I'm such a blogging slacker these days. That Facebook page is sucking up all my blogging mojo. However, some posts just need a blog setting to represent properly.
Bunny Land! Remember that place? It started last July, 2014 with a tape measure... and some other tools... eh he he! Not having any experience with bunny herding of any kind we dove in head first with colony style.
Original Bunny Land was 1500 square feet and started with 2 bunnies. I knew it was an experiment and we just needed to start somewhere and adapt as needed.
Bunny Land was amazing and our two bunnies were in bunny heaven. They had green forage to thier hearts content and amazing stumps to play in and around.
Even fall brought new forage with the maples dropping thier leaves.
Then came winter and the bringing of fodder grown in the house. Still, there was no problem with that schedule, the days were short and there was much sleeping in and few rabbits to feed.
But, came the first of the burrows and very little to browse for the new comers. The hopes were to hold out for the warm nights and maybe the grass would keep up.
Hello babies! Wow there are so many of you and you grow so fast!
Hmm? The grass is trying to grow now that its spring and the nights are warmer but, there are sooooo many bunnies!
What's this, a 4th litter of bunnies and it's only May?
I think it's time to adapt! This poor paddock can keep 3 to 4 rabbits comfortable but more than that and it can't keep up.
Over crowding and not having enough browse for all to share inspires escapees!! Cause, well, the grass is greener on the other side. Once they figured it out it was all over.
After much work bunny proofing the orchard, it was time to move the buns to a bigger paddock. Thus continues the experiment of how many bunnies can be sustained in what size paddock when trying to keep up with litters and processing.
The buns exploring thier new abundance of browse. So far the amount of feed I provide is reduced to 1/4 of what I was feeding before.
Fat happy bunnies resting in the cool soil.
The new paddock is 10,000 square feet. Stay tuned for the results of this adaptation to colony style buns.
P.S. of course Jessica Rabbit proceeded to dig a burrow under one of the fruit trees within the first 24 hours. Sigh.
I had a dream awhile back that I'd found the manual for "life" (like 25 years ago when it would have been useful). It indeed was the instructions for this crazy thing called "life" and I was so excited... excited that I'd finally have written instructions on how to get it right! Wouldn't you know the darn thing was in a foreign language I couldn't read. DOH!
I may as well have been a goat trying to use a screw gun! Since I didn't succeed in actually finding the instruction manual, I've been working on life the way everyone else is... one day at a time.
The day usually starts with coffee and these days a fire. I'm certain this ritual was in the instruction manual and if it wasn't it should be.
I used to complain about how much work there was to do and how far from "done" we were. I'd fret that our Eden was so far away. A friend stopped by last year and patiently listened to my complaints about how it feels like we are never "there" and he simply replied, "I think you are there!" For some reason those words were exactly what I needed to hear.
We are "there"! No, not everything is done, it won't ever be done, that's not what its all about.
It's not about finding Eden, it's about being Eden. It's not a place so to speak but a journey. A journey of a place that thrives, a place that is beautiful, a place that is healthy and harmonious, a place that is sustainable, a sanctuary.
Having a helper makes the journey so much more fun, even if the chore is still confusing. And sometimes we find ourselves re-doing things to be more efficient or functional or simply because it was a good idea but unnecessary (like giant ladybug watering system). That's ok!
I spend a lot of time consulting the world wide web and local peers for help and ideas... you know, just in case they've already invented the wheel. Turns out THEY HAVE! However, our idea of Eden looks slightly different through our eyes, so of course we adapt. One of the more important adaptations for us is allowing a day off.
Yesterday was my day off. Around here when you have a day off you get to do whatever you want. No fixing emergencies, no list of things to do, no time limit or any expectations what-so-ever. So, I started with as much coffee as I wanted and then decided I'd card some more of Stella's wool from last fall... with my helper of course!
Then I decided to make some herbal vitamins for the human farm animals. We make our own as its much cheaper, we can supply herbal vitamins for all the breathing critters (including us) for $40 a month.
I decided to take a random walk through the woods with my friends. How can this not be Eden... cute goats, pretty woods, nice day...?
Since it was my day off there's no pressure and I had my wits about me and grabbed the basket and clippers to collect some nice treats for my other friends, the bunnies.
Be careful when you are setting up for a photo shoot... Banjo will take advantage!
These particular cuties love native growing plants waking up from winter. So far, colony life is a success and the buns are loving it.
We're making some changes to Goat World, adding a new paddock, and my favorite thing to do is stare at the progress. Yes, you simply stand there and look at it... not doing a darn thing but day dreaming.
Staring at progress is very invigorating and inspiring. I love seeing change and growth and anticipating the next chapter of Eden.
At the end of the day, it's good to be there.
After three years of service, the Giant Square Lady Bug (GSLB) is moved out! We tried our hand at water collection and learned that in the Northwest it's really not that important. The roof water will still be directed to the pond to help flush it and keep it clean.
The chickens started roosting on top of GSLB this fall and we can't seem to convince them to stop. There was a lot of poop up there.
GSLB back in the early days of 2011, freshly painted, clean and poop free. Thank you for your service as a water containment vessel, GSLB! You will have new orders for a job some time this summer. In the meantime, enjoy your sabbatical.
These are Icelandic sheep, Stella (white), Althea and Zan, the ram. This is a How-To series on processing wool... the Twisted Fern Farm way.
First you learn to sheer them. Stella held very still for me and let me hand sheer her with sewing scissors... Oy, I could use some more practice.
Althea is very skittish so we put her in the stanchion and gave her gentle messages. I did a little better job with her.
Then you hook up with your lady friends for a fun evening of washing the wool. Thanks to Zan and Stella's breeder for hosting us and teaching us.
One bucket for washing and one for rinsing. Make sure both are the same temperature, we went with 110 F degrees, and used Dawn dish detergent as a cleaner.
Check your temps! Keep lids handy to maintain the temperatures.
Adding Stella's wool to the wash bucket first.
She's a dirty girl!
While waiting, one should partake in some fabulous red wine from Redneck wine glasses!
After 30 minutes we transferred the wool from the wash to the rinse.
Let it run a bit before putting into the rinse bucket.
After 10 minutes, remove the wool from the rinse bucket and let drip and gently press excess water out.
Place cleaned wool on a towel and roll it up.
The towel will soak up more excess water.
Using your old re-purposed freezer bins, spread the wool out to dry.
Now you've had a warm up practice and the party can get started!! On with Althea's wool!
Wash...
Laugh...
Rinse...
Oh, she's a dirtier girl, that Althea!
Spread to dry.
I put Stella's wool in front of the fire place for better drying.
And, Althea's wool on the drying rack.
Stay tuned for carding and spinning!
