New Baby Goat Kids and The Week Updates

Last week we had three kids born several more expecting soon. We have a lot of goats and I enjoy every minute of it. They are so playful and as Bruce always says like little babies. We have to bottle feed some from birth and giving them colostrum from milking their moms (doe). Sometimes the mother goats don't take them or for whatever reason they have too many and only two teats and sometimes reject or refuse to feed the third kid. Most of the time its because she can't keep up with the milk production of the third as they kids are very attached to the teats. We have been very blessed to have so many goats born on the farm. We mostly have the Oberhasli breed, along with the Saanen breed. We do have a Nigerian as well. 

This is one of the little boys born this week. The Oberhasli breed. 

Here is Milly she was born this week too. 

Milly 

                     Colten riding with Jack he had escaped and we had to take him back.

When its cold outside goats wear sweaters 

Some of the Oberhaslis getting fruit off the Privet bush in the goat pasture. They love trees and leaves. 

                                       Three of the kids these little ones are Oberhasli breed too.

Skylar love the goats all of them, and tells her momma I am taking all the goats home with her every time she is here she helps us milk them, make yogurt, cheese, and even loves drinking goat milk. 

Hello yep you guessed it another kid in a sweater

Momma loving her baby

                                                          Getting ready to give some treats.

 Everyone works on the farm and no they don't want to but the older they get the harder it is to get them to help out. Bruce will take all the IPads and Xbox away until they complete their chores.
                                      Two of the kids just chillin"

When the mom doesn't help take care of her babies we have to take care of them and they get brought in and placed on heat lamps and bottle fed, which I don't mind until there are so many of them and I am bottle feeding so many. Wink you know I love it!  

Two kids born this week and you can this is right after birth.

My granddaughter Samantha and one of the baby goats. 

Yep when I can I like to play dress up and get pictures but it doesn't seem like I have that opportunity anymore. The kid is adorable in the bunny ears. 

When its 16 degrees outside or like this year even colder we have to keep them warm. Bruce makes it where they cant knock them over or anything. Yep again a sweater on a goat.....I love it! 

Bottle feeding again  

Samantha and Daisy 

Yep even driving around with them 

At Tractor Supply 

Goats hate the snow and rain they don't even want to come out in the rain or snow!!! 

You can see how small the kid is next to the rooster. 

Today I made blackberry jam, blackberry seedless, yesterday I made hot pepper jam, made cheese, rendered beeswax and created more candles, sliced cucumbers for pickles which I soaked in the lime and now are in the brine. Boxed soap which I tell you tales foreverrrrr, printed labels, bottled honey, and washed and folded laundry........I'm exhausted but I wanted to get this post in. This weekend we will be at the Daffodil Festival 

March 24 9-5pm 

March 25 12-5pm 

                                                      The blackberry jam I made today.

The blackberry jam......I also made the seedless which is a little more labor intensive. 

More baby goat feeding 

Gotta feed them baby goats about every four hours my aunt helped feed them she has been helping me box soap and label it this week and last. 

At the bus stop Monday morning 

From the Neighborhood Harvest 

I hope to make another post before the end of the week but who knows as I have to set up Friday early so week will be short, meaning I wont have Friday to make stuff too. Until next time have super awesome week!! 

Dawn Gallop 

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How I make Elderberry Syrup and Some Updates

                                                                               So many have asked me how I make the elderberry syrup, I have decided to go ahead and post my recipe. I have been making this since 2015 and  I CERTAINLY CAN let you know I am a believer. It works! Yesterday I was at the Deep Creek High School for the craft show. It was very slow but I did see so many of my regular customers, THANKS again for all your support. When I got home I was sooooo tired that is putting it mildly. After Thursdays adventure I just was not caught up with my needed nutrients for the body. I have been steadily trying to build myself back up.  When you have low iron it is hard, and to mention I had to go 5 days before the procedure without it. Above is the picture of the finished elderberry syrup jars. You could use anything like a jar or a bottle to put your syrup in. Which ever you choose.

