Well, time sure flies when you're having fun! It's been quite a while since I have last posted. Summer was wonderful! Busy, tiring, and wonderful.
We had our first experience with the local Farmer's Market this summer. Jeremy and I both had the opportunity to meet some great people, and some very interesting people, both farmers and customers. I have come to realize that you cannot predict people. You say nothing surprises you, until the time you think you have a situation nailed, and what do you know, you're surprised! LOL!
Not only was I able to sell our all-natural pastured poultry and wonderful fresh eggs (which that supply died out from hot summer weather), I also sold our friends grass fed beef! Also, local, raw honey, my mom's rag rugs (huge hit!), black walnuts, blackberries! A little later on in the season I applied for my home processing license, which then I had the opportunity to make jams and jellies to sell at the market as well! I wish now that I had done that sooner.
Jam, I found, will make people stop and talk to you, and really take the time to see what you have to offer them. Because I had frozen chicken in a cooler, that I can't display in the hot summer weather, I really needed to make sure I communicated with the customers...I did have a prop on the table. It was a rubber chicken with a target on it, that my son found at the dollar store, I think it was a dog-toy. It worked though! A lot of little kids stopped to squeak it, and some asked how much I was selling it for.
I am not really sure exactly if I made any money at the market, but it was still a great experience, and I learned alot...I observed alot...I talked alot. I guess that's part of the journey.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Off to the Market
It has been a busy and exciting past couple of weeks! PJ's Poultry started at the Auburn Farmers Market this summer, and it has been a good experience so far! Hot, but good. This summer has been very warm and dry, but nice since we had a long and cold winter. Sales have been decent, although, I am not really sure what to expect being the first year. I do know one thing, I need MORE eggs! They seem to be very popular. This situation my change, as we may be purchasing more layers soon. Not confirmed, but I am thinking that's the way we're leaning...I have to apologize to any of my eggs people that have been picking them up from my home, I hate for anyone to miss out wonderful fresh eggs! Hopefully, you can come visit at the market!
Not only do I have our chicken and eggs for sale at the Market, but also grass fed beef from our friends farm. We have had good response to this as well. I know I sure like it! There are so many wonderful items at the market, and I think I have a new found love...Fingerling Potatoes. It sounds silly, but they're great! I put some on the grill with olive oil, salt, pepper and granulated garlic, and about 15-20 min later, yummy yummy in my tummy! I could've eaten them all myself, especially after lovely, little Amos (family dog) ate my hamburger off the counter, but that's another topic. I am making some more of these little taters tonight! Along with that I will be grilling one of our chicken, and steaming up some sweet corn that I got from the market, and some brocolli from our own garden! I am making me hungry! Now I am off to get my pickles done, garlic dills are popular here. Enjoy your garden bounties this summer and hopefully all year! TTFN!
Not only do I have our chicken and eggs for sale at the Market, but also grass fed beef from our friends farm. We have had good response to this as well. I know I sure like it! There are so many wonderful items at the market, and I think I have a new found love...Fingerling Potatoes. It sounds silly, but they're great! I put some on the grill with olive oil, salt, pepper and granulated garlic, and about 15-20 min later, yummy yummy in my tummy! I could've eaten them all myself, especially after lovely, little Amos (family dog) ate my hamburger off the counter, but that's another topic. I am making some more of these little taters tonight! Along with that I will be grilling one of our chicken, and steaming up some sweet corn that I got from the market, and some brocolli from our own garden! I am making me hungry! Now I am off to get my pickles done, garlic dills are popular here. Enjoy your garden bounties this summer and hopefully all year! TTFN!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Let's Talk Turkey
We have our Heritage Turkeys, Bourbon Reds! We started a smaller batch for the first time around, not knowing for sure how much room they will take up as they get bigger. I am so excited for Thanksgiving this year! ;) Is that wrong of me?
Not sure if I mentioned this before, but the worst predator we've had so far is the family cat, so we shipped her off to reside on Gramma and Grampa's farm...That cat was just to smart for us, and really did a number on our last brood of chicks, sooo, bye-bye kitty!
We had to fence in our egg layers too. :( They were starting to get distructive to our landscaping, so they have room to roam and scratch, it's just not a free-for-all. I have to say, it's quite nice not having to dodge the chicken poop walking down the porch though! Up next for the porch, a good pressure washing and staining!
Next week, on July 7th, I will be heading to the Auburn Farmers Market! This will be my first run at the market with chicken and eggs, hope to see you there!
Not sure if I mentioned this before, but the worst predator we've had so far is the family cat, so we shipped her off to reside on Gramma and Grampa's farm...That cat was just to smart for us, and really did a number on our last brood of chicks, sooo, bye-bye kitty!
We had to fence in our egg layers too. :( They were starting to get distructive to our landscaping, so they have room to roam and scratch, it's just not a free-for-all. I have to say, it's quite nice not having to dodge the chicken poop walking down the porch though! Up next for the porch, a good pressure washing and staining!
Next week, on July 7th, I will be heading to the Auburn Farmers Market! This will be my first run at the market with chicken and eggs, hope to see you there!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Fresh Batch
We now have a fresh batch of chickens in the freezer!! Shrink wrapped and ready for your home (and belly)! I am waiting on scale to arrive, I was a little slow at that purchase, ooops! :) And I would like to report that I have already had some. The night they were processed I made chicken and bisquits! YAY!!! I guess that's one positive thing about this extraordinarily drap weather we're experiencing here in the NE, we can still make comfort foods without sweating to death...
I am really starting to get excited about the farmers market. I hope it goes well. I still need to find a few things for that operation, but I have no fear! I have even roped Zarek into going with me and pitching in on the effort...woohoo, at least I will have some company!
