Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Fire Pit Project






Hey everyone,

I want to first thank two friends, Michael and Ms.Cine' for inspiring me to do this project. I was able to see a beautiful fire pit on Ms. Cine' property and because Michael suggested I fill in my low spot on my garden plot. I decided to use the soil I was digging out to fill in. One project but two uses. To remind everyone I am using some Permaculture principles:
(1) Each element performs multiple functions
(2) Turn problems into solutions

You see the fire pit project helped our fall garden with very rich and full of life(earthworms)soil. Thanks to the both of you for being truly sustainable farmers.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Jackson Air Show




Another family outing recently to the Jackson Air Show. Wow! We always have a ball at air shows. This was the first show for my youngest so you know he had a blast. Here are just a few pictures to give you a glimpse of our day. Enjoy :-)

Our Ship Island Trip





Hey everyone,

Just another update on a day trip we took recently with other families. This is Ship Island which is located about 15 miles off our Gulf Coast. It is a four generation family that owns a charter boat company that takes you to the various islands located on the coast. You can spend a day or half day trip.
Enjoy the pictures.

Freshly Planted Fall Grasses & Mustard Greens



We have two breeds of sheep, Kathadins and Gulf Coast Native. As you can see, they are enjoying themselves so much with the newly planted fall grasses and mustard greens. They will be here for a few days and will be moved on to a new plot. Yum, Yum, Yum :-)

Fall Garden is Getting Prepared



Hello everyone,

As you can see I have been diligently working on my fall crop. I have a large array of vegetables so I am having to increase the size of the garden plot. Also we will be adding another area for the spring/summer garden which will be even larger. Hey, I am learning and with learning growth will occur. I am so excited about everything that has happen this year. I will keep you abreast of the future of these seedlings.

Newly Harvested Sweet Potatoes


This picture is a fraction of what was harvested. We have already sold some and have selected our best for a value-added product coming out soon. So be watching for a delicious treat to be added to your area whole food store. This was so amazing for our family. Of course, most of you know that this was my first time officially vegetable gardening so to produce a harvest like this was fantastic. I cannot wait to come up with many recipes for these scrumptious delights.

BBC Filming a Documentary at Jackson RoadMap to Health Farmers Market






Hello everyone,
This was a fascinating day with the Staff of BBC, Staff of Jackson RoadMap to Health Farmers Market, and fellow farmers and community residents to be able to talk about the impact this farmers market has done for the community that has no grocery stores in the immediate area. Residents would have to drive at least 20 minutes to the nearest store. This documentary is suppose to be comparing the lives of two obese British citizens and two United States citizens to show reasons how they got to this point in their lives. I hope the project is successful and we get to see it soon in our own living rooms.
Stay tune :-)

Preparing Property To Increase Farm Operation






Here is my oldest son cutting trees on our property to open up the canopy for the sun to reach the ground so grass can grow. This project will take us the fall/winter season to complete. As you can see we have a lot of work to do on cutting the smaller trees that are being smothered out by larger trees. So wish us luck and if you want to help please give me a call :-) We could use more chainsaws and able bodies.

My youngest raising snapping turtles experience has come to an end


The fantastic adventure of my youngest raising snapping turtles has come to an end. We let the turtles go a week ago into the reservoir so they can grow even larger. He really loved this experience and for a toddler he took care of them like a professional. It has to be in the blood, loving all animals. He enjoyed feeding, watering, and watching their habits to enlighten him about snapping turtles daily routine. Stay tune to another animal adventure. My oldest has spoke about raising rabbits for an addition to the farm animals. I will let you know when the official homecoming will be.

Monday, October 12, 2009

2009 4-H Livestock Show Season Begins



The first weekend of show season has begun the opening of the Mississippi State Fair is the key. Well, it started off on Friday, Oct. 2nd as a very hot day seem like August because all of us were sweating our shirts wet. On Oct. 3rd, you know it now very cold such a drastic change in a day but as always it started off very early.

6:45 a.m. Check In for livestock judging team
7:30 a.m. Competition begins
12:30 p.m. Competition is still going but coming to a close
1:00 p.m. Hinds County Livestock Judging Team has received 2nd place:-)
1:05 p.m. My child has not eaten all day, well he is not a breakfast person I bet he will start if he keep up these kind of hours.
2:00 p.m. The 2009-2010 Show season officially begins
4:00 p.m. R.D. competed in showmanship and received 2nd place after the judge had to contemplate about the placement for him to be 1st or 2nd. Now that he is taller once he set his lambs and stand up the lamb relaxes. The judge expressed that to him and his friend that are much taller and look like grown men now.
7:00 p.m. Time to show his Hampshire lamb afterwhich we loaded up and headed home.

One show down and many more to go after a 14 hour day.

Also this day Barnyard Crew 4-H Club walked in the Annual Memory Walk of the Alzheimer's Association at Trustmark Park at 10 a.m. This event was well attended and we were glad to assist such a wonderful organization.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Fall Garden Is Growing



I am so happy because I planted on Sept. 4th. The day the almanac states would be the best planting day. I planted quite a bit which I showed everyone earlier and as of the third day those seeds were coming up. I am so excited. Everything is coming up. This is phenomenal. Take a look and as always enjoy. You can see I am quite an amateur when it comes to being a vegetable grower but I am so elated to be learning and eating healthy, nutritious food while learning.

