Fly Control Experiment

Every time it warms up flies become a problem around Our Maker's Acres Family Farm.  In the past, we've set out some fly traps that you break a smelly fly attractant into a bag and add water and hang it.  The flies are sort of like the Eagles song, Hotel California, "You can check out any time you want, but you can never leave.  The bag fills, in no time, with dead flies.  Thousands of them.  The bag becomes a stinky mess.  If you don't do anything about it, flies get in the house.  Is there a greater nuisance than a fly flying around the kitchen when you are trying to eat?  You can't even enjoy your meal.

Flies are a big nuisance to the cows, too.  They land on their backs and bite them.  The poor cows swat with their tails, their heads, rub against trees, and lay in the dust.  Largely all that is ineffective as the flies simply move to a different spot.  We could buy some chemicals to kill them, but we really don't want to do that.

I found an alternative - Texas Cedar Oil.  Cedar oil is oil that has been steamed out of dead cedar trees.  I wish that you could twist the top off of the bottle below and sniff.  Talk about smell good!   Now this stuff has many uses, but one of them is natural pest control.  It can be sprayed on your cows and keeps flies away.

Texas Cedar Oil

So Tricia ordered a bottle and we're going to give it a try.  For a 16 oz. bottle it was $26.50 plus shipping and handling.  The recipe is:

20 oz. warm water
1/2 oz. of liquid ivory soap
4 oz. 100% Texas Cedar Oil

Tricia learned from a talk given at a SSAWG convention that if you substitute 48 oz of vegetable oil for water in the recipe, and use 2 -3 oz of cedar oil, while leaving out the soap, it will adhere better and give 5 days of fly control.  So I mixed up a batch.


Canola oil is the medium to mix the cedar oil in

We emptied the fly repellent concoction into a little garden sprayer and walked out to the barn when it was milking time yesterday afternoon. 

Pouring the concoction in the sprayer.

Sure enough, Poor Daisy was full of flies and they were annoying her to no end.  She was madder than a mosquito in a mannequin factory.    

Flyswatter?  Anyone?

So I pumped up the Cedar Oil concoction and began to spray the offending areas.  Flies like to light (and bite) right on Daisy's shoulder area where her tail won't reach.
 

Can you scratch my back right there?  A little up, to the right.  Yeah.  That's it.

I sprayed a good dose on her.  You could actually see where the deer flies were biting Daisy and drawing blood.  I had donated blood earlier in the day (that's why I have the blue bandage), but I volunteered to give blood.  Daisy and Rosie are unwilling donors!  We'll try to help the girls out. Hopefully this stuff works.


Spraying Daisy down

Finally, I added an extra dose to Daisy's shoulder area.  You can see her tail in action as I'm spraying.  

Natural Pest Control

Prior to posting this I called Tricia to see how the experiment was panning out.  Here's the preliminary report.  Several dead flies on Daisy's back and not many flies at all on her.  It looks like it is a successful experiment.  We'll see how if we get 5 days of coverage.  At the very least the barn will smell like a cedar closet.

As I walked out of the barn, Russ and Benjamin were standing around with the chickens.  Or is that our turkeys?  I'm forever getting them confused with these guys.


Our Turkeys



You mess with the bull - You get the horns!

That quote is often used by people and means, "Don't mess with me or there will be repercussions."

On the farm, the saying has some real significance whether you "mess" with the animal or not.  Horns can be dangerous on farm animals.  While they are a defense mechanism for the animal against predators and other animals, they can injure and/or kill other livestock or humans.  Even if the animal is not aggressive, oftentimes they will jerk their heads back quickly to swat flies.  This innocent move could gouge you.  Can you imagine being hit in the eye?  Both bulls and heifers can grow horns.

It is for this reason that we de-horn our animals.  There are several ways to do this:

1. Electric De-horning: this method takes a hot iron and burns the horn bud, killing its growth.
2. Cutting the horns: this method uses a saw to cut off the horns once they have fully grown.
3. De-horning paste: this method uses a caustic agent to chemically burn the cells of the horn bud.

We've used the first and last methods on our calves and I've used the middle method at our farm in Oberlin.  I'll be honest, none of the options are appealing and I'm always happy once the job is done.  You can tell the dehorning is not an enjoyable experience, but there doesn't appear to be any pain after a couple of hours.  You want to do this as soon as you can feel the little horn buds begin to emerge from the animal's skull - the earlier the better.  Today we'll be using Dr. Naylor's de-horning paste to get the job done.

