In the feedlot business we had a few weeks of uncertainty with XL in Brooks having so many issues with E. Coli. It's heartbreaking that so many pounds of beef had to be destroyed due to potential contamination. We are still feeling repercussions because consumers haven't gained their trust back in the beef industry. I just want to say, that if anyone has any questions about how we raise our beef please ask! I would be more than willing to answer anything. One thing that you may want to look up is the Verified Beef Production Program http://www.verifiedbeef.org/ On-Farm Food Safety protocols are at the forefront of the program, and there is a very high percentage of producer participation, including our farm.
I'm working on drawing up the contract for the 2013 Delivery Share, and they should be available Mid- January. There will be 20 more Shares up for grabs this year! In addition, there will be a Sign Up Sheet for people who would like to purchase extra vegetables for preserving or fresh eating. Some people would like to have a bundle of carrots, beans or peas but not the whole delivery, so the idea behind the sign up is to help me know ahead of time how much seed to order to fill the extra demand. I really want to focus on winter storage potatoes (you'll see why below!) so if you have room for some spuds in your basement... keep me in mind!
Enough of the serious stuff - lets look at some pictures shall we???
Imagine my surprise when, in mid November mind you, I moved a sheet of plywood and found this butterfly. It was with sheer disbelief that I witnessed it's wings move. The warmer Chinook weather is potentially the reason for this unseasonable occurrence...?
For a week or more at the beginning of November we were locked in by ice fog. We spent most of the time waiting with baited breath for the power to go out because the lines were covered in so much frost. The day before the fog lifted, sure enough, the power was off for about eight hours. When the sun finally came back out and the frost started to fall from the trees all you could hear was the shotgun snap of branches. Out by the Garden Patch the ground is littered with debris, which means a big cleanup in the spring.
Big Spud has Arrived!!!!! This is what I was referencing earlier. It is a potato digger that will be hooked on behind my tractor. It's just a shame that I have to wait until July to try it out!!! This purchase will allow me to grow many more potatoes than I did this year. It's backbreaking work to dig them all by hand. This machine will get the job done in minutes instead of days. So please, tell your friends, neighbours, and colleagues - let me grow potatoes for you!!!
This is the back end of the digger. The plow share at the front goes under the ground and scoops the potatoes up. Then, the back of the machine vibrates and in theory, the dirt falls through the bottom and the potatoes are deposited on the ground at the back. Very Excited to use it!
Wishing you all A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, full of Blessings for you and your Families.
Best Wishes,
Sarah
P.S. I hope you get to enjoy some Pie :-)
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