Houses we can't have...and goats gettin' it on

Heard back about the great house in Saguache, which has a contract on it. It may or may not go through. Who knows. The owner wants 20% down to carry it, which is about 20K. Now, I wonder, where would one get twenty thousand dollars in this economy? Isn't everyone living paycheck to paycheck, like we are? Ha! People are saving that kind of money? Maybe they'd like to loan some to us?

The person that may buy the house is from out of state. Maybe looking for a place to grow weed. That seems to be coming up a lot lately. Everyone thinks they can get rich off the ganja. Cannabis...legal in Colorado, except some counties don't want anything to do with it, including Saguache county. No growing, no distributing, no selling, no cannabis related business of any kind.

I guess we continue on, renting, where we can. I am thankful we have a place to be with all of our animals. I like it much better over on this side of the valley anyway. Even if it is colder. We have the wild horses. And the Sandhill Cranes. Less of the massive crop circles too, which means less spraying, I'm hoping.

Today big ugly billy goat, Molet, is out "playing" with the females. He doesn't play very nice. The little girls are locked in the barn, although he may have gotten to one of them before Richard separated them.

Molet, courting Oreo

Big ugly and tongue

That male goat is intense. He flaps his tongue around, makes loud moaning noises, head butts the barn walls, pees all over himself, and all because he can't get to the female goat he wants. It's just as weird when he goes through his mating ritual with an open and willing female. Not pretty.

If Molet has his way, there will be lots of goat babies next spring. Maybe we will find a permanent place to land by then. And yes, we do have ten acres down near Taos, but the roads are horrid, and come to find out, there is a livestock tax in NM on everything from llamas to goats, to sheep. I knew Taos county had some outlandish registration fee on exotic animals. Alpacas and llamas fall into this category. $50 per head, per year. Crazy. We can't afford that. And alpacas and llamas are pretty mainstream these days, aren't they?

Well, whatever. We will continue to pay on our land and see what happens. Maybe someone wants to buy it outright? Then we could pay off our owner carry and have a down payment for another place a little more farm friendly. The right place and the right circumstances will show up. That's how it works. I have faith.

Time and Money...and a shortage of both

We went up to Colorado Springs this past Friday for a doctor's appointment with the kids' Biomedical doctor. It's a long drive. Uneventful trip, I am happy to report.

The doctor's appointment was another story, with the kids jumping around and being the wild children they are. My daughter was diagnosed PDD-NOS about two years ago. My son, although he shares many of the same symptoms, and has worse allergies, and OCD behaviors, did not receive the diagnosis. Regardless, we are treating all of their symptoms from a nutritional perspective, eliminating problem foods and adding supplements to bring their health back, naturally. The list of supplements to try this time was long and their food choices are disappearing. It was an expensive trip. I am happy to say the nutritionist was excited about the llama milk experiment. So, in a year, if the girls have some crias, we will see what happens with that. I am rethinking the donkey milk thing again. Donkeys are easier to deal with, cheaper than camels and give more milk. Not quite the same, but the benefits of the milk have similar antibacterial properties for people who have gut issues. Plus, I can call our farm the Happy Ass Farm, which amuses me to no end. Happy Ass Dairy, maybe.

I realized some important things from this trip. First, I never want to live up near the Springs again. It just seemed dirty and dismal to me. I love the wide open spaces and spectacular views I have here in the San Luis Valley, every single day. The air is clean, there is no traffic, and the people are just so nice. Second, a little more space from my extended family is not a bad thing--there are just way too many cats up that way for me to tolerate. (I do miss my 20 year old daughter though. I'm still trying to convince her to move out here with us.) Third, even though it would be nice to find land closer to the doctor, it isn't necessary as we can make our appointments in the summer months instead. Fourth, being gone all day takes a few days catch up to get the farm back to normal.

And we are still not done with the barns!!! Winter is well on its way and we have to get the shelters closed in for the critters. Time and money. That's all we need. There seems to be a shortage of both of those things around here.

