Feb 18, 2016
May 15, 2015
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Apr 20, 2015
New Brooder and New Flock!
As many of you know, we moved last September and are now renting a beautiful place out in Paintersville, a little closer to the farm and with a little land of its own as well. We have had out layers out here all winter and plan on raising our meat chickens and new flock of layers here as well.
One of our first priorities this spring was to build a brooder for our meat birds that we raise from day old chicks. Below are some pictures of the project.
One of our first priorities this spring was to build a brooder for our meat birds that we raise from day old chicks. Below are some pictures of the project.
Coffee is a farmer favorite!
Our New Flock!
We picked up 140 new Pullets and temporarily had to put them in the new brooder while we made ready their layer Wagon
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| The hens are not used to roosts yet.... until they begin laying, that instinct won't kick in..... |
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| 140 Pullets inside of the layer wagon does not leave a lot of room, but once they are out on pasture they will only lay eggs and sleep inside. The door has been open for 4 hours and non have been brave enough to see the world yet... Chickens |
Apr 1, 2015
Mar 31, 2015
Mar 18, 2015
Mar 16, 2015
Learning to Start Again
Everyone needs a little help and time to reflect now and
again. At least I know I certainly
do. Recently breaking my leg has led me
to depend on others in new and humbling ways.
In moments of discomfort and difficulty (due to my limitations), there
always seems to me to be an element of mystery which calls one to grow and
mature, learn and develop.
Despite my passion and commitment, running a small farm
operation proves to be a challenge each step of the way. Whether it’s keeping the books throughout the
year or loading pigs and cattle, I feel no deficit of moments which question my
farmer capabilities and know-how: “Do I have what it takes?”
This past weekend, Sean and I took advantage of a local
learning experience at OSU’s College of Food, Agricultural, and EnvironmentalSciences’ Small Farm Conference in Wilmington.
This year’s theme: Opening the Doors to Success. With tracks ranging from livestock production
to business and pasture management, this day away from our families immediately
proved to be a valuable networking venue, bringing together farmers from our
local region. Attending hour-long
lectures with novice and experienced farmers, Sean and I were able to share our
experience after three years and learn from those who have experienced farming
and all its demands and provocations for much longer than we have lived and
farmed.
In all this, I realized how important such events are not
for their educational tracks and relevant topics, but rather, for the speakers,
experienced attendees, and time for connection and closeness in
between lectures. Farming, like many lost arts
today, is something bestowed. It’s not
something you can readily learn in a classroom.
It’s something lived and passed down.
Because of the essence of the craft, country conferences, apprenticeship programs, and
relationships are established to bestow the skill of farming.
Although I have yet to see what “doors to success” will be
opened to Full of Graze Farm this coming season, I now know the value such events
bring to the community, the farmer, and the life and activities we hold so
dear.
Feb 28, 2015
We added a new FAQ's page to the right >>>
FAQ's
In the Pages section of the blog we've added an FAQ's page... here is what it looks like so far.....
We wanted to put together a Frequently asked Questions Page. Please if you have others please don't hesitate to ask.
1. What cuts are included in a whole/half/quarter Beef?
Below is approximate and the Table is borrowed from Newgrassfarm.com in WI.
2. How much freezer space does a whole/half/quarter beef take up?
1. What cuts are included in a whole/half/quarter Beef?
Below is approximate and the Table is borrowed from Newgrassfarm.com in WI.
| Individual Cut | Quarter/split half | Half Beef | Whole Beef | |
| Chuck Roast | 10-12 lbs | 20-24 lbs | 40-48 lbs | |
| Rolled Rump Roast | 3 lbs | 5-6 lbs | 10-12 lbs | |
| Sirloin Tip Roast | 3 lbs | 5-6 lbs | 10-12 lbs | |
| Round Steak, or Stew Meat | 3-4 lbs | 6-8 lbs | 12-16 lbs | |
| Ribeye Steak | 2.5-3.5 lbs | 5-7 lbs | 10-14 lbs | |
| NY Strip Steak | 2.5 lbs | 5 lbs | 10 lbs | |
| Sirloin Steak | 2 lbs | 4 lbs | 8 lbs | |
| Tenderloin Filets | 1.5 lbs | 3 lbs | 6 lbs | |
| Flank Steak | .5 lbs | 1 lbs | 2 lbs | |
| Skirt Steak | 1.6 lbs | 3.2 lbs | 6.4 lbs | |
| Brisket | 2 lbs | 4 lbs | 8 lbs | |
| Short Ribs | 2 lbs | 4 lbs | 8 lbs | |
| Soup bones with meat | 4 lbs | 8 lbs | 16 lbs | |
| Liver | 1 lb | 2 lbs | 4 lbs | |
| Ground Beef | 45-50 lbs | 90-100 lbs | 180-200 lbs | |
| Total amount of beef | 84-93 lbs | 168-186 lbs | 336-372 lbs | |
| Approximate Freezer space needed | 3 cubic feet | 6 cubic feet | 12 cubic feet | |
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| Whole Beef |
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| Whole beef in an upright freezer |
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| Quarter Beef |
2015 Order Form Now Live!
Our 2015 Order form is now Live!
