One Month of Keeping Track...

Update on Keeping Track

July 14th marks one month of recording everything produced here on my little farm.  My estimates going into this project for a year were:  100 gallons of milk, 3,000 eggs, and 1,000 pounds of produce.  Actual first month numbers were: 15.3 gallons of milk (7 gallons over my estimate for a month!); 261 eggs (+ 11 eggs over my estimate), and 38 pounds of produce (45 pounds under my estimate).

I knew going in that my produce numbers would be low at the start of this one-year project because summertime in Florida is not our main growing season.  Granted, you can grow food year round here, but options are limited in the heat of summer.  The bulk of my first month's produce consisted of two stalks of bananas, a small grape harvest, and 50 or so figs.  I did cut and dehydrate some basic herbs during the month---basil, thyme, oregano, and sage.  But they don't weigh much!  My tomato plants were past their prime before my project began, so there was only a pound or two of tomatoes to add to the spreadsheet.  Jalapeño peppers were winding down also.

Month #2 (July 15-August 14) won't be big in the produce department either!  My gardening consists of pulling weeds out of the raised beds and taking them to the chicken yards for the girls to munch on.  Then I bury the raised beds in spent hay from the barn that has been gracious laced with goat berries, thanks to my little herd.  

Pretty Boy Floyd and Glory Be on a "Date"

Speaking of the herd, I've sold/re-homed a total of 6 goats over the past few months.  It's now down to a manageable size--2 bucks, 4 breed-able does, 2 retired does, and 1 wether.  That's a plenty of hooves to trim and mouths to feed.  The last two girls to leave, Glory Be and Serena, are just 2 miles away so I'll get to peek in on them occasionally.  Glory Be was bred to my buck, Pretty Boy Floyd, before she left....there should be babies on the ground before Christmas!

Two more photos...brown turkey figs on the tree, and 5 new chicks hatched out by one of my bantam hens.  I love the connection to the earth and to nature that comes from farming.  Makes my heart smile!

Time for evening rounds!  Goat milking, egg collecting, animal loving time...