Here goes.  Tricia and I caught little 'Bully' and put a halter on him.  In this case the calf halter we have is too big so we used a goat halter. 


Bully with a goat halter on

I've brushed back some of the hair on his head so that I can see exactly where the horn buds are located.  They are protruding maybe 1/8 of an inch at this point.


Horn buds

I've attached the halter to a rope tied to a post to keep Bully restrained.


What's going on here?

Then I take some clippers and shave the area around the horn bud so that I can see to properly apply the dehorning paste.


Shave and a Haircut.  2 bits.

Here is a photograph of the Dehorning Paste.  It can be purchased at most any feed store. 

De-horning Paste

Once the area around each horn bud is shaved, you'll want to build a barrier or dam about 1 inch outside of the horn bud area with Petroleum Jelly.  This keeps the paste from running and getting anywhere else but on the horn bud itself.

Petroleum Jelly encircling the horn bud

It is very important to wear gloves to perform this task.  You don't want to get this stuff on your skin.  I use a Popsicle stick to apply a thin coating about the size of a quarter on the horn bud and surrounding area.


Applying the de-horning paste

You'll want to sit with the animal and restrain him.  Tricia and I sat out in the barn with him until 10:30 pm or so or about 45 minutes. 

You can see the reddish tinged de-horning paste I'm applying.

Because this stuff is caustic, you don't want him rubbing it on other areas, other animals, or on you!  So, we use duct tape (is there anything that it can't be used for?) to make a covering or cap over the areas in which we've applied the paste.  We also keep him in the corral by himself.  The last thing you want him doing is to go to nurse off of Daisy and get this on her udder.   

One of the many uses for duct tape

Bully pulled and pulled against the post.  We petted him and he calmed down.  You can see below that the areas that we applied the de-horning paste are completely covered and protected.


Got my thinking cap on...

In the morning, we simply removed the duct tape, wiped off the area with a rag and Bully was good to go.
He immediately ran to Daisy and began nursing and seemed completely fine.  Good to have that behind us!  I'm sure he feels the same way.

The Grass Grows Greener...

"The Grass Always Grows Greener over the Septic Tank."  That was the name of a book by Erma Bombeck, a humorous columnist that my Mom used to read.  The title of the book is funny - and true.  There is a reason that the grass is greener in that location.  I don't want to get into the details as you might be eating breakfast as you read this, but I think you know what I'm talking about.

Let's take a virtual walk out to the pasture and we can discuss it while you finish your coffee.  As I lift the lid on one of the chicken tractors, you can see the Barred Rock pullets eating some Chick Grower and foraging around in the grass.  A pullet is a young hen.  They are really growing.  They are so lively.  I have to be careful when I open the lid because they'll fly out.  They roost up on the roosting bars. 

After I finish milking Daisy in the morning, I feed them and since they roost on one bar, there is a big line of poop on the grass under the bar.  So I roll the chicken tractor one length forward.  If I didn't do this, the chicken poop would build up and burn the grass in the tractor.  Pretty soon there would be nothing but dirt underneath them.  That would defeat the purpose.  I want the chicken poop to be spread around the entire pasture, fertilizing the grass so that it grows green, lush, and tall for the cows to eat.


Barred Rock Pullets

As we walk over to the Cornish Cross Meat birds, they are growing as well.  At last count I think there are around 80 birds in this chicken tractor.  They eat a lot and poop a lot, so I push their tractor once or twice a day.  They are getting a little cramped up and need some elbow room.  It is time to extend the square footage of the tractor.  The way I do this is by adding a couple of hog panels to the end of the tractor.  I secure the panels to the tractor with wire.  It is sturdy and is pretty easy to pull as someone pushes the tractor.

High Population Density

This photo shows that by adding the panels, I've more than doubled the square footage of their humble home.  When I opened the door, they all hopped out to explore the new area.


Wide open spaces

They also jumped out to eat.  Rather than buying expensive chicken feeding troughs from the feed store or building some out of wood,  I purchased a couple of 10 foot length PVC gutters from the hardware store, dump the feed in the them, and like Bachman Turner Overdrive sings, they start Takin' Care of Business.  The gutters used as feed troughs work great.  They are inexpensive, lightweight, and durable.  The birds line up on either side of it (or some jump in it) and eat to their heart's content.

Hungry Birds

Back to the title of today's posting.  As I move them each day, their poop is broadcast across the pasture.  The grass reacts to the nitrogen and grows bright green.  The picture below illustrates this.  If you look closely, you can see that the grass right behind the tractor is greener than the other grass.


