Wednesday, March 19, 2014

And She's Back




Spring...It's out there.
 
 
 
 
Hey there. Please excuse all the dead air time. A funny thing happened on the way to the organic farm...we got sick.

Indeed it is a rarity and usually comes right after we've bragged about how we rarely get sick, and this time was no different. After a very long and arduous winter we were commenting about how at least neither of us got sick during all those below zero days, all the snow storms, all the wind storms etc...

Oops. Should've kept our traps shut. Flu hit us both and now 10 days later we are finally getting back to normal, up and running, er shuffling in stupid pink slippers, again. Me, not Keith. He's not a slipper guy.

Officially then tomorrow, winter is over. Happy happy day. Our losses were the worst in our 19 history here on South Pork Ranch. Due to the horrific weather we lost 3 large steer, 1 newborn calf, two full Red Wattle newborn litters, a few chickens and one adorable donkey.

What that means in the long term is about 2000 less pounds of beef and approximately 3200 less pounds of pork to sell. Financially, that means lost revenue of around $10,000 for the beef and $24,000 for the pork bringing us to a grand total loss of $34,000.

WOW. Really regretting that I took the time to figure that out.

So what do a couple of respectable organic farmers do? Well we certainly trashed ourselves about ways we could've saved those animals. Maybe. It's easy to think one can control all variables in farming but truth is we did not order the weather and we really did our best. Then we went back to what we do well; we took action.

Two weeks ago we travelled north to buy 10 new calves and 2 new Red Wattle sows. Another $3000 in one long day. Oh well easy go, easy go. Then we took a hard look at our breeding program for the pigs and you can bet there will be no PLANNED litters born next winter (if we're still here but probably not.)

Finally though spring and hope and new growth and all that jazz is here. The weather is warming, snows have melted and the sun shines more. Animals are frisky, chickens are in the yard and some days we are doing chores in jackets with NO HATS!

Soon we will be moving 100 miles an hour towards our life on the new farm while making this farm as strong and viable as it can be for its new owners planning to take possession next fall. Stay tuned and watch us go!

13 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry to hear about all of those losses, when it rains, it certainly does.....suck! We haven't been in the homesteading/livestock business very long, but this has also been our worst year....and kidding season isn't even over yet. The weather this winter was too horrible, too long, and too draining.
    Keep your eye on The Poor Farm Prize!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Today dear Carolyn my eye is on SOAP MAKING. Patchouli essense everywhere.

      Delete
  2. Sending you respect and encouragement. Lets hope that the winter from hell isnt followed by the summer from hell we just had.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for that Lynda. Actually looking forward to a bit of hellish summer!

      Delete

    2. Dr Okaya cast a lottery spell for me and i won $50 million US dollars..Read my review and contact him now for your own lottery winning numbers.

      Words are not enough to express my profound gratitude for the wonderful thing that Dr. OKAYA did for me. Have anybody heard of this great spell caster who help to win Lottery and clear all your debts and buy your self a big house and car and also have a comfortable life living. His Lottery spell is wonders and work very fast. He help me to won a big money that change my life and my family. Recently i won $50 million US dollars , It was a dream come true for me and my family. Your Lottery spell made wonders and miracles. Thank you so much sir for dedicating your time to cast the Lottery spell for me.I am extremely grateful for the Lottery spell you did for me. If you want to win lottery like me all you need to do is contact the Okaya spell Temple that give me the rightful wining numbers of the below email :OKAYASPELLHELP@GMAIL.COM OR PHONE/WHATS APP : +27814506790

      Delete
  3. Glad to hear that you're on the mend, Mrs. Farmwife. I was starting to worry about your silence:)) We only have a hamster and a few chickens to keep alive on our quiet farm these days and I can't say that I'm too sad about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can dig that Crazy. As we move towards getting off this crazy farm of our own our livestock numbers must first increase but oh how we look forward to our new Poor Farm with just a handful of beasts.

      Delete
  4. When you look at the figures like that, it adds a whole new dimension to Winter's ravage. Our Spring started quite a while ago, but I shall celebrate it officially on the 21st (it always used to be the 21st, and I'm too stubborn to change). I've even been seen outdoors in shorts (remember those?).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah my loyal Cro...thanks for commenting again. Shorts eh? Not my best look but when it gets hot here my sense of style matters not. I dress for comfort even though it does send a few customers way screaming with their eyes covered.