I use 3/4 cup of elderberries, if you don't have a bush (which they come in this area in August) you can find them here on Amazon. I always use the organic brand but really the only pest I know is the birds. You have the usual ants, and other critters but nothing to terrible if you stay on the watch and pick when ready. You must only pick the ripe berries as they are poisonous and so are the leaves and plant itself, plus the tree. You will have to pick through the batch to make sure you only have the ripe berries and no stems or leaves. They used to be a lot cheaper back in 2015 but I guess there popularity has the price increased. Gather all your ingredients I use a large piece of ginger grated up its about four Tablespoons, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon I only use the Ceylon cinnamon.  I buy this at Smithfield Farmers Market. You can also buy it here at Amazon. This cinnamon is much better for you then the one you buy in grocery store. Look for Ceylon cinnamon in Whole Foods or any of your organic stores. 1-2 teaspoons of organic cloves. You can find these here on Amazon too. I really like these and since I cook and make a lot of stuff I am very happy with these.   You want to measure out the 3/4 cup of berries and 4 cups of water (I only use the purified water) I know it gets simmered but I don't want to start out with chlorine or whatever else is in the water. I use a large skillet that is deep like a stainless steel one. Put all these ingredients I have mentioned in the pot as well now. I have them simmer for about an hour or so (always mark where the water and berries start and measure as you want the water to decrease by half) I look at the bolts on the handle to measure with. Then I allow it to cool completely. Then I use a strainer like you see in the pic above. A large bowl and I start straining the berries and the liquid. You will see the cloves, and the ginger in the mix just strain as you would the berries etc. The cinnamon will go through the strainer so no worries.

The berries in the strainer. 

Once all strained you will add your honey (now you strain twice if you think you dropped a berry or two in) I always strain twice to be sure but basically the second time you are just pouring liquid through the strainer. I add our honey that we had just extracted. It is just a beautiful dark honey. 

1 1/4 cup of honey is what I use. 

Using a stainless steel whisk mix well, mix until the honey is incorporated into the syrup. 

Here you can see how much honey I used but I make larger batches than most would. I have my kids take this too and Bruce and I both take it. I feel it really does work. You can add other ingredients like rose hips or even other herbs that you would like to use. Store in the refrigerator.  

You can see how dark and beautiful it comes out. Doses are 

   Adult Daily Maintenance: 1 Tablespoon 

Children 2 and Up: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon

Adult Intensive Use: 1 Tablespoon every 2-3 hours

Children 2 and Up Intensive use: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon every 2-3 hours.

This product and the information provided has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. #9 Farms is not responsible for the improper use, reactions or results from how you use this product. Please contact your healthcare provider with any questions regarding the safety of this product and before adding any herbal supplement to your diet.   

The syrup is not intended for any child under the age of 2.

I just shared how I make my syrup there are many recipes on the internet and you may use them or do as you wish.

You can read the benefits of elderberry syrup here

and Here

I hope I provided you some information to get you started on making your own elderberry syrup.

 Today while it was sunny we worked on planting the rest of the seeds which was so nice to be in that greenhouse that sun felt so good on my skin. The boys worked hard at helping.

 We finally now have all the seeds done that will be in the pots. We will plant directly in the soil when it is time to.

A lot of our seeds are already coming up we did about 10 days ago. Now I will have to transplant these. These are tiny early jalapenos. 

More jalapenos 

Okra this year I also planted the crimson okra 

I love TimeHop this was exactly a year ago we were building bee boxes but this year I think we will have enough from what we did last year and this year too. 

Dusty playing with the chickens, Jewelee gets so jealous when anyone gives love to someone other than her. LOL! 

The high tunnel is ready to go...I planted radishes today directly in the soil

All ready for planting in the high tunnel 

This was yesterday at the show in Deep Creek at the High School 

I had only bought one space to save on fees which can be very costly especially when all of them are due all at once basically and now its already to pay for all the fall shows too. I was ready for St. Patrick's Day. It was nice to see everyone in their St. Paddy's Day attire. Its always fun to dress up for this. 

Next week we will be at Daffodil Festival in Gloucester Virginia

 Have super duper week. I just finished the cheese up for tomorrow before I did this post and tomorrow I am making some jams for the weekend and printing labels for soap. My aunt said she would come by to put them on the soap boxes. Have a good one....and they are calling for snow here again on Wednesday of course the boys are excited about it. I hope it doesn't snow.
Sending ya good vibes for the week..........until next time.
Dawn Gallop

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Where we will be tomorrow at Deep Creek High School and Some Little Shamrocks for ya

Hello and a HUGE Happy Friday.....TGIF! I love Fridays and get so excited to see some of my customers tomorrow. You guys really make me sooo happy I have been hearing good things and them telling me they came here just for me......which is really AWESOME!! Last weekend at Hickory High it was wonderful to see so many of my customers and all the great people I met too. I even got invited to some upcoming events and looking forward to those shows.....HAPPY HAPPY Dance!!! 

