Out Around the Barn

Livestock represents the backbone of most family farms. While there are some farmers who specialize in corn, wheat, soy beans and various other plant life, it’s likely that he or she will keep a few animals around as well. Cows provide a valuable source of milk, and steers are often raised for beef. The winter is a popular time for slaughtering pigs, especially as that traditional meal of Christmas ham approaches.

Perhaps most popular of all livestock, however, is the chicken. These birds take up minimal space on the farm, can live in close quarters together, and provide so many useful services. Nothing beats waking up in the morning and collecting the eggs that have been yielded overnight. Many farmers choose quality livestock supplies that are specially formulated to feed chickens for various purposes. Some protein and grain combinations are meant to produce better eggs, and others aim to plump chickens up to produce quality poultry.

Today, 11/12/09,  we mourn the loss of our Belgian, Duke.  He was one of the most gentlest, big horses I have ever known.  He had a long life of 20  plus years and had competed in many horse pulls.  He was what I would consider a “Big Teddy Bear” of  horses.

My 2 yr. old niece, Kalissa, rode for the first time on Duke, as well as others over the years.  Allen’s daughter used to ride Duke and I have seen him with 5 young riders on him at one time and not even care.  He was that gentle.  Allen would just place his hand on the side of his jaw and he would go wherever, most of the time Duke would just follow him without any halter or lead rope at all and the kids just sat on his back without fear. 

When I first began being around the horses and livestock after an absence of 15 years, I had some fears to face.  I do not mind saying that Duke really intimidated me and it took me a couple of months to realize that he would not ever intentionally hurt me.  That doesn’t mean that I didn’t need to be cautious but, I could, at least, ease some of my fears.  Here we are 8 yrs. later and having conquered some of the major fears, I can now feed every animal on the farm and feel confident.  I do not, by no means, throw caution to the wind but, I do keep focused when choring and working with the animals.  Having Duke helped me conquer that fear, mostly because of his personality and his size.  I learned to work around him and therefore, it helped me with the rest of the livestock.  Now I am out there everyday and loving it, for that reason alone, I’ll remember Duke and his gentle way.

In the past year Duke’s age really began to show.  He acquired arthritis in his joints and there were days that he struggled to get around but, he continued on.  We supplemented his food with joint supplements and vitamins and I believe that one small part of his diet kept him up and going.    We knew the day would come yet, had not expected it to come so quickly.  A few days ago he got down and didn’t come to the barn.  Allen went out and helped him up and brought him to the barn.  His appetite had decreased some but not so much that it concerned me until two days ago.  I don’t have the insight that Allen has with animals and I believe he knew the worst was coming.  Two days ago it came to the point that he did not have enough strength to get up and even with help, he could not accomplish that one task.  It was then that it sank in, it would not be long before he just gave up and he did.  He just closed his eyes and slept, peacefully without pain.

So, now he is in Animal Heaven and we will miss him but, we will keep him in our hearts.

The question has been asked so I will do my best to answer.  I am no expert when it comes to building things.  I have tried my hand at tables, benches, cabinets and gates.  Those projects turned out okay but far from professional.  They did do the job they were built for but, I did learn a few things along the way.

To begin with, you need to know exactly how you want your barn built.  Will it be a Pole Barn, all open inside; will it be built with a hay loft as a second upper floor or just on one or both sides; will it have stalls to board horses and cattle or will it store farm equipment?  In other words, you will need a floor plan or blueprint.  Are you building this yourself or hiring a contractor?

If you are hiring a contractor, he/she can help you determine exactly what you will need in the form of materials like posts, screws, bolts, nails, hammers, drills, saws and etc.  The right kind of lumber makes a big difference.  It is, of course, your preference on what type you use but do make sure it can withstand the weather and if it is treated or not.  They will also be able to help you with the type of roofing materials you will need. 

One of the best ways to decide what you want is to look around your neighborhood.  Look at your neighbors barns and decide what layout you like.  Look through farm magazines and online to see if anything catches your eye.  Visit your neighbors and see how functional their barn is and if it will meet your farm needs.  Then the next thing is to jot down your thoughts on what you like and dislike.  This will help you determine what you will need in order to have a fully functional barn for your farm. 

