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Lisa: Posted on Tuesday, May 08, 2012 8:48 PM
We have 4 ducks sitting on eggs at the moment. Two ducks have built small nests in a side part of the barn away from all the hustle that goes on but close to the food and water.. One has gone for the out doors nest, built under a wood pile its close to the barn so fingers crossed no predators get to the eggs, but it looks warm and comfy. The last one went for the compact home and tried the chicken nest box. one problem i dont think she thought about was each time she comes out to eat and drink a chicken goes in to lay, so she has some chicken eggs under her as well as her own, I am not sure how this will turn out as chicken eggs hatch before duck eggs and i dont know when the chicken eggs went in, we will have to wait and see. |
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Lisa: Posted on Tuesday, May 08, 2012 8:30 PM
Ronnies first day.. We have a lots of roosters on our farm most of them have their own harems and dont have any issues with each other, every once in a while they will cross paths and have a little tussle but everyone knows who is boss and we know who is the one in charge. Ronnie is in our front barn this is Marios home. Mario is our white Chatecler and is currently in a breeding program with his ladies so off the yard. we thought this would be a good starting point he can meet the girls and see his new home. While Mario is away some of our other roosters are visiting the front barn and today Ronnie met one of our large black roosters and our silky, a few pecks went on but nothing to serious and as of yet he has been fine with us.
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Ronnie
first day in and only a few scrapes
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I have to say he looks like he wants to kill us!
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The ladies seem impressed
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the rooster is not!
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As you can see Ronnie knows he is a star and as soon as the camera came out he was ready for his close up. |
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Lisa: Posted on Monday, May 07, 2012 10:22 PM
Before we start with Ronnies blog this is his story, Ronnies story has made it to Radio and newspress  and now Ronnie has made it to us! Delivered tonight and for his first few days we thought he would be safer in an enclosed pen with a few ladies to keep him company, our long term plan for Ronnie is for him to move into our second "chick trailer" and live with his own harem happily in the fields, but for now he is settling in in our barn, and we will see how his behaviour rehab goes.Should we need it we have a Ronnie proof hat for safety. |
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Lisa: Posted on Monday, May 07, 2012 10:03 PM
I am so far behind with our blogging i am not sure where to start to catch up!
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New born Galloway calf
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Just born
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 So far this year our calf count is at 3 all bull calves and all doing well. We have more still to be born and should be adding to the numbers soon.. |
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Lisa: Posted on Monday, May 07, 2012 9:40 PM
Bob was busy on his "vacation" and he is a daddy again and again and again!!  3 beautiful Berkshire ladies had litters of baby Bobs and they do look like their dad. Now back home again he has been busy with our girls and a few are looking very round we are thinking we should be having the pitter patter of tiny trotters on our farm again early July. WHO'S THE DADDY! |
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Lisa: Posted on Monday, February 06, 2012 3:12 PM
The adventures of Pig Pig. January in our house brought a new house guest, as the temperature dropped one night to -11 the little pig who was already under the heat lamp after being pushed out by her bigger brothers and sisters found it just too cold and we decided to bring her inside. Tucked under my arm in she came, that was the easy bit what do you do with a piglet in the house... we found the dog crate and set her up in that, still a little cold she got a dog coat to sleep in.
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Pig Pig
ok I like the dog bed
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meeting the neighbours
the dogs did a very good job of putting up with Pig Pig
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bath time
Pig Pig did not like the wash but she did smell better
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supper time
this was the point when the dogs gave up
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Happy pig
Pig Pig loved the fire
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Its a dogs life
by choice the dog moves into the pigs bed!
