Pumpin' outta the chicken gun...

From the country...

The ladies are not slowing down anytime soon. It will be definitely an egg Christmas around here! (lots of baking, egg gift giving and egg breakfasts for guests).

30 of the 45 turkeys residing in the barn will make their way to the abattoir next week and end up as the main feature in many a Christmas turkey dins. That should make chores a little easier for this rotund farmer, waddling my way to the barn with full buckets. The 15 left behind will live another season hopefully proving themselves useful in the breeding pens and hopefully meaning more turkeys for sale next winter. This years brood didn't last long before customers snatched them up. If all goes well this could turn out to be a profitable venture (a girl can dream right?). It feels really satisfying to see something through to the end and know that you gave your livestock the best you can offer (quality feed, raising them on pasture, letting them live the most natural life possible) and then knowing that these beauties will be someones special Christmas feast.
The food we eat should be this special!

Lets take time to find a farmer who cares and direct our money elsewhere then the Butterball from the grocery store and chose our meat that actually had a life. A life that was respected from the pip of the egg to the humane slaughter. It feels so self satisfying to be a farmer and be able to cherish life and respect the meat that goes into my family's bellies. I will sure savour and cherish my heritage turkey stuffed with a our own sausage dressing this Christmas and might even shed a tear or two because, the gift of raising your own meat and growing your own vegetables to share with your loved ones is an amazing gift.

Egg nog anyone?

Official Charlie Brown X Mas Tree....

From the country...

As of last year, we collectively decided that given the fact that we have 40 acres in bush we should harvest our own Xmas tree from the property. After our local tree farm closed down, we decided to venture out, saw in hand and cut our own farm tree. Last year the weather was on our side, the kids in a fine mood and the tree was cut and standing in the living room within a few hours.Different story this year. Here we are minutes before dark, a guy just recovering from the flu(Mark), a crusty, 7 month pregnant girl (yours truly...), a 3 year old needing a nap desperately and a 5 year old in pretty good spirits but having to go pee and a pretty cold day with a stinging wind chill. Enter the tree. A monstrous sky scraper and a simple man's bow saw.

The tree was cut and painstakingly dragged to the road, attached to the car towed to the house, and forced into the house were we found out it was way to large (think National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...). So as the tree defrosted in our living room rendering everything wet, sticky and full of needles, Mark sawed the sucker twice so it cleared our ceiling (the measuring tape nowhere to be found).

After hours of mopping floors, vacuuming needles, and collecting branches, we had managed to take a pretty beautiful 15 + foot tree, shave 50lbs off it and end up with a X Mas tree that Charlie Brown would be proud of.

Every vote counts...

From the Country...

The contest is up on the Well Preserved Blog for the best pimped out preserve!! So mosey on over and cast your vote! (ahem... I am lucky #6... for the record.....)

Tis the season to dress up your fav preserves and give the gift of homemade!

Birthday Planning

From the country....

Nate my oldest gremlin, is turning 6 this year. He surprised us(mostly me) and was born on December 31st a few measly hours before the new year. The stakes are high this year, we are having a bona fide birthday party with other little people his own age, games, and the best cake ever. I need to step up my game...


The robot cake was for the fourth, the ice fishing was for the fifth but what does the sixth look like? It has to be good, real good...

Slow Food Toronto's Terre Madre Day!!!

On Friday December 10th, 2010 take part in Toronto's Slow Food movement by celebrating Terre Madre Day at the Artscape Wychwood Barns, Barn 2 601 Christie Street in Toronto. Come and celebrate the recognition and importance of local food and local food networks.

In 2009, more than 1000 events took place in 120 countries on the first Terre Madre Day which was one of the largest collective occasions celebrating food diversity and the right to good, clean and fair food on a global scale. So come on join the wave and become involved in local, sustainable food and food producers! See you there.

To view the poster click here.