If you’re looking to make pickles without gardening, without spending days on the process, and without actually canning -THIS is the recipe for you!
Bovine Basics: Cow Parts Head to Tail
Previous editions of Bovine Basics cover proper cattle terminology and breeds of cows (specifically those at our farm). Another thing we talk with our kids about a lot is what the cows eat, but I’ve covered that in previous posts. The last thing the boys are already learning is cow anatomy. We pay a lot of attention to our cows’ form. How their body is put together actually has a pretty big influence on their health, including their milk production.
Our First Decade
Friday David and I celebrated 10 years of wedded bliss (plus all those other emotions that married couples experience). David is a fantastic partner in farming, parenting, and life in … Continue reading Our First Decade
Bovine Basics: Cattle Breeds
When most people think of a cow, they probably picture that Chic-Fil-A Holstein. The irony is that while many Holsteins do enter the beef supply, they are not considered a beef breed. Cattle come in countless different breeds with two primary purposes. There are dairy breeds focusing on efficient milk production, beef breeds focusing on efficient beef production, and dual purpose breeds which feature characteristics of both beef and dairy breeds.
Bovine Basics: They’re not all cows
Society as a whole has decided to call all cattle/bovines cows, and that alone has made it harder for farmers to have conversations about what we do because it almost creates a language barrier. In order to talk to consumers, we also end up calling most of our animals cows, but it can be a struggle because when we’re here at home, or at an industry event, they’re definitely not all cows.
We’re All People First
This week social media has been rocked by racially charged events in Minnesota. Unfortunately, this is just one in a string of similar events, but this one seems different.
Common Questions and Answers about Raising a Child with Food Allergies
Saturday one of my substituted items in my grocery pickup order was Keebler mint cookies in place of Great Value mint cookies. Free upgrade, right?! Unfortunately not in this house thanks to food allergies. My oldest son Dominic loves to have cookies as a treat after dinner, but he can’t safely eat the Keebler brand because their chocolate contains milk, one of his many allergens.
Meal Planning with Grocery Pickup
In the last year and a half I’ve really refined my process, and with the recently expanded interest in eating meals at home as well as grocery pickup/delivery, I thought I’d share. I work Monday through Friday, and during normal times, I spend a couple of hours a day commuting. Sundays are usually busy with church and such, so Saturday mornings are my preferred time for errands.
The Cows’ COVID Diet
We’ve been feeding the milk cows a TMR for many years. Until last fall, it was fairly complex, including a specially formulated multi-ingredient commercial blend. Last summer we made a decision to simplify the ration to include only corn and corn silage we raise, alfalfa hay we were purchasing from a neighbor, dried distillers grains (DDGs) and soybean meal. Now market conditions have led us to add a little complexity.
Making It Work: WFH with Little Kids
The last couple of weeks have definitely been a new challenge, but I think I’m starting to get the hang of it (even though I definitely still hope they can both get back to daycare this week). Here’s what I think we’re doing right, and what I think we can improve:
