Whether we wanted to or not, we realize that we've found this amazing this around the farm - or a lack of it...Electronics. Cell phones, yeah OK, if you get service here. But that seems to be it. People love to be able to go out and visit with the new baby, Noel. Or go see the chickens, watch the ducks in the pond or walk through the forest when the horses aren't in there. It's downtime. No email, Facebook or even (dare I say) Blogger.
Just one of those fun, strange things I continue to learn about our farm. Thought I would share. Have a great day!!
Side note: I was writing this post a couple days ago and forgot to hit "publish". That is why you are seeing 2 posts within a few minutes of each other.
We are a diversified micro farm with a new location just outside of Boise, Idaho. Come learn about us, the Norwegian Fjord horses, the Irish Dexter cattle, Jacob sheep and more about all we do here on the farm ... loving farm life! We believe YOU can farm too - join with us today!
1/7/10
Warmer weather, here we come!
Today was another one of those gray days in Seattle. No rain - thank you Lord! But still gray. The days are getting longer though and I'm not the only one noticing ... the chickens have ramped up their egg laying production - WOW! For a while there we were getting only 2 eggs a day. Yes, you read right, two. All the while feeding about 25 of them. One is a rooster and nine are still technically "babies" and not laying yet, but that leaves 15 that should be laying eggs on most days.
Well, about a week or so ago, the production went from two, to three, to four, then to seven and now up to eight eggs a day. Whoohoo! We're past the half way point in "production". So warmer weather is certainly to come, along with these longer days. I can hardly wait to feel that sun warming the side of my face. Ahhh. Only a little while longer, I keep telling myself.
On a completely different note, I was reading this fascinating study on farm websites today, put out by Jane Eckert and her company, Eckert AgriMarketing. It was asking how many farms use their websites to set up farm tours automatically. I was amazed at the number that didn't - including us. I then started thinking, well, maybe if we set it up for the farm tours, we could also set it up for the birthday parties as well. We know we need to do something ... What do you think?
Well, about a week or so ago, the production went from two, to three, to four, then to seven and now up to eight eggs a day. Whoohoo! We're past the half way point in "production". So warmer weather is certainly to come, along with these longer days. I can hardly wait to feel that sun warming the side of my face. Ahhh. Only a little while longer, I keep telling myself.
On a completely different note, I was reading this fascinating study on farm websites today, put out by Jane Eckert and her company, Eckert AgriMarketing. It was asking how many farms use their websites to set up farm tours automatically. I was amazed at the number that didn't - including us. I then started thinking, well, maybe if we set it up for the farm tours, we could also set it up for the birthday parties as well. We know we need to do something ... What do you think?
1/1/10
The Future of Willows Edge Farm
We have spent a lot of time in the last few months discussing the farm's future. In the last weeks, we have spent some time putting it all down ... writing out what it is exactly that we are wanting to accomplish with the farm, where we want to go and how we'll get there.
From 2007-08 we saw our little farm grow by leaps and bounds - 1211% to be exact. 2008-09 saw triple digit growth of 266%. 2010 will be another growth year and we are expecting our numbers to hopefully double again. While the growth is good, we will be bursting at the seams come fall. In this exciting year, we will be adding farm direct sales of pastured poultry as well as more fresh herbs. The first set of broilers have been ordered and will be ready for pick up in late April with the second set ready mid June.
Our parties and tours are already booking for spring and we are looking forward to large growth from these areas of our farm. Finding something new and different is always a great find for parents and we apparently have something they are looking for. It also falls in line with what we love to do: teach about the farm, animals and work with children.
We're also looking at adding one other of our dream livestock animals ... pigs. Don't laugh, they are gentle, kind and highly intelligent animals. They are also easier to raise on a small farm (easier than Corinne's other dream livestock: The Irish Dexter Cattle) and are good breeders. Pork is gaining popularity as a healthy meat protein; recent studies - in comparison to the "old" studies of the 1950's showing pork as highly fatty - show the new breeds as lean, mean working machines. Many studies compare them as BETTER than chicken in terms of fat AND protein! I will guess that they weren't comparing bacon to chicken breast though ;-)
Further into the future, Willows Edge Farm hopes to grow into a larger facility. We are actively searching for that perfect piece of property along with a few sponsors who want to see farming activities, like we offer, be expanded and grow in Western WA. Small family farms are rapidly disappearing - did you know there are more people in prison than farming in this country? We want to be one of those farms that is around for the long haul and continue on for generations to come!
From 2007-08 we saw our little farm grow by leaps and bounds - 1211% to be exact. 2008-09 saw triple digit growth of 266%. 2010 will be another growth year and we are expecting our numbers to hopefully double again. While the growth is good, we will be bursting at the seams come fall. In this exciting year, we will be adding farm direct sales of pastured poultry as well as more fresh herbs. The first set of broilers have been ordered and will be ready for pick up in late April with the second set ready mid June.
Our parties and tours are already booking for spring and we are looking forward to large growth from these areas of our farm. Finding something new and different is always a great find for parents and we apparently have something they are looking for. It also falls in line with what we love to do: teach about the farm, animals and work with children.
We're also looking at adding one other of our dream livestock animals ... pigs. Don't laugh, they are gentle, kind and highly intelligent animals. They are also easier to raise on a small farm (easier than Corinne's other dream livestock: The Irish Dexter Cattle) and are good breeders. Pork is gaining popularity as a healthy meat protein; recent studies - in comparison to the "old" studies of the 1950's showing pork as highly fatty - show the new breeds as lean, mean working machines. Many studies compare them as BETTER than chicken in terms of fat AND protein! I will guess that they weren't comparing bacon to chicken breast though ;-)
Further into the future, Willows Edge Farm hopes to grow into a larger facility. We are actively searching for that perfect piece of property along with a few sponsors who want to see farming activities, like we offer, be expanded and grow in Western WA. Small family farms are rapidly disappearing - did you know there are more people in prison than farming in this country? We want to be one of those farms that is around for the long haul and continue on for generations to come!
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