Can you see the dark green trail where the chicken tractor has been?

The grass grows greener, faster, and taller in the trail behind the tractor.

Trail behind another chicken tractor

You've got to be careful, though.  Chicken poop is "hot" and can burn your grass if you don't move the tractors often enough.  As a result of the burning you can see below, I started pushing the tractors twice a day instead of only once.  

Careful.  Chicken poop will burn your grass

Not to worry, though.  After a rain and a week or two, this area will be dark green again, providing lush grass for Daisy, Rosie, Stryker, Maggie and Bully.

A Graduation Celebration

This past week our middle child (not a child anymore), Russ, graduated from Hamilton Christian Academy.  We've always said that our most important and primary crop grown on Our Maker's Acres Family Farm is our children.  So in effect, Friday night was harvest time - or at least a good chance to assess the health of the crop that we planted years ago.  We're very proud of Russ.  He was one of the valedictorians and won several scholarships.  Hamilton Christian had an honors night in which they honored the graduates for their achievements.

There were 29 students in Russ' graduating class.  They announced that the graduating class scored above the state and national average in both GPA and standardized test scores.  In all the 29 students amassed $1.2 million dollars in scholarships.  That was pretty impressive. 

The most impressive thing, however, was the bond between administration, teachers and students at Hamilton Christian.  As a small school, there is more of an opportunity for one on one teacher-student involvement.  It was a touching and emotional evening as teachers spoke blessings over the students and prayers were prayed over them.  We were blessed to have been able to send the kids to HCA.

Our family at HCA Honors Night 2013

Honors night was a joyous time for all.


Russ with my Mom and Dad

The very next night, graduation night, each of the students constructed display boards with pictures and things that mean a lot to them.  Parents, friends, and family members are able to walk around before and after graduation, view the boards and be able to get to know the students a little more.  Here is Russ' board:


Russ' Senior Memory Board

As Pomp & Circumstance played, I jumped out in the aisle and captured a shot of our graduate marching toward the podium with a $100 smile on his face.

Russ walking the aisle for graduation

Four valedictorians and a salutatorian gave their addresses to a jam packed crowd.  They actually had to bring additional chairs into the auditorium for the overflow crowd.

Finally it was Russ' turn to give his address.  He told us that he was very nervous, but it didn't show in his delivery.  He gave statistics showing that a large percentage of students entering college abandon the faith and challenged his fellow graduates to join a good church as soon as they get on campus and to continue reading their Bibles and praying and living according to the values taught in their homes and at Hamilton Christian.

Furthermore, he challenged them (Matthew 5:16) to "let their lights so shine before men, so that people might see their good works and give glory to our Father in Heaven."  Be lights in a darkened world.  A good challenge for all of us.


The Speech

Each of the 29 students created a brief video that showed on the big screens that had voice overs by each student telling people important to them how much they appreciated them.  While the video was playing, the graduates brought roses to those important people in the audience.  It was a moving experience.  Once that was done, the graduates received their diplomas.  Here is Russ receiving his diploma from Dr. Shawa, HCA principal.  

Diploma

Russ is shown posing by his Senior Memory Board.  He's wearing a lei since one of his classmates is of Hawaiian descent and presented all of his fellow graduates with a lei after the ceremony.  Pretty cool!

After graduation, we had an "After Party" at our house in which family members from Corpus Christi, Spring, Pearland, and Dallas, Texas and from Kinder and New Orleans, Louisiana all attended.


Sonnier - Garcia family honoring the graduate

All sorts of good food including brisket, boudin, homemade chicken salad, fruit trays, cookies, nuts, quinoa salad, chips and dips were served and people enjoyed visiting and eating.


The buffet line

Fish stories being told



Albert going back for seconds, smiles and laughter

Good times

As a Dad, I am very proud of Russ.  His plans are to attend Louisiana State University and major in Agriculture.  I think he has a bright future in front of him.  Two 'kids' in college.  Wow!  It will be good that Laura Lee is there as she'll be able to show him around and they can support one another.

I started to recall the 1967 movie, "The Graduate" in which Dustin Hoffman plays a recent graduate.  At a party, he was asked what he wanted to do with his future, his life.  He mumbled that he didn't quite know.  A gentleman came and told him that he had one word to tell him.  Do you remember that word?  Plastics.  Of course, the gentleman was giving him career advice to help him get his financial footing and be successful.

