tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6608804146231562702009-06-25T07:07:22.887-05:00Sustainability, organics, local food, and opinionsMs. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-2733599535877364582008-11-27T03:35:00.004-06:002008-11-27T04:06:18.962-06:00

Molly at three monthsThis season being our first as a community supported agriculture venture has been interesting and quite the learning experience.Worms can kill without obvious symptoms and not all wormers are created equal. There are only a handful of wormers actually approved for use in goats. None of them specifically target tapeworm. So to keep your goats effectively wormed, many folks

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-11417483816669885592008-07-30T09:36:00.006-05:002008-07-30T12:01:11.274-05:00

apple by Aurimas RimsaI was poking around on the Internet while waiting for the washing machine to finish filling up. Guess what I found out. Some of my favorite snacks to keep on hand are good for helping you keep off extra weight. I though I would share this list with you. Celery - takes more calories to digest than it provides and it will keep you feeling full.Berries & apples - will help

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-89722545008704312412008-07-26T14:21:00.004-05:002008-07-26T14:34:33.611-05:00

Lettuce & Broccoli bed in the spring.Here are a handful of links I was looking at today after visiting the Open Air Market.Preserving Herbs after the Harvesthttp://www.seedsofknowledge.com/herbharvest.htmlFive Squash Blossom Recipeshttp://www.seasonalchef.com/recipe0805b.htmFried Green Tomatoeshttp://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/001506fried_green_tomatoes.phpInteresting information about

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-40023860037359431262008-07-15T07:51:00.003-05:002008-07-15T08:20:21.853-05:00

An Inspirational Note written by Bobbi DeciousMy mother just told me yesterday, in speaking of the ~100 acre South central KY farm made up mainly of rocks, clay and sinkholes I grew up on, that they KNEW they couldn't make a living on the farm, but, they were raising children, not really anything else. Everything else was just a bonus. And, she was right, and she is STILL raising children but we

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-73693380881726464382008-07-13T19:26:00.004-05:002008-07-13T19:36:30.862-05:00

This tip I picked up who-knows-where comes in handy this time of year when herbs are plentiful and fresh. I've used it for chives and it works great.Cut up, smash up or whatever you need to do to the herb for using in your favorite recipes.Take a tablespoon or teaspoon of the fresh herb and put it in an empty ice cube tray - in one cube space. (In case you were wondering if you should sprinkle it

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-85089414542875194552008-07-11T09:00:00.003-05:002008-07-11T09:19:47.076-05:00

It's hard to know where to start when I sit down to write. A few months ago, a dear reader observed that there seemed to be a lot of bad things happening on the farm this year. So I backed off the wiritng. If you don't have anything nice to say, then you shouldn't say anything at all, right. Well, when you have seven out of eight goats die on you and a five week dry period, you spend your time

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-28397069152022685402008-06-30T14:44:00.003-05:002008-06-30T15:07:30.540-05:00

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-81480093669333352592008-06-01T15:30:00.003-05:002008-06-01T15:32:21.089-05:00

Ms. Law is a shareholder at Mule Shoe Farm and recently participated in Grand Ole Dulcimer Day. Enjoy the YouTube video at www.muleshoefarm.blogspot.com.

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-18701143448354855572008-05-11T22:30:00.001-05:002008-05-11T22:30:01.798-05:00

If you put in flowers this past weekend, it's time for mulch. If you're not sure you want what's at the store, come on over to the Farm and load it up. We've been moving mulch here, there and everywhere. Six to eight inches deep in between the raised beds for weed control and moisture containment. Two to four inches side dressing on plants for nutrition. We use two different kinds of mulch. One

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-67158963085332509492008-05-09T00:00:00.001-05:002008-05-07T09:54:07.387-05:00

Some days, it seems that the only tasks a farmer has is to put up fence, repair fence and plan for more fence. Where we farm, in the cove, a fence is necessary to protect our chickens and goats from predators. Since we practice rotational grazing, as the goats or chickens finish grazing one pen, it's time to move them to another.We opted for the "do it as we go" method which means we build new

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-61269274222163267582008-05-08T00:30:00.001-05:002008-05-08T00:30:00.330-05:00

We've been busy planting last Friday and this past Monday. In the raised bed area, last Friday, we planted spring peas, snow peas, carrots, dill, fennel, lettuce, onions, beets, and spinach. I think that's a complete list. This increases the number of lettuce varieties to at least seven. Three packets of lettuce seeds were mixes, like chef's mix and Mesclun mix, so those actually have more than

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-32542222670680619612008-05-05T06:00:00.005-05:002008-05-05T06:00:01.126-05:00

The Pie Lady has been making fried pies for a really long time. Twenty years - she thinks. At first she only made them for her family. Usually she made apricot pies, but sometimes she made peach pies. She would make them when family and friends requested them. One year, her daughter told her about an new Open Air Market in Ashland City. All Master Gardeners were invited to set up at the market

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-70180660481084383452008-05-02T06:00:00.003-05:002008-05-02T06:00:01.183-05:00

This goat is our new herd sire. Notice his beautiful and quite long ears. Look at that lovely color. Java is a Nubian goat. Nubian's are milk goats.We got him from Beth Thompson who maintains a quite wonderful Nubian Herd. Beth also makes fantastic goat's milk soaps which you can get at the Ashland City Open Air Market.Java enjoys playing with Rock, Gem, Rock Lee and Anabelle. He has also

