Checking In.

Thought folks might want to know how some of our more, shall we say, experimental goings on at the farm are doing.

The chickens are so cozy and snug in their new little chicken coop. They have passed the frickin freezing test what with fifteen below temps and 40 mph winds. The downside is now that they aren't grazing outside all day the scratch grains are gone in a flash! Since I can't haul a fifty pound bag of grain from Runnings by myself, I am currently boiling a nice big pot of beets I saved in our root cellar. Ah gardening, you are beautiful all year round.

Our wood burning furnace is in full swing. The oil furnace still has to run a bit, even to keep our house at a frosty 60 degrees. But, our extra work of chopping and hauling wood is paying off I think.

Eating off of our stored garden produce is working somewhat. We have been noshing on quite a few homemade pizzas, spanish omelettes, soups, and oatmeal garnished with mulberries. For the sake of variety, we still buy a few things here and there along with the butter and milk staples. But by and large, our grocery bill has definately taken a turn for the better.

So, I'd say we're having a successful winter so far. And though the early winter sock in may dampen spirits a bit, Dan and I were delighted to remember that it's only a few weeks from seed catalog season, and only 2 and a half months until we can start tapping the maples.

And frankly, there is nothing better than spending the afternoon outside fitting taps and planning the garden after a few long months of bitter cold: the air just beginning to turn earthy, the ground giving into footsteps just a little.