Life on the Farm
Like most farmers, my husband and I can’t bear to throw away good parts. So when our old wheelbarrow rusted out, we salvaged the still-serviceable parts to build a better wheelbarrow. It was Allan’s inspiration to use the parts to...
Why do you suppose we humans believe we know what chickens are saying when they make certain sounds? It’s because humans convey emotion using the same system of vocalizing as chickens. The structure of any sound a chicken makes, or...
Creamed honey is often called whipped honey. If you wish to make your own, the first thing you need to know is this: Whipped honey is not whipped. You actually do not want to incorporate any air into so-called whipped...
The mysteries of the origin of chicken talk and human speech may be found in the goings-on among the frogs and toads in your farm pond, says my ornithologist friend Gene Morton, who has written extensively on animal behavior and...
Our area is outside normal black bear range. So when someone spotted one, about 5 miles from our farm, it created a stir throughout our community. Three days later our Reconyx motion activated camera caught this black bear crossing our...
Anyone who spends much time around chickens can tell by the sounds they make if they are frightened, contented, cautious, and a whole range of other emotions. But no one has definitively resolved the question: Exactly how many words do...
It’s been several years since massive flocks of grackles have visited our farm, as they once regularly did. Although grackles remain among North Americas most abundant birds, scientists have identified the common grackle among 33 bird species in steep decline....
Lebkuchen are spicy honey cookies traditionally served at Christmas time in Germany, and are an essential part of Christmas in our household. These cookies are not only delicious, but also pretty enough to give as gifts. Large and round, they...
Honey is a supersaturated solution of sugar and water, which means it contains more sugar than the water can naturally dissolve. Honey crystallizes when the water releases excess sugar. If you’ve ever had the fun of making rock candy, you...
Nubian kids are sometimes born with folded ears. If you don’t correct a goat kid’s folded ears right away, the ears will remain permanently folded. Why goat kids are born with folded ears is anyone’s guess. One conjecture is that...
