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  • Home
  • Blog
  • SHOP
  • social
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • Meet The Animals
    • The Ducks
    • The Clydesdales
  • Resources
    • Printables
    • Classes & Workshops
    • Recipes
  • PODCAST

Plants to Grow for the Flock

1/18/2021

 
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I always make sure to include crops for the flock when planning my annual gardens. Ducks, chickens and geese all benefit from both fresh and dried herbs, flowers and vegetables. Many are medicinal and offer immune support in addition to being tasty treats. Here’s a few I grow and how I use them in the coop:

Lemon Balm (shown)
I use this in my nesting buckets both fresh (summer) and dried (winter) because it’s a naturally calming plant. The strong lemon scent is a great pest and insect deterrent plus this hardy perennial grows back vigorously each year. Careful—it can spread quickly!

Basil
I offer basil leaves fresh in the summertime as a snack. These fragrant leaves are a natural antibacterial and help repel flies.

Anise Hyssop
An absolute favorite of mine. I cut the tall stalks in bunches and hang in the coop in the summer. The scent repels flies as the herb dries. The dried plants are then shredded and packed for later use in nesting boxes in colder weather. Anise Hyssop smells like licorice and is said to calm birds while also helping relieve congestion if taken internally.

Nasturtium
These sweet flowers keep unwanted pests away in the garden plus they attract pollinators. I like to pluck the flowers and feed them to my ducks and geese in the summer and fall as floating treats in their water buckets. They love their peppery flavor and some folks believe them to be a laying stimulant (I have not tried this).

Thyme
Thyme is an amazing plant. It’s filled with healing properties; it’s antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiseptic, an anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant... basically anything “anti-“ that’s good. It’s great for placing around bumblefoot-affected birds in their bedding as it is said to aid in staph infections if used topically or ingested.

Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper, ground into a powder, can be sprinkled on top of feed. It acts as a natural dewormer—and, if your flock isn’t laying because of a parasitic cause, cayenne pepper can help them restart.

The list goes on and on. What do you grow for your flock and why?
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10 Things to KNow About Keeping Geese

1/13/2021

 
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I’m getting guardian goose questions on repeat lately as people start to place their spring chick/duckling/gosling orders. So let’s talk about what a goose can and can’t do for the homestead.
  • A goose can deter hawks and other small predators like snakes, rats, skunks and maybe even raccoons because of their size.
  • A goose can not physically fend off a coyote, fox, large raccoon or other large predators. But they can sound their alarm to alert their farmer.
  • A gosling can protect your existing flock of chickens or ducks if raised alongside them. With visual access as a youngster, they will learn to see the existing flock as their own.
  • A goose generally does not do well as a solo goose. They are partnership oriented and if they aren’t provided with a goose mate, they will select a smaller bird which can be harmful.
  • A goose can provide the homestead with eggs, downy feathers, grass maintenance services and meat for those who process their animals. They are not recommended as lap birds as they will eventually see their farmer as lower in the hierarchy and can become aggressive. Speaking from experience there.
  • Geese can be aggressive—during breeding season especially. It’s import to choose the right breed for your situation. We have Large Dewlap Toulouse and Sebastapol (pictured) for their gentle disposition year-round with both people and our other animals.
  • Geese are not quiet animals. To expect them to be is unfair. While some are certainly more loud than others, don’t get a goose if you have sensitive neighbors.
  • Geese are very hardy and do well in cold climates. Sebastapols are more prone to a chill due to their unusual feathering but so long as they have shelter from wind, they’ll be okay.
  • Geese love a good water bath but a large body of water isn’t required. A kiddie pool for preening is a fine option.
  • Geese do not sleep outside at night. They need shelter from large predators.

For more information you can see my Instagram highlight of published articles I’ve written on geese called “Writing.” My website has a free goose guide download which I’ll also link to.
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11 More Tips for the Home Garden

1/13/2021

 
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You guys were so enthusiastic about my quick list of gardening tips I posted last week. Thanks for that! And many of you asked for more quick bits of info to apply to your own growing spaces. So, without further ado, here’s a few more things to keep in mind for the growing season:
  • Learn companion plant combinations. They hugely benefit crop health and yield (I.e. plant tomatoes and carrots together, avoid garlic and broccoli together, etc.).
  • An upside-down tomato cage is a great cucumber trellis. It works for zucchini too!
  • Nasturtiums are pollinator attractors, delicious edible flowers for humans, and deter pests from the garden.
  • Allysum is a great pollinator attractant and companion crop. In addition you can mulch it right back into your soil after it dies for a nutrient boost.
  • Plant tender lettuces under your tomatoes. They appreciate the partial shade and contribute nutrients that the tomatoes love to the soil.
  • Spray your walkway weeds with 30% industrial strength vinegar. This is much stronger than traditional vinegar. Spray on during a sunny morning. By night, the weeds are dead. Get the vinegar on amazon!
  • A garden that is watered everyday is less hardy than a garden watered every other. The latter has a longer root system as it reaches for water.
  • Sprinkle cinnamon on seedling soil when they’re in trays when starting. This keeps mold and gnats away.
  • Volesscram is an all natural essential oil and blood 🤮 product that can be sprinkled on garden pathways to deter voles.
  • If you have a slug problem, use a shallow dinner plate and pour beer on it at dusk. By morning, the slugs should have been attracted to the beer and drown.
  • For pillbug infestations (and for slugs too), place a scrap piece of lumber in your affected garden bed at dusk. In the morning remove the board and all the accumulated slugs and pillbugs that are stuck to it out of the garden.