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Pig Pig has put on lots of weight while in the house and has now moved back into the barn, she has her own little pen next to her brothers and sisters and we are starting to let them play together, I don't think the dogs miss her but i do! |
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Lisa: Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2011 9:41 PM
Big Bob is off on vacation.  Since summer he has been living out in the woods with our ladies so earlier this week Andy & I had the task of bringing him back to the farm, armed with some of his favourite treats we set off to load him onto the pink princess trailer. Bob would probably follow you anywhere for food so this went better than we thought. Once loaded it was back to the farm to await his transportation. Bob found all the excitement too much and had to sit and rest for a while! As the saying goes 'good things come to those who wait' Bob was rewarded for his patience by a group of Berkshire sows and gilts waiting or him to arrive and everyone seemed very happy. Bob should be back home with us in a few months and i am sure our girls will be glad to have him home. |
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Lisa: Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2011 10:03 PM
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pigs in the woods
Our pigs just love pumpkins
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Large black pigs in the woods
plenty to go around everyone gets one
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Pumpkins
plenty to keep us going
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smashing pumpkins
Emily & Andy give the guys a hand by smashing the pumpkin first.
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A huge thank you to Cole's florist in Grimsby for your very kind donation of left over pumpkins our pigs love them, mind you so do the chickens. With the grass in the pig field long gone this is a perfect way to give them some fresh goodies.. |
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Lisa: Posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2011 1:42 PM
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Hampshire/Tamworth cross gilt
Just about to have her first piglet
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Hampshire/Tamworth piglets
First born and on its way for milk.
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Hampshire/Tamworth
a helping hand to get her started.
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Hampshire/tamworth piglets
2 down 3 more to go
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Hampshire/Tamworth piglets
1 more still to come but all happy to feed while waiting.
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happy piglets
A heat lamp in one corner gives the babies a safe warm place to sleep
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Proud mum
A few weeks on and Mum is doing a wonderful job.
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feeding time
everyone enjoys a pumpkin
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feeding time
Mum still looking after her piglets.
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We have had our first lot of piglets born at our farm.One of our Hampshire/Tamworth crosses gave birth to 5 piglets on October 16th. Bob our Large black boar is the proud dad. I found it amazing how fast the piglets where up and feeding, they are born with eyes open and teeth! Mum and babies are all well and growing fast the photos show from first born to today at 3 weeks old, all are now eating solid foods but still feeding from mum. We will leave our piglets with mum until they are at least 10 weeks old especially at this colder time of year. |
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Lisa: Posted on Saturday, November 05, 2011 1:08 PM
So much has gone on since my last blog i am not sure where to start. Thanksgiving weekend saw a T.V crew coming out to film on our farm for the hits show on Slice called Princess. Alison was our princess who wanted to look into the possibility of working with chickens, i am not going to give anymore away but as soon as we know the date it will be shown i will post and let you all watch chickens on the T.V. here are a few pictures from the day. |
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Lisa: Posted on Saturday, September 24, 2011 9:38 PM
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Emily & James
keeping a check on our day old chicks
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Lisa
Our Chantecler rooster is part of our chicken and egg display
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Mr Vinegar
Sampling from Mr Vinegar
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Romney sheep
Sheep shearing
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Romney sheep
just shorn
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Pigs
5 little pigs who got lots of apple treats today
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Galloway
a chance to get up close to the Galloway cows & calves
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Andy
the start of the walk around the fields Andy is explaining about the animals
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pigs, apples & people
it took the pigs one tour to work out that people ment apples
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feeding time
Very happy pigs with all the apples today
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What a first day for our open weekend. I dont think the weather could have been better, blue sky and sunshine all day. The turn out was amazing fingers crossed for another good day tomorrow, and a huge thanks to all our friends and volunteeres without you guys we could not have done this. |
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Lisa: Posted on Friday, September 23, 2011 1:03 PM
