We've tested our turkey eggs for fertility in the past few weeks and either the eggs failed to develop completely or they weren't fertile. This is disappointing but we haven't given up and will keep incubating eggs once a week. Our tom is inexperienced and he's not quite connecting, although he's trying so hard. We have ordered chicks from a hatchery but we're were hoping to be able to cancel that order as it's a cost we'd rather not have to pay.

I had the pleasure of talking about our little farm with a group of Master Gardeners this past week. I really enjoyed showing pictures and sharing the sex, drama, violence, miracles and joy of living our lifestyle. Several MG's said they like to talk to me more and I welcome those conversations.

I also had a little skin cancer removed from my face last week. I wasn't concerned about the procedure but it is a warning to all of us who love to live in the sunshine to keep that sunscreen on. I'm pretty sure I'm going to hear my husband ask me several times a week this summer "where's your wide brimmed hat?"

Pocket gophers and pine voles have impacted some of our garlic beds so I ordered a new product that's a granular form of predator urine. Doesn't that sound icky? Fox for gophers and a blend for voles. How do they get that urine, anyway? I'm not going to think too hard about it but I really hope this works.

Snow has fallen here two days in a row but not enough to make any difference, just enough to remind us that winter is still here. I love the warmer afternoons but it's good to have seasons. Find the joy!

Looking forward to Spring

We're a week into 2010 and I can't wait for Spring! While waiting for the garlic greens to peek out of our frozen ground, I'll pass the time by sharing things that are happening on our little family farm. I know it's winter but you'd be surprised at the little things that bring me joy. Luckily we live in the Gorge of central Washington State so our winters are only moderately cold. Now and then our temps dip into single digits, and we have been known to have several feet of snow at any one time. That's a typical winter. The old timers can remember when typical meant -20 degrees F. but that's too cold for me.

It's the muddy season - frozen ground, then thawed and muddy - repeat, repeat, repeat. The poultry pen is muddy, the dogs track in muddy paw prints, and we have to wear calf high boots everytime we go out. Yak Traks are never far from the back door where we leave our shoes in case the ground is frozen. Oh yeah, I was going to talk about what brings me joy. Well, that would be when it's not the muddy season ;o)

Our heritage Bourbon Red turkeys stay close to the poultry pen in the winter and this year we have a new comer. A wild turkey hen went lame and her flock left her behind. I guess she decided it would be safer to stick with our turkeys. We have this "gang of six" hens that rush around to see what's happening so, when she decided to stay, they rushed around her and scared her into the oak tree tops. She can fly 50 feet up to roost even though she's gimpy on the ground. We named her Gimpy Girl. She's been with us over a month and we leave some poultry feed out for her but she's pretty self-sufficient. She's getting used us, the gang of six and even the dogs who pretty much ignore our poultry unless we ask them to help us herd them into the pen.

So, welcome to the first blog from High Prairie Garlic farm where the oak savannah and towering pines meet the tall grass of the High Prairie.