Trying a Blog Again

Years ago I wrote a homesteading blog. I enjoyed writing and some of my educational posts had reached a modest audience. In this latest iteration, I want to post current farm news as well as share my knowledge with others. My goal is to post something at least once a week, probably on Fridays. For this first post, I will give some general updates from around the farm. 

Cattle

Calving season has started! Although this one was a(nother) bull, I'm hopeful our next cow will break the streak.

We will have bulk grass-fed, grass-finished beef available after the first of the year. Available as halves or wholes (meaning you get half or all of the beef from one steer). The first will fill our own freezer and the second is spoken for, but I'll post when the next becomes available.

Chickens & Ducks

For those who are familiar with our farm, you might have noticed the poultry section of the website is gone and only the quail portion remains. For those not familiar, we previously raised Cayuga ducks, Jersey Giant chickens, and Sussex chickens for eggs and exhibition. Early in 2025 we lost significant numbers of our flock to predation. Our previously fortified coop couldn't withstand a bobcat - which we didn't even know lived in the area. Disheartened, we significantly downsized the remaining birds. 

I did retain a small group of my Light Sussex. They are primarily to meet our on-farm needs for eggs/meat. I do enjoy showing poultry so if you're local, you may see me there.

Quail

Cortunix Quail were a new addition for us this year. My sister-in-law gave us a dozen hatching eggs from her flock to "try". What she really did was spark an addiction. As an anniversary present, Brandon ordered 80 (yes eighty) eggs for me from a breeder I admire.

Several months later, we have refined our breeding program. Currently we specialize in Pansy (also called Rotkopf) and keep a small number of Silver Schofield (SSC) as well. Our foundation stock came from Thieving Otter Farm in Tennessee. I have another hatching egg order in with TOF for spring to bring in a couple of surprise varieties.

We sell quail eggs for eating. Information about the eggs is on our quail page. I don't publicly sell hatching eggs right now. However, a friend recently picked up some Pansy eggs from us. Pending her results, hatching eggs may be offered next year. I will have adult Quail for sale next year. Keep an eye on the quail page for information.

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Rabbits

I brought in a Dwarf Hotot herd buck after the ARBA Convention this year. He came to me from Anna Timmerman in Louisiana. I'm excited to welcome his first litters in just a few short weeks. I'm breeding with the plan to attend Dwarf Hotot Nationals in April. 

The Dwarf Hotots are amazing rabbits. Even Brandon adores them and he's always been very neutral about the rabbits. I just wish I had been able to get some sooner! While I don't plan for the Dwarf Hotots to leave any time soon, I am interested in adding a second breed to the farm with more utilitarian characteristics. 

The Garden

The garden is dormant now but it won't be long and I'll be starting seeds indoors for spring! Our favorite vegetables are the cool season ones (peas, greens, carrots, broccoli, etc). This year, I focused mainly on a spring garden then planted some quick-maturing French beans and sweet corn. The garden was done by the heat of summer so there was no lugging sprinklers around multiple times per day. It was glorious. That is my plan for 2026 too, although Brandon did request I plant peppers and tomatoes.

See you next Friday!