Borderline Farm

Those of you following us on Facebook or MeWe, the answer to yesterday's question is at the end of this video. Pigs can be challenging to stalk up on. Those big ears work really well and those noses are absolutely incredible. You can tell she suspects something about halfway in when her ears go back. Then the wind swirled just as I was about 3 feet from having her in reach. Its good I didn't spook her too well though, she's a great momma, did not step or squish a single baby this time but if I freak her out too bad, all bets are off.

Our sow only birthed 4 viable piglets this last Sunday which was a pretty big disappointment (she had 11 viable piglets at last breeding) but at least she blessed us with these 4. She's a great momma, is very careful, attentive and protective! But she's also incredibly food motivated so I was able to lure her away for a few minutes. If I'd kept recording you would have seen her come down the hill after emptying her feed pan, grunting and pressing me back away from the nest. Its still hard to tell quite yet but looks like 3 gilts and 1 boar.

Just a short walk out to handle the morning feed.

Pollinators are out, getting it done before the rains hit.

Peppers look amazing.....squash bugs are overwhelming.

A feral bee colony got knocked out of an oak tree at Thurston Woods, in Sturgis, MI right next to a playground. Unfortunately the hive was a total loss but I did clean it up to make it as safe for everyone as I could.

They've been separated from their sow mommas for 4 days at the time of this video. Electric wire training starts tomorrow.

Things are really starting to heat up!

Almost 2 months old, and ready for their independence!

I may have been a little premature when describing our Japanese Beetle situation!

Wish you could feel this breeze!

We got rain! You can really tell the difference from the video two weeks ago.

Yeah, don't worry about me, momma. I'm just the idiot trying to grow all those expensive fruit trees you and your babies love to chow down on so much.

Pastured Berkshire piglets following their mommas to the feed

Just our Berkshire gilts sleeping in late.

Lots growing, but still behind!

Just a little NZ kit sippin' at the waterer.

Our gilts have a new guest staying for a few weeks. A neighbor friend's Berkshire boar stopped in this evening and is working on making friends with the girls. Looks like they're not quite ready to settle in for the night. I bet the snow thats on the way changes their minds pretty soon though!

Less than 24 hrs old. Didn't uncover them since its only 22°F outside with wind chill down to 11°F. But looks like she's doing it right so far!

Our poor boar guest can't quite catch a break. Added this wind block so that the only direction it can blast them from is the SE. Guess where it came from last night...?

The realtor missed an opportunity by not telling everyone how stunning the sunsets are here. We try to catch them every night, even if it's just for a few moments. (Pictures taken in 30 second intervals.)

Music - Kevin Rowe "A Great Calm" Can't wait for this, again! It's time to order bottles for maple syrup and jars for jam....then we'll be starting seeds around the same time we prune the orchard! Almost no down time on a homestead, so we'll be posting an updated summer garden video before we know it.

One of our gilts, blowing bubbles waiting on me to get her food ready.

A fairy ring just outside our fenced back yard. We've since cleared the pines and have planted blueberries in their place.