It's Not About The Money. It's About Doing What You Love.

Why I Farm: Mark Thomas from Becks Hybrids on Vimeo.

Pinterest Link Up! Week #5!

Ta da! Here's this week's link up! I found some neat stuff this week! :)

1. How to make mozzarella cheese. {Courtesy of The Prairie Homestead}

2. DIY Cotton Faux Paper Towels. (I thought the snaps on these were kinda' cool...) {Courtesy of My Healthy Green Family}

3. Use buttermilk to take the "gamey" taste out of your meat. {Courtesy of The Backyard Pioneer}

4. Ten miniature cattle breeds for your small farm. {Courtesy of Big Picture Agriculture}

5. Creative and homemade hay feeders for goats! {Courtesy of the Homesteading Today forum}

6. 4 Reasons your hens aren't laying. {Courtesy of House. Barn. Farm.}

The Writer Is 'In'

Ahem, so the Peanuts picture is posted slightly tongue-in-cheek... But it came to mind as I was writing this. I just wanted to draw your attention to the newest page up at the top bar of this little ol' blog. You know, that bar up there (please scroll up for a moment) that has the "home, about, and 'crazy bucket list'" pages? Yeah, that top bar. There's a new page there now, titled "Consultation Services". By all means, please do check it out!

Ask It!

 Look! I remembered to post the "Ask it" post today! How shocking!

 Same as ever, questions go in the comments, and I'll answer 'em on Monday. ;)

'You Can Farm' E-School

Verge Permaculture is hosting an amazing e-school taught exclusively by Joel Salatin! Looks like there's going to be three workshops to attend (hm, hm... I want them all!); each one focusing on one of his book topics: You Can Farm (starting and succeeding in farming), Pastured Poultry Profits (raising broilers), and Salad Bar Beef (plus pigaerator pork).

  Verge is giving thirty minutes of one of the lessons for free up until Sunday the 20th; so hurry up and watch it before it's too late!! I enjoyed it, as I always do enjoy Joel's stuff.

 So if you've got some birthday money sitting in your pocket, it looks like Joel's e-school might be a good way to spend it. ;)

I Sound Like A Toad

  Today I am incredibly grateful for a dog who responds to whistles as well as voice commands.

 An unexpected cold has sprung itself on me, and now I've lost my voice (the tiny bit that's left sounds like something belonging to a toad). 

 Thank heavens I had the brains to train that dog to a whistle... 

 But I still really want my voice back.

Mini Hay Baler - What Do You Think?

  So here's something new to me: A walk behind, mini round baler that's powered by a BCS. It's designed for the small farmer who has 10 acres or less and wants to bale their own hay. The round bales are 2x'2' and weigh roughly 45 lbs. each.

 I have no idea what this baler costs (have yet to find a price online), but what do y'all think? If the price was decent, would you consider something like this? I ask out of curiosity. :) I would love to bale my own hay, but I always thought I'd either have to have enough land to warrant a tractor and all the equipment (which then puts me in the haying business, which I don't really want), or I'd have to do it the reeeeaaaally old way of using a scythe and then putting the hay on tripods, just like old times. I like the idea of the round baler. Looks fun. Although, speaking as someone who's used to using 120 lb. bales, I think the size is a tad pathetic. Forty-five pound bales are -- puny. Sorry. Maybe there are some good things about them that I don't know about. Like, they're a single size serving for cows??? Again, I'm used to my 3-stringers that weigh as much as me. ;) I don't think I've ever seen a 45 lb. bale...

  But size aside, I'm still curious about these things.

  Would you buy one if you could?