The pigs are out! Our pigs have moved house they are now very happy in their new home down at the end of our fields and in the woods. The little pigs went first loaded on the trailer with out any problems infact you could load them on to a moterbike if you give them enough pears! Next came big Bob, Beril and iggle & piggle again some corn and a hay bale to step up on and loading was easy. Barbra & harriet however did not want to go so we set off with out them. By the next morning i think Harriet and Barbra had missed the other guys and loaded straight away. |
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Lisa: Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2011 10:49 PM
Its almost here Doors Open Grimsby! Come along and see us in a new way, farm tours at 11am, 1pm and 3pm giving you a chance to see the animals up close and find out more about the rare breeds we have on our farm. Demonstrations on Saturday at 12 & 2 will show you whats involved in preparing our cattle for shows like the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, there is a lot more too this than you think from shampoo & blow dry to clipping. Our sheep are booked for a hair cut too. Lots to do for the younger ones with a "what can you find on the farm" and a name the calf (grown ups can help with that too) Plus the chance to sample some of our products from the B.B.Q. There is also a rumour our famous Bacon will be putting in an appearance! |
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Lisa: Posted on Monday, August 29, 2011 8:30 AM
We had a few new arrivals last week. 26 baby ducks! This is the second time that mum duck has sat on eggs this year in early spring she made a nest outside under the water tower but unfortunately the Raccoon got her eggs, she was not put off but did relocate to inside and made a new nest. Andy & I had both noticed she was sat on a lot of eggs and we did not expect anything like the number to hatch that did, in fact only 3 eggs didnt hatch which is an amazing success rate.
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Muscovy Duck
First chick is hatched but safe under mum
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Muscovy duck
Chick 2 & 3
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Baby Muscovy ducklings
We started to loose count here
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Muscovy ducklings
the first born are tucked up warm under mum while the next few hatch.
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Muscovy ducklings
a few hours in and the first hatched are out and about with a few more eggs still to hatch.
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Muscovy ducklings
We can count 21 here.
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Muscovy ducklings
Not everyone can fit under mum at the same time, but everyone gets a turn.
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Mum and babies are doing well we decided to pen them in for a week or so before they venture outside just to try and help mum out a bit i am sure its going to be crazy with 26 babies to keep track of in the yard. |
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Lisa: Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2011 2:04 PM
At last an update on the chicken trailer. It has finally made it into the field and is the happy home to about 50 hens who get to spend the day in the field eating grass and bugs. Egg production is good although a good few of the residents are only just coming up to laying age so we expect to see an increase soon.
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painting crew
hot July day drinks are flowing and the painting is fianly almost over
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painting crew
finishing touches are added.
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chicken trailer is finished
our free range chicken trailer is finished a huge thank you to Dad, Leila and Erin for the paint job.
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on the move
Chickens are loaded and the road trip begins
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window seat
on the look out. "are we there yet"
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Half way
"are we there yet" "did we just pass a Timmys?"
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Arrived
First out gets the best grubs
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Holiday location gets feathers up
Everyone seems happy with this summers vacation spot.
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Meet the neighbours
Cows found this new purple box thing in the field a little frightening, but the sheep are very happy with the new itching post. Andy & I now have huge muscles from carrying water down every day!
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Lisa: Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 5:16 PM
WOW how hot has today been? Poor Andy has spent all day with a hose pipe in his hand trying to keep everyone cool. Our sheep have moved into the barn for the day with the horses, The cows have been under the shade of the trees and hosed down a few times, pigs did very well out of this they now have a new mud hole to roll about in will try and get some photos. The shop is at last fully stocked in beef and pork and the chickens are in most week, it also looks like the ducks and the lamb will be in sooner than we thought so keep looking for updates. I am now working here full time so fingers crossed updates to the blog shpuld be a little more often as we always have LOTS going on to tell you about. |
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Lisa: Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2011 9:48 PM
What a busy week we have had so much going on now spring is finaly here (ok i know its raining but i live in hope) Our sheep shearer came on Friday morning to give the girls a hair cut, we get this done twice a year next time will be part of the doors open Grimsby.
