Bad Storm = too much water

Last night's storm dumped way too much water way to fast here.  In between storm one and two I went out to check all the huts for flooding and had one hut flooded.  Skittish just had babies yesterday morning (10 new little ones) her hut had standing water in it.  Dan and I had to open up her pen and move her hut to a dry area.  Most of you would think this is no big deal but what you don't know is pigs are major creatures of habit.  They absolutely hate change!

We got her to go into the dry hut easily enough but the piglets kept laying back down where the hut originally was.  "This is where I was born and this is where I belong".  Yes, if you listen you can hear them speak to you.  It took Dan and I about 15 minutes to get them to go into the dry hut.  It took so long because you cannot pick them up and move them, you kind of have to shoe them in.  If you pick up a piglet it squeals and then mom comes after you.  Yes that happened a few times last night.  I can tell you, you do not want a 400 lb angry sow coming after you.  She can and will do major damage.

Thankfully that was the only hut that had to be moved.  Now the sun is shining and all is quite and calm

Copy of a customers blog from the Party

Forest Pigs Hate Johnny Cash 05/10/2011 0 Comment(s)   Pulling up to C & D Family Farms in Knox, Indiana, the last thing I expected to find was a lush, expansive forest filled with pigs. Forest pigs. The porcine paradise of shaded swine was awaiting us (us being my sister, Kim, brother-in-law, Bob, and their kiddos, Simon and Louie), after driving two hours southeast of Chicago to attend CSA member appreciation day held at the farm. Yes, there are meat CSAs. The pigs roamed, rooted, nursed and grunted to the sweet smell of grilled pork, bratwurst, pulled pork, pork burgers, bacon burgers and more, all made from their siblings. Under the trees and amid the mud, 200+ pigs are fenced in with wire fencing, but generally have run of the woods--which they took advantage of as soon as the on-site band started playing "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash. More than 40 large pigs sprinted from one end of the lot to the other trying, unsuccessfully, for a prison break. The farm, which is owned by Crystal and Dan Nells, is a true labor of love. The couple moved to their house in the woods years ago, and decided that they wanted to find a way to earn a living off of their land. After much research, they decided to breed, raise and sell hogs. "You gotta like their shit," says Dan, pointing to his pants, which are, indeed, covered in pig shit. Dan went on to say that he yells at people all day during his day-job, but the pigs? "You don't have to yell at them," he said. You speak quietly and they listen. The pigs ranged in size from tiny squealing piglet to intimidating 800-pound boar. Allow me to indulge you in some fun facts: * Light skinned pigs get sunburned, and forest pigs are protected from the sun. * Pigs can live for about nine years. * They breed continuously from the time they're sexually mature. * With all the pressure and expectations mounted on them, boars often experience ED so artificial insemination is common. * The pigs go to "market" at about 5 and a half months. * The runts and the babies who get injured are actually the lucky ones. The Nells take them into their home to nurse them back to health. They often strike up a liking for the critters, so those are the ones who are destined for breeding--rather than bacon. * If a piglet is rough while nursing, it's mother will stop feeding it. It's then separated into a different pen and fed goat milk (see, humans aren't the only species who drink the milk of another species.) It was refreshing to see pigs living such a nice (albeit short) life, and it was great meeting the Nells--salt of the earth folks with a penchant for pork. This is how they describe their farm on their website: "Our philosophy is simple, we are all on this earth to live. While they are going to become food we want them to live the best and most comfortable life they can while they are here. Just as we are trying to do. You can taste the difference love makes." Can't beat that, can you? Love tastes like bacon.

What A Party

I must say customer appreciation day was a great success.  While rain was in the forecast it held off for quite a while.  When it did come it didn't stay for long and the day ended with sunny sky's.  We had a bon fire going the whole day.  Three of our completely free range pigs (Baby Ear, Allia and Foot) were roaming the property and did not cause the damage I feared they would. 

We did make a major discovery.  Pigs don't like bands!  No way, no how.  When the band started playing the entire farm freaked out.  The pigs were very scared.  They went to corners of their pens and wouldn't move.  Even in the rain, they wouldn't go into their huts, they just huddled in groups.  So, unfortunately the band didn't play very long. 

Customers (and friends) met Dan for the first time.  One of the customers told Dan they thought he was a figment of my imagination and that I just made up the name of the farm.  Even one of my friends from the market told Dave they didn't think Dan really existed.  Well now many of you can attest to the fact Dan is a real person.  Dan is a full time electrician so when he isn't working at his electrical job (in Chicago) he spends all his time on the farm. 

