juicy!  I may pickle some.

Stocking up on fire wood for winter

A friend told us about this site where you can become a host for volunteers, which we did.  We've enjoyed the help and wonderful company of volunteers from all over the world.   They work on the farm and we provide food and accommodation.  They learn so much from the farm activities.  Many of them have never had a farm experience before.  The work is hard and yet enjoyable they leave feeling stronger, healthier and sun kissed. 

Herb and Vegetable Garden

I saved some seeds I found in a wild flower garden full of Calendula in France and threw them out in my garden.  They grew so rapidly.  I love their golden blossoms, especially when they find their way into my herbal salves and teas.

Friendly Alpacas!

We borrowed a friend's Alpacas for a couple of weeks to help control some of our weeds.  These, however were a little spoilt and only wanted Alfalfa but they enjoyed roaming  the farm and being farm pets for a while.

A view of Ross lake on our trail ride

Every Sunday we ride out into the National Forest land. Once over to the other side of the mountain  we enjoy this  view.

Sania's photo of Chloe

Sania was playing around with the camera taking pictures of little Chloe.

June Volunteers!

We all have so much fun with the volunteers.

Bear Creek Ranch

The Rooster's our Watchman the Lord of the Farm

I have just moved my blog from Wordpress to Blogspot.  It's in disarray at the moment until I figure out how this all works so please be patient.  I think I have lost all the lovely comments I had received by my wonderful friends and followers out there.  I haven't posted much for about 3 years, since my pregnancy with the twins and of course their first two years have kept me busy. 

Twins wandering about the barn area

They love the chickens and of course getting their hands into the chicken and horse feed.  They fancy the taste of it, especially when they pick it from the ground.

Twins holding hands, almost 2 years.

They are so adorable, they have grown so fast.

Swimming with their big brothers

Sasha and Sania enjoy sharing beautiful moments with their little siblings.

Momps their little pony

They love to ride him.

Farm Cats

We adopted two cats from the shelter to help us control the rats and moles. They are doing a fantastic job - they are also so patient and forgiving with the twins who climb on them, pull their fur and carry them any which way they can.

Dylan helps filling the horses water buckets

More of it goes out the bucket than in, all children love to play with water.

Chicken love

We sometimes have to save the chickens from being cuddled to Death!

Flower babes

Catching chickens!

Farm helper

Ready to collect those vegetables and/or weeds.

Zucchini Transport

I am amazed how fast Zucchini grows.

All the pretty horses grazing the spring grass

I wish I had more time to spend with these beautiful creatures.  

Lukas, our volunteer from Germany helping plant the Olive Trees

A few months ago my husband and a couple of volunteers prepared the ground for the planting of 3,500 olive trees.  This was no easy task;  many dead trees and debris to clear away and holes to dig mostly in hard rocky ground.  They are all growing well now. Our attention is now on the competing  weeds which we clear away by hoe since our farm is soon to be Certified Organic.