I've thought long and hard about one word I would tell Russ.  I think that word would be, "Tools."  To use them.  Throughout Russ' 18 years on this earth, parents, teachers, family, friends, pastors, scout leaders, and coaches have given him tools, the figurative kind.  Tools like Faith, virtue, values, work ethic, honesty, integrity, etc. One of the graduation gifts we gave him with a symbolic meaning was a Craftsman Tool Kit - literal tools that will remind him of the figurative ones that he's been given.  His tool bag is full.  As he leaves the sheltered environment of our home and the campus of HCA, it will be his decision whether he'll reach into that bag of tools and actually use them.  We pray that he does. 

Making Homemade Mayonnaise

So are you a label reader?  Reading the label on Kraft Mayonnaise actually doesn't look that bad.  I can pronounce everything except maybe the last item.

 

INGREDIENTS: Soybean Oil, Water, Eggs, Vinegar, Contains Less than 2% of Egg Yolks, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Salt, Sugar, Dried Onions, Dried Garlic, Paprika, Natural Flavor, Calcium Disodium EDTA  (to Protect Flavor).

The primary ingredient, soybean oil, is a little problematic according to the following link: Website with a scary sounding name.  On this site you find the following (among other things):

• Soybean oil is partly to blame for our country’s obesity problem. Soybean oil limits the functionality of the thyroid, draining our energy levels, and making us less likely to exercise. When your thyroid is depressed, it slows down your metabolism; therefore, you begin to gain weight.

If any of that is true, we want to try to stay away from it if we can. 

Ingredients in Tricia's homemade mayonnaise: (Compliments of Nourishing Traditions: Weston A. Price Foundation, Sally Fallon)

• 2 eggs (let them sit out to bring to room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 1 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon whey
• 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 generous pinch of sea salt

 Here are our ingredients and blender all laid out and ready to go! 



Ingredients to make homemade mayonnaise

First thing you want to do is add to the blender 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk from the two eggs that are at room temperature.



Adding the eggs

Then add one teaspoon full of mustard using the "eyeball" measuring device.  



Adding mustard

Pour in 1 1/2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice.

 

Lemon Juice

And finally add one tablespoon of whey.  Whey is a natural preservative as it contains lactic acid and is the by-product of making cheese.  After the milk curdles and is strained, whey is the remaining liquid.  Whey is the primary ingredient used in Lacto-fermentation, a fast, healthy, and easy way to preserve food.      



Whey added.  Ready to blend

Here's what it looks like once the first 5 ingredients have been blended up:
 

Just 2 more ingredients to add...

Now with your blender on, pour in verrrrryyy slowly, 3/4 cups Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  You'll see your mayonnaise begin to take shape, thickening up nicely.



Adding the olive oil

Now THAT looks like mayonnaise:  



One more ingredient to go...

Simply add a pinch of sea salt to the mayonnaise while the blender is on to finish things up. 

 

Just a pinch of salt

Finally, pour out your mayonnaise into a pint jar.  Let it sit (covered) at room temperature for 7 hours, then refrigerate.  This mayonnaise will keep several months in the fridge.  



Voila!  The final product

This stuff tastes better than the store-bought stuff, is easy to make, and is healthier for you.

Harvesting Dragon Tongue Beans

Today I went out to the garden at about 7 pm.  There was a nice south breeze blowing and it made for a nice late afternoon to be in the garden.  I looked down the rows and saw that it was time to harvest our Dragon Tongue Beans.

Dragon Tongue Beans

Dragon Tongue beans are one of the items that we tried a few years back and enjoyed them and kept them in the rotation.  They are an open-pollintated, wax type, bush bean variety from the Netherlands.  They are prolific producers of delicous beans.  The bean and pod can both be steamed and eaten like any other green bean.  They can also be eaten raw or pickled.


Small bush-type plants produce large quantities of beans

The pod itself is cream - colored, with purple stripes.  Who knows how they got to be called Dragon Tongue Beans.  If I had to guess, someone with an active imagination probably figured if there were actually dragons, they would have tongues that looked like these beans.  When you cook them, the purple stripes disappear, unfortunately.  The pod itself is pretty big, as you can see as compared to my hand.


The coloration/size of a Dragon Tongue Bean

Here is another one that caught my eye in which the pod was almost completely purple.


Purple Dragon Tongue Bean

 I picked a colander full of beans and washed them up real good.  Russ sat at the island and snapped off both ends and began to string them.


Washed Dragon Tongues

We'll be enjoying these beans this week.  If our harvest exceeds our ability to eat them all, we'll blanche and freeze them in quart-sized bags, so that we can enjoy them for months and months.