sometimes the lessons we learn are painful

Around here, most days start with sun-up. Sometimes, that seems painfully early, but other days it is a glorious gift from Mother Nature that I’m awed and humbled to witness. Mother Nature’s gifts tend to run along those lines – they’re either painful or glorious, and sometimes the one shifts into the other. As you [...]

livestock swap report

So … I got up at 4:15 Sunday morning to do my chores, wake Rowen (my co-pilot for the day) and load the van with some of my exotically colored Guinea hens, Pilgrim goose eggs, Emily and Muffin. I knew Emily was spoken for, as Peaceable Kingdom and I had arranged a swap for her [...]

has another week gone by?

The sap is simmering on the stove, the guinea fowl are serenading the neighborhood, and the sun is melting the snow. What a great Saturday! It looks like The Crowing Hen will be on the road tomorrow to attend a Livestock Swap down at the Tractor Supply store in Wilton. I’ll be arriving early (9-ish) [...]

SOLE food for Valentine’s Day

I’m a few days late in posting this. By way of explanation, I volunteer for a free tax preparation program from February through April, and combined with school, kids, and farm duties, my time is stretched to the point that it twangs like a guitar string if you tap it. But it’s all stuff that [...]

looking toward spring

It may only be the end of December, but farm planning for next spring is already in full swing. Did you get your Burpee’s catalog in today’s mail? To try to better keep up with demand for baby chicks, I’ve ordered a second incubator. I’m very excited to offer outstanding heritage and rare breed birds [...]