Monthly Archives: February 2011

It’s a girl…and a boy

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We have two new additions to our little farm! Little kids for a little farm…how exciting! It has been interesting to observe the changes in Gert as the birth day got closer. Part of her training routine was to have her “mock milked” daily. Gert has never been milked by people before so she needed to get used to this. Over the past three weeks we have been slowly getting her used to the idea that it is good that we kneel beside her and fondle her teats as she gets treats. This was slow, but she has been steadily getting better. This has also helped us notice any changes in her physically. Because we didn’t know when she had been bred, seeing all these changes happen was very valuable. Last week she began to give milk, and last night her udder seemed very full, almost hard. This was a bit of a concern. We had read that if she had too much milk in her udder for too long that she could develop mastitis which is bad and painful for her. It also made us think that she may have her kids in the next 24 hours. If she didn’t then we would have to start milking her.
Luckily she did have her kids. They were born around 7:30 on February 23, 2011. So we are up two animals. There is a little girl and a little boy. So far so good. The little girl seems the stronger of the two. The little boy is far more reserved,but he still managed to get around. they have both had their first meal, which is also crucial to their health. We really DON’T want to have a bottle baby despite their cuteness.

Gert has given her first lot of colostrum for the freezer in case of emergencies. We do this in case it is ever needed. Colostrum, the first milk a mother gives, contains the mother’s antibodies and helps the baby’s immune system in the first 24 hours only. Getting the babies to drink is really important at this point.

We still don’t feel completely confident about the babies yet. We have learned that lesson after the piglets. Now that the birth has gone smoothly we have other hurdles to jump. First we need to make sure they are both eating, if that goes well then we have to make sure they don’t get scours (diarrhea). The little boy is a bit of a concern as he doesn’t seem to have eaten much since birth. We may be bottle feeding him a couple of times to make sure he has his strength. He gets the idea, but doesn’t seem to want to nurse. Our fingers are crossed!

Book Review: Animal Tracks of Ontario

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Despite this books small size it is full of great information.Published by Canadian publisher Lone Pine who are known for their accessible field guides. Writer and artist Ian Sheldon has done a number of books for Lone Pine.

If you are looking for an in-depth behavioural guide to a number of animals then this is not the book for you.
Where it does excel is when trying to identify tracks while walking through the woods. It’s small size is perfect for your pocket and the handy ruler on the back cover makes it extremely useful.

I keep this book in my coat pocket along with my blackberry so I can identify and record the tracks that I see. It gives me enough information to reference in the field. I can then bring that information home to find out more about the animals tracks I have just seen. And I don’t have to carry a heavy tome of a book to do it.

Buy it NOW!

Spring’s a coming!

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This past week has been very strange. It has gone from -20C to +6 in the space of a week. Despite the temperature jumps spring is coming. It doesn’t always feel like it, but the birds have been chattering about the arrival of spring for the last week. Lately the woods have been far more verbal. The birds have become much more vocal, telling the world about the promise of warm breezes and warm sunshine. They are right. We had wonderful sunshine today. It was lovely to stand outside and feel the warmth on my face and NOT be cold at the same time.

With all these warmer days and cold nights means a change of routine here. Today the maple syrup taps and buckets came out of the shed. After washing them up I packed up the tree tapping gear and went outside to tap our trees.

We are both complete novices at making maple syrup as this is only our third year doing this. It is interesting to track the differences from year to year. This year tapping has started three weeks earlier than last year.

We also sold out first animals this past weekend. We had two very nice Chantecler cockerels we hatched out last September. Knowing we had too many roosters we knew we had to get rid of them. It is the eternal question if you have any kind of livestock, what do you do with extras, especially the males. These two birds were quite nice and coming from such nice stock,(they were form old bloodlines) we hated to put them in the pot. So, an ad went onto Poultry Swap. I have to admint I was a bit surprised when people contacted us to look at the two boys.

A breeder of bantam Chantelcers came to look at the two boys and took them both home. So we are happy to say that the boys will be used in a breeding program, not going into the pot. The visit was fascinating as this man had been breeding chickens for years and was VERY knowledgeable. He taught us an awful lot. It was amazing to watch him picking up the chickens. It was like watching him pick up a can of pop.

So we only have one more cockerel to find anew home for. If anyone out there is interested in a barred rock rooster with a nice looking rose comb let us know. If not we will have to make other plans for him.