So if you can they are calling for even more rain tomorrow. I know........its like a mud fest hear on the farm. Thank goodness I got my Muck boot!! Really don't know what I would do without them. 

If ya can stop by tomorrow to see me that would be super duper!!! 

This week was yet a crazy one....low temps in the 20's again at night which is really hard on my little greenhouse, I do have seeds coming up....YAY! 

We drove to Raleigh to pick up our ABC Producers  and Special Events License for the Mead. 

I made several items this week....more roll-ons which I know you want more and more types I did do one more....one with wintergreen and the sweet birch and birch tar....and some peppermint....this one is my relief on as you asked for... so you got it! 

We had another baby goat born this week another Oberhasli boy which Colten has named Dumbo. 

We extracted more honey. Which as I type Bruce is actually doing more right now.  Colby helped too. 

I made more of the salves that I have been out of. 

Plus made cheese Sunday and Tuesday......

Milk goats

clean and take care of the boys....as ALWAYS a BUSY LIFE!!! LOL! 

I also had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy which I had to start prep for on Monday night and the test was Thursday at 2pm soooo all I can say I was in need of food after that! 

Had to order more soap boxes too, which now they have went up again. I need more jars too for canning but they have all went up more than a dollar a case. Almost two dollars....

Geezz! Sigh! 

Filling the roller balls

Our Mead (of course you see my watercolor art) wink! 

Bruce giving Colby and explanation of how the honey is released from the extractor. 

The gray box on the table is the uncapping tank. 

We still have even more boxes to extract thankfully ur of our friends loaned us the large extractor which holds ten frames at a time, this extractor only holds four frames. 

The honey coming out of the extractor 

A video of some of my beekeeping pics

Next week we will be at the Daffodil Festival in Gloucester Virginia which is a huge event and we are excited to go. You can view their Facebook page on the Daffodil Festival for exact times, etc. 

We will be at the Smithfield Farmers Market on the 30th of March. I know my customers will be so excited to see us. 

I told you I would show you some Little Shamrocks 

(last year) 

Skylar two years ago

One of my favorites Skylar with Boomer last year, we lost him not long after this pic. He had Lyme disease. 

Skybear at Walmart last year in what she calls our twin coats. 

My little sweet granbaby. 

The art work on the Mead bottle from my watercolor journal

Every year I make Irish Soda Bread which the boys love 

And of course a corned beef 

Usually cabbage but this year I did more sauerkraut  

This is the Sauerkraut 

Well have a wonderful weekend and Have an EXCELLENT HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY 

Top 'O The Mornin' to ya! 

      Dawn Gallop

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Tomorrow We will be at Hickory High School for the Spring Artisan Show

Tomorrow we will be at Hickory High School for the Spring Artisan Craft Show we are excited to be apart of this for the first time. It is a juried show so I can't wait to see all the talented people tomorrow. Last week I had several of my customers and regulars stop and it was nice to see you all at Western Branch Middle School. After the middle school we went a private art event where there was a wonderful rock band playing....and they were really GOOD!!! It was so nice a lot of my art buddies and very special to be apart of it. It has been of course and extra fast week and you already know extremely busy!!! I have seeds planted in the greenhouse. We had two girl goats born today and they are bottle fed, their momma Daisy isn't the motherly type...of all the kids she has had he has only fed one of them and mostly we had to bottle feed that one too. I know you want to see pics/.....its coming I had all these post lined up and I tell you my time is crazy. So to let you know where I will be is as far as it gets tonight....

I got three of these made. Plus a few more candles I will have tomorrow. Plus my aunt came out and helped me box soap sooooo I have all those soaps ready that I poured back in December and January. WooooHOOOO!!

A little Ledger snap.....growing up! 

Who doesn't love daffodils 

Hope to see you tomorrow in Hickory. 

Happy Weekend!!! 

Dawn Gallop

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