Posted on 03/12/2022 6:45:42 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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I thought this was a nice St. Patrick’s Day Blessing - figured I’d share it:
May God give you...
“For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.”
- Irish Blessing
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
We raised registered Saanen dairy goats for 25 years. Milking was a way of life. Milking a cow is harder than milking a goat. We always had at least 2 mature does and one of them in milk. You would get a gallon and a half a day from one good dairy goat, milking twice a day. When fall came we would go down to once e day milking in the morning. You can go a couple of years without rebreeding on a mature doe, who had kidded before. When we really wanted a lot of milk we would have them both bred. Sold off the registered doelings and we only had a few males born, castrated them and sold them to 4H’ers for showing. When we had 2 does in milk. It was too much milk. I was making mozzarella cheese 3-4 times a week. One fall we went into winter with over 40 pounds of mozzarella in the freezer. This is my pitch for a goat instead of a cow. :)
How would he feel about dairy sheep?
Sheep’s milk is supposed to be so rich and sweet, it’s described as “drinking ice cream”.
Plus, you get yarn!
For “survival garden” purposes, look for apple varieties that keep well. With the right storage conditions and a long-keeping variety, you can have fresh apples most of the year.
He wants goats. I dislike goats. Cannot STAND the smell of them, or their milk and cheese.* I could probably wear a respirator and raise Angora Goats, though. ;)
He says ‘Sheep! They’re always LOOKING for a reason to die!’
*One exception. I like Carr Valley’s Cocoa Cardona cheese. ;)
I’m probably not going to win this one. And I’ll probably thank him in the end - which is how it usually goes, LOL!
...and the ones in the background are churning Kerry Gold Butter?
Thank God for Global Warming!
Goats don’t stink unless there is a buck around. Our girls never smelled. Bucks stink and are just disgusting. Also having a buck around will taint the smell and taste of the milk. Our milk was delicious, it’s all in what you feed them. They got goat grain when in milk and always 2nd cutting alfalfa year round. When our daughter had friends over I would serve milk in a cows milk jug and they never noticed a difference. Our cheese was the same way. I can’t eat goats cheese in a restaurant or from the store too rank. Just sayin’
Orrrrr ... “I gave up beer for Lent”.
Concrete frames (Part 1):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuSBwFkCiAw
Finding Part II is left as an exercise for the student. ;-)
Hydraulics are mankind’s greatest achievement.
No, that would be “hot, running water”.
Late season apples are best for storage.
Friends of ours who own an orchard say that Ida Reds are not picked until after the first frost, and then don’t reach their full flavor until they’ve been in cold storage for a couple months.
So in the dead of winter, they are just coming to their peak.
More of it, please.
Today was supposed to be 60 and it never broke 50. >:(
Find a dairy that has Jersey cows. Ask if they have any cows retiring. Buy cow.
The cow may be five years old and their milk production is on the decline but they will still produce milk for another five or more years.
Now you will want to breed this cow AI and choose a heritage size sex selected for a female.
The resulting heifer will be smaller then her mother, (easy birth yay!) and by the time her mom is really slowing down the milk production she will be ready to go.
Possible problems, they are generally not trained to be hand milked and it can take a bit to teach them. You want to make sure you do not get a "cull cow" which is no longer a breeder.
YMMV
70 and sunny today, 49 and raining tomorrow, and 45 and raining Saturday.
Then mid-50s and sunny Sunday ... supposedly...
Yup. supposedly.
Beau and I were just talking about this the other day! Thanks!
The stuff is not cheap in the stores. I’m trying to find it bulk somewhere but not having much luck.
This would also cut down our trash output.
I don’t post much but love these threads. Good spring start, I think, So.Missouri. My sugar snaps, Tokyo Cross turnips & lots of greens made it through a freak snow and 10 degrees & all are up & healthy. In buckets, pots & “window boxes” hung on porch railings . Container gardener here.
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