Barncast 76 -- Farm walk around

i loved this week's walk around the farm podcast, but i probably should've followed your advice to listen through headphones instead of blasting it through my stereo speakers as usual... my dog (who enjoyed this week's podcast more so than the others he's heard) is now CONVINCED that there is a turkey in the house someplace... and he won't rest until he finds it. the speakers are near the fireplace, and he's been guarding the fireplace for about 20 minutes waiting for them to come out.

:)

Thanks for the info about root cellaring, Valerie!

And Danielle, that is about the funniest thing I have ever heard. I hope the dog doesn;t go up the chimney looking for the turkey!

I am catching up on your last two podcasts, haven't finished listening to them yet but thought I would go ahead and comment on the root cellars. I know a few people when I was younger who had them. My parents neighbors have one, but I am unsure if they use it. I found this website that tells how to make root cellars, either by the traditional or modern way. It also tells you some basic things about using a root cellar. Thought you might find it interesting.

http://waltonfeed.com/old/cellars.html

sorry I meant DO not don't, lol

I am currently reading a book you might find interesting. It is Back from the Land: How young americans went to nature in the 1970's & why they came back by Eleanor Agnew. The book is about the author & her family moving to the country and trying to live simply in the 1970's, it also includes other peoples stories. I am only on page 70, but so far it is really good. some of the people left after a couple of yrs while others are still there.

In regard to raising a family on a farm, I don't think it would be fine. My mother & her siblings along with lots of my 1st cousins grew up on a farm. Yes sometimes they did have some farm chores to do, which started out with small things, like feeding the pigs, when they where young to bigger things when they were teenagers, operating a tractor or checking on the cattle. I think it gave them a early sense of some responsibility as well as money. Since my grandpa and uncles would buy a pig, sheep or cow for each of the kids, starting at the age of 6 or 7. After that the child/teenager was responsibly for feeding that animal, etc. Course if they had any questions their dad would help. then when it was time to either sell the animal to another farmer or for market, the child would get half of the money which was but in the bank for when they were older. When they were teenagers they had access to the bank account but so did their parents. If need be they would close access to the teenager from the account, but I don't believe that ever happened. Alot of times the teenagers would have use a little bit of money to buy more animals to sell later on. So by the time they were 18 they had usually quite a bit of money they could use for college, car, farm, house, etc. but for the most part they liked growing up in the country, having bonfires, walking in the timber, hunting, fishing, playing in the creek, playing football, baseball, etc. When they were teenagers and got a little bored they would just go to the biggest town nearby to go to a movie, etc. I think a younger child would have a better time in adapting then a teenager who lived in the city and was moved to the country.

I found a interesting website, that people sell their homemade items they make. There are a variety of things, some really interesting others not so. I found some items that were really affordable.

www.esty.com

oops, me and my typos!! lol it is www.etsy.com

Loved, loved the walk through the farm and the chores. We got to see it "warts and all". The weathered boards on the barn really took me back to my childhood. The size of the movable electric fence was so much bigger than I pictured. Herding the ducks up the ladder was a hoot!

The rabbit setup was, well, less than ideal. It was ok for a first shot, but the bunnies in the lower bunk are getting the short end. I'd redo it with a straight line of cages, with a trough underneath to catch the droppings. When you break an egg, crumble the shell and put it in the tough to kill any acid. Add a couple of pounds of red worms and they will turn the droppings into the very best compost for your garden. Bonus: Red worms are great poultry feed, when you reach the point where you have extra.

As a whole, it was an excellent insight into what you do every day.If you were just down the road, I'd gladly volunteer to come over and do some chores. This was the next best thing. Thanks!

Best, Tom

Hey Tom,

The rabbits on the lower level aren't any different from the rabbits on the top level. Perhaps you missed the divider between the two?

The trough idea is nice, but due to the urine it would start smelling very quickly. Being on dirt does allow a lot of moisture to soak into the soil slowly. Keeping humidity low is very important. Plus the trough would fill up very quickly. I've found using aged rabbit manure on the garden works very well.

I'm glad everyone enjoyed the show!

-Andrew

It was so fun "following along" as you both did chores! I was listening the other night as I came home from my Stitch n' Bitch night, and the juxtaposition between what was coming in through the headphones versus what was filtering in around them was quite an experience. I'm hearing turkeys gobbling...and the el train rattling out of the station...goats bleating...and the traffic on the expressway as I walk over it. Very cool. Thanks for taking us along with you!

enjoyed your chore tour!

I loved this show. It's so cool to have a farm experience while sitting in my cubicle at work. Thanks for making my day brighter!