Piglets born April 8th

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a million! Jane took this video today of Helga's piglets. These were born on April 8th. There are 4 gilts and 6 boars in this litter. They may look small now, but they grow very fast! If you are interested in buying a red wattle or two, please drop us an email. We are now taking deposits on these piglets. This litter will be ready to go to new homes around Memorial Day weekend.

Farming is sometimes puzzling

Jane found a site that will make a puzzle out of any picture. Here's one we made of our sow Helga. Click on the puzzle picture to scramble the pieces. Enjoy!

Tom

Tom. He's the man!

We have a few turkeys that roam where they like on the farm. Tom is a male (thus the name Tom) Royal Palm turkey.It's mating season for turkeys and Tom likes to strut and show his stuff. He wants to be sure the hens all know that he's the man! He gobbles, fans his tail and his head turns bright red and blue. He is really quite the sight! We have an over abundance of male (tom) turkeys this year, so if you are looking for one, and not too far away to stop by the farm and pick him up, drop us an email. For a small fee, we'll make arrangements for you to get a Tom of your own.

New baby pigs

Helga had a litter of pigs in the wee hours of April 8th. We woke to find 10 piglets in the shed.  6 boys and 4 girls. This is Helga's second litter. In her first litter, she had 8 piglets and successfully raised all 8. This time, there were 12 born. One was found dead in the stall. It appeared to have been born dead. It was much smaller than the others. The other dead piglet was found outside in the mud wallow. I am really not sure how it got there. I found one in the mud with her last litter also, but was able to save that one. This piglet was not as lucky. Helga is a good mother, so we are hopeful that the remaining 10 will survive.

 

Pig Pile. 10 one day old red wattle piglets. 
Click on picture for larger view.

If you are interested in buying one of Helga's red wattle piglets, drop us an email at wickhamfarm@gmail.com and we can make arrangements to reserve a piglet for you!

Foodies and the Green Movement

While surfing the internet, I came across an article in time Magazine title "Foodies Can Eclipse (and Save) the Green Movement" by Bryan Walsh. Mr. Walsh claims that the green movement is teetering. Green house legislation has stalled, the EPA is under attack and that we now have "newly empowered Republicans in Congress who argue that the very idea of environmental protection is unaffordable for our debt-ridden country". Sounds rather bleak to me. But Mr. Walsh goes on to assert that environmentalism isn't dieing, it's only evolving. One of the new forms it is taking is that of the food movement. The food movement, he claims is not only changing the way we eat, but the way we farm and the way we relate to one another. The aguement is supported by the following facts:

There are now thousands of community-supported agriculture programs around the country, up from just two in 1986. There are more than 6,000 farmers' markets, up 16% from just a year ago. Sales of organic food and beverages hit nearly $25 billion in 2009, up from $1 billion in 1990, and no less a corporate behemoth than Walmart has muscled into the organic industry, seeking out sustainable suppliers. And more importantly, everyone eats. There's no escaping that. And everyone can relate to a well prepared meal of fresh veggies, and pasture raised  raised pork roast!

While I personally think the green movement is far from dieing, I will say that if this is what the food movement is about, then count me in. As a conservationist, a sustainable farming advocate a small farm owner (and a person who eats :-) ), I can only hope that the foodie movement continues to grow. Challenging the way we eat and the way we farm can only lead to good things. Conventional farming is very good at producing large quantities of affordable food. That's what conventional farming does best. But, some would ask, at what cost to the environment and to our health? I feel that there is a need and a place for another food production model. Food that is locally grown by small family farms where the health of the soil comes first. Where there is a direct connection between the customer and the farmer. Where food is fresh and great tasting, not bland and mass produced. By buying locally grown foods from a farmer you know, you could be contributing to your health, the health of the land, and the health of your community. What could be better than that?

Thinking Spring!

It's still too cold and wet to do much gardening outside, but spring work has begun at Wickham Farm. Yesterday, I broadcast clover seed over about 5 acres of our hay ground. This method of seeding is known as frost seeding. The theory is that the freezing and thawing of late winter along with early spring rains works the seed into the ground so that it can germinate in the cool damp spring soils. My hope is  that the clover will help to boost the quality and quantity of hay that I get off of that ground. Clover is high in protein and adds nitrogen to the soil to help the grass grow stronger.

Jane is getting things started for this year's garden. She has already started several hundred plants on a shelf in the living room window. There are many heritage varieties of tomatoes along with green peppers and a small number of flowers for the yard.

Seeing these young plants starting to grown makes you feel that spring and the farmer's market season can't be too far away!

Raw Milk Sales in Iowa

Open Letter to My State Legislature.

I have recently learned that the Iowa bill that would allow consumers to buy raw milk directly from farmers has passed through the House Economic Growth Committee and is now ready for a floor vote. I am writing you to tell you that I am in favor of raw milk sales in Iowa. I feel that informed consumers should have the right to purchase raw milk if they choose to do so. I know that many people will tell you that drinking raw milk is not safe. I also know that if the milk is properly handled, there is no danger in drinking raw milk. All fresh food needs to handled properly. We have come a long way since the early 1900s when milk pasteurization was used to fix unhealthy production and distribution systems. With today’s information, pasteurization is not the only way to produce safe healthy milk. Data from the National Center for Disease Control from 1975 to 2005 indicates extremely low risk on properly handled raw dairy compared to other food products. Iowa is one of only 10 states that does not allow raw milk sales in some form. Thousands of people around the globe consume raw milk safely. I myself grew up in Nebraska where raw milk sales from the farm are legal and grew up drinking raw milk with no problems. It is time that Iowan's are allowed to make this choice for themselves also.

Walt Wickham

Maquoketa, Iowa