Richard is still plugging away on the turkey/duck/rabbit house. And the goat barn got a little recycled metal siding. This will keep the metal that is laying around from blowing away and re-use it in a useful way. Win, win.

Rustic turkey house--made with pallets

Barn siding

It's not very pretty though. Wouldn't it be cool if we could side the bars with corrugated metal, running vertical, like some people are doing with house spaces? We once visited a house in Taos where they used corrugated metal under the counter on a stool space. Looked very nice. Of course, outside, the metal might just blind us all, so maybe it's better we are using old metal, colored roofing. Although, we went on a house tour many years ago in Albuquerque where they sided the outside with corrugated metal, and the inside was a retro mix of steel and exposed pipes. It was nice. Not my thing really, but I can see the appeal. Maybe we can try it out one day. Only need more time and money....

Concert in Jaroso

Last night we went to a concert in Jaroso. One of our very talented neighbors, Michael Schraud, makes African Harps, called Koras, and there is a documentary being made about him and the harps and what not, so three Kora players came to town and played for an artistically inclined group of town's people. We were lucky we saw the poster in the post office. The concert was held at another neighbor -- Mark's little old adobe church, which used to be the town church, once upon a time. Mark Dudrow is also a musician, as well as an artist who makes some pretty cool clay tile art pieces.

The concert was amazing and the kids managed to sit through the whole thing, sort of, sleeping on and off. We met up with several neighbors, one who might even buy eggs and goat cheese in the near future. Quite the social event for our tiny town. I think everyone who went enjoyed it immensely. People dressed up and there was one older lady decked out all in gold lame, while some of us just wore our jeans and T-shirts. The common article of clothing seemed to be a scarf as the weather was a bit chilly and the tiny church was heated solely with a small wood stove along one wall of the church. It was toasty enough inside with the 50 or so people enjoying the small space and the lovely sounds of the music filling the air. Maybe Mark will have more concerts at the church in the future. Wouldn't that be fun?

I just love the quirkiness of this area. Not too far out to be touched by the magic that is Taos (or maybe the tiny town of Jaroso holds a little bit of its own magic and mystery). Only here would we accidentally happen upon a concert with musicians from around the world, who also happen to be filming for a documentary. Amazing stuff. A few months ago I had never heard of or even seen a Kora. Then we went to the Jaroso studio tour and met the man who makes them and saw his studio first hand. The Kora is an amazing instrument that produces an amazing and beautiful sound. If you ever have the opportunity to listen to a Kora being played, do it. You will not be disappointed.

Looking for good quality hay

Winter is coming and there is still so much to get done. Does it always feel this way, or is it as you get older that time seems to close in on you? Maybe there is just more to get done!

We have been stocking up on hay, finding it where ever we can at this point. We found a great source just outside of Alamosa. At least for now the hay has not gotten wet. The farmer also stores most of his hay in a hay bar. Imagine that.

Wild horses on the way to get hay. These were only a few miles from our farm.

Last week we went to La Jara for hay. Organic alfalfa. Field stacked. Richard tried to dig into the middle of the pile to get to the best of it, but as we use the hay now, we are noticing more and more moldy chunks throughout. Too bad. That was a great farm. Off grid. Old farmhouse with solar panels. Passive solar barns. They had Churro sheep! And a couple of Clydsdales, which they use to plow and do the farm field work. Awesome! Those are some huge horses. I would've liked to talk to the farmers there (They were out of town when we went. We met the ranch hand.), except for that moldy hay thing. Not sure I could hold my tongue.

Farmer tip: If you are going to be in the business of hay, build a hay barn!!!!!

So, while thinking about draft horses, I discovered some really cool people using miniature horses to plow and even pull wagons full of hay. Cool. I have to reexamine my thoughts on miniature horses. They may be good for something besides looking cute. Here's a link to some interesting info on minis.

