Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday season.

I've been reflecting on all of the accomplishments to our home and farm for this past year to try to banish the impatience I feel at everything that I still want done. Hugh and I have put in a lot of fencing, about 1500 feet (livestock page wire fence, chain link, cedar privacy fence & temporary fencing). We've installed 5 different gates, 2 of which I built with the kids. We have a lovely pool to look forward to, come early summer. Planted a few trees & shrubs (Weeping Willow, Weeping Mulberry, Crimson King Red Maple, Juniper, Stella Cherry, 3 Chippewa Blueberries, currant, raspberry & gooseberry, lilacs). I had 18 lambs this past year and finally organized myself to sell some of the surplus products: sheep, wool, lamb and eggs.

This year I plan to add meat chickens to the livestock. The front pasture will need dividing into 3 separate pastures so that I can accomplish proper pasture rotation for my sheep and their lambs expected to arrive mid-April. I'd like to plant more fruit trees and expand the "blueberry patch" if the 3 shrubs I planted last spring succeed. All this and more is planned for 2011.

I wish to thank everyone who has supported my little farm this past year. Especially for my customers, I've decided to share some of my favourite recipes featuring Hill Grove Farm lamb and eggs. Look for them in upcoming posts.