I feel for you both. Its tough, even when its part of the cycle of life. When we incorporate animals into a subsistence lifestyle they contribute in so many ways and we in turn give to them, as your actions clearly highlight. Since a major part of our end of the bargain is to nurture and protect them, any failure goes beyond their loss, even when we have done our best to fulfill our part. But also the death or injury of productive animals has deep impacts on your time and energy - as you point out, as well as added financial costs. I find that another (wild) animal killing for food is far easier to accept than wanton destruction, or the consequences of negligence (as in, for example, uncontrolled domestic dogs). On another note - that pie looked amazing!!! Also I vaguely recall reading something about spinach needing a particular PH and being harder to grow than silver beet, though I don’t have the info to hand. Not sure if thats of any use… I was interested in your comments on biodynamics as I just found a book on worm farming which amongst other things, explores the underlying workings of the cows horn preparation you mention. The book is by (fellow) Australian author and worm farmer, David Murphy, entitled Organic growing with worms, 2005, Viking Books. Apparently the shape of the cow horn, the burial of same in the earth and the vigourous stirring of the resultant preparation fosters the presence of bacterial “Actinomycetes” which thrive in aerobic conditions and create “soil” which is in some ways akin to vermicasts… Not sure how readily available the book is now. Anway, thats more than enough from me, I do hope things improve for you all. Its certainly been a challenging few months. Thanks for sharing the beautiful environment you live in and are working with, the challenges and the delights. Regards, J
Thank you for your comment, and yeah, you're absolutely right. We don't fault the wild predator for killing the chickens (he simply brought balance to an unnatural overpopulation), he's just doing his job and we've failed at ours. New chickens are in order… We've grown spinach before with great success, but the germination rate on this particular seed brand just seems pretty bad. We've now got some in a raised bed and so far it's better than anything we've tried before (fingers crossed!!). It's interesting to hear that there might be some more science going into the cow's horn - if it attracts beneficial bacterial growth all the better. Will definitely read up on it, since it sounds really interesting. I'm just not a friend of the esoteric angle where cosmic and earthly "energies" play a role, that is often used to "explain" biodynamics. Just rubs me the wrong way, especially since Steiner's ideology is very present in Germany and in my own experience can be very negative (sorting kids by "temperaments" and believing in angels shouldn't be present in Medicine and Education). So I might have a more biased view on it.
You guys need a good watchdog. And the grid for the chicken coop must be to stop predators to get in, nut just to keep the chickens in. The Tarte de maçã looks awesome!
The chicken run did an excellent job all summer but in the end the predator was able to make a small hole in a place where we could not see it... We have an old deaf dog 😂 when he passes on we'll look into getting a new one.
Sorry for such a rough week! I admire your ability to bounce back and continue forward. Thanks for sharing your wonderful adventure. As I hope to start my first garden when we return from our current Asia trip, I gain lots of inspiration and courage from you both. Best, Chad
Good luck with the garden, please do share as I like to see how the climate and weather conditions effect plants in different parts of the world. You're based in Georgia right? -Zak
I feel you very much, for simmilar thing happened to us years ago. Around 13 hens, slaughtered just before they started laying eggs. Sure makes one feel down...
You need to protect the chickens from mongooses, they will kill all your chickens if they have time. Never leave them outside a fence if you aren’t there. Shepherd dogs will protect your animals and your family as well.
I agree with you 100%. I can sympathise with your way of thinking. We are custodians of the land we occupy and the animals we have with us. You are so right about your animals. But you know what? The death or suffering of an animal grieves me. I find that the death of a human no longer affects me as it used to. I have seen humans do so many things to each other and to other living species that i seldom feel compassion for them anymore. Sad but a truth i have come to terms with
I used to sleep in my coop with a gun! For months. I had a bloodthirsty African predator called a Gennet decapitate my ducks, chickens quail. I was told that male human urine around the coop was a deterrent. But at the end of the day they are sitting targets inside a coop. A livestock guard dog may be a good option but i have no idea how to train them, or which breed would be best. I am truly do sorry for your loss. The learning curve is sooo hard💔
People who eat their farm animals do have a different outlook on death of animals. I love animals and don't eat them so like you they are part of the family and it is devastating when they die unexpected. Really hard work keeping them protected but still worth keeping as making such a difference to clearing the land. Hope you get another pig to keep the other company.
