Maybe you haven’t thought about it before.  What will you do if the country dives into civil war, North Korea launches a nuclear weapon on North America, or a lethal virus knocks out the vast majority of the earth’s population?  Even a natural disaster…   If you think it can’t happen, your head is in the sand. And good for you….more food for me.  I like food and have a plan to feed myself and my loved ones in an emergency.  Do you? Its not as simple as stockpiling food and water.  Those stocks, no matter how much you put away in a bunker or your pantry, will run out sooner or later.  Not to mention that your hungry neighbors will likely try to steal those stores from you at the first opportunity. A friend, a Patriot, recently told me that he would have to barter his skills in security to get food for his family.  That’s fair.  If you have skills of value to people with food, you might do ok.  Particularly in a …

Most of us take walking for granted.  We do it everyday, without a thought. So when I was challenged on the first day of a clinic with James Shaw to slowly step out to the side with one leg without leaning, I was surprised to find I had trouble with this simple task.  I struggled to keep my balance.  James looked me in the eye and shouted, ‘LEANER!’.  He might as well have spread his thumb and forefinger out and put it on his forehead in the universal sign for a ‘LOSER’, but the twinkle in his eye and his slightly dropped right shoulder reassured me that he was simply welcoming me to the club.  We all lean. So went the 3 days of self discovery.  Where is my balance?  Where am I leaning?   Why do I stick my ear out to the right when I want to step into my right stirrup?  Why doesn’t my belly button move to the left as easily as to the right.   Where do I short circuit …

The last few years have been pretty lean for me in regard to formal horsemanship training time.  The farm, in general, has gotten so busy, its hard to get away.  Last summer, when I managed to attend a Karen Rohlf  clinic, I thought, ‘wow!   I really need to make the time and money available to do more of this’.  So I set aside some money each month, earmarked for clinic time this summer and I hired a teenager in town to help with farm chores while I was away… So June is clinic month for me and the horses… Memorial Day weekend, Manny and I will be learning Tai Chi for Horsemen with James Shaw at The Journey Horses Farm in Campton, NH.  My dear friends Tim and Trudy are hosting at their beautiful facility and I can’t wait to see them and spend some quality time with my main squeeze, Manny. June 3rd and 4th, I will take Beaugart up to Neal Perry’s Place, in Northern Vermont for a colt start.  Bogie and I have made huge …

Spring has FINALLY sprung (I hope).  The flowers are popping, the pastures greening up and the animals are restless in their winter paddocks.  Its my favorite day in the spring when I am able to release the horses out to the summer pasture.  Its downright joyous, watching them romp and munch on the new grass.  It will need to dry out alittle more before that day comes, but it will be soon. This is a busy time of year on the farm, with lots to do… Piglets have arrived.  Three this year.  My niece, Marina named them Salt, Pepper and Basil.  Now there’s a kid who knows where her bacon comes from…. The calves, Tbone and Porter (aka Willy and Wally for my vegetarian friends), are settling in nicely.  I recently moved them down to the lower barn in anticipation of some electric fence training and more space for turnout.  Two days ago I let them out with Bogie as a trial.  They went right to the electric fence and put their sorry little noses …

Some of you may have noticed the style and format of my blog has changed a few times this week.  I’ve been searching for the right theme.  Both appealing to the eye and functional.  I think I have settled on this one.  Check it out.  I’ve updated our home page and added a page that highlights what the farm is selling each week.  Feedback appreciated.

Ripple has integrated nicely into the herd.  Still the low man in status, he can be found sharing hay with everyone, but Reno at this point.  He is starting to stand his ground more when getting pushed around and I see alot more sparring going on now.  He can be found in the middle of the herd and in the barn lying down, now. I did fecals on everyone this week and was happy to see that Ripple did not have a heavy count, so I’ll do a course of Worm Foe from Silver Lining Herbs over the next full moon.  Its a natural wormer than simply creates an inhospitable environment for parasites by alkalizing the GI tract.  I also use Herbal Tonic from Dynamite , which is very similar.  I like to get everyone cleaned up before the snow melts, to avoid overloading the spring pastures with parasites. We have alot of snow, so it will be some time before we see green pastures, but the days are definately getting longer and the chickens …

Well,  its looking alot like spring…for the uninitiated!  While we’ll likely receive more snow and freezing weather, I look for any opportunity to be optimistic about the coming warmer weather! So what’s new on the farm?  We have our first broody chicken..a year old red silkie, Silvia.  She is sitting on 8 banty eggs and we expect some young chicks next week if all goes well.   She has decided on a pretty cold time of year to sit, but maybe she knows something I don’t. Both Beaugart, our new rescue and Reno, our rehab project are flourishing and getting strong…more in separate posts.  Stay tuned. Upcoming events on the farm: Sunday March 21st…’Beyond Dairy:  Raw Milk Processing and Cheese Making’, presented by Lisa McCrory from Earthwise Farm in Bethel, VT.  This class is full, but if you have interest in raw milk or cheesemaking, please email me (judkinsj.uvnn@gmail.com).  We will plan another class later in the season. Saturday April 3rd…’Hoop House Raising’. Have you ever thought about putting up a high tunnel or hoop …

Over the years I have read stories reporting evidence that dogs ‘know’ when their ‘person’ is coming home (before they actually arrive).  Some of it seems plausible, but on the other hand…who really knows what our dogs are thinking.  Mom has always told me that Max (my devoted 2 yo rescued mutt) ‘knows’ when I am nearly home.  He goes to the door and begs to be freed.  She sees or hears no sign of me, but as soon as she lets him out he goes running for the road and then she sees my truck take the turn onto Philbrick Hill, which is still quite aways from home.  How does he know?  I’ve always passed it off as coincidence… So I have arrived home from my 5 day trip and found the dogs…both Max and Newt (my yorkie) exhuberantly waiting for me…..not a surprise.  I phone Carolyn once I settled and thank her for caring for the horses and dogs, as well as keeping mom company for the weekend.  She made the oddest report.  …

I love to grow herbs!  Basil and Cilantro are my favorites, although I find room for bay leaves, dill and some oregano.  I make alot of pesto,  in icecube trays and store it frozen.  But storage is an issue for other herbs.  My beloved cilantro bolts to seed by mid July…hardly available for my fall salsa projects.  So I have searched high and low for a storage solution.  I came across this recipe recently and tried it……wonderful!  I froze it in 2 oz rubbermaid containers for use later in the season. Cilantro Pesto 2 cups, packed, cilantro, chopped, large stems removed 1/2 cup blanched almonds 1/4 cup chopped red onion 1/2 tspn chopped and seeded serrano chile pepper 1/2 tspn kosher salt 1/4 cup olive oil Method:  In a food processor, pulse cilantro, almonds, onion, chile, and salt until well blended.  With processor running drizzle olive oil in a steady stream.   Add more oil as needed for your use. Freeze in small containers or ice cube trays and store in freezer.