I have also been considering a Dexter cow to add to our farm. I like cow milk. I prefer it over goat milk. but, regardless, the kids can't have either. No casein for my kids. Still, it'd be nice to have some cow milk now and then. Dexters are an old, dual purpose breed, both good for milk and meat, but much, much smaller than an average cow. They eat less and are easier to deal with. That's what we are looking for...easy to deal with. And, eats less...very important.

Now, I scan Craiglsist, looking for Churro sheep, Dexter cows and mini draft horses. And hay. I'm always looking for hay.

Richard has been working on the turkey/rabbit/duck house and it is coming right along.

Pallet turkey house

Winter is coming

We had our first snow on the ground on October 15. Not much really, but enough to excite the kids. My daughter gathered up snow to make a nice sized snowball, which she then set on the windowsill on the north side of the house, so she could keep an eye on it. It took several days for it to melt. I think it finished melting just yesterday, October 18.

Snowball

Before the snow came, Richard picked a bunch of red cabbagges, which he took to the Taos Food Co-op Farmer's market (no website, but here's an article in the Taos News), which happens every Wednesday afternoon. We also have some catnip and a couple of huge pumpkins at the Co-op...available for sale. We still have carrots, onions and potatoes in the ground in the garden, plus, Richard is trying to nurse some kale and chard along with blankets and tarps to protect it from the nightly freezes.

Red Cabbages

On the way to Taos on Wednesday, we stopped by Farmer Daniel's to sell our eggs for his Wwoofers, who love them, and saw a flock of sheep wandering in the fields and in the road. They have a Great Pyr guarding the flock and maybe functioning as a shepherd as well. I love rural America. Or maybe it's just the magical air in NM that allows scenes like this to make me smile. I'm still pining away for a flock of Churro/Navajo sheep to keep at the farm.

Sheep

We have sold several goat shares this past week and some goat cheese too, which will supplement the cost of hay. A herd of eight goats, one alpaca, five llamas, plus two rabbits eats a whole lot of hay. We are now on the constant search for affordable hay.

Richard is still working on the goat/llama barn and also trying to build a house for the turkeys, ducks and rabbits, who we are going to put in together.

It sure feels like winter is closing in on us and there is still so much to do! The days are getting shorter and colder and sure seem to vanish in the flurry of fall farm activity. If only we had some housing, I'd love to sign up for some wwoofers to help on our farm. Perhaps another season.

Beans, barns and Yaks

Garbanzo beans

Picking dried beans...not too much fun in the cold, blowing wind. Spent 20 minutes and still have so much to do. How many hours? I have a lot of respect for people who pick dried beans by hand. A little each day, I guess, and it will get done. While I pick the beans, Richard works on the barn for the animals.

Goat barn, newly expanded. Goats on turkey box.

Yesterday we went to the Yaktoberfest held by Cho Ku Rei Ranch, in Crestone, Colorado, which was entertaining (Yaks are cool).

Baby Yak at the Yaktoberfest, Crestone, Colorado.

We also went up toward Saguache and a house that is for sale up that way on 40 acres. The house needs work, but it's a great old Victorian, much like the house we used to have in Colorado Springs. I always used to think if I could move that house to a piece of land in the country, it would be just about perfect. So, here is a house, much like that one, in the San Luis Valley, on acreage enough for our critters and our Sanctuary...

Wouldn't it be something to live in a real house again? A solid, old house with hard wood floors, and enough bedrooms for all of the family? There was even a barn, big enough for all of our animals, and another little room that could serve as a milking parlor for the goats. So, there's that. The owner may do owner financing.
But, I'm a little nervous to ask now. I sent a lengthy e-mail to the owner of the church on 40 acres that I really want. It's about ten miles from where we are renting now. It has a stable area and a well in, but no electricity or running water. It would be a lot of work, but I'm game. But the owner wouldn't rent it to us now. He wants a sizable down payment before he will do an owner carry.

