Christmas Festival

Tomorrow is the Woodsfield Christmas Festival and I've been busy finishing up items for sale, like this knitted Star garland. I've been weaving towels and knitting gloves and  all kinds of warm things. It is a fun time to see people I don't see often and get in the Christmas Spirit. My kids all want money so my shopping is done, or the biggest part. Might as well relax and enjoy the Season.

Harvesting fall dye plants

 Madder Root

Madder plant

 This past weekend was so nice, I took the opportunity to gather the last of the dye plants. First I cut all my woad which I used to try a new dye method using a low PH to extract the dye in room Temp water. Then proceeded to the original recipe using washing soda to raise PH and Spectralite to remove all air in the dye bath and got a very light blue on braided roving.  ( Bottom pictures). There wasn't much dye in the plants probably from being frosted on. Next I cut all my weld that was left in the garden which I hadn't dried earlier. The last dye to gather was madder, which needs to be dug. The roots were 4 years old and very nice. All dye plants and roots will be dried to use this winter and to sell at fiber shows.

 Weld Plant

 

 Woad

 Woad Dye Bath

 Woad Dyed Roving

                                 

Cover Crops

This time of year is the right time for planting cover crops in our gardens and fields. Now that the major vegetables have been harvested from the garden the bare ground has been sown with winter rye. It not only protects the ground but is a valuable source of natural fertilizer. When turned over in the spring it will add a small amount of nitrogen to the soil but as it is growing it will pull important minerals to the layer of soil that is used for growing.  Among one is potassium. On the PH scale potassium is very alkaline sweetening the soil naturally. In the foreground are Lincoln peas then turnips and the winter rye. So work up some soil and plant a cover crop.

Ram 121

   

This is our new BFL ram #121. We purchased him from Anne and Gordon Bisdorf. This fellow is long and wide throughout. Good bone and fleece and that awesome head. After a little time to himself ( I thought he would come over the top of the pen), we turned him in with the shetlands and they now do not have a moment of peace. It is a good thing he is in very good condition because he is in love with all of them. After a few days of thought I will give him a name, I just want to get to know him better. Thanks Anne and Gordon.

Shetland Flock

This past week brought a change to Grouse Ridge Farm. On Monday morning I found my shetland mule ewe dead in the pasture, bloated from something she ate. This left me with 1 BFL ewe, because I just sold my crossed ewes with plans to move forward with shetland mules for a flock more suited for fiber and grass fed meat. With a couple of e-mail conversations I acquired a small flock of shetlands which I plan to use to breed my own shetland mules. They are settling in well and have given my border collie Craig a new and exciting challenge of working small fast sheep. He is rising to the challenge very well. If I can secure a BFL ram this fall mule lambs will come sooner than later.

Sauerkraut time

                                                                

In early June I planted a cabbage called Krautman for my sauerkraut this fall. This morning I was busy shredding cabbage, mixing in the salt tamping down with a wooden mallet and creating delicious kraut. Since my husband is both Dutch and German this is a staple in our home. The heads averaged 5 lbs. each so it didn't take long to do 25 lbs. I will let it ferment in the crock for 3-5 weeks and then can it in quart jars. I would recommend this variety of cabbage to plant as the heads are nice and solid, round and the stem doesn't invade the nice white layers of cabbage inside the head.

Sugar Beets

One of the many veggies growing in our garden for fall harvest is the sugar beet. Another name is the mangel used for feeding livestock and for making sugar. These beets are white and can reach an average weight of 5 lbs. Along with beets we have turnips growing also. We plan to feed the pigs most of the roots crops but sweet young turnips are tasty.