Devonviolet Acres

[frustratedearthmother]

I've actually read a couple of articles that say you can freeze them - but I've never tried it and would be kind of afraid to. Looks like @Devonviolet has had experience that says it's not a great idea. I keep mine in the fridge covered with milk when I want them to go "dormant." This last batch has been in there for probably 6 months. I meant to change the milk occasionally - but shame on me - I didn't. The grains looked good though when I drained them. I guess I'll know in a couple of days if they survived my neglect.

 

[Devonviolet]

I keep mine in the fridge covered with milk when I want them to go "dormant." This last batch has been in there for probably 6 months. I meant to change the milk occasionally - but shame on me - I didn't. The grains looked good though when I drained them. I guess I'll know in a couple of days if they survived my neglect.

Ideally the milk should be replaced once a week, to keep the grains healthy and strong. However, as long as they are in the fridge, they remain more or less dormant, so if you don’t replace the milk that often, it isn’t the end of the world. Actually, since I was waiting for Angelica’s milk to turn sweet and didn’t have fresh goat milk, and I didn’t want to buy a whole gallon of Jersey Girl’s milk ($6/gallon + gas to drive the 20 miles round trip), I just left the grains in the same milk, in the fridge for about 3-1/2 weeks. That batch of Kefir was pretty strong tasting, but the next day, after straining the grains and adding a pint of fresh goat milk, the Kefir was really good. And oh so good for my gut!!!

For the uninitiated, the probiotics, in Kefir are really good for building up the immune system. The immune system resides in the gut and the probiotics in Kefir, cultured vegetables and Kombucha all help keep the bad bacteria, in the gut, balanced, so they can’t destroy the immune system, and make you sick. They actually keep the body healthy, so it can fight off colds, flu and other illnesses.

A good place to read some excellent information about it is at:

www.culturedfoodlife.com

Donna Schwenk has experienced the life saving benefits of cultured foods. She had a really sick baby, many years ago, and feeding her cultured foods (I think she started with Kefir), actually saved her life. Donna and the rest of her family also have some amazing stories about feeling better when eating cultured foods. So, check it out . . .

 

[Devonviolet]

Thought I would share an idea I came up with, to keep freshly milked goat milk, chilled until I can get it in the house.

I pot ice & water in a stainless steel Bain Marie (but any tall narrow container would do). I fill it about 1/4 full, so it doesn't overflow when I put the 1/2 gallon jar of milk into it

As soon as I am finished milking I immediately put the jar in the ice water, so it starts chilling down.

If I am delayed going back to to the house (which happens more often than not), I give the jar a shake to mix the cold milk with the warm milk, to get the milk towards the top, of the jar, cold.

ETA: Three nights, in a row, Calendula did not get put in the barn. Last night she WAS put in the barn and this morning was the first time I got a FULL half gallon (plus about 3/4 cup!) So, @Baymule, I’m getting closer to being able to have enough Kefir to sell. It may take a little while, though, because one of my friends, has a GI health issue, that requires Kefir, so initially I am making sure she has what she needs.

 

[Devonviolet]

When I was out, this morning, I got this shot of April (who came to us from Joe’s herd ), showing her tummy. Its getting bigger & her udder seems to be getting bigger, but not huge. I’ve given up trying to figure out when she is due. According to Joe’s calendar, she was due back in mid-March. Well, we all know that came and went, and she still hasn’t had her kids. Time will tell . .. . .

Isn’t April a pretty girl??? I am truly in love!!!

When she was standing there I noticed her hooves needed trimming. I did trim her hooves about a month ago, but you sure couldn't tell to look at them today. I tried to trim them a couple weeks ago. But the were rock hard, and couldn't get the clippers to cut them.

Here she is on the milk stand. While I had her there, she got some Selenium + Vitamin E and Probiotic Gel, as a pre-kidding booster. Not required, but I figure it wouldn't hurt. She already got her CDT shot back in March, so that wasn’t needed.

Her hooves were in bad shape! I'm going to have to do them more often! That tells me I need to get the rest of the goats up on the stand & trim their hooves.

It was so cute, when we put April back in her area. She started jumping and running, like she was just the happiest goat in the world!!! Then, I gave her some fresh apple leaves and she did some more jumping and running around. When we first brought her home, she was very stand-offish and didn’t want to be touched. Lately, she comes up to me for scritches and leaf treats. She even lets me scratch her head, and then turns, so I can scratch her back, down by her tail. And if I have the grooming hand rake, she lets me brush (and scratch) all over. We have come a long way baby!! I can’t wait until she has her kids, because, they always become friendlier when I am handling their kids.

After I finished milking Angelica, we let her & Calendula graze in the weeds outside the barn. Calendula couldn't wait to latch onto Mama. And of course Mama Goat couldn't wait to sniff Baby's butt.

And here’s another cute one of Mama Goat and Calendula.

 

[Baymule]

Your goats are, as always, beautiful. Love little Calendula. We got 2" of rain last night from that storm. Looked like you were getting pounded. More coming this evening!

 

[Devonviolet]

Your goats are, as always, beautiful. Love little Calendula. We got 2" of rain last night from that storm. Looked like you were getting pounded. More coming this evening!

We got 2-1/2 inches overnight. I went to bed at 10:30 last night and the storm was just getting going strong. The sky was lighting up bright with lots of crashing and banging!

The crazy thing was, just before it got going, DH went out to check the weather, and Porter (our Maine Coon Mix kitty - who HATES thunder storms) dashed out the back door. He called and called, but Porter wouldn’t come back in.

Before I got into bed, I went to the back door to call Porter in. It was a torrential DOWNPOUR!!! I called and called, but Porter wouldn’t come in. So, I locked the door and went to bed. I suspect he was hunkered down under the back steps. And there he stayed until morning. .. . .

 

[Baymule]

Dummy cat.

 

[Devonviolet]

Dummy cat.

 

[Bruce]

When she was standing there I noticed her hooves needed trimming.

I saw that but I wasn't going to say anything. I really can't since my alpacas are way overdue!

And of course Mama Goat couldn't wait to sniff Baby's butt.

Have to make sure there are no interloping freeloaders!

 

[Devonviolet]

Yesterday, DH finally washed out the 3 water totes, that we bought from the city water reclaimation plant - for a whopping $20 each!

Two of them will be left by the back of the barn, where we will put gutters & a down spout, to run rain water runoff, from the roof. That water will be used to water the berry plants that we are planning to plant along the driveway behind the barn.

We loaded the 3rd tote onto the garden wagon:

... And we moved it to the street side of the house, where we have the discharge hose, from the sump pump (under the house).

I'm figuring we will be saving a lot of water, in that tote, based on what we have seen coming from that hose (which has been draining toward the drainage ditch), by the road.