Below is a link to our Feb 2015 Newsletter. Enjoy and subscribe to stay up to date!
Feb 22, 2015
Nov 13, 2014
Happy Fall !!!! and sorry for the lack of posts....
I can't believe that my last post was in summer......
I know that I've said it before but I hope to do better.
One thing that would help is if Y'all would let me know more of what you want as far as updates and types of posts?
Time to talk Turkey: We still have quite a few Turkeys left. (Hint- Hint)
Our order form is linked in the side bar.
Above is one of our renegade hens from over the summer. No matter what, she would not stay with the flock. She lived truly free range with the help of the pigs being messy eaters.... Scared the heck out of me... I certainly didn't expect her perching there...
Moving this group of Turkeys has been the easiest out of all three years. They follow me everywhere.... even when I don't have feed.....
Couple more weeks and these Tom's will be the Perfect Size, we are hoping between 20-25 lbs. So hard to tell with all the feathers....
Jul 28, 2014
When the pigs get out....
Not a great photo, as I dared not stop the van, but the other day we found 3 pigs out, a long way from their area.... A creek, a bridge, and 3 turns away...
We just kept going slowly in the van and they trotted back up the road, turned over the bridge, took the slight right then the Hard right and went right back in at the point they had gotten out, showing us the weak point in our single strand fence.
As with many things in life, I believe The Lord bailed us out again.... That certainly could have gone horribly wrong.
Jul 21, 2014
Turkey's and Beef....
Turkey's are here!
This year we are raising both Broad Breasted Whites along with Broad Breasted Bronze Turkeys. We also have a mix of both male and females which will enable us to offer smaller frier size birds to our customers who want them.
Get your orders in, they won't last long!
We have 6 cows on the farm now, and we have moved up to the upper field. We started grazing the lower field on May 23, so when we get back down there, the first paddock will have had over 60 days to rest and regrow.
We currently have 1 half and 1 quarter beef still available!
May 19, 2014
EGGS! EGGS!.... Grass Fed Beef
Eggs For Sale!
Grass Fed Beef is on the farm! and, will soon be on the order form. Join our email newsletter to ensure you know when we add it to our products page and order form.
Apr 19, 2014
We've got action!
One of our first eggs of the Season!
Soon we'll have enough to share...
Some of the girls exploring their new freedom!
Apr 5, 2014
2014 Order Form is now ready!
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We expect to have the pigs on the farm, and the broiler dates set by May.
There is a link in the right hand sidebar for our 2014 order form!
Feb 28, 2014
Is it Spring yet??
Ahhh, it's in the upper 50s outside, the snow has almost gone (with stubborn patches refusing to melt along driveways), the kids laugh and race their bikes down the path in the backyard, and I sit in a chair listening to the sounds of spring and soaking in every ray of sunshine that hits my face. Oh wait...that was last weekend. This weekend has a bit of a different forecast: 20s and more snow on the way. Is winter really still here? Ugh, last weekend was such a tease for me! I'm a warm weather girl through and through; give me 90 degrees and cold lemonade over below freezing wind and hot chocolate any day! Alas, if winter is going to drag it's frigid temps through our bones here in Xenia, at least we are having a cloudless day of sunshine on this last day of February. Glass half full, I guess.
It's been a long, hard winter here at Full of Graze Farm. Quite different from the winter that closed our first farming season. This year we seemed to have endless snow. Don't get me wrong, if it's going to be cold, windy, and gray, we might as well have some bright white snow to make up for the dreariness. But enough is enough already. We spent the great majority of the "off-season" trudging a half-mile down to our layer lair to ensure the girls had water they could actually drink and not just a block of ice to peck at; as well as attempting to collect their eggs before they had all froze and cracked. It was a challenge.
At times, it was so bitterly cold that Sean could hear the eggs cracking as he made the half-mile trek back from the hen house. A few moments in the air and those eggs didn't stand a chance. Needless to say, production slowed and we had a mere few dozen to offer customers during the week.
The subzero temperatures brought on quite a bit of stress to our ladies. Many of the hens got frostbite on their combs and began to molt. This is a process where they shed their feathers and grow new ones. It's perfectly normal, but does cause a drop in egg production. In a situation where production is already low because of less daylight hours and cold temps, the timing of the hens' molting was not ideal.