Dan gave full and very informative tours of the farm.  Dave filled in a couple of times to give Dan a break but for the most part Dan was in his element.  If Dan had it his way he would never leave the farm.  He absolute loves being with the animals, so much that he sings to them.  Both Dan and Dave know every single pig on the farm.  They know their individual personalities, their likes and dislikes.  I on the other hand know your individual personalities and likes and dislikes.  While Dave loves the farm (as you know he moved out hear last October) he also loves the farmers markets and can't wait for them to start.  That is why this works so well.  Dan loves being on the farm.  I love the farmers markets and all my customers and Dave is the best of both of us. 

The food was great!  One customer brought piggy cupcakes.  As promised the grill was going the whole day.  I had also made a ham and pulled pork.  Next year I will skip the ham and make at least 2 batches of the pulled pork.  The guys made pork burgers, sausage links and pork chops.  The customers provided us with plenty of wonderful side dishes and desserts. 

All in all it was a great day and fun was had by all.  If you missed this years party, next years party (mark your calendars early) is Saturday, May 5.

Thank you all for coming!

Luke and Samantha get new room mates

Dave got quite the surprise this morning when he took milk out to Luke and Samantha.  As he was pouring the milk in their bowl he looked in the back of their hut and saw big yellow eyes.  He looked again and saw that it was Onix, our pregnant barn cat, no longer pregnant with a ball of kittens. 

Dave came in to tell me that the two pregnant pigs we are waiting to have piglets had not had their litters but there was new life on the farm.  I immediately guessed that we had the kittens we have been awaiting.  He told me to guess where she had them.  I guessed a pig pen and he told me in the back of Luke and Samantha's hut.

We went outside to count the kittens and take pictures of them.  Luke and Samantha were lying right in front of mama cat and her new litter.  Mama was quite friendly, letting us pet her as she purred away.  The kittens all seem to be in good health.

Mama (Onix) and the father, Carmel are now proud parents of 7 new kittens.  Carmel is long haired and orange so I have been hoping for some calico kittens and it appears that I have gotten my wish. 

This Rain Needs to STOP

The rain is steadily falling and the pigs are all staying in their huts.  The property looks like one big mud pit.  In places the grass seed is coming in.  Hopefully when this rain is finished with us we will be able to move the pigs around to new clean pens.

When you come for customer appreciation day please do not where good clothes or sandals.  Nothing you care if it gets dirty.  Dirt and pig farm kind of go hand in hand.

Today we have someone coming out to price grading and stoning many places that have been rutted and ripped up this winter.

The work around here is never done and the rain is putting a damper on getting everything cleaned up before May 7. 

Our New Truck is Coming

Thanks to Rick Bayless and the Frontera Grant we are getting a new (used) and as you can see much larger truck.  We are going to be able to add upright freezers inside this truck so that we can be more organized and find items much quicker.  As many of you know having only the 2 1/2 chest freezers some items could take us quite a bit of time to find because inevitably what anyone wanted would be at the bottom.

Now we will be organized and be able to see what we do and do not have on the truck for easier restocking.  I spent a lot of time looking for a vehicle with the step down curb side door just like this to also make our lives easier for getting in and out of the vehicle.  We will also be able to stand up straight.  That in itself is a major plus. 

We will continue to use the van at our "smaller" markets but for markets like Lincoln Square and Andersonville where no matter how much we stock on the van we would run out of many items we will be using the bigger truck.

We are excited to be able to serve you better and faster this coming market season.

I will be flying to Columbus Ohio next Friday, April 29 to pick up our new truck. 

Clean Bill of Health

Let me start by saying that I apologize for the delay since my last post.  I have been sick for the past 5 days and just haven't felt like doing anything not 100% necessary.  Sorry!

Frankie (Franklin's son) got his stitches out today and received a clean bill of heath.  He is getting bigger by the day.  With piglets you can literally sit and watch them grow.  We brought another piglet in the house basically to keep him company but he did have an open cut on his foot so he is better off.  His little friends name is Lil John.  Yes, after the rapper that is on Celebrity Apprentice.  We are really scrapping for names these days so if you have any suggestions we are open to them.

At any rate, Frankie and I went to the vet today (an actual vet trip that cost me no money) where he to ooohed and aaahed over.  A little boy was enthralled with him.  An older couple couldn't believe it was a "real" pig, not a pot belly pig.  At 5 lbs now it is hard to believe that in a short period of time he will be over 300 lbs and ready to breed.  He got an ointment to soften up the scar but other then that he should be ready to go outside by Saturday. 

I have to tell you that I am really looking forward to having no piglets in the house for a while.