On the other hand, I am fearing that my garden is going to flow down stream with this weather...The garden's plowed, so it's almost ready for planting. And my seeds have started without any hang-ups, and I have horseradish and rhubarb moistly wrapped waiting for the dirt, but we've still got a ways to go...Although I truly love gardening, I am sure I will have more to report(gripe) about on that subject! :) So, stay tuned!....hahaha
I am really starting to get excited about the farmers market. I hope it goes well. I still need to find a few things for that operation, but I have no fear! I have even roped Zarek into going with me and pitching in on the effort...woohoo, at least I will have some company!
On the other hand, I am fearing that my garden is going to flow down stream with this weather...The garden's plowed, so it's almost ready for planting. And my seeds have started without any hang-ups, and I have horseradish and rhubarb moistly wrapped waiting for the dirt, but we've still got a ways to go...Although I truly love gardening, I am sure I will have more to report(gripe) about on that subject! :) So, stay tuned!....hahaha
Friday, April 29, 2011
Green Acres!
So, last night, Jeremy moved the chicken coop that our meat chickens stay in. We got our electro-netting fence up last night also. However, we haven't electrified yet...it should be interesting to see them try to stick there heads through it once it is though. ;) I am sorry, that sounded a little evil.
On another note, they now have plenty of green to roam about and forage on. I know it makes Jeremy and I both feel better. It will be so much healthier for them to have a larger area to wander about. This larger group will only be around until May 14th, then they're off to freezerland! YUMMY! Then in four more weeks, we will have another 45 to send off, and so on and so on!
At some point we will be getting our Heritage Turkeys...I can't wait. It will be something new and exciting to watch. It also makes me excited for Thanksgiving...for the desserts of course. ;) But before that happens we need to get that all set up. The turkey will also have them on pasture.
Green Acres is the place to be, farm livin' is the life for me...lalalalalalalala, sorry this song just came to mind!
On another note, they now have plenty of green to roam about and forage on. I know it makes Jeremy and I both feel better. It will be so much healthier for them to have a larger area to wander about. This larger group will only be around until May 14th, then they're off to freezerland! YUMMY! Then in four more weeks, we will have another 45 to send off, and so on and so on!
At some point we will be getting our Heritage Turkeys...I can't wait. It will be something new and exciting to watch. It also makes me excited for Thanksgiving...for the desserts of course. ;) But before that happens we need to get that all set up. The turkey will also have them on pasture.
Green Acres is the place to be, farm livin' is the life for me...lalalalalalalala, sorry this song just came to mind!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Hey look! It's Hef!
So, back to reminissing about our Rhodes Island Reds for a minute. One of those last season chicks sprouted a comb that was a little larger than the rest, and started hoo-hooing (as Hannah calls it).
Now I had mentioned a couple times already that we like name the animals around here, so hoo-hoo-er earned is named.
One afternoon when we were outside checking the chickens out, they had scratched a little nest in the ground, and all the Rhoadie youngsters were laying there in a pile together. Right smack-dab in the middle was the little rooster and all the pullets were surrounding him...I thought to myself what a playboy! HA! So then of course, I named him Hef...I really couldn't come up with anything more appropriate, or entertaining. :)
Hef still reamains the big man on campus, and the only man on campus, which is more than enough. Roosters are handsome, with all the fancier feathers and such, but he can get a little, shall I say, cocky?. Really, he doesn't bother anyone to often, but be careful if you're wearing brighter colors, he gets a little puffed up then. Ah, what an interesting journey....
Now I had mentioned a couple times already that we like name the animals around here, so hoo-hoo-er earned is named.
One afternoon when we were outside checking the chickens out, they had scratched a little nest in the ground, and all the Rhoadie youngsters were laying there in a pile together. Right smack-dab in the middle was the little rooster and all the pullets were surrounding him...I thought to myself what a playboy! HA! So then of course, I named him Hef...I really couldn't come up with anything more appropriate, or entertaining. :)
Hef still reamains the big man on campus, and the only man on campus, which is more than enough. Roosters are handsome, with all the fancier feathers and such, but he can get a little, shall I say, cocky?. Really, he doesn't bother anyone to often, but be careful if you're wearing brighter colors, he gets a little puffed up then. Ah, what an interesting journey....
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Spring Cleaning
Sunday was an awesome day, we got sooo much done outside! We got some rearranging done, and things cleaned up a bit. Our latest group of chicks are out of the brooder box now, and are roaming about the coop with plenty of room! Hopefully we can get them outside soon. We are getting a new group of 60 by the end of the week. Even though we might have snow this week, by Friday it should be a little warmer than it was a month ago. We are going to be working at getting our fencing up for the egg layers, hopefully that will keep them out of the road, and our neighbors yard! (oopsie!) We will also have to get some up for turkeys too. Once that's done, we can order some poults to add to the mix! Gobble, gobble!!
I have also found a handy little idea, recycling my newspapers into seedling cups...I receive weekly emails from MaryJane's Farm (check the link out if you'd like). http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/recipe-project/project-20110321.asp . I thought it was a great idea, and a lot cheaper than buying one of those plastic greenhouse trays, totally overpriced!!!! Maybe someday I will have a mini-greenhouse, but that's a project for some other time, some other day! :)
I have also found a handy little idea, recycling my newspapers into seedling cups...I receive weekly emails from MaryJane's Farm (check the link out if you'd like). http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/recipe-project/project-20110321.asp . I thought it was a great idea, and a lot cheaper than buying one of those plastic greenhouse trays, totally overpriced!!!! Maybe someday I will have a mini-greenhouse, but that's a project for some other time, some other day! :)
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