The house up near Saguache is surrounded by farms--big, commercial farms, growing potatoes and grains. I have to wonder if they spray? It feels a lot different up there, energetically. And it's a long way away from my beloved NM. I feel safe down here in the southern end of the valley. I will leave it to the Universe and see what transpires.

Alfonso...herd sire?

Alfonso has been getting friendly with the female llamas. We may have some crias next year after all, and can try out that llama milk for the kids, hoping it might relieve some of their autism symptoms. We finally had enough money saved to get some more tests run on the kids. We found out they are indeed gluten and casein sensitive, big time, and also peanut butter, almond butter, eggs, flax, some citrus, beef, lamb...and some other things. Wow. This limits their diet even more. No goat milk. No eggs. What is the point of the farm? Oh yes, we enjoy it so, and maybe one day when we can heal their insides, the kids will be able to have some of these things again.

There is some speculation that camel milk will help kids with autism, or help kids with leaky gut syndrome. This is why we picked up the female llamas, to breed them for the milk, because llamas are genetically close enough to camels that the milk should be about the same as far as benefits go. Now, how do you milk a llama? I have no idea. I hear it is quite difficult, but we are willing to try for the few precious ounces of milk that may make a significant difference in our kids' behaviors.

A hybrid alpaca/llama is called a Huarizo. A llamas gestation is about a year, so maybe next October we will have some little Huarizos/crias running about. They should have lovely fiber and be a manageable size. Just what I was hoping for. Or am hoping for. We shall see what kind of critters we get.

Alfonso has been busy with the ladies and has taken to chasing off the three gelded males whenever they come near the fence. And he wins, too. The male llamas run away whenever little Alfonso charges at them at the fence. That Napolean complex seems to be big around our farm. Makes me laugh to see proud Turbo brought down a notch. Barnyard antics...more entertaining than a television...any day.

Chicken Processing Workshop

Richard is holding a chicken processing class on October 12, from 10am to 3pm here at the farm. $40

If you are interested in learning how to take the old hens or unwanted roosters from your flock and make them ready for the freezer or stew pot, this class is for you. During this hands on workshop, you will learn how to humanely kill the chickens, defeather and clean the chickens so they can be safely stored in the freezer for future eating.

If you are interested, please contact Richard ASAP as space is limited.

Plan on wearing old clothes, dress warmly, and if you want to take a processed chicken home with you, please remember to bring a cooler with ice. Live birds will be available for purchase at the farm. It is not necessary to purchase a bird to learn the processing techniques.

Fox in the hen house.

Last night or early this morning there was a fox in the big chicken coop. It appeared to have taken one of our black hens and injured the rooster pretty badly. Sad. So Richard processed the rooster for the freezer. That rooster was protecting his flock, doing his job, and we appreciate him for it. But it was his time.

And on October 12, Richard will be holding a chicken processing workshop here at the farm. The rooster was on the list for that class anyway. He had been getting unpredictable and was not past attacking me when I went to collect eggs. Some of our hens are well past prime laying age and they all seem to be pecking each other pretty badly in the big coop. They are older birds, some of which came down with us when we moved from our homestead in Rockvale, Colorado a couple of years ago. It is time to cull the flock.

The class will teach anyone interested how to process chickens for the freezer or stew pot. It's that time of year to stock up the freezer. We will have the live birds here and students can purchase birds to process and take home with them after the class. The workshop will run from 10 am to about 3pm, depending on how things move along. The suggested donation fee for the class is $40 per student, but no one will be turned away. If you are interested in attending, please e-mail Richard to register and get more details. Bring a cooler and ice if you plan on taking processed birds home with you. Also,it might be a good idea to wear old clothes, and maybe bring a change of clothes with you.

As a result of last night's chicken thievery, Richard spent this morning fortifying the old coop. He dug a trench around the coop and put chicken wire in the ground and up the sides of the coop. The fox is a digger. Hopefully the wire will keep the fox and any other predators out.

Chicken wire around the coop.

Chicken wire in trench around coop.

Back fill over wire, in trench, around coop.