KFF Help Needed
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
INTERN WANTED
We are looking for a summer intern or possibly two. We offer a great opportunity to get first hand experience on a small, family owned working farm. Come experience fencing, chicken processing, milking cows, marketing , gardening, and general farm chores. We will be offering hands on classes for the small farm or acreage owner. Contact us through the contact info on this website or by calling 402-685-5263.
Volunteers needed
We have lots of projects to do here at the farm. Come for a little while or spend the entire day.
Types of jobs:
- digging/pulling weeds
- fencing/ set posts/ build gates/repair doors
- building construction/renovation
- general pick up of sticks, debris (lots of this with all the weather we’ve had)
- plumbing
- electrical
- mucking out barns (dirty/heavy work)
Many if not most of the jobs are not suited for young children. However if you are coming for a short time young children might help with picking up sticks and picking stones out of areas where they do not belong.
If you would like to come for just half an hour on a day you are picking up milk let us know ahead of time and we will see if there is a small job for you to do. Likely there will be things like sticks and stones that need picked up.
Thank you all,
Mark and Molly
Next Arrival
Monday, October 13th, 2008
July 20,2010
No calves due for awhile yet. The last three keep us on our toes as they do not want to stay within their fenced area. They just duck under the fence and take the shock…reminds me of some children I’ve known.
Feb 10, 2010
Three calves were born at Thanksgiving time. Crazy time of year with all the cold and snow we’ve had but they have done wonderfully. They enjoy the outdoors on sunny days. The little girl we named Shirley Temple and the boys are Roy Rogers and Sweetheart. We have 2 more due next week. Then another is due the first of March.
Broiler chicks are due to arrive March 4th and then every week thereafter until August.
Egg production is expected to go up in March as new pullets should begin to lay at that time.
Oct 16, 2009
Our next arrivals should be coming just about Thanksgiving time. We have 3 cows due then. Right now our milk production is pretty low but we hope to be ableto add more milk customers as soon as these cows freshen. There is interest in a group in the Benson area. If you would like to be a part of that group I think they have room for more. Let us know and we will get you in touch with someone.
March 25, 2009
The vet was out today to check on our cows. Of the 7 we had AI’ed (artificially inseminated) 3 are definately pregnant. Two others appear to be but may not “take”. Two others are definately not pregnant to the best of our knowledge although both have been AI’ed again recently. Cows that are expecting are: Hershey, Snickers and one of the Holstein/Jersey cross. She really does need a name since she will be with us for a bit longer.
Jan 1, 2009
Tootsie had her calf on Dec 20th. She had a cute little boy that we have named Klondike. He will spend the winter inside the barn mostly and is being bottle fed. He has Dot (calf of Snickers) and Mars (calf of Milky Way) in the barn with him to keep him company and keep him warm.
Currently we do not know if any of the other cows are pregnant so have no due dates to announce at this time.
Fall ‘08
Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
As the cooler days of fall begin to take over, the farm begins to take on a different look. Although at first glance everything may seem to be slowing down around here with the chickens out of the field until next spring, and the garden looking pretty tired, it is really a very active and busy time of year. Our feed supplier is already checking in with the latest news on product availability for next spring, the buildings need attention after housing so many young animals over the course of the summer, and an assessment is being made in regards to how to make improvements for next year’s growing season.
Looking around the farm at this time of year is sort of nostalgic. We’ve enjoyed many days of hard work. During the summer we’ve made new friends at farmer’s market as well as through our milk co-ops. Improvements to the farm were made and taken for granted so quickly. Animals have come and gone. So many animals have grown up so much. Our calf, Splenda, has become difficult to pick out when the girls are all out in the field.
Sometimes farming seems like it should be a seasonal occupation. Actually many who purchase from us at the market think of it as just that. But we will be farming all fall and winter too! The milking of the cows is a twice a day job, 365 days out of the year. That was a bit of an adjustment for our girls the first year we had cows at Christmas time! The hens will continue to lay and the collection of eggs actually steps up as the eggs need to be collected before they can freeze so some days that means collecting more than once. We will begin ordering broiler chicks in Feb with them arriving in March. Feed for the chicks will be ordered about that same time. The broiler pens will need repaired this winter. And we will continue to make trips to Omaha to deliver our scrumptious products.
We hope to be able to deliver to the Village Pointe area in west Omaha once a month. We will send a list of what is currently available to anyone who asks for it. Orders will be collected and so long as the orders are large enough to justify the gas we will make delivery on the first Sat of Nov and Dec, then the second Sat in Jan then back to the first Saturdays for Feb, March and April. Send us an e-mail if you would like added to our e-mail reminder list.
This fall we would also be happy to have help with any of our many projects. If you have a little extra time (or a lot) and would like to come experience an hour (or a day) working on the farm give us a call and let us know when you are coming. We have projects like fence repair, weeding, building projects, mucking out barns, splitting wood, and general clean up.
Another item we have to offer this fall/winter season lectures for your organization, office, or family gathering. We can come to talk about our milk co-op, why we farm the way we do, or other related subjects of interest to you. Give us a call to discuss your ideas, pricing, and days available.
Here are our fall suggestions:
- Take walks in the cool air.
- Enjoy the leaves as they change.
- Get out recipe books to look for some new warm dishes.
- Choose one area in your diet to make improvements to.
- Make some butter and freeze. Pats of butter with pretty decorations on top will look great on your holiday table.
- Cook two chickens at once; use one for roasted chicken dinner and the meat from the other for potpie, chicken soup, chicken tacos or a casserole dish.
- Take stock of what is in your freezer. Determine to use up those odd cuts of meat you got when you ordered a side of beef.
- Listen to the quiet.
- Hear the Creator as He talks to you.
May you have a blessed holiday season,
Mark and Molly
