Lancaster

We took a trip down to Lancaster County hoping to find some animal powered farming equipment at at auction. These photos show the contrast between the "English" and Amish parking areas!

Working towards Silvopasture. Or, clearing the woods.

About 12 of our 32+ acres are heavily wooded....great for privacy, but not ideal for pastured animals. For the past two years, we have been slowly working on turning the woods into a silvopasture environment......ideally, healthy mature trees, well spaced, with plenty of grass in between. The pigs from last year were very helpful in clearing the underbrush and turning the soil, and the cows have spent most of this winter in the woods, helping to clear as well. Of course, with all these scrub trees coming down, either by animal or chainsaw, we have gathered quite a pile. So, for the third time since starting the farm, we had to partake in possibly our least favorite activity: woodchipping. This time wasn't quite as bad as we got smart and did it in the winter. All said, it wasn't too bad, and now we have plenty of wood chips to use for composting, gardening, the chicken coop, etc. And we are another step closer to growing grass in the woods.

Buttercup the Mule

This week we were lucky to bring home a new friend, Buttercup. Buttercup is a Belgian Draft mule who was slated to go for slaughter after being sold at the New Holland auction last week. Instead, he has come to Hickory Field Farm to help us out with our efforts to become more sustainable by reducing our use of the tractor. First, he will have some much needed R&R. He has already become a stoic guardian of the laying hens, and is especially watchful of the new pullets we added this month.

Guinea Hens from Friends

Last weekend our friends Erin and Eric gave us four Guinea Hens that they could no longer keep. We had been interested in them for a while as they are known to keep the tick population down on their property.....apparently 1 Guinea Hen can keep 1 acre tick-free. After locking them in their coop for the week to establish their roosting instinct at their new home we let them out for the first time today. They immediately took off and disappeared, despite our efforts to track them with the dogs and on horseback. Luckily, later in the afternoon we heard them come squawking down the driveway and go straight into their coop. Hopefully they stay a little closer to home in the future!

Winter 2011-2012

We have been very lucky with the weather this year! The less time we spend breaking ice in the water troughs, the more time we have to enjoy great food and family!

We are looking forward to another great year. We will have beef available again at the end of March. Spring also means the arrival of chicks, calves, and piglets.....our most exciting time of year!

Fall on the Farm

New Sign

Looking good! Thanks Family!