Seasons Bleatings! It's October already! Sheep and goats are all separated into their breeding groups and for the most part are all bred I believe. Soon I will be able to combine them again for easier chores and rotational grazing into late fall months.

The new pasture is limed, fertilized and seeded... whew what a project! Jumping through all the hoops is a bit of a chore, but worth it when I consider the financial assistance, equipment and expertise that the USDA programs provided. See photos of the process at seeding the new pasture.

In a double blow this past month, I lost both Argus and Annie (Annie to old age and Argus to a cruel twist of fate). I did not realize just how much I depended upon them until they were gone... and suddenly the farm seems somehow exposed and vulnerable. Annie's loss was anticipated, but losing Argus broke my heart.

A new puppy has come to HMFF to mend our hearts and fill the void. Artemis comes from a farm with sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits, kitties and other livestock ... so was custom reared for us. She is a Komondor/Pyranees cross like Argus and within her first hour of being here, lay down protectively near a small cage of chicks . She is named after a Greek goddess/protector of young girls and animals. I want to thank Laura of Cedar Spring Farm for raising such a fine puppy. I think she is going to be a big girl, already 35 pounds at 12 weeks of age. I hope to find a Komodor male ... if anyone knows of someone with puppies, please let me know.

Livestock Sales: Needing a sire for fall breeding? I still have a few choice rams and bucks available... See the sheep and goat pages for the latest photos and updated salelists.

I also am having a BIG rabbit sale this month! My rabbitry is filled to overflowing with rabbits acquired from Ruth Copplers rabbitry dispersal and Little Flower Farm . Don't miss this opportunity to acquire some fantastic and varied show quality bloodlines for a bargain price! My thanks to Toni at LFF (and Ruth) for all the cages and feeding equipment she donated to HMFF. I really needed them and have been replacing some of my older worn out cages with the newer equipment

You will also find a link to a pattern for a knitted Halloween hat for your favorite bunny on the bunny page!

HMFF Henbane

Why Boer goats at HMFF, where most of the focus is on fleeces and fiber production? Well, there are a few reasons why I have kept a small herd of meat goats: 1) off season income (the market for meat goats is usually best right before the winter holidays) 2) alternative safe meat source for the family 3) they are pretty and actually produce a fine cashmere! 4) they are low maintenance and hardy 5) they do a great job cleaning up pastures that you would not dare put a fleeced goat on AND 6) "never put all your eggs in one basket"

Herbal Maid Gallery News

Check out my Autumn 2007 Sale of selected items at 15% off. This includes seasonal decor items, handspun and woven shawls, books, etc.