It's summer time at Haven Ridge! 
It is full and it is busy. County fair is close enough that the signs are out and the forms are in. We have eggs in the incubator ready to hatch any day now. This years meat chickens are having their first day out on real dirt and snapping at bugs. They are roughly the size of a pigeon right now. We have roto-tilled the garden and gotten the design ready to plant. I am currently loading folks up with alpaca manure to aid with their garden needs as well.
It is full and it is busy. County fair is close enough that the signs are out and the forms are in. We have eggs in the incubator ready to hatch any day now. This years meat chickens are having their first day out on real dirt and snapping at bugs. They are roughly the size of a pigeon right now. We have roto-tilled the garden and gotten the design ready to plant. I am currently loading folks up with alpaca manure to aid with their garden needs as well.And then there are the geese. We have the new additions to our little ranch, Millie, Martha, and Harriet. They are a joy and a challenge. I never knew geese were so pushy! They challenge every possible gap in the fence because, well, the grass is always greener on the other side! Of course. Then once they are out they just follow their nose to where ever it may lead them. This makes them hard to locate at bed time and worries this ranch mamma to death because they are just babies and don't know about the bad guys in these woods.
Speaking of bad guys we have already had our first bear visit. It went after the chicken feed and fortunately got discouraged by the lid and left. Our neighbor across the canyon has had one walk right by her while she was milking her goats! Broad daylight too. So we are on our guard and trying to keep things locked down tight. This is life in the forest.
The alpacas were sheared the end of April. Perfect timing as the weather just really got warm after that. I am looking forward to spinning our new Suri, Danny. I am going to try to be good and hold off until, my other responsibilities a down. I have promised a lady last fall I would spin her cat fur (chaingora) and I must get it done. It makes my nose itch so it has been easy to procrastinate.
The ducks and chickens have figured out its warm now and we are over flowing with eggs. It's very gratifying after all these years of building up our flock to finally have enough for us and enough to share. And that brings us the Farmers market that should be starting the second Saturday of June. I will be there with yarn, mom's market bags, some knit items, and hopefully - eggs! If you have never tried duck eggs this is a great opportunity. $3.50 / doz.
Haven Ridge has met some wonderful new friends here "up-country" at Quartz Ridge Ranch. We have similar goals and out looks with completely different animals. She raises goats and chickens and runner ducks and new guinea hogs! Heritage breeds. She knows her stuff and if you're looking for fresh goats milk I would confidently point you in her direction. She even let me try milking!
Knit Knite has turned into great fun. It's not every Friday but we do have good food, wine, and YARN. The best part is the friendship. Living rural has its draw backs and it's nice when the mammas can get together for some adult time. I'm thinking of making it more of an early afternoon activity for the summer months. Any feed back on that would be welcome.
If you're looking for me, look outside or on the go. This place doesn't run itself!