Skills School -Learn Tracking

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Intro to Tracking

Intro to Tracking

We have recently begun a lofty idea of starting an informal school at our little farm.  We have begun doing this because we have found it difficult to travel far from home for extended periods of time due to all our animals. BUT…we really wanted to take these workshops and support our friends that offered them. Tim and I brainstormed and came up with having our friends teach the workshops here.

So over the next few months we have arranged for many of our friends and colleagues to come and teach us, and you, what they know. We have been lucky enough to meet incredibly knowledgeable people that are also great teachers. They are always eager to pass on what they know.

Some of the amazing workshops that our friends are teaching include: Herbal First Aid, Back to School Holistic Nutrition, and Wild Edibles. We thought this would also be a great opportunity to pass on some of what we have learned over the past few years too. Tim and I will also be teaching some of the workshops her which will include: Permaculture Basics, Felting, Backyard Chickens, and Composting.

The first workshop we have happening is a great way to enjoy the snow. Alexis Burnett of Earth Tracks Wilderness School will be coming to shoe us how to track some of the local animals. Not only is it about identifying the animals that made them, but finding the other clues the animals have left in the area. It really is like trying to “read nature’s book”. Alexis brings along great stories, experience, and enthusiasm to his workshops. I have attended a couple and always leave wanting to take another one right away.

If you KNOW anyone (maybe you) that may be interested in giving a workshop please let us know. We always like to search out new things to keep life interesting.

Facing the Negative Impacts of Genetic Engineering on Farmers: GE Alfalfa, GE Pigs and Bill C-474

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Last night, the University of Guelph hosted a panel discussion featuring:

Sean McGivern, National Farmers Union Ontario, hog farmer
Roger Rivest, Ecological Farmers of Ontario, grain farmer
Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network
Moderator: Jodi Koberinski, Executive Director, Organic Council of Ontario

All panel members spoke from their own experience about their experiences with the negative influence of genetically modified organisms. Roger Rivest provided background on the history of GM grains in Canada, and the harm done to the industry by GM soy among others. Roger went on to underscore the ubiquity of alfalfa in agriculture – alfalfa is fed not only to dairy cows, but is also incorporated in hog and poultry ration. GM contamination of alfalfa WILL mean GM contamination of our food chain.

Sean McGivern spoke about EnviroPig and the phytase supplement currently in use. He pointed out that the phytase supplement costs hog producers $5/kg, and at a feed rate of 250g per ton of feed adds approximately $1.25 per ton to feed cost. Given the development costs of EnviroPig, licensing the technology will not come cheap, and the “novel trait” promised by Enviropig is not significantly mnore effective than the phytase supplement currently in use.

Lucy Sharratt from CBAN spoke about the regulatory framework surrounding genetically engineered organisms, and pointed out that there is no requirement for public consultation or input in the approval process, and that the views of farmers and consumers are not only not being listened to, but are not required to be heard in order for regulators to come to a decision. Lucy also pointed out that there is not a separate regulatory framework for evaluating GE. “Biotech” is all lumped together, so that “novel (genetically engineered)” advances are evaluated within the same regulatory framework as conventional plant or aniumal breeding advances.

Jodi Koberinski spoke passionately about the potential for GE alfalfa in particular to harm the organic sector. Jodi invited Professor Rene Van Acker, associate dean from from OAC and a transgene research specialist to speak about alfalfa. Professor Van Acker has studied the movement of alfalfa genetics, and expressed concern for the future of non GMO alfalfa. As an insect pollinated perennial, “it is everywhere,” he told the crowd, and GE alfalfa will spread once released.

During the question period, an Ag student from the university stood up and spoke to Sean’s concerns about EnviroPig genetics moving through the population. She talked about buying hogs at auction, and noted that “ear tags come off.” Sean responded to her comments and pointed out that in the nine years of EnviroPig research, there have already been two “accidental” releases of enviropigs, one of which saw mortalities sent for rendering resulting in tonnes of feed being recalled and destroyed.

During the question and answer session, concerns were raised about “Roundup Ready” crops creating Roundup resistance in weed populations. Other concerns were raised specific to the lack of health studies regading consumption of “novel” foods.

The audience was encouraged to support Bill C-474, which would require “an analysis of potential harm to export markets be conducted before the sale of any new genetically engineered seed is permitted.”

Please write or call your MP and tell them that you need them to vote for C-474.