      Delete

    2. Dr Okaya cast a lottery spell for me and i won $50 million US dollars..Read my review and contact him now for your own lottery winning numbers.

      Words are not enough to express my profound gratitude for the wonderful thing that Dr. OKAYA did for me. Have anybody heard of this great spell caster who help to win Lottery and clear all your debts and buy your self a big house and car and also have a comfortable life living. His Lottery spell is wonders and work very fast. He help me to won a big money that change my life and my family. Recently i won $50 million US dollars , It was a dream come true for me and my family. Your Lottery spell made wonders and miracles. Thank you so much sir for dedicating your time to cast the Lottery spell for me.I am extremely grateful for the Lottery spell you did for me. If you want to win lottery like me all you need to do is contact the Okaya spell Temple that give me the rightful wining numbers of the below email :OKAYASPELLHELP@GMAIL.COM OR PHONE/WHATS APP : +27814506790

      Delete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete


  6. My Name is Anita.I will love to share my testimony to all the people in the forum cos i never thought i will have my boyfriend back and he means so much to me..The boy i want to get marred to left me 4 weeks to our wedding for another girl..,When i called her she never picked my calls,She deleted me on his facebook and he changed her facebook status from engaged to Single...when i went to her place of work he told his boss he dont want to see me..I lost my job as a result of this cos i cant get myself anymore,my life was upside down and everything did not go smooth with my life...I tried all i could do to have him back,all did not work out until i met a prophet when i Travelled to Africa to execute some business have been developing some years back..I told him my problem and all have passed through in getting her back and how i lost my job...he told me he gonna help me...i didn't believe that in the first place.but he swore he will help me out and he told me the reason why my girlfriend left me and also told me some hidden secrets.i was amazed when i heard that from him..he said he will cast a spell for me and i will see the results in the next couple of days..then i travel back to Us the following day and i called him when i got home and he said he's busy casting those spells and he has bought all the materials needed for the spells,he said am gonna see positive results in the next 2 days that is Thursday...My boyfriend called me at exactly 12:35pm on Thursday and apologies for all he had done ..he said,he never knew what she's doing and her sudden behavior was not intentional and he promised not to do that again.it was like am dreaming when i heard that from him and when we ended the call,i called the man and told him my girlfriend called and he said i haven't seen anything yet... he said i will also get my job back in 3 days time..and when its Sunday,they called me at my place of work that i should resume working on Monday and they gonna compensate me for the time limit have spent at home without working..My life is back into shape,i have my man back and we are happily married now with kids and i have my job back too.This man is really powerful..if we have up to 20 people like him in the world,the world would have been a better place..he has also helped many of my friends to solve many problems and they are all happy now..Am posting this to the forum for anybody that is interested in meeting the man for help.you can mail him to Dr.jartospellcaster@gmail.com I cant give out his number cos he told me he don't want to be disturbed by many people across the world..he said his email is okay and he' will replied to any emails asap..hope he helped u out too..good luck:Dr.jartospellcaster@gmail.com.Once Again His Email Address Is:Dr.jartospellcaster@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

  7. Dr Okaya cast a lottery spell for me and i won $50 million US dollars..Read my review and contact him now for your own lottery winning numbers.

    Words are not enough to express my profound gratitude for the wonderful thing that Dr. OKAYA did for me. Have anybody heard of this great spell caster who help to win Lottery and clear all your debts and buy your self a big house and car and also have a comfortable life living. His Lottery spell is wonders and work very fast. He help me to won a big money that change my life and my family. Recently i won $50 million US dollars , It was a dream come true for me and my family. Your Lottery spell made wonders and miracles. Thank you so much sir for dedicating your time to cast the Lottery spell for me.I am extremely grateful for the Lottery spell you did for me. If you want to win lottery like me all you need to do is contact the Okaya spell Temple that give me the rightful wining numbers of the below email :OKAYASPELLHELP@GMAIL.COM OR PHONE/WHATS APP : +27814506790

    ReplyDelete