Isn't it pretty?

Look at our new tool rack! Isn't it clever?!?

The inspiration came from a picture in Eliot Coleman's new book, The Winter Harvest Handbook. It's made out of cedar boards, which Daddy milled. Jacob and Pop pop put it together. I just love it. Now all our tools are dry, organized, and easy to put away.

You can see the whole thing here. The other side is full of tools too.

-Tricia Ann

New CSA Delivery Location!

We're excited to add a new delivery location
for folks on the north side of Nashville.

Windy Acres Farm - Saturdays from 3:00 - 4:00 pm
5376 East Robertson Rd. Orlinda, TN 37141
615-654-FARM (3276)

At Windy Acres, our shareholders will also be able to purchase many other products including pastured chicken, grass-fed beef and lamb, cage-free eggs, raw milk cheeses, cultured vegetables, and sourdough cultures at the Windy Acres Farm Shop. Windy Acres even offers a Cow Boarding Program for those who want access to farm fresh raw milk!

~Trish

The Meatrix

Here is a really neat video about the rise of factory-farming and the downfall of the family farm.

Produced by Sustainable Table and Free Range Studios, the animated movie The Meatrix spoofs The Matrix while illustrating the problems with industrial agriculture and today’s meat supply. The Meatrix uses pop culture and entertainment to educate viewers about the food they eat and where it comes from. The film features three superhero farm animals including Leo, the young pig who wonders if he is “the One,” Chickity, the feathered family farm defender, and Moopheus, the trench-coat-clad cow with a passion for green pastures. Join the group as they delve into the reality of animal cruelty, antibiotic overuse, massive pollution and destroyed communities.

Check out The Meatrix website to learn more.

Maple Sugaring (or Syrup-ing)

Tapping maple trees for maple syrup has been a big project of late. Dad, Jacob, and some of our neighbors have spent many hours boiling down sap. It takes 5 gallons of sap to make one pint syrup! But it's definitely worth it...It's the most delicious syrup EVER!!!

First, you drill a hole in the tree. Then you hammer some 1/2 inch conduit into the hole. You drill a hole in the top of the bucket, slide the bucket onto the conduit, and hang the handle over a nail to secure the bucket.

After collecting the sap, you pour it into pots and boil it over a fire for a long time. When it has boiled down to a certain point, you transfer it to a pot on the stove and continue boiling it until it reaches about 218 degrees. Then it is ready to be put into jars.

Finally, you make pancakes and enjoy the fruit of your labor.

-Tricia Ann

Greenhouse Pictures

Milking Shed

Yes. We are still alive, in case any of you were wondering. However, from the lack of comments, I'm beginning to question whether we have any readers. Our wireless router died, and I have heretofore been unable to pry the cord away from the other internet users in the family. :)

Since our milk cow (Daphne or Blackie or whatever you want to call her) is due to calve soon, Jacob has been anxious to build a shed for milking her. He and Dad began construction on Friday. Dad had to go to the Farmer's Market on Saturday, so some of Jacob's buddies came over to help him. They got as far as they could with the materials they had, then ran to Lowe's to get some more boards. They were done in no time at all. Great job, guys!

Gotta love the expression.

This one too

-Tricia Ann

Snow Again!

And this time, A LOT!

I think we got about 6 inches, which is rare here in the Sweet Sunny South. The first day it was very dry and powdery, but the second day it iced over some...perfect for sledding!

Redneck Four-Wheeler

"Snow. I dig it!"

Uhhh...not sure what this one's about

Tally Ho!

Gimli refuses to ride on the sleds; instead, he chases them.

Mary Jane at a distance

Me with a funny expression in front of the yaks.

Sledding down the hill was apparently too slow for these two.

Nice shades.

"Put your feet on the knots, lean back, and hang on!"

Whooooo-Hooooo!

This is what sledding all day will do to you. :)

-Tricia Ann

More Wild Highlanders

We got two more Highlands yesterday. They are due to calve in the spring. So we'll have little fuzzy cows all over the place. These were already named when I got them, so don't blame me if you don't like their names. :)

We've had a couple people ask if we are keeping yaks. They do look a little like yaks, and we think it's funny. So, Jacob's been making up yak jokes for the past day or two. Sometimes they are funny and sometimes they are not:

What is a Nepalese bovine's favorite martial artist? Yak-ie Chan

What does a Nepalese bovine use to play tennis? A tennis Yak-it (okay, so Jacob didn't make this one up. Mom found it on the internet while looking for Gimli Report material.)

What is a Nepalese bovine's favorite Country singer? Alan Yak-son

...Anyway, you see what I mean. ;)

-Tricia Ann

This is Ellie.

I wonder if she's named after the Wooly Mammoth from Ice Age... :)

And this is Tartan.

Here is a better picture of Fluffy (what I'm calling her until Jacob decides to name her).

Wood Heater

Dad, with help from Jacob and a friend, installed a wood heater in the shop. I'm too tired to write much, but here's a picture. I spent all day helping Jacob work on his corral. I'll post pictures of it as soon as I can remember to take some.

-Tricia Ann

Highland Coos

Readers...moo cows. Moo cows...readers. Guess that takes care of the intros.

Highland cow with a turkey in the background...no wait, it's a mink. *Shrieeek* it's a bat!...oh...it's just a t-post. Phew!

The brown cow is the white fluffy spitfire's momma. To stick with the current naming theme, possibilities include Hilda, Olga, Rowena. jk

12 Stones Ingrid...er...eating out of a bucket.(I know. Profound, right?)

-Jacob

Snow!

It's been snowing a little bit for the past couple days, and surprisingly, there's still quite a bit of snow on the ground. Not enough to go sledding or build a snowman, though. The temperature hasn't been above freezing in over a week, except on Wednesday when it got up to 34 degrees...just long enough to pull back the row cover and pick some lettuce, carrots and turnips for the farmer's market.

Gimli loves snow, so I've been taking him out to play some. I think he'd spend all day out there if I'd let him. I took him with me when I went on a walk to take pictures. Here are some the ones I took.

-Tricia Ann

Here are some cedar logs waiting for Daddy to mill them into boards.

Pipsqueak doesn't look like he cares much for snow.

This is the top of our barn.

I tried everything I could think of, but couldn't get Gimli to look at the camera. I called his name, asked him questions, made funny noises, and I don't know what all; but he still wouldn't look towards me. I finally decided to try cat food.

He likes to play catch with cat food, so I showed him a piece and asked, "Are you ready?"

It worked:

In other news, Jacob and I got a ClearPlay DVD player for Christmas. :)

He's so goofy!

The Shop Is Almost Finished!