Thank you! While we do eat our surplus cockerels now and then, we try to give them the best (and longest) life possible. Unfortunately, our other pig died as well. We think we finally found out why and will not get pigs again for some time until we've fixed the situation. Originally, we got them to clear bramble and bracken - but we have so much bracken it becomes poisonous, which we were not aware of.
Greetings!! Lucky that only one was killed. If you have holes bigger than 5 square centimeters in the chicken's protection walls you will always have casualties. Weasels are very slim and flexible. They will go in through smallest holes! Many times they will not even eat chicken. They just kill all of them and leave...
Actually it's the other way round, only one of them survived, seven were killed! We found the hole later on and yeah, it was about five centimetres. Been working on closing that one up recently...
We'll be getting another dog or two in the future. Our current dog is very old, almost 18... Thanks for watching along. Those few weeks were not that nice but life in general is amazing here 🙂
Dont leave anything edible around your farms or yard unprotected. if the foxes or whatever predator out there finds that they always get food at your yard... then you best get a gun because they will keep coming everyday. I learnt it the hard way my early days.
I had eagles, snakes, dogs and cats you name it slaughtering my chickens at some point. but you either strengthen yourself and find a solution to the problems than cry about it. i am not mean. YOU CANT BE WOKE AND FARMER. this is the first of the many to come. you need STAND UP AND GET GOING. anyway she will get used to it.
If you want to be a farmer or are trying to, number one lesson…..don’t fret over animal deaths….writing poems or odes to a dead animal makes you seem woke and I have had enough of that BS
Yeah we get it. We still take a brief moment to process it though. We try to give them a good life and that leaves an impression on us. Still it doesn't stop us doing what we're doing.
Build a barn near your house for the pig and chickens A gaot who give milk is usefull, you could do it on a stick day over. Make a compost pile, that is the gold off the farmer. Good luck for you stay healty.🍀👋
I feel for you both. Its tough, even when its part of the cycle of life. When we incorporate animals into a subsistence lifestyle they contribute in so many ways and we in turn give to them, as your actions clearly highlight. Since a major part of our end of the bargain is to nurture and protect them, any failure goes beyond their loss, even when we have done our best to fulfill our part. But also the death or injury of productive animals has deep impacts on your time and energy - as you point out, as well as added financial costs. I find that another (wild) animal killing for food is far easier to accept than wanton destruction, or the consequences of negligence (as in, for example, uncontrolled domestic dogs).
On another note - that pie looked amazing!!!
Also I vaguely recall reading something about spinach needing a particular PH and being harder to grow than silver beet, though I don’t have the info to hand. Not sure if thats of any use…
I was interested in your comments on biodynamics as I just found a book on worm farming which amongst other things, explores the underlying workings of the cows horn preparation you mention. The book is by (fellow) Australian author and worm farmer, David Murphy, entitled Organic growing with worms, 2005, Viking Books. Apparently the shape of the cow horn, the burial of same in the earth and the vigourous stirring of the resultant preparation fosters the presence of bacterial “Actinomycetes” which thrive in aerobic conditions and create “soil” which is in some ways akin to vermicasts… Not sure how readily available the book is now.
Anway, thats more than enough from me, I do hope things improve for you all. Its certainly been a challenging few months. Thanks for sharing the beautiful environment you live in and are working with, the challenges and the delights. Regards, J
Thank you for your comment, and yeah, you're absolutely right. We don't fault the wild predator for killing the chickens (he simply brought balance to an unnatural overpopulation), he's just doing his job and we've failed at ours. New chickens are in order… We've grown spinach before with great success, but the germination rate on this particular seed brand just seems pretty bad. We've now got some in a raised bed and so far it's better than anything we've tried before (fingers crossed!!). It's interesting to hear that there might be some more science going into the cow's horn - if it attracts beneficial bacterial growth all the better. Will definitely read up on it, since it sounds really interesting. I'm just not a friend of the esoteric angle where cosmic and earthly "energies" play a role, that is often used to "explain" biodynamics. Just rubs me the wrong way, especially since Steiner's ideology is very present in Germany and in my own experience can be very negative (sorting kids by "temperaments" and believing in angels shouldn't be present in Medicine and Education). So I might have a more biased view on it.
Hugs from the US (Oregon), what a sad week for you. Chin up, there is so much to learn and you are learning it all and doing so much!
Oregon….🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣….joe biden territory…..😂😂🤣🤣🤣…..lets go Brandon 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
You guys need a good watchdog. And the grid for the chicken coop must be to stop predators to get in, nut just to keep the chickens in.
The Tarte de maçã looks awesome!
