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Author Archives: Nathan
Cool weather continues
Today is June 15th, and Seattle has yet to break past 75° F/24° C this year. This means it’s been a great spring for growing grass, but the rainy weather has taken a toll on my apiary. Continue reading
Geese mow my lawn
It has now been 7 weeks since my goslings hatched, and they are about half-way feathered out–about 3 lbs each. It’s been cold and rainy since they hatched, but their parents have done excellent work keeping them protected. Continue reading
Posted in Farming, Geese, Grazing, Pastured Poultry
Tagged Geese, grass-fed, mob grazing
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Got thin eggshells?
In my experience, an egg with a thin shell is a problem that can be easily corrected. In order to put a shell on its egg, the chicken mainly uses calcium, phosphorus & vitamin D. If any one of these factors is missing, the bird will not be able to create a healthy shell. Continue reading
Posted in Chickens, Ducks, Eggs, Farming, Fluoride info, Geese, Pastured Poultry
Tagged building soil, Eggs, grass
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Free to a good home: Blue Orchard Mason Bees
Since mason bees are a native insect here in the Pacific NW, you can “grow your own” just by providing suitable homes. It will take a couple years to build up your local population this way, but you don’t need to purchase your initial “start”. Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Farming
Tagged Insects, Pollination, Swarm catching
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Our milking routine
Here is a quick roundup of how our milking routine works. Kathy has gone through several different routines, and this one is working well for us. Continue reading
The taste of raw milk
I learned about barn odors & milk flavors in a cheese making seminar I took a couple years ago, and it’s true. We’ve tasted the difference in our goat’s milk between the days where they are out in the pasture vs. closed up in a pen–though they were eating the same food. Continue reading
Shortage of Mayflowers
Snow from the cottonwoods tells me we are “between blooms”. The dandelion, maple, apple & other early spring flowers are all gone, while the summer buds haven’t opened yet. Continue reading
Nathan’s Sesame Candies
About 7 years ago, we bought a couple packages of sesame candy bars, and Kathy was telling me how they reminded her of the ones her grandma Helen shared with her. I looked at the back of the wrapper and saw the really short list of ingredients and decided to just give it a try. Continue reading
Gluten-Free Lemon Bars
Lemon Bars: This is a delicious recipe without flour and uses maple syrup & honey instead of sugar. They are excellent! Continue reading
Posted in Food & good eating
Tagged Nourishing Traditions, recipes
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Warning: perspective shift ahead!
At a total length of 8 to 9 inches, the slate black Townsend mole (Scapanus townsendii), is the largest mole species in North America. It occurs in meadows, fields, pastures, lawns, and golf courses west of the Cascade mountains. http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/moles.htm Continue reading
Posted in Farming, Soil
Tagged building soil, moles
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