January Farm Plan

Updated with progress 1/18

This year we have put together a farm plan to keep us on track for the coming year. I thought I would share it each month along with updates about what we have completed. 

Gardening:

Start lettuce

Start onions - done

Start sweet potatoe slips

Start cilantro - done

Order seeds - in progress

Animals:

Get pig farrowing shed ready - both sows are expected to farrow.  - done and pigs in shed

Note - we are maintaining 2 sows and a boar. Both sows farrow once per year and we expect to raise out 10-12 pigs for fall butchering. One sow will be replaced this year from off farm. 

Incubate first batch of chicks. 

Crops and Feed:

Disc garden - we usually get an early dry spell before the rainy season and if I want to plant peas in February, I have to disc early. - done

Finish threshing out seed for next year - sorghum and dry beans - beans done

Harvesting and Food Presrvation:

Can pumpkin - done

Dehydrate garlic - done

Can and dry hominy - done

Gather sap and make maple syrup - taps in but weather no cooperating

Can butter - goal 5 pints per week - in progress 12 pints so far

Dehydrate milk - in progress

Dehydrate buttermilk - in progress

Dehydrate eggs

Crack and shell nuts - walnuts and hazelnuts - walnuts done

Butcher steer (this would usually be done in Dec)

Butcher pigs (this would usually be done in Nov)

Miscellaneous Farm:

Gather downed limbs for firewood - pulled out of forest, need to haul to wood shed

Tan cow hide

Cut firewood

Fabric and Fiber:

Sew personal items - partially done

Make beeswax bags and food wraps - partially done

Spin wool for knitting - 2 balls done, need at least 1 more this onth

Knit 4 sets of socks - in progress

Cut out and piece a quilt top

Family Medicine Chest:

Make tallow soap

Make family de-wormer

Orchard and Berries:

Spray for peach curl

Prune blueberries and grapes -done

Root desired bushes and vines - done

Projects:

Finish processing room and get outside wood cookstove in operation. 

Horse training is on-going by older girls.