She Made her Duck Decision May 1, 2009

Thank you to everyone who commented on yesterday's post!  I am glad to know you are out there.  I was not feeling forlorn, just wondering if I was being a silly girl typing away to an audience of none!  I'm glad you like my ramblings and I'm thrilled you like the variety.  Thank you!  If you haven't commented but would be willing, I'd love to still hear from people!

I hung out with Joseph today figuring out my poultry needs and blowing his mind with what can be done with technology.  It was a lovely exchange of ideas.  We zipped over for a quick stop at the Cooperative Extension Service Plant Sale at the Rochester Fair Grounds.  I didn't purchase. I was intrigued by the idea of fruit trees and hazelnuts, but having done zero research, I decided not to make an impulse purchase.  Fruit is something I'd like in the future, but for now I will juggle veggies, chickens and ducks and see what next year brings.

There are so many fabulous things you can do for a sustainable lifestyle, but the key is to do things well.  If you don't do them well, they are not sustainable, even if they aren't tied to oil and the like.  Health and Vigor are important and someone spread too thin, with a lack of knowledge, will not produce the kind of animals or veggies they could, if they scaled back, and took time to learn and grow as their crops, flocks or herds grew.

I have decided about ducks.  We are going with my initial thoughT, of about 6 months ago, and will be raising blue cayuga ducks.  They will brood well, so we will have them raise up some meat birds for fall, and they will lay about as well as a chicken, so we will have plenty of eggs this winter between the ducks and the chickens.  I will be picking them up from Joseph on Monday.  We'll let them get settled then work on getting them to brood out a clutch of ducklings.  Very exciting!

Mini and Husband played in the woods.  I love that my little girl plays outside so much, with her daddy.  Daddy's have such a different view of the world than Mama's...at least often times they do.  If I had been with Mini when she found the deer skull I would have taken a picture of her near the bone, and we would have continued along the way.  Husband on the other hand helps her find a few more scattered bones, collects them and brings them back to the house to show me what they found.

A reminder for the locals:  First Portsmouth Farmers Market of the season is tomorrow! 

From the Seacoast Eat Local Blog:

Seacoast Growers’ Association’s weekly Portsmouth Farmers’ Market opens Saturday, May 2, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Five additional markets open the first week of June in Dover, Durham, Exeter, Hampton and Kingston.

Rain or shine, more than 50 local vendors can be found every Saturday in the City Hall lot on Junkins Avenue. Local produce, flowers and garden plants, meats and dairy, breads and pastries, prepared foods, fine crafts and more are fresh for the taking, sold directly by the people who grow and make each item.

What you’ll find

Year-round provisions such as fresh greens, maple syrup, wine, meats and baked goods are plentiful in the market’s early weeks, while other vegetables and fruits are yet growing and ripening to be picked.

Spring is also an especially good time to walk the aisles in search of the perfect plants for your own gardens-or to give as Mothers’ Day gifts. Vegetable and herb starts, bedding plants, perennials and hanging flower baskets abound. Not sure the difference between a Brandywine or a Jet Star tomato? Curious if a snapdragon will grow on your shaded porch? Ask the grower, and get some advice on pest control while you’re at it. Farmers’ markets are an excellent opportunity to learn.

Comments

[jennifer]

Oh the Farmers market sounds wonderful. If only i were there. Hopefully we'll be able to get out to our market in the next few weeks. Saturdays are my only days to sleep in and right now I'm totally needing the extra z's. I can't wait to see pics of the ducks. I love ducks- I'm pretty sure that we can't have them as pets on base (although are they truly considered Livestock?)

[Andrea]

Hey ~

I have seen two little plastic pools at the recycling center two weeks in a row but didnt have your phone number in my mobile phone.
If I see another, would you like one for the duckies?

~A