The State of the Farm Blog Address

By Beth -
The other day, i was sitting on a bench, as i often do, during one of my breaks during the day at work, and something i read reminded me of my long unrequited desire to raise Muscovy Ducks.

A quick search on craigslist located a nearby raiser of these treasures, and this weekend, i plan to go and pick up a small flock of hatchling Muscovy Ducks and bring them home to my tiny farm.  And i am SO excited!  I just can't wait to show you pictures.  I've never had ducks before, and i'm just giddy.  

And not just because ducks have bills and look cute either.  

Muscovy Ducks are different from any of the quacking varieties of ducks that most of us have some familiarity with.  First of all, they don't quack.  Muscovies originate in central America, unlike pretty much all other ducks, and they fly, roost, have claws, are wonderful mothers, provide virtually all of their own food, and according to rumor, are some of the best meat you will ever eat.  And that's just a partial list.  I'm so jazzed!  Yes, jazzed.

Here is a picture of two full grown Muscovy drakes.  These big boys weigh in at about 15 pounds each.  

Those crazy red things on their faces are called carunkles.  Isn't that a funny word?  Say it again.  Carunkles.



Oh yeah and also, my number crunching super hero......oh look, here's a new picture......


Isn't he cute?  I love his new beard.  

Anyway, i digress.  He did some number crunching, and it appears that this year, we really are (Lord willing and the creek don't rise and something else strange and unforeseen doesn't happen) going to get bees this year!!!!!  As in this weekend!!!!!  O.k. we're going to give someone money in order to reserve our bees this weekend.  We won't actually get them for a couple of months.  It's a process.

Chickens and Ducks and Bees.  These are microfarm occupants i think i can manage to keep up with while working a full time non-farming job.  I think.

I'm certainly very excited to try!


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