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sheep shearing
Rare breed Romney ewe
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Romney sheep shearing
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Romney sheep shearing
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Romney sheep shearing
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Romney sheep shearing
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shorn Romney sheep
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Romney fleece
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Romney fleece
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Romney fleece
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Romney fleece
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Romney fleece
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Romney fleece
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We also had friends from rare breeds Canada with us that day they had brought us some Pigs while on the wayto a fiber festival in Ancaster so they took some of the fleeces with them.. |
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Lisa: Posted on Friday, May 06, 2011 9:34 PM
Update on the Chickens. Weather permitting the chickens (first batch) will be making there way out from the barn and onto the fields this next week, Andy is about to start making the chicken tractors we can not wait to see them all out enjoying the sunshine and the grass, (thats if the sun ever comes out and the rain fianly stops) so if all goes to plan Chicken should be in the shop by mid to end of June and then right through to Christmas, we would love to hear how you would like the chickens, whole or in pieces. Our laying hens are also about to depart on the summer road trip in our new chicken coop (converted caravan i believe the Canadian term is trailer) currently under renovations before its towed down the fields for the summer.Write your post here. |
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lisa: Posted on Friday, May 06, 2011 9:21 PM
Summer sausage and pepperetts will be in store form May 12th and this time we have had lots done so should last a little longer. Fresh beef has been selling well this week we will have it in store tomorrow Sat 7th then only frozen and the pork really is coming soon the pigs are about 212lb they are growing fast but need to be over 230 before they go so about another 2 weeks (feel like i have been saying this forever but good things come to those who wait) . |
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Posted on Friday, May 06, 2011 7:34 AM
Fresh beef is here and selling well, fingers crossed pepperetts and summer sausgae will be here later today. Pork is not ready to go just yet they are about 215lb need to be 230+ so about 2 more weeks ( i feel like i have been say this for ever) lots going on here at the moment i will tyr and get some new photos on today |
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Lisa: Posted on Sunday, May 01, 2011 9:31 PM
We now have a facebook page to keep up to date with goings on around the farm, check us out and follow along with our farm life |
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Lisa: Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2011 10:07 PM
Wow what a day! we have got away with very little damage and all the animals are fine just a little wind swept! |
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Lisa: Posted on Monday, April 25, 2011 10:24 PM
Its has been a while since i last got chance to post, so here is a little catch up on whats been going on. Another 2 calfs have been born both boys so we have 2 girls 2 boys and one more still to go but she i not due for a little while, i promise photos will come soon. The pigs are growing very fast and we are going to weigh them again in the morning but it looks like bacon and sausage will be back soon. |
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Lisa: Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2011 1:06 PM
WOW we have just had our second calf born for this year, another heifer but this one is very special, she is a red galloway and stunning, both mum and dad carry the red gene but are still very luck to have a red calf. the first photos are below more will come later. It is also looking like Heather may calf today so maybe more news later.
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Red Galloway calf
our first red galloway calf born 26th march
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Red Galloway calf
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Lisa: Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2011 12:19 PM
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Romney Lambs
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Romney Lambs
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Romney Lambs
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Romney lambs
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Romney lambs
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Here are the latest photos of the expanded Romney flock. . |
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Lisa: Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2011 7:19 AM
Lambing is all over for another year, Andy has just helped deliver the last baby ewe bring our total for this year to 6 ewes and 5 rams. We had 4 sets of twins and 3 singles all doing well and bouncing about the pen. I will post photos later.. |
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Lisa: Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 9:43 PM
