This year we planted Mandarin Oranges and a grape arbor with muscadine grapes. We fenced a double pen for the four American Guinea Hogs; Alexander and Cheerio are at the point of breeding, so we’ll see how that goes. We’re feeding them rice with banana peels and sweet potatoes, and we add kefir milk when we have extra.

We fenced the barnyard into two pastures and added another pasture on the hilltop. There were four litters of rabbits; we sold two and put half a dozen in the freezer. We’re growing sweet potato vines from our own slips in the greenhouse, also Florida friendly bananas and Mexican Sunflowers. From seed we have basil, peppers, creeping thyme, and greenhouse cukes.

Our red star layers are slowing down a bit. They are over two years old. We have 6 Isa Browns and three new Red Stars. We waited a bit too long to milk Emma, so will start again next time she has kids. Cow appears bred.

Talulah Goose is laying again and she becomes very protective of her eggs. Ray gathers her egg each morning and if she notices the theft in progress, she chases him around the barnyard, nipping at his jeans!!

Happy Homesteading,

T.