Seasons Bleatings!
January
2007
Happy New
Year!
January is named for
the two-headed Roman godJanus
A time for
looking forward and a time for looking back.
Looking Back - Winter
Storms
"Missouri Governor Blunt has asked USDA to
declare 14 counties agricultural
disaster areas as a result of severe winter
storms... and based on the Farm Service Agency’s damage assessment
reports. Agricultural producers in these counties may be eligible for low
interest emergency loans and other USDA programs if the declaration is granted."
[exerpt from USDA newsletter]
Missouri is not the only state with weather problems
this winter... my best wishes go out to all of you who have had to
deal with record rainfall, snow, tornadoes, avalanches and
flooding.
Looking Forward -
The weather has been kind here since the rip roaring
Dec 1st storm.... this is good news for the woodpile, the propane tank, the hay
supply and the pasture project. Now that the holidays are behind us for
another year, I am back to work on the new pasture: GATES this
month.
The winter is just getting started, so no telling
what it will bring in the way of weather.
Keeping a supply of feed, alternative water systems,
and adequate housing are important to our four legged friends in the
wintertime. It is also time to vaccinate, step up available nutrition for
the moms whose babies are in their final growth phase before birth
and go through your supplies and order what is needed. If anyone needs
kid sweaters, I still have a few at my ebay
store.
The dairy does should be the first to kid and are
already looking the part. All are bred to Benesoit Tate Tristan one last
time. I hope I get more doe kids this year... just look at the one on the right
in the picture... she is a 2006 kid/coming yearling out of Tate and I am so
pleased with the way she is growing out.
Look at this sweetheart. Not much cuter than baby
guinea pigs! Guinea Pigs are born furred like miniature versions of
their mom (not naked like rabbits). I have four litters of newly weaned
baby guinea pigs available... see the rabbit &
cavies page for more pix.
I also hope to see the first bunny litters at the
end of this month! (keeping my fingers crossed); but in the meantime I have
three nice 2006 bucks available (bucks make the best pets) on the rabbit & cavies page.
Looking Back - HMFF
Sales
Herbal Maid
Gallery, the eBay arm of Herbal Maid Fiber Farm, was a great
success in 2006 . One hundred and thirty eight customers purchased over
$1300 worth of fleeces, yarn, roving, equipment, and finished goods from the
farm. that may not sound like a lot , but it made a tremendous difference.
My thanks to each and every one of you who helped to keep this farm afloat. A
special thanks goes to Janice, Yvonne, HHN, Leann, Faun, Jill, Sherre, Debbie,
Michelle and Nancy. These top ten buyers were mailed my personal
thanks and a coupon for $10 towards the purchase of any item in 2007... a
small thanks from me to you.
Livestock
sales are also important to the support of the
farm. Nineteen customers added HMFF livestock to their farms in 2006!
This year HMFF animals went to Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska and
Kansas. My thanks go to Tammi, Pat, Sidney, Toni, Shirley, Cheryl,
Jane, Jenny, Wendi, Becky, Jeanette, Kathy, Aimee, Rachel, Alice, Ann, Kate, and
a couple other rabbit folks whose names were unfortunately not
recorded.
Looking Forward-
Updated photos of the rams and a few select BRED Hybrid
Leicester ewes are on offer for a limited time this month. See the sheep page for details. On the sheep page you will also
find the latest on the NAIS and NASS. VOLUNTARY is the new word regarding the
NAIS !
Looking WAY Forward... to
2009!
UN Declares 2009 International Year of
Natural Fibers [from ASI newsletter]
As the movement away from
petroleum-based products gathers momentum, the year
2009 has
been declared the International Year of Natural Fibers (IYNF) by the
United
Nations (UN) General Assembly at a recent meeting in New York.
The UN says
that the aim of the IYNF 2009 is to develop the efficiency and
sustainability
of agricultural industries that employ millions of people,
contribute to food
security and provide new economic development opportunities.
“The
International Year of Natural Fibers 2009 will raise consumer awareness
of
natural fibers in the world economy as well as within the textile
sector,â€
said a press statement from the International Wool Textile
Organization (IWTO),
which welcomed the move. It is hoped the initiative will
strengthen demand for
natural fiber products, improve the livelihoods of the
farmers who produce them
and revenues for countries that export them.
The
wide range of natural fibers includes wool, jute, cotton, flax, silk,
sisal,
coconut fiber and many others including a range of cellulosics. Some
are
produced from plants, others from animals, and they are used in
clothing,
interior textiles and other consumer goods, as well as in
industrial
applications. Virtually every country in the world produces some
natural fibers.
Fashion shows, exhibitions, conferences, TV documentaries,
books and programs
for school children are some of the activities that will
be associated with the
IYNF 2009.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations (FAO) will
coordinate the IYNF 2009, with participation by
organizations representing the
wool, cotton, jute, linen, coir, hemp and
other hard fiber industries.
IWTO will represent the wool and animal hair
sector on the steering committee
for the IYNF 2009.
The American Sheep
Industry Association is the official representative of the
U.S. wool industry
to the IWTO.
Additional information can be found at www.iwto.
Staff
contact: Rita Kourlis Samuelson, ext. 29
Happy New Year to all the friends of the
farm!
Kathy Barger-Harbert
Herbal Maid Fiber Farm