But the worst winter blow came about a month ago. The electric fence has been off because of the height of the snow, leaving our hens vulnerable to predators. Peter headed out to do chores and much to his dismay was confronted by two dogs. One was inside the fence, circling the hen house. Wild dogs? Stray? Neighborhood mutts on the loose? We currently do not know. But what we do know is, they killed all but two of our hens! Gone in one night. These dogs were not afraid; they barked wildly at Peter and stood their ground. It wasn't until he fired his shotgun in the air, that they finally took off into the woods and disappeared. He found two lone hens huddled together on top of the nest boxes as he investigated the situation. Devastating, to say the least.
"Is this really worth it?", I find myself continuing to ask Sean. It seems like so much work for so little reward sometimes. But Sean is ever the optimist. He knows that everything in life that is worth anything must be worked hard for; there is always bad that comes with the good. It's the life of a farmer and we will not give up.
The two surviving hens have been added to a new flock in Hillsboro, Ohio. In fact, they have started laying again - overcoming the trauma of the attack. New hens are being raised by a local farmer and will head out to Full of Graze Farm in the next few weeks. Broiler chickens have been ordered and arrive this spring! Yes, it's still freezing outside and I prefer to stay huddled under the covers, snuggling with my three little ones, but I know spring is around the corner! And with the beginning of March comes the beginning of a new farming season. We will learn from our past mistakes; we will be more diligent in keeping our fences up and running effectively; and we will remember why we started doing all of this in the first place. We believe in this way of farming - this way of life. Our children need better than factory produced, processed, fake food. We are determined to pass on a sustainable food supply to our children, and yours.
It is a new year, a new season, and new life is coming soon to Full of Graze Farm! We are excited to share it with you!
Alison
It's been a long, hard winter here at Full of Graze Farm. Quite different from the winter that closed our first farming season. This year we seemed to have endless snow. Don't get me wrong, if it's going to be cold, windy, and gray, we might as well have some bright white snow to make up for the dreariness. But enough is enough already. We spent the great majority of the "off-season" trudging a half-mile down to our layer lair to ensure the girls had water they could actually drink and not just a block of ice to peck at; as well as attempting to collect their eggs before they had all froze and cracked. It was a challenge.
At times, it was so bitterly cold that Sean could hear the eggs cracking as he made the half-mile trek back from the hen house. A few moments in the air and those eggs didn't stand a chance. Needless to say, production slowed and we had a mere few dozen to offer customers during the week.
The subzero temperatures brought on quite a bit of stress to our ladies. Many of the hens got frostbite on their combs and began to molt. This is a process where they shed their feathers and grow new ones. It's perfectly normal, but does cause a drop in egg production. In a situation where production is already low because of less daylight hours and cold temps, the timing of the hens' molting was not ideal.
But the worst winter blow came about a month ago. The electric fence has been off because of the height of the snow, leaving our hens vulnerable to predators. Peter headed out to do chores and much to his dismay was confronted by two dogs. One was inside the fence, circling the hen house. Wild dogs? Stray? Neighborhood mutts on the loose? We currently do not know. But what we do know is, they killed all but two of our hens! Gone in one night. These dogs were not afraid; they barked wildly at Peter and stood their ground. It wasn't until he fired his shotgun in the air, that they finally took off into the woods and disappeared. He found two lone hens huddled together on top of the nest boxes as he investigated the situation. Devastating, to say the least.
"Is this really worth it?", I find myself continuing to ask Sean. It seems like so much work for so little reward sometimes. But Sean is ever the optimist. He knows that everything in life that is worth anything must be worked hard for; there is always bad that comes with the good. It's the life of a farmer and we will not give up.
The two surviving hens have been added to a new flock in Hillsboro, Ohio. In fact, they have started laying again - overcoming the trauma of the attack. New hens are being raised by a local farmer and will head out to Full of Graze Farm in the next few weeks. Broiler chickens have been ordered and arrive this spring! Yes, it's still freezing outside and I prefer to stay huddled under the covers, snuggling with my three little ones, but I know spring is around the corner! And with the beginning of March comes the beginning of a new farming season. We will learn from our past mistakes; we will be more diligent in keeping our fences up and running effectively; and we will remember why we started doing all of this in the first place. We believe in this way of farming - this way of life. Our children need better than factory produced, processed, fake food. We are determined to pass on a sustainable food supply to our children, and yours.
It is a new year, a new season, and new life is coming soon to Full of Graze Farm! We are excited to share it with you!
Alison
Sep 14, 2013
Aug 25, 2013
Mmmm, mouth-watering, finger-licking good!
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