Welcome to Our Website!
12/29/08 Wow! This year has flown by and it's been fun! I look around the farm and see a million things I need to do...I survey the aches in my aging bones...and I just laugh! How can I still enjoy this all so much. But I do. I enjoy seeing the critters grow and change as well as the battle of the weeds for a few precious vegetables in the spring. It's the renewal and sharing of God's blessings for us all. I am thankful for a loving family and good friends. I'm like a kid on Christmas morning year round with all the little suprises the farm brings. It's just like living at Grandpa's year round...except that sometime shortly in the future maybe...I'm the Grandma figure...until then, We're Aunt Ginger...and Uncle Richie...and just enjoying the simple life...
It scares me that I think so many people have forgotten about where our food comes from...Big Business has pushed many small farmers out of business and there are fewer and fewer folks who can raise a few animals even for their own family's use. What happens if the big farms fail us America? Can we pull it together...
What can you do? Teach some youngsters about planting a few back yard vegetables...even if it's a tomato plant or two. You'd be suprised at the enjoyment from a squash plant or bell pepper plant...as you fix an early summer meal grown from the soil... (and if you are feeling really adventurous...try a couple of backyard chickens for some fresh eggs!)
As for myself, I can't wait for the spring. I'm counting the months and making plans for a big garden this year. I'm super excited about "Big Blue" our dump trailer to help me battle the weeds with some good mulch...
Pick out a spot in your back yard that will be in the bright summer sun and make a bed to plant in early spring. Start planning now...A small raised bed could give you much pleasure for only a little work...smell the earth...feel the richness...share the joy with our children.
We've seen what has happened with the big industry, the big banks, the big auto makers, ....doing a little backyard gardening could help preserve a lost art for our children!
The Home Page has been getting a little lengthy so we are archiving it...so if you feel like browsing...you can do so under Fall Archive2008, or Summer Postings 2008. Also, please remember to check the blog. We'll do most of our writing there on the happenings at the farm.
12/2 We put the Thanksgiving photos and the Land Christmas 12/7 photos on the events page.
11/25 We're adding a recipe page to the website to start recording some of our family recipes....
11/24 We are getting ready for the Thanksgiving get together. Here is the initial list.
10/10 We finally got a little rain...Hammie has gone to the butcher...
9/30 We've got the fall greens planted and they are sprouting up. 9/16 We had a beeusy weekend...check out the bee page for pictures. 9/10... Tilling the fall garden... a few pictures to share...
9/06... added a slide show of flowers and pea fowl...along with a few other pics on the Pea Fowl link (bottom left of this page)
9/04 ...Added some more mushroom pictures...
8/30 ... Mushrooms are everywhere...new guinea keets have hatched.. We've got two new bunny rabbits on the farm..
8/23 We've been doing most of our postings on the blog.
7/29 The rain sure is making the grass grow...no complaints here...but how are you mowing your grass...check out our four-horse mower system on the blog...
7/22/08 Lauren came over for a visit today. She wanted to learn how to make homemade biscuits. Click here to see more pictures about her biscuit making adventure.
7/18/08 It's been pea pickin' and shelling time
7/12/08 The baby goats got thier bells today...
Check out my new wheels...I even have a basket
We are working to add to our Pate Farms Blog on most days....little happenings around the farm....check it out and feel free to comment back...
Pea Shelling Time....Lindi and Leah try a hand at shelling peas... Don't ever say you are bored on the farm!
July 2... Sugar delivers a pretty little doe...Independence ..Indi for short..
July 1 was a busy day here at Pate Farms... peas and beans, okra, squash, tomatoes all needed picking.... and then we had three new baby kids arrive too...
Honey delivers two boar/kiko billies... Patriot and Flag
Rainy delivers a single...Miss Betsy Ross
We had a fun day at the Ice Cream Social to celebrate the 4th of July...just a little early on June 29th... Click here to view the album of pictures from the day...
Midnight delivers two strong little billies...Claybo and Buster June 26 about 10:30.
Lindi is learning how to sew!
We have been hard at work building the peafowl pen.
We put ginger hard at work painting the pen..... Hey where is Richie?
This is General on his new perch.
April had her baby on May 16, 2008. Welcom to the farm Mr. Socks!
Clay takes a moment out to relax in the swing by the pool and garden and read a book.
Ginger has collected and cleaned this pile of eggs. It is about three days worth of eggs!!!! Those ladies sure have been busy.
Ginger heading off on a nice ride.... Gotta get that saddle ready!
