Introducing Tic, Tac & Toe

The first piglets were born last week. (June 2nd for those counting) It is very exciting, now that the nervous stage is over. While the litter was surprisingly small, Mama Doodle seems to be doing well at rearing these little piglets thus far. It is her (and our) first litter of piglets.

They are so very small when they are born (and still). Especially when you compare the 3 lb piglets with their 500 lb mama. Fortunately, she is being careful around them and they are learning to keep clear of her big hooves. Already at just over a week old, they are trying to dig in the dirt, chewing on grass and tumbling over each other. That is when they aren't nursing or burrowed in the straw for a nap.

More pictures and stories to come as they get bigger, but here are the littlest ones on the farm.

And their names - Tic, Tac and Toe because the naming theme for 2009 is Games. So all animals we acquire in 2009 will have a game name. Feel free to submit your favorites. Two new doelings to be named this week.

Piglets, Plants, and Lattes on the Hoof

A lot has happened on GMG Farm in the past two weeks!

After many days of anticipation, Doodle gave birth to her first litter of piglets. It was a small litter, and we are excited to welcome the three piglets, Tic, Tac, and Toe, to the farm! Doodle is doing a great job nursing and taking care of them, and we are often compelled to simply stand and watch them burrow through hay or nuzzle up to their mom for milk.

The hoop house is now full with tomatoes, tomatillos, peppers, and eggplants. The recent wind storm ripped the south side of the hoop house out of the ground, but Buzz, Will and DJ successfully put the poles back down in the ground where they belong the next day.

We have been busy transplanting into the main garden, and though we are currently working around a killdeer nest--a ground nesting bird that lays speckled eggs--kale, chard, cumin, parsley, brussels sprouts, lettuce, broccoli, onions, and more are digging their roots down deeper into the soil and growing each day.

As always, the goats are milked twice a day: in the morning and at night. And what better way to start the day than with a latte? Mari brewed some fresh coffee and we added the milk right from the source for the freshest lattes you can get! Thanks to Jenga the goat for the delicious milk!

Want to be involved in the fun? Check out the Green Mountain Girls Farm CSA, beginning in July, and make connections with the farm while adding delicious local food to your home.

Thank You Pigs

Today we had to say goodbye to two pigs, Revere and Drum. They had done their job here on our farm and will now provide healthy food for many people. People say you shouldn't name animals that you are raising for meat, it makes it too hard. But on our farm, name or no name, we knew those two pigs -- we only had 5. We did take a moment to say goodbye and thank them for the food they would soon provide. They just looked at me, content as ever, as the trailer pulled away. Just how I want our animals to be. They didn't live a long life, but a healthy, calm, contented one.

I was a vegetarian for 20 years - mostly because I had deep concerns (and still do) about how most meat is raised and whether it is healthy for us, the animal and our world. But I know how this pork was raised - on organic grain (with plenty of garden/kitchen cuttings and some fresh goat's milk these past few weeks), on pasture and plenty hay in the winter, having plenty of space to move around and with love (mostly conveyed via scratching behind the ears and of course belly rubs).

Saying goodbye to these pigs wasn't the easiest farm job, but I am thrilled to be able to offer meat that was raised in a manner that is healthy for us, the animal and our world.

And as a part of completing the circle of life...Doodle is due with piglets in 2 weeks.

Chicks have Arrived!

Baby chicks are so very fluffy and cute. Round balls of down with the tiniest wings starting to form.
Our first batch of chicks arrived this week and the barn is full of "cheep, cheep". They have a zest for life and are dashing to and fro. Even at this young (3 days old) age, they were excited to receive some lettuce sprouts that were thinned during transplanting.

It has been a busy few weeks with seedlings, orchard planting, and getting all of the animals ready to be rotating through our pastures for the summer. - More photos, videos and stories to come soon.

Omnivore's Farm Share Available

We are offering a Farm Share that:

• Provides local, organically managed Meat, Eggs, Vegetables, Herbs, Fruit, Flowers and Dairy
• Enables you to choose how much and what you want each week - Free Choice Model
• Invites you to share our farm - pond swims, picnics, trails & animal visits
• Supplies food all year, including some prepared foods as well as frozen, canned and stored summer produce for the winter months.

Farm Shares are now available for our introductory season
(July-Dec 2009)
$50/week per share. 1 share = 1 adults, kids under 10 no charge, 10-16 =1/2 share.

You join for the season. Each week we will provide plenty of vegetables and fruit that are in season in addition to pork, chicken and/or beef, and eggs and milk. You pay one price for the season and get to choose what you bring home each week, both the items and the quantity.

For more details - see the Omnivore's Farm Share Brochure
Call or email us with any questions
GreenMtnGirls@gmail.com
802-505-1767 or 802-505-1768

Kids on the Farm

Last week, we had enthusiastic visitors and farm helpers. Lou and Ella helped feed all the animals, clean their stalls, carry water, collect & package eggs and of course, admire our goats, chickens and pigs. Early on, Lou noted, "We have to do our work first, then maybe we can play." What a work ethic, at six. Yes, Lou (6) and Ella (3+), were small helpers but dedicated ones.


It was a joy to watch Ella talk to the chickens, reassuring them, and admonishing them if they weren't behaving well. Lou focused his attention on our goats, his true love, but he also patiently waited and watched for the hens to lay more eggs. His ability and desire to observe our animals surpassed many of our adult guests. We miss their help and I know our animals miss the extra attention.

Lou and Ella seem to know something I discover only when I let myself slow down. It is a joy and wonder to watch animals move, grow and interact. And when they are as cute as pigs and goats, it is even easier. Our guest house will be open this summer for others looking to enhance their kids (or your own) farm education.

Nice View

The other day, as our chickens were out scratching in the dirt that had emerged from months under the snow. This New Hampshire Red hen took a moment to enjoy the view of the expanded pond. We did a major expansion of our little tiny pond due to the fact that we have an artesian well that overflows about 2.5 gallons every minute, all year long. So once the ice melts (and for some once the water warms a bit) there will be nice swimming and just the enjoyment of water.
And the hen is right, it is a nice view from the top of the stone wall.