Welcome Friends!

We're in the middle of deep winter here in Troy (Maine) and our hairy cows are weathering the cold and snow better than the fat grey squirrels that feast on our bird feeder.  As you can see, Jasmine (front, with snow on her snout) is plumper than ever while Doris (rear, spacing out as usual) is holding her own place at the hay feeder.  Four of our "ladies" are expecting calves this summer and early fall, and, in addition to the hay, receive rations of minerals to help them keep up their health in winter.

At Highland Farms of Troy, we currently have 8 Scottish Highland cows.  The 4 hoped-for additions (or "coupons" as some cow-calf farmers call 'em) will bring our little "fold" (herd) up to an even dozen.  So I guess we'll be busy this summer getting in the hay!

We use deep winter to regroup ourselves after a hectic spring, summer and fall.  During those other months, we're frenetic growing much of our own food, including popcorn (very necessary for those movie nights), Indian corn for grinding and cornbread, and dry beans (yes, we Mainers still eat baked beans and corn bread on Saturday night).  So when winter comes along -- the slow season -- we take a deep breath, throw a few sticks of rock maple into the woodstove, and settle into the armchair with a good book.  

Currently, I'm reading "The Real Dirt" (Toward Food Sufficiency and Farm Sustainability in New England) by UNH professor John E. Carroll.  I'm a locavore myself, but even I was shocked by some of the sobering statistics Carroll presents, such as the fact that New England is less than 10% food self-sufficient.  Here's a link to "The Real Dirt" http://www.unh.edu/news/cj_nr/2011/mar/bp28book.cfm

In addition to being a farmer, Jennifer (that's me) is an itinerant Quaker minister and writer.  I recently completed a six-visit stint with the First Universalist Church of Norway (Maine), filling the pulpit while they're without a settled minister.  My off-beat spiritual messages were such a hit (they say) that I've published them as an eBook.  If you're looking for something a little deeper to read this winter, here's a suggestion http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006Z8B2XA

Thanks for spending a little time with us today.  You can follow our adventures here in Troy on Twitter @ChickenJen.

We'll see you again real soon.

Jen and Stan (a/k/a "Cranberry Man" -- but that's fodder for another post)