Our Farm First Composting To Vermicomposting


Hello everyone,

After attending a workshop with Will Allen from Growing Power, Inc. I have been inspired to do a better composting system using pallets, screen of various sizes and masonry blocks and of course everything to make compost. Shortly, I will be adding worms to create a worm bin which was my initial goal but I got some veggie scraps so I needed to bury quickly. This is the beginning of our newly forming composting to vermicomposting area. Enjoy :-)


Friday, September 4, 2009

Fall Planting is On The Way :-)




I am so elated to have such a better vision of vegetable and herb growing now leading into my second half of my first season of growing myself. I am learning each and every day the essence of growing food. My children and I are having so much fun learning, planting, watering, and harvesting. The fall garden I somewhat went crazy with buying seeds and I plan on buying more but don't fret they will not be wasted. Through this journey I desparately have to learn how to save seeds. This is something my ancestors did but of course I have forgotten and now have to reteach myself. Welcome to our journey of vegetable and herb gardening.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Lambs For Sale for Meat



Hello everyone,

RD & S Farm, LLC is coming to a plate near you with our lamb meat. You special order your cuts up to 25lbs. when you come and view a lamb or online, pay a deposit with signature and in a few days you have perfectly cut meat to your satisfaction and taste. These two are our first lambs for sale. If you are interested please give me a call.

The Last Update with Tadpole Adventure



My life has been so hectic lately with an abrupt family situation but of course I am handling it the way I do. Keep smiling and move on. The day the last tadpole left was an amazing day. I woke up early and walked into my greenhouse makeshift room within my house to sit and look at my flowers and meditate. I noticed the last little tadpole on the side of the container drying a little and getting ready to make its first jump. I immediately got my youngest son up from bed to take a look because I knew when he actually gets up the frog would be gone. He was still half sleep but he walked over and looked and made a few comments but went back to bed. When he finally got up the frog was gone but he got hysterical because he didn't really remember that he viewed it earlier. Screaming "Where did he go?" I explained that he is gone to start living its life in the wild catching bugs and being a true frog. That did satisfy him but everyday a so I get asked to go back to the Tougaloo-Rainbow Garden to get some more tadpoles to start this adventure all over again. So look for the Second Tadpole Adventure coming to a blog page near you. :-0

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Our Vegetable Garden is Producing :-)






Hey everyone,

I am so proud of myself and my son for taking the initiative to start a vegetable garden. It is very important to learn how to truly be a sustainable farm so I am elated in the outcome. Of course, we have much more to learn but the work put into it this year will just be multiplied for years to come. I would like to thank everyone that gave me transplants for my garden. You definitely know who you are. Thanks so much for caring about us enough to give a helping hand. I would like to express to everyone please start a garden it will benefit you and your family forever. The importance of connecting to nature and the benefits of producing your own food. Remember: You can garden year around and August is the time to plant for your fall garden. Grab an almanac and get started. Here are a few pictures of our gardens. Enjoy!

Monday, July 27, 2009

One of our fig products! Hmmmmm


Our first fig product cooked was our fig fritters. We have had a great response. We did several taste testing samples and one event which we sold the figs as well. Our response was Hmmmmm! Hmmmmmm! Good. Some of the comments: What are these?, No, this cannot be figs, Fig Fritters?, Can I get another? I was elated on the response so make sure you put your order in early for a baking showcase at your next year event.
Here is a view of the fig fritters. Enjoy :-)

My youngest caught his first fish!


He was so excited about this feat. He went to an event earlier that day where we could fish but mommy forgot the fishing rod so I promised him we would go fishing once we got back home. Of course, we did and this is the result of being on the pond bank for about 10 minutes. I always knew my children would love nature but they have taken to the next level. Their love for large animals like our farm animals, small animals like the tadpoles, ants, and rolly pollies, our first vegetable garden, hunting, fishing, muddin' on the lawn mower or 4-wheeler is good living to them. I am glad we are able to provide this type of atmosphere to them so they can explore whenever. Loving Nature makes you feel good. Try it you will like it!

Out of State Guest Farm Tour


This was very exciting to have visitors from out of state interested in natural raising of livestock and fruit. Our guest wanted to know the importance of raising animals and fruit naturally would benefit them eventually. Some very good questions but of course that is what our society is moving towards as we speak. The children enjoyed the animals as well especially the dogs. This was an exciting day for RD & S Farm, LLC and we are looking forward to many more visitors in the future. Our goal is to educate the masses about the importance of healthy living through healthy agriculture. No Farms, No Food is the motto today. Here is a peak at our guests.
Come join us one day for a quick tour.

Pet Friends are Growing :-)





Our extended family of pets as you all know are the tadpoles and frogs. Both animals are doing great. My youngest is having a truly grand experience taking care of the animals and watching them grow. At this time, we have acquired more tadpoles because he had such a fun experience with the first we went and gathered more to have a great frog world beginning day. I know it will be a good transition because my son cannot wait for them to become frogs. My childhood tadpole raising experience was great because when I let my frog go he stayed around the house catching insects for a very long time. I am hoping for the same experience for my son. Here are some pictures to let you in on our world of pets.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

My youngest newest pet addition



Hello all,

We have a new pet addition to our family. Today, we gave him a small turtle. I expressed to him that we will watch him for a few days and put him back into the pond.
It is all about learning the behaviors of animals and experiencing the care for them.
He is having such a grand time being in charge of something. Watching him is so enlightening for a parent because you all know I love nature. So to see your child mimic your behaviors but do it sometimes even better is so satisfying. Here is a glimpse through the eyes of my four year old. Enjoy!