When thinking about the layout; think about how you will use the barn.  For example; we have 5 stall on one side of the barn and 4 on the other.  The south side with 4 stalls also has a head shoot.  That side of the barn is set up for sorting and loading livestock, whether it be cattle or horses and on the outside is a catch pen.   The north side with a feed room, where we store our livestock feed, vitamins and supplements  and 5 stalls is used for our horses that we put up every evening  and if needed we will use these stalls for the bulls in the leasing/breeding season.  It, also, has a sorting corral outside.  Our stalls in the center of the barn are directly across from the other so we can run the horses straight through the barn to their pasture.  It makes it easy to move them if we need to.  Above the 5 stalls we have a hay loft and it is easy to feed the horses hay in the winter.  The rest of the barn is open to the roof for storing big hay bales, farm equipment and whatever we need to keep out of the weather.  In the front center of the barn up by the head shoot is our tack room with saddles, harnesses and all other tack close at hand.  For us, it works quite well but, even now we can think of things that we could have done differently.

So, all in all, you really just need to know what you want, talk to your neighbors and ask to see their set ups, check out magazines and online, speak with contractors and carpenters on what they would suggest as to their preferences for the materials and then go from there.  Then if you are ready to start your project, grab your wallet and go for it.

Photo is from Tri-County Barns. distributor of Barnmaster Barns, Inc. in Texas.

Isn’t this beautiful?  Winter is just around the corner, are you ready?  I’m not ready for the cold and snow but I do believe I am ready for a break.  As much as I love and enjoy my gardening, I am ready to settle down to a little rest. 

I was  dissappointed with my garden harvest this year, we had way too much rain in the Spring, and three plantings later my garden began to grow.  I had tomatoes early and was really looking forward to a good crop, well that was a flop.  After August, with the weather being so cool, the plants lacked the heat they needed to produce.  My bush and pole beans done well for a fews weeks and then they quit producing.  The squash and zucchini did not do well at all and my peppers only produced half of what they did last year.  Since September we have had below normal temps and my 2nd (Fall) planting was doing well until it decided to fr0st last week.  Now we are done.

I was getting frustrated at worrying all the time if my plants would produce and what I could do to save them.  Now all I have is about seven tomato plants that I saved and put in my greenhouse for the winter.  I am hoping that I can, at least, have a few tomatoes throughout the winter months.  Cleaning the leftover debris of vines and old plants  out of the garden now take precedence in getting everything ready for Spring.

Now that we are at the end of gardening season, the garden tool caddy, tool organizer, tools, lawn mower, wagon, tomato stakes and bean and cucumber supp0rts will all be put away.  I keep out only the few tools that I need for my flowering plants and tomatoes.  All of these plants are in pots so my small hand tools are all that is needed and a  bucket for watering.   

Each year I learn something new to try in my garden.  Last year I started my own herb garden and it has worked out really well.  Being diabetic I have learned a whole new way to cook with herbs and growing my own is inexpensive and healthy.  This year, I mastered growing potatoes in tiers of tires.  That was great!  They did well.

I kept a journal this year of all that I planted, what location, the dates they were planted, what fertilizer, if any, was used,  and how they produced.  Also, I kept track of any problems, such as changes in the leaves color and growth period.  This will help me next year in planning my new garden. 

Looking forward to a new planting season after a much needed rest.

I was looking through the December issue of “Cowboys and Indians” the other day and came across an article that just surprised me.  It was about a steam cleaner for hay bales.  Have you heard of this?  Is this considered a  farm accessory or is it farm equipment?

It is called the Haygain Steamer made by Jiffy Steamer Equine along with British partners at Propress, Ltd.  I had never heard of such a machine.  When I first saw the photo, I thought I was looking at a way to haul bales in your vehicle, such as a car, without the mess.  Was I surprised when I read what it really was. 

I, also, did not realize that one in six horses have allergies to the dust and fungi in hay.  I guess that is something that is well over looked where animals are concerned.  Even though I have a Jack Russell (dog) that suffers every Spring with allergies and has t0 have an allergy shot,  I still did not consider the larger animals as being susceptible to allergies but, it is not so uncommon.