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-44024064297910430192008-04-30T06:00:00.004-05:002008-04-30T10:49:20.124-05:00

Paint + Sleeve = Head Scarf! I was helping my friend paint her living room and noticed all the other ladies had on head scarves except me. I don't typically wear one because it would slide off my head constatantly. Of course, I was also the only one who had paint in her hair that night, too.Then a week later, my husband decides to cut off the sleeves of a t-shirt. Then he shows up with a sleeve

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-87974387676072088682008-04-26T06:19:00.005-05:002008-04-26T12:24:36.532-05:00

?If it's Saturday morning, they're at the Ashland City Open Air Market at the corner of Highway 12 and Washington Street in Ashland City, of course!Rock & Gem live at Mule Shoe Farm most days, but Saturday mornings they get in the back seat of Ms.Anne's car at about 8:15am and ride to market. By 9am, they are munching away on the grass graciously provided at the Open Air Market, waiting for their

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-27726649554948397752008-04-18T12:51:00.006-05:002008-04-18T13:25:22.390-05:00

What a lovely spring we are having this year! The cool weather has been wonderful and it has helped our early spring crops grow - but not too fast. I cannot believe how beautiful it has been with everything slowly coming to life. You can really appreciate the various flowers and leaves of spring without fear of missing something when you blink.This week I was hoping to have enough lettuce and

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-39416556165404045012008-03-23T16:39:00.008-05:002008-03-31T16:57:01.027-05:00

The forsythia bushes at the corner After Anabelle and Rock Lee were born, I really started to notice Spring around here. The weather also started to warm up a bit and I was more motivated to get outside. The forsythia started to pop and periwinkles began to bloom. We are still early for daffodils, but I can see the buds beginning to swell. I expect to see a green haze in the woods very soon. If

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-49185823338705295572008-03-13T20:27:00.003-05:002008-03-13T20:58:31.474-05:00

Scene 1The Scene is a kitchen table on a bare stage. It's early morning.Me: Does Duchess look pregnant to you? I can't tell if she's just fat and shaggy or pregnant.Darling Husband (DH): I don't know. Will you make a cup of coffee? (I go over to the coffee pot)Me: I'm pretty sure Buddy bred her, but I can't tell if she's really pregnant. I hope we have two goats.DH: That's nice. I hope so, too. (

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-88860038873645966792008-02-05T20:31:00.000-06:002008-02-05T21:00:21.342-06:00

Do you know what you'll be eating this year? I do. Fresh, home grown organic produce. You can too. Just join us by becoming a shareholder in Mule Shoe Farm. Click here for the Agreement.Today was a great day! Warm air, a little rain and there was enough time to work on the goat nursery. Yep. That's right. I'm going to be a goat granny. Duchess is quite well along in her pregnancy and Leslie told

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-68652999414558155662008-01-25T15:00:00.000-06:002008-01-28T21:25:31.254-06:00

In 2008, you can become a shareholder in Mule Shoe Farm. A partial owner. Without all the farm work (unless you really want to)Click here for the Share Agreement. Print it out and mail it toAnne PouliotMule Shoe Farm3120 River RoadAshland City, TN 37015Oh yeah, write checks to Anne Pouliot not Mule Shoe Farm. The bank doesn't know what to do with me already.The harvesting season for Mule Shoe

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-78866999963254556032008-01-24T10:17:00.000-06:002008-01-24T15:24:32.535-06:00

Thanks to everyone who wanted a share and sent in your form with your payments. There are just a few shares left for the 2008 growing season. Click here for the form with instructions. CSA Share Reservation FormNow here's some stuff we just gotta share....Honey bees are not native to North America.Feral horses travel 10 miles a day grazing and usually don't need their hooves trimmed or shod -

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-78852996252225287132008-01-09T19:55:00.000-06:002008-01-12T17:22:31.307-06:00

Share AgreementClick to open. Print the form and fill it out. Send it with your payment to the address shown on the form.What does CSA mean?CSA is short for Community Supported Agriculture. Instead of selling to the grocery store and letting them store and mark up your produce, Mule Shoe Farm produce can go directly to you. To receive our produce, you become a partial owner of the farm by buying

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-28340934141884962362008-01-09T13:30:00.000-06:002008-01-09T13:45:53.578-06:00

I remember coming home from school in the spring and eating snow peas straight off the vine, munching on green peaches at the tree, picking and eating strawberries, all before I went inside to do my homework. There is nothing like the taste of fresh home grown produce. Nothing in the world. It is warm sun on your back, the flight of butterflies dancing across flowers and the gentle background

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-56526708983234114632008-01-07T09:56:00.000-06:002008-01-08T08:21:37.090-06:00

photo by ☼ Sunshine Even if you didn't celebrate Christmas, you probably had time off during the last couple weeks. Did you eat too much? See enough of your family? Wondered what to do with time on your hands and no work? OR Did you have an altogether different experience?In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we are inundated with commercialism in the guise of the perfect Christmas.

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660880414623156270.post-89610229883486121772007-12-17T17:12:00.000-06:002007-12-18T06:14:03.503-06:00

. photo by DavidK-OregonWe're going to change Tuesday's topic here at Mule Shoe Farm. We've had enough of writing about invasives and weeds gone wild. How many time can you say, "cut it off, dig it up, attack it in the late spring and it doesn't belong here"?The new Tuesday topic will be Plants We Love to See More Of.So I am asking you, dear readers, Please tell me what plants you would like to

Ms. Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16938948378862055702noreply@blogger.com3