HOMESTEADINGWHAT'S NEW ON THE HOMESTEAD?
It's hay season, and we all know you have to make hay when the sun shines - and that's no joke! Riding Lessons, Training, Shows, Trail Riding, harvesting from the garden...What isn't new on the homestead? |
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← Angel, our adopted wild mustang, is brand new at the Buck 'n' Mule Farm and everyone has to check her out.
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HAY SEASON
by Mary A. Lainhart
You gotta make hay when the sun shines! That is not just an old saying…you really do need to make hay when the sun shines. In our neck of the woods we need a nice forecast with about three straight days of sunshine for our hay to dry well enough to bale it and put it in the barn. Well, anyone who has ever been to Central New York knows that three days of sunshine in a row can be hard to come by. The weather around here literally changes by the minute. If you have horses or cattle, you need hay. We are fortunate to have our own hay fields and cut and bale our own hay for our use. We can monitor the type of hay we grow, the quality of that hay and we know what is going on our fields -no chemicals. Hay season is stressful for anyone, whether your grow your own or have it delivered. For the common at home farm, you are not usually on the top of the list for your hay delivery. All the big customers come first. So you have different worries than the farmers, like us, who cut our own. No matter who you are, if you need hay, there is no more rewarding feeling than having your barn filled to capacity with good quality hay. The sweet smell of it fills your lungs as you take a deep breath. Then you let out a sigh of relief knowing your herd will be all set with forage for the upcoming year. It truly is a sense of satisfaction.
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Scottish Highland Fun FactWhile we were at the BLM Adoption in Ithaca, NY June 17 - 18th we ran into an acquaintance that also has Scottish Highland Cattle. She has been raising hers for quite a few years, also grass fed only, like ours.
Most everything tells you, you can harvest the animal when it is 2 1/2 years old. Andrea tried that and was disappointed with the meat and the marbeling. She contacted an elderly man in Scotland who has been raising Scottish Highland Cattle for a very long time and he said the key is to wait until they are 3 years old. By then they are finished growing and that is when they start to put on some fat and the marbeling is beautiful. Findlay has had a reprieve from his destiny this fall. He will spend another winter fattening up on fresh hay until next Spring. 
Marbled Highland Premium Beef
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CHICKEN "SALAD"
by Mary A. Lainhart
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This month's recipe isn't quite what you think. It is actually "salads" FOR your chickens!
When the chicks were little, I would pull the petals off the flowers and cut the herbs with kitchen shears into bite sized pieces for them. They loved it and it was good for them.
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All the trimmings from my herbs go in the chicken "salad"
Now that my garden is producing and my herbs are growing nicely, it is the perfect time to start sharing with the chickens (February Issue). We eat a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables in the summer. Anything that is not what I care to put on my plate, ends up in a bucket for the chickens. Lettuce, sweet peppers, pea shuckings, tomatoes, herb trimmings, marigolds, violas, pansies, nasturtium, swiss chard, tomato plant trimmings, strawberry tops, mushy strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, the list is endless. Some herbs I grow specifically for the chickens because of the health benefits. My chickens love parsley, oregano, basil, thyme, sage, fennel, cilantro, basil, to name a few. The chickens go crazy over the new “salads” they get and I waste less and save money on the natural feed I purchase at the store. It is a win-win situation. Just remember, chickens will eat most anything including meat, but they should never be given moldy food and certain types of foods should be limited or avoided. If you have chickens and you aren’t sure of a food they should eat – always do your homework first.
I love my fresh vegetables from my garden. When I am cleaning my veggies, I keep a handy plastic container near the sink to put everything for the chickens in it, so as not to waste anything. I get the fresh peas and salad. They get the pea shuckin's and the wilted lettuce.
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ESSENTIAL OILSEach month we will share ways on how to safely use essential oils on your equines and your other pets. These are recommendations and not all inclusive uses of essential oils for your animal. Remember, all animals are individuals - so observe their behavior as you use essential oils (or anything) to see how they react to them.
WAYS TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS:
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PANAWAY ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND
PanAway for You
Apply PanAway after exercise or to the neck or back anytime for a soothing and stimulating aromatic experience. Dilute with a carrier oil and apply topically on location as needed, use in a massage or a warm compress.
For your equine and other animals
For your equine, PanAway is a blend formula to reduce pain. The wintergreen in PanAway contains 99% methyl salicylate, which gives it a cortisone/aspirin-like property without the side effects. It is used to ease arthritis and laminitis pain, to reduce inflammation, to aid in the healing of bruised muscles, and to lesson bone, nerve and joint pain.
For your dog or cat, it is the best oil blend for minor injuries. (Dilute before using on cats). Great for urinary health, aches and pains, dental extraction or minor discomfort. Use topically with a warm compress or Vita Flex points on the paws. 
Dietary Essential Oils
Perfect for adding flavor to your favorite foods or using as dietary supplements, the Vitality™ line of dietary essential oils gives you the freedom to share and explore some of our best-loved essential oils in a variety of nutritious and delicious ways. We invite you to discover Vitality™—for food, for family, for life!
Mary Lainhart is a Young Living OIls independent distributor because after years of her own successful use of them, she's confident of the purity and quality of Young LIving products. The Everyday Oils™ collection is the perfect beginner's kit, containing ten of Young Living's most popular and versatile essential oils. This kit will become a useful part of your day, everyday.
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RESOURCES FOR HOMESTEADERSDISCLAIMERThe information contained on this website is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website represents what I have chosen to do to take charge of my own personal health and that of my family. Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using these products.
Information found on this website is meant for educational and informational purposes only, and to motivate you to make your own health care and dietary decisions based upon your own further research and in partnership with your health care provider. |
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