According to the article, the Haygain has found a way to eliminate the millions of spores found in hay and purifies it with steam.  This machines improves the hygiene quality without leaching the nutritive content and creating a sweet – smelling feed that the animals really enjoy.  Quite a breakthrough.

If you would like to read more and see a photo of this new product, check out the December issue of  “Cowboys and Indians” now available.

Fall has arrived and we are preparing for the winter months ahead.  Now is the time to clean and winterize your tools and equipment.  One thing that I have learned is to not put tools away with dirt on them.  I never considered that a problem until it was pointed out to me several years ago. 

I didn’t realize that I could prevent my tools from rusting over the winter months just by doing about 30 minutes of cleaning and maintaining in the fall. 

For garden tools, shovels, pitchforks and the like, wipe them clean of dirt and mud and then wipe them down with vegetable oil or cooking spray.  This will keep them clean and rust free.  Waterers and feeders that are not in use during the winter months need cleaned thoroughly, dried and put away in storage until needed.  The best way to clean these are to wash them down, if not able to immerse them, with hot sudsy bleach water and then rinse well and let air dry. 

The same pertains to bridles, saddles, harness and reins for your horses.  If not maintained during the times of non-use, they can grow mold and become dry and brittle.  It is advisable to clean them well and use a product like Leather Therapy to keep them in good shape at least every six months.  Depending on use of your equipment, you may need to do it more or less.

This process goes for just about anything that you store for several months at a time.  Just like my Lawnmower tractor and wagon that I pull behind it to do yard work.  I clean them, wash them down and then store them in the shed or barn out of the weather.  This keeps them in good condition and ready for use come Spring.  This also applies to heavy farm equipment such as tractors, hay wagons , hay racks, combines, disks, brush hogs and etc.

Just a little maintenance in the Fall saves a lot of work in the Spring.

If you do not live on a farm or if you have never been on a farm this question is not that silly.  I was always told that no question is silly if you do not know the answer.  To someone like me, the first time I was asked this, I was surprised.  It seemed so funny that y0u wouldn’t know what is around a barn.

I guess the first thing most of us would say is animals.  Whether it be horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or whatever livestock we raise.  Then, of course, there is the feed, horse feed, cattle feed, salt blocks, minerals and cat and dog food.  Also, there is the hay for the animals to eat and straw for their bedding.

Then the next thing would be the equipment, such as, tractors, wagons, combines, disks and maybe plows.

Of course, there would be all the neccessities of farm life such as fencing supplies, shovels, rakes, pitchforks, manure spreaders, buckets, log chains, hammers, wrenches and all other kinds of tools.  

It may be surprising what you find out around the barn.  You might find lumber, where someone has been building something or horse shoes lying on the ground where they have just finished shoeing a horse, halters and bridles hanging and saddles on saddle racks in a tack room.  There will be lead ropes and sorting sticks and sorting paddles used for herding the livestock.  You might even find a skull or two of bulls or deer. 

There is just no telling what you may find.  I do know that a farm is a great place for a treasure hunt. 

Any how, these are just a few of the things you will find on a farm, out around the barn.

This may sound really strange but, how many of us think of pen and paper as farm equipment?  How many notes do we jot down each day to remind us of a piece of livestock equipment, feed and supplements, tools or fencing supplies that we need to pick up to start or finish a job?

Isn’t it amazing.  The smallest things that we utilize everyday really plays a very important part in our businesses.  We keep records of all our livestock , like all their offspring’s births, vaccinations, de-worming and weaning dates.  We track their eating habits and their activities.  Even with the adults, we track their habits and cycles so we know when the time is right to breed for the next year.

We take notes.  I know we carry note cards with us to write any changes down that we encounter and then we record them in our computer on our farm program.  Even our computer is part of our business so it is also considered as farm equipment. 

Remember, there are all kinds of equipment and even the simplest items can be just that and they are tax deductible sometimes.  Check with your CPA to be certain on what you can deduct come tax time.