Wow what a busy few days. Wednesday saw the arrival of another Lamb and beautiful little ewe which brings our numbers to 7 all doing very well. This is a photo of her she is only about 10 minutes old. Today we had our first calf of the year born, a stunning heifer, yet to named. Her mum Unity is one of the very first Galloway cows we got on the farm and although this is her first calf she is proving to be a natural mum. |
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Lisa: Posted on Friday, March 11, 2011 11:10 PM
The waiting game is finally over and we have Lambs. So far we've had 3 sets of twins born,  Our first set twin boys born 1st March, the boys have the most amazing coats black with white patches.The second set where born 7th March, both are boys. We had another set of twins born on the 9th one boy and one girl. I will get more photos very soon. |
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Lisa: Posted on Friday, February 25, 2011 11:55 AM
This is the link to a feature run in the Hamilton Spectator, about Mr Vinegar who's products we carry in the shop. We have the whole range of vinegar and also carry the mustard which is amazing. And still no Lambs i think i statred this game to early this year |
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Lisa: Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 11:45 PM
We Have got the cheese... At the Upper Canada Cheese Company they are dedicated to bringing you the finest crafted, semi-soft cheeses made from the richest of all cows milk - Guernsey. With one single herd they are proud to revive a cheese making tradition in Niagara that goes back to the early beginings of our nation. Niagara Gold. A washed rind cheese fashioned after recipes developed by the trappist Monks of the Loire Valley. Amellow, buttery, semi soft cheese with nutty, earthy overtones. This luscious cheese is delicately mild and sweet when young and gains pungency and piquant qualities with age. Comfort Cream. A white, bloomy rind cheese with a silky, semi- soft, creamy, golden interior. Rich flavours of fresh trufflesprevail with an intense, buttery palate and a long, tangu finish. This delicate and luscious artisanal cheese is hand salted, hand turned and hand wrapped. Guernsey Girl. Guernsey Girl is our grilling cheese. Loosely inspired by the Finnish Bread cheeses, Guernsey Girl carmelizes to a crispy golden on the outside yet retains a soft and supple interior. Perfect for Pannini, salads, kabobs - this cheese was an immediate hit whose applications are limited only by your imagination We also have a small selection of english cheeses.  |
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Lisa: Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2011 1:43 PM
Andy and I are off to visit Upper Canada cheese tomorrow as we are going to be stocking some of their cheese. We should have this in store for Thursday 17th. I know we will have Comfort cream, Niagara Gold, and Guernsey Curds and we will hopefully have a few more. I will post as soon as i know whats coming. No sign of the Lambs yet! |
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Lisa: Posted on Friday, February 11, 2011 10:45 PM
We love this time of the year on the farm, the weather may be awful but we know spring is just around the corner because we are on lamb watch!! Right now we have some very round sheep and the bets are on as to who will lamb first, if this is anything like last year the game will go on for a few weeks. Romney sheep are very good mums and we had twins and a set of triplets born at the farm last year so this year we are very excited. Keep checking to see when our first babies will join us. |
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Posted on Monday, February 07, 2011 11:55 PM
Have you ever wanted to know how chickens keep their feet warm in the winter? they get wooly socks. |
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Lisa: Posted on Friday, January 28, 2011 9:12 PM
Today Our Gate To Your Plate became a member if the Canadian rare breed association, we are very excited about this, Our belted Galloways are classed as endangered and the Galloways as vulnerable, The Romney sheep are also on the endangered list, as our the Large Black pigs. Today also saw our latest arrival a registered pure breed Hampshire gilt, which are listed as critical in Canada, she will become part of this years breeding program. She is the largest in the picture below, the other 6 are Hampshire/Tamworth cross weaners for our pork this summer . We can not wait to see them out in the field this spring "Oreo" pigs to go with the "Oreo" cows |
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Lisa: Posted on Friday, January 28, 2011 8:48 AM
WOW I would like to say a huge thank you for the wonderful Goulash we had brought for us yesterday it was amazing, so thank you again Jolene it was a real treat. |
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Lisa: Posted on Friday, January 21, 2011 10:51 PM
To start our new blog Andy & I would like to thank everyone who has been to visit the shop, we have been blown away with the response and the wonderful feed back from our new customers. I can not tell you what a surprise it was to find our farm ( and faces) on the front page of the Farmers monthly. Winter is always a hard time on the farm keeping up with our hay consuption in this freezing weather is a full time job, our animals deal with the cold better than Andy & I thats for sure. We have some new arrivals due over the next few weeks but i am not going to give too much away you will have to keep checking back to see on that one. A few winter shots are posted below |
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