Happy growing!
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Treating Horse Scratches

1/13/2021

 
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Group hugs after I groomed my horses and clipped Finnegan’s feathers (the long hair that grows around the hoof). Shaving is a last resort at my farm but I will do it if I need to. You see, bacteria, moisture, and mites get trapped in the hair especially during spring thaws and mud season. It becomes very itchy and irritating and, if left untreated, can even cause a horse to go lame from the pain (not to mention infection). To make it even trickier to battle, a treatment that works for one horse won’t necessarily work for another. Dozer does well on pig oil & sulfur applied weekly. She has no issues. But this actually irritates Finn further.

If your horse has Clyde Itch/Mud Fever/ Scratches (it’s all the same) here are some things to try:
  • MTG brand (Mane-Tail-Groom) oil applied and rubbed in weekly
  • Pig Oil and Sulphur applied weekly (similar to MTG without additives)
  • Homemade scratches ointment (equal parts triple antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone and diaper rash cream)
  • KrudZapper brand Ointment
  • KillItch brand shampoo
  • @coat_defense Drying Paste and Preventive Powder
  • Washing before any treatment is recommended BUT water is also the source of irritation. Clean off the mud and dry completely. I have found repeat washing only irritates the skin further.
  • Some vets recommend picking off any scabs. I do not.
  • CleanTrax hoof soak. Again, dry completely.
  • Shave the feathers to allow light and air to kill any remaining bacteria.

As always, with anything you apply be sure to do a patch test to make sure the horse has no allergic reaction. Additionally, keeping the horse away from mud and standing water is hugely helpful. I hope this helps! Feathered horse owners know this can be an ongoing battle to keep our babes comfortable.
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20 Plants Toxic to Sheep

1/7/2021

 
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Spring clearing is beginning for flower gardens! We have brushy areas here on the farm thick with grassy weeds. This is why we chose sheep in the first place (and for wool). They won’t eat woody growth but will happily forage on all things lush and grassy. When foraging, it’s always important to watch for toxic plants. In our area pokeweed, ivy, irises, chokecherry, St. John’s Wort and Black Locust are prevalent. A quick walk through the area to remove any unwanted growth beforehand, and also supervision, is helpful in keeping them safe and healthy.
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Soon I’ll be planting rows of zinnias, dahlias, cosmos, sunflowers and strawflowers. Can’t wait!
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And, because I know I will get asked, here are fourteen other toxic plants to sheep to watch for. This is not an exhaustive list so be sure to research your geographical region.
  • Acorns
  • Yew
  • Blue Lupine
  • Delphinium
  • Rhododendron
  • Oleander
  • Poppies
  • Foxglove
  • Ragwort
  • Nightshade
  • Centrum
  • Viburnum
  • Goat’s Rue
  • Cow Parsnip
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12 Tips for the Home Garden

1/4/2021

 
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I have been growing my own food in some form or another for almost 20 years. I started with containers on a patio then upsized my growing operation with each house I moved to. I don't know everything about gardening by any means, but I've experienced and learned a lot. So here's some tips I want to share with you as you start planning your next garden. I hope it helps!
  • Grow beans on your tallest trellis because they grow the fastest
  • Plant small squash and melons at the base of your sturdiest trellis because they weigh the most. Hammocks might be needed later on for the fruit.
  • Place a pea seed in your finished compost. If it sprouts, the compost is ready. If it doesn't, more time is needed.
  • Use row cover over your cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, romanesco and brussels sprout plants to prevent an infestation of cabbage worms.
  • Never, ever use hay as mulch in the garden; it's filled with seeds and will turn your garden into a field of grass in no time. Use straw instead.
  • Peas are the first crop to be planted in the garden. When the soil is no longer a frozen rock (aka "workable") and reaches roughly 45F, you can sow those seeds.
  • Never use bamboo poles for pea plants. They can't grip the poles and will sag.
  • Rotate crops always. If you're stumped on where to rotate plants to, follow the adage, "Beans, then roots. Greens, then fruit".
  • When you walk past your tomato plants in the summertime, give the blossoms a tap with your finger. It'll help distribute pollen and increase your crop yield.
  • Got aphids in the garden? Add ladybugs. They'll eat the aphids and leave when the aphids are gone.
  • Water motion sprinklers are the best deterrent for garden intruders. A deer or gopher will happily circumvent a fence if they can find a way. But they won't like a blast of water.
  • Plant radishes around cucumbers to prevent beetles.

There's so much more I could share but we'll call it good for now. 
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How to Know how much to grow

1/3/2021

 
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When it comes to growing your own food, the most common question I receive is, “How much of each crop do I plant?” Every person or family eats differently and favors certain crops. And some folks (like myself) grow for fresh eating and preservation. So here’s my advice: make a grocery list. What do you buy? How much? How often? Grow that. For example:

My family eats garden fresh tomatoes raw a couple of times per week (excluding all the Sungolds that never leave the confines of the garden before I eat them). We eat tomato sauce twice per week in pastas and pizza so I need about 104 pints of canned sauce. Take a look at your favorite tomato variety... what is the yield like? Different plants produce different amounts. In short, I personally grow 30-35 tomato plants. This provides us with enough fresh and canned tomatoes for a year. Plus I have some left to donate to the food pantry.

Calculating how much food to grow takes time. But if you’re serious about self-sufficiency and security when it comes to produce, it’s well worth it. Take some time to analyze your consumption and cross reference that with what plant varieties you like to grow. Therein lies your answer.
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    Angela is the farmer and content creator behind Axe & Root Homestead LLC. This historic six-acre permaculture farm is home to two Clydesdale horses, ten honeybee hives, five sheep, two guardian dogs, barn cats and a flock of 40 geese and ducks. The farm produces maple syrup, fruit from a small orchard and loads of garden produce for consumption, preservation and donation to the local food pantry.

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