The chicken run did an excellent job all summer but in the end the predator was able to make a small hole in a place where we could not see it...
We have an old deaf dog 😂 when he passes on we'll look into getting a new one.
Darn mink probably, hope you get some new chucks quickly and get back on track.
Sorry for such a rough week! I admire your ability to bounce back and continue forward. Thanks for sharing your wonderful adventure. As I hope to start my first garden when we return from our current Asia trip, I gain lots of inspiration and courage from you both.
Best,
Chad
Good luck with the garden, please do share as I like to see how the climate and weather conditions effect plants in different parts of the world. You're based in Georgia right?
-Zak
@@oakolive We definitely will! Our PO box is in Georgia but we are in the city of Chattanooga, TN!
I feel you very much, for simmilar thing happened to us years ago. Around 13 hens, slaughtered just before they started laying eggs. Sure makes one feel down...
You need to protect the chickens from mongooses, they will kill all your chickens if they have time. Never leave them outside a fence if you aren’t there. Shepherd dogs will protect your animals and your family as well.
Thank you for information about seeds 😊
I agree with you 100%. I can sympathise with your way of thinking. We are custodians of the land we occupy and the animals we have with us. You are so right about your animals. But you know what? The death or suffering of an animal grieves me. I find that the death of a human no longer affects me as it used to. I have seen humans do so many things to each other and to other living species that i seldom feel compassion for them anymore. Sad but a truth i have come to terms with
You grieve there deaths because every animal is interconnected with us.
So sorry for your animals..
You Live and learn:) I recommend "The One Straw Revolution" book if you guys like to read. Chin up and Cheers:)
Great book!
I used to sleep in my coop with a gun! For months. I had a bloodthirsty African predator called a Gennet decapitate my ducks, chickens quail. I was told that male human urine around the coop was a deterrent. But at the end of the day they are sitting targets inside a coop. A livestock guard dog may be a good option but i have no idea how to train them, or which breed would be best. I am truly do sorry for your loss. The learning curve is sooo hard💔
Wow! Well done for your dedication and thank you for the condolences. We're thinking of building a concrete coop in the future.
People who eat their farm animals do have a different outlook on death of animals. I love animals and don't eat them so like you they are part of the family and it is devastating when they die unexpected. Really hard work keeping them protected but still worth keeping as making such a difference to clearing the land. Hope you get another pig to keep the other company.
Thank you! While we do eat our surplus cockerels now and then, we try to give them the best (and longest) life possible. Unfortunately, our other pig died as well. We think we finally found out why and will not get pigs again for some time until we've fixed the situation. Originally, we got them to clear bramble and bracken - but we have so much bracken it becomes poisonous, which we were not aware of.
Greetings!! Lucky that only one was killed. If you have holes bigger than 5 square centimeters in the chicken's protection walls you will always have casualties. Weasels are very slim and flexible. They will go in through smallest holes! Many times they will not even eat chicken. They just kill all of them and leave...
Actually it's the other way round, only one of them survived, seven were killed! We found the hole later on and yeah, it was about five centimetres. Been working on closing that one up recently...
@@oakolive maybe time to get a doggy!
I had a little cry to be honest, maybe a little jack Russel or two would solve the predator problem. 🐕
We'll be getting another dog or two in the future. Our current dog is very old, almost 18... Thanks for watching along. Those few weeks were not that nice but life in general is amazing here 🙂
Dont leave anything edible around your farms or yard unprotected. if the foxes or whatever predator out there finds that they always get food at your yard... then you best get a gun because they will keep coming everyday. I learnt it the hard way my early days.
I had eagles, snakes, dogs and cats you name it slaughtering my chickens at some point. but you either strengthen yourself and find a solution to the problems than cry about it. i am not mean. YOU CANT BE WOKE AND FARMER. this is the first of the many to come. you need STAND UP AND GET GOING. anyway she will get used to it.
It's not a bad thing to be sad before moving on. Thanks for watching.
If you want to be a farmer or are trying to, number one lesson…..don’t fret over animal deaths….writing poems or odes to a dead animal makes you seem woke and I have had enough of that BS
i agree
Yeah we get it. We still take a brief moment to process it though. We try to give them a good life and that leaves an impression on us. Still it doesn't stop us doing what we're doing.
Build a barn near your house for the pig and chickens A gaot who give milk is usefull, you could do it on a stick day over. Make a compost pile, that is the gold off the farmer. Good luck for you stay healty.🍀👋