If I won the lottery...

I'd give give give!

Hint hint hint...

Blog post or rally cry for donations?

Too funny

One of cold antler farms sponsors is a farm fence supply store...

Field Fresh!

Just picked!

Location: Food Lion Purcellville, VA

Tomatoes pictured are a blend of American, Mexican, and Canadian produce.

False advertising? 

I'd say so.

Woe is me, said she

http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/2013/05/double-entendre.html?m=1

"Can we please stay inside until daybreak? Please." And I grabed a bag of chick feed to lead them back into the main gates by the horse's paddock. Merlin and Jasper watched the parade behind me, giving me their own heckles for rewarding acts of anarchy. One by one the sheep came back inside the fence to join Sal and the Cotswolds who didn't escape. Then in the near black of real nightfall I walked up the hillside repairing holes and hatches in the poor quality fencing. What I needed was a clean, fresh, string of electric wire right at nose level. I had a new grounding rod on order at the hardware store and plans to do it this week. But for now it's all about reaction and repairs. I did what I could and prayed it would make it till morning. The last thing I needed was a school bus driver beating on my door to tell me to move my livestock out of the road.

This morning, they of course escaped again. Three times. And right now this blog post is the first writing I have done all day. That's a crime and a pity with two weeks to a manuscript deadline. But a woman needs to vent, so there you go."

Previous days post:

http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/2013/05/lambing-soon-escape-is-nigh.html?m=1

"I like watching the flock this late breeding season. They are all stuck in one paddock, the ground all eaten down to moss with petals of apple blossoms all over like falling snow. They eat and bitch, circle and butt heads. As a woman (albeit, not a mother) I can tell when others who share the gender want more personal space. Atlas the ram seems only interested in food, his job done for a while. He has escaped (and lead three other escape attempts) into the woods so far in search of the lushness all around the fence lines. I guess it's hard to deal with that level of matriarchy inside a fence? But sheep escapes are easy to thwart. A bucket of grain and a lifted bit of woven wire they can shimmy under and they are back inside the safe zone. I have been repairing the weak areas these past three days, trying to stop all the exploration committees, but Atlas is clever. He knows exactly the spots I have missed. Jerk."

Fact:
1. Cold Antler Farm fencing is of 'poor quality' and 'weak' (the Woginrich way?)
2. Quality of grazing in the sheeps pasture? Ground eaten down (the knowledge of how her farming techniques are harming the soil, increasing erosion, and contributing to agricultural runoff is a fright)
3. Edible vegetation just beyond the fence sheep are repeatedly attempting to (and successfully do) access.
4. Acknowledging the ewes interest in increased personal space as lambing nears.
5. sheep escapes are easy to thwart (hey, she said it not me).
6. Existing woven wire fence is so pliable merely lifting it allows enough space for sheep to pass under back into their paddock (albiet temporarily).  paddock rather than pasture or field which would actually contain grass.
7. Fencing is constructed to contain animals (safe zone...ding ding ding, she's on to something here folks)
8. The sheep are targeting and exiting through 'missed' areas (maybe the second set of eyes is needed to bring attention to the faulty fencing? Jerk? Nah, I'd call that guidance).
9. Several days of fence repair to no avail. Isn't there some quote on doing things right the first time?
10. Jenna likes watching the flock...butting heads and searching the fence line for routes out of the fence to graze.
11. Believes the answer includes fresh electric wire and new grounding rod (making sure to add its on order so nothing can be done at this time).  Do sheep even require the reinforcement of electric fencing
12. Reaction and repairs make for a better blog story than fool/sheep proof preventative fencing measures.
13. This individual has had sheep for years and offers pricey workshops where you can learn how to keep sheep (though, probably not how to keep them in an enclosure).
14. Prays the sheep will stay behind a fence, and asks them please stay in...at least until daybreak.
15. The last thing needs is a school bus driver knocking (I mean pounding) on the door to let her know Cold Antler Sheep are in the road.  let's not factor in the safety of the sheep (or investment - hit by car? Possibly down a ewe and lamb) or those driving vehicles past the property. 

Fallacy
1. Any of this being a pity or crime....well, for anyone but the sheep and the vehicles passing her property.

Get it together girl, there's more to farming than writing.

Reinvented village...

<p>...need to find one or start 'our' own.</p>
<p>Currently jobless and essentially homeless...all research leads to the same pit of despair. </p>
<p>There's got to be a better more fulfilling way to live.</p>
<p>All my life I've been viewed as a burden, tippy toeing around, hush, be quiet, don't need, certainly don't inconvenience, do your best to be invisible. As if my presence (now combined with my dogs) is painfully offensive. </p>
<p>A difficult work environment is one thing, trying rentals and landlords another...but after a house fire and now w/o work (constructive dismissal, drafting my paperwork for the EEOC) I am in a position where I need help and am relying on others.&#160; </p>
<p>After the fire I stayed with a friend, turned bf for a brief time (opportunistic bastard who should have protected me while in shock and in my greatest time of need), turned 'friend'.&#160; As I healed mentally from the fear of the fire I experienced a very painful unethical and more than likey illegal situation at work (will share in EVERY detail once my application is complete) that completely knocked me down, held me down, and kicked me each time I tried to stand.&#160; Im a fighter through and through, soon enough those wrongs became my source of power and healing began.&#160; </p>
<p>With strength renewed and clarity I hadn't known on months, I realized staying with this 'friend' was hurtful, not helpful and I needed out.&#160; Playing by the rules of another (despite paying 1/2 rent) isn't for me.&#160; Silence turned into suggestions, which turned to demands and threats.&#160;&#160; The midnight temper tantrum get out now card? Don't throw it at me. I paid my rent, will make alternative arrangements, and leave when I see fit.</p>
<p>So off the dogs and I went....</p>
<p>....to stay with my parents for the first time in my adult life. In the basement of course, as any proper almost 30 year old does.  Finished basement, this is Loudoun County after all....

Twister

PA, NJ, PA, VA, NJ, GA, PA, NJ, VA...and about a dozen (or so) in state moves since. Taking a breather in PA at the moment.  This picture was taken at an elementary school where I spent the first half of 3rd grade.

Wednesday night prayer service