Tuesday, May 30, 2006

More Lovely Critters

Very glad you've come back. Here are some of our more "traditional" family critters.

This is Cozy. She's a 12 year old Australian Shepard. We adopted her about five years ago from a neighbor farmer who was moving to town, and they wanted Cozy to stay on the farm. She helps keep the chickens out of the yard, and keeps the coons and possum from the chicken coop. She's very active and hikes everywhere with us.





This is Harbor. He's a seven year old Black Lab- Border Collie cross. We've had him since he was a puppy. Like Cozy, he helps keep the other animals in line and enjoys hiking.





These are our wonderful cats. The little white one is Willie, the little black one is Isis, the black and white one is Titten, and the lounging white one is Visitor. They too have a job on the farm... You guessed it, they are mousers. They keep the mice out of the feed in the barn, and they even catch moles and shrew from the garden. Believe it or not, all of the cats join us and the dogs when we hike!



All our dogs and cats are "outside" animals, which means they do spend the majority of their time outside...even in the winter. They are never tied up or confined. They have free range of the farm. They know their territory and have never run away.

Next time, I'll introduce you to the human critters of our family. Till then...Be Well.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Lots of new critters!

Glad you're checking in! Got some new animals last week. We now have four Scottish Highlanders cows. Two have bull calves at their side, one is due to calve any day now. We're rather new to raising Highlanders, but the some of the differences are: they tend to be a bit smaller than other beef breeds, they have long hair, their horns are not cut off, and for the most part they are more docile. Another good thing is they will eat all kinds of brush along with the grass. They are doing a fine job eating burdock, stinging nettle, box elder trees and even the invasive species, multi-flora rose.










The Scottish are in addition to two nine-month-old jersey-holstein cross calves that we've had since November.






Last week we received 100, cornish-X , day old chicks. They'll stay in the brooder for about another week untill they are fully feathered. Then I'll put them out to pasture. At about 8-9 weeks, they will be processed(read, butchered). It anyone is interested in eating some of the best tasting, healthiest, organic, pastured, chicken, let me know.

In the next few days, I'll post more about past and current critters, as well as other happenings here at Oikos Hollow Farm. Be Well.

Friday, May 12, 2006

Welcome to Oikos Hollow Farm

We're very happy you've come for a visit!

  • Check out our animals.
  • See how they're raised.
  • See how our planning for the John Muir Trail Expedition is shaping up.
  • Get to know our Family.
  • Learn a bit about sustainable living, our food supply, and intentional living, parenting, and Loving.
  • Leave a message! Let us know you've been here.