What is the main reason a person gardens?  Is it because they like the fresh vegetables or they like the exercise and being outdoors?  There are many reasons I suppose.  It is a wonderful hobby for the weekend gardener that likes to work the soil and help make things grow and it is great for exercise but, I like it because I can provide fresh food for my family.  The other reason is I enjoy canning and putting up fruit and veggies in the freezer for winter use.  We have food year round that I know is healthy because I grew it and kn0w exactly how it was grown.

I look forward to my garden harvest.  The fresh tomatoes is unbeatable on taste and the green beans, whether bush or pole, taste much better than from a can.  Corn is so much sweeter when cut fresh from the cob and frozen.  It is so good around the holidays with the turkey and ham.  The cucumbers are even better fresh with their crisp mouthwatering flavor. 

At first harvest we get our fill of the fresh produce and we eat it everyday, then we begin to tire a little of having  the same things so we start trying new recipes and then we start planning for the months ahead.

The first thing is the green beans.  I try to can as much as I can, since I do it for ourselves and our grown children.  Then the corn is ready and we put it up in quarts.  Hopefully with a good harvest we have plenty but this year wasn’t one of them.   Too much early rain, not enough time to grow.  During June through September we can tomatoes into juice, stewed, whole, diced and salsa.  This year nothing.  My tomatoes are just now coming on, we have had a few to eat but, not enough for canning.  The cucumbers are the same. 

I was really disappointed with my harvest.  I am hoping that a late garden will work out better.  I have several late tomato plants starting to bloom,  new bush beans are coming up, my pole beans are just now coming on, the yellow squash and zucchini are beginning to produce and my peppers are doing great.  I believe my best crop is going to be my sweet potatoes, they have just vined and bloomed everywhere.  I did get my first ever crop of potatoes to produce well this year.  Also, my cucumbers are blooming like crazy and I have several little ones coming on. 

So even though my garden is late and is just now beginning, I still enjoy gardening.  I keep my garden tool caddy close at hand and weed out my garden weekly, make sure it gets plenty of water and pray for the sun and heat it needs to produce the food to tide my family over through out the winter months.  I acquired my greenhouse this year so I am anxious to see what magic I can produce in there this winter.   

With my late harvest, I hope to do more canning and put up a few tomatoes and more beans.  We will see how it goes.

So if you enjoy gardening, for whatever reason, I hope your harvest is plentiful and your green thumb blesses you with the wonderful pride you feel while you watch your garden grow.

On the farm there are many useful ingredients for making compost.  We have cattle, horses, chickens and g0ats.  I have read and also heard that horse and chicken manure is the best for this particular project so that is what I use, the rest goes out in the spreader to the pasture.  Being that 2008, was my first try at this, I am still learning.  So this is what I know.

I began to worry last Spring, when my compost didn’t seem to be composting.  I wanted to spread it in my garden and use it in my planters mixed with potting soil to fertilize the plants but, it just didn’t seem to want to heat up.  I finally figured out why.  We had a pretty mild winter and I did not water my pile of compost.  I did not realize that it needed to be kept slightly moist in order to heat up and also, it needed to be, at least, three feet deep.  So in February, I began watering the pile every other week, unless it rained.  I added some horse manure and then continued to pile on my kitchen scraps daily.  Every week I would turn the pile in order to mix up the ingredients.  Finally, after about four weeks it began to compost nicely and due to the fact that here in Illinois it rained all Spring, by the time I could plant and work my garden, it was ready.  I was very pleased, it saved me a lot of money on potting soil.  I used it in everything from my vegetables and herbs to my flowers and shrubs.  It has worked out w0nderful.

Now that I have used up my supply for the year, last weekend my son and I cleaned the chicken coup and started a new pile.  I had continued all summer putting kitchen scraps in the small pile but had done nothing with it.  So we started layering with manure then scraps from the small pile and then more manure and so on.  Now I have a nice 6′ round wire pen of compost to compost through the winter and a smaller one to add to daily.  I will take some from the small pen and add to the larger one every other week as I water.  By Spring, we should be ready to go.

I have gardened for years but, this was my first attempt of making compost.  A lot of trial and error involved but we did it.  Compost is a wonderful garden supply and it is inexpensive.  If you live on a farm or ranch, why not make your own, it is definitely worth it.  Also, many folks from the city that want to have a small garden will purchase some from you.  It is all natural and makes the garden grow.