Hi Tara, I would love to know what you do about invasive plants or “bad weeds”? We are getting a thistle problem and it is more than I can handle. I am committed to not spraying, but feeling overwhelmed by the amount of these weeds.
Well I clearly haven’t been keeping my “Ask Tara” list on my phone current. I should add a page to my bullet journal instead. I am starting some ferments of radishes this week and have tried carrots in the past. With the fermentation crock you picture above, do you have to weigh down the veggies? In the picture they are beautiful and free floating but I seem to grow mild as soon as anything is above the air!
Clabbering and freezing milk for chickens! I’ve been struggling to figure out what to do with all my skimmed milk! What a great (and obvious) idea!
Also- that crock had me thinking I need to remember to ask one of my milk customers for one and I saw the person that sent you this IS my milk customer! How funny! Small world… David and willow are the most appreciative raw milk supporters and very kind people.
I also had a question to submit- I saw on your stories once all the various loose minerals you feed your cattle. Being in Alaska I have found it hard to completely avoid grain for my dairy cows and maybe that’s the breed? I have a jersey and a jersey dexter cross. But I think the main thing is the vitamin and mineral supplements added to the ration that they need. They are on hay for 7-9 months depending on the season. (I imagine we are fairly similar climates) They are offered Redmond salt and wind and rain loose mineral. We also have a limousine angus cow that my husband picked up for beef without any research and a highland bull. I was wondering if there is a place where I can read about or you could explain what all it is you offer your herd in the way of loose minerals? Any books you recommend on cattle around finishing beef, best breeds for grass finishing, dairy cows would also be great. Still learning! We always butchered based on age. I love picking up little nuggets of wisdom on how to do things better from you. Thank you!
It would be nice to hear more details on your solar dehydrator - how do you dry safelly such moist items as organ meats? We having 40 C and more in our attic in the summer days and I am okey with finishing here half dried tomatoes or apple , pear slices, or halves of plums. But at the begining or in case no sun whole day, I dry at nights these foods in Excalibur at 45 C, because I spoiled whole batch once.
And the beaf jerkey I always dry in Excalibur for first 24 hours at the begining to form an outer ‘crust’, then I can finish at mild temp.
I am rather lousy on various ‘safety measures’, but still… does the sun hot enough in Canada?
Good morning, Tara! My question is on meat rabbits - I'd love to know what uses you like to put all the different bits to when you process.
We've been having our own ice cream making frenzy here. I was so excited to learn that yes, you can make ice cream with just goat milk, no extra cream required! I have yet to succeed in getting my own Mr. Dreamy McDreamboat to milk with me, but there's always next year. 🤭
Haha, oops, I should have worded that better. No, no, I and my own tall dark and handsome have been happily married for going on 7 years now. He is always up for fresh ice cream. Milking the goat to make said ice cream on the other hand...
I'm probably late to the party, but will ask anyhow, perhaps a different time you can answer. I'm curious to know a jumping off point for your chutneys. I know you don't consume sugar and every recipe I come across contains so much. I would love to can some this year for winter meats, but I really try to avoid all sweeteners.
I love the idea of pineapple weed ice cream! What are your favourite resources for folks who are beginning their journey into botanicals and wildcrafting?
Hi Tara, I so love to read your saturday farm roundup and inspiration.
My question is about your cats. One recently had kittens. Do you have a tom cat? Are all your cats still intact? No de-sexing? Me and my DIL are cat lovers and can't wait to have a farm with some barn kitties! Do you leave them to do their thing? etc etc haha! thank you!
What do you do with all the fruit you get in? Do you make compote? Jam? When preserving fruit with honey vs sugar and no pectin, how do make them shelf stable?
I’ve been loving Bari Weiss lately. She is such a voice of reason.
I would love to get the low down on your dehydrator/any tips for making one! That is something I’ve been thinking of lately as a project I’d like to try.
I absolutely adore pineapple weed and chamomile and I think that I’ve cream would be amazing. I was delighted this year to see pineapple weed popping up in my garden soil. It has never grown on our property before so must have come in on some manure I got this year. I’m inordinately excited when a new weed that I like pops up. Last year it was plantain. This was also our first year with dandelions believe it or not. Just two and I’ve been spreading the “wishes” all around ;) Our property is in a regeneration from deforestation phase. It was second growth logged within the last 20 years so pioneer species are still going crazy and new ones are still popping up.
As always, so lovely to hear what you and Troy are up to. Love the screened in porch!
Greetings from Florida! Squeezing my question in this week since I just missed last time! My question is around if you noticed that your girls had less “typical” hormonal/acne teenager mood swing problems than their peers. We recently switched to a mostly meat (yes from a local farm that We know the rancher by name, and they 100% rotational graze in regenerative ways) and fruit based diet. Our three daughters (2,5,7) have seemingly had less mood swings, tantrums, etc. I’m hopeful this sticks through teenage years so they don’t suffer from acne as I did. Curious if you noticed a difference among your girls? And thanks for the continued gift of your writing.
I’d love to know about pasture: how do you, if at all, assess your pasture for your animals? What makes good pasture or not so good pasture? How is it different depending on the animal?
I know that’s like three questions but they’re all related!
A while back you shared some tick-prevention protocol, I don't remember if it was here or on your instagram (I did look). So my question is, what do you do to prevent ticks, and what advice would you have for someone who has just gotten a suspected Lyme diagnosis?
Hi Tara, I would love to know what you do about invasive plants or “bad weeds”? We are getting a thistle problem and it is more than I can handle. I am committed to not spraying, but feeling overwhelmed by the amount of these weeds.
Thanks for the question, Erica, I will get to it next Saturday.
Well I clearly haven’t been keeping my “Ask Tara” list on my phone current. I should add a page to my bullet journal instead. I am starting some ferments of radishes this week and have tried carrots in the past. With the fermentation crock you picture above, do you have to weigh down the veggies? In the picture they are beautiful and free floating but I seem to grow mild as soon as anything is above the air!
Clabbering and freezing milk for chickens! I’ve been struggling to figure out what to do with all my skimmed milk! What a great (and obvious) idea!
Also- that crock had me thinking I need to remember to ask one of my milk customers for one and I saw the person that sent you this IS my milk customer! How funny! Small world… David and willow are the most appreciative raw milk supporters and very kind people.
I also had a question to submit- I saw on your stories once all the various loose minerals you feed your cattle. Being in Alaska I have found it hard to completely avoid grain for my dairy cows and maybe that’s the breed? I have a jersey and a jersey dexter cross. But I think the main thing is the vitamin and mineral supplements added to the ration that they need. They are on hay for 7-9 months depending on the season. (I imagine we are fairly similar climates) They are offered Redmond salt and wind and rain loose mineral. We also have a limousine angus cow that my husband picked up for beef without any research and a highland bull. I was wondering if there is a place where I can read about or you could explain what all it is you offer your herd in the way of loose minerals? Any books you recommend on cattle around finishing beef, best breeds for grass finishing, dairy cows would also be great. Still learning! We always butchered based on age. I love picking up little nuggets of wisdom on how to do things better from you. Thank you!
I just love these connections! How wonderful! Thank you for the questions, I will get to them.
Thank you for weekly farm& kitchen updates, Tara!
It would be nice to hear more details on your solar dehydrator - how do you dry safelly such moist items as organ meats? We having 40 C and more in our attic in the summer days and I am okey with finishing here half dried tomatoes or apple , pear slices, or halves of plums. But at the begining or in case no sun whole day, I dry at nights these foods in Excalibur at 45 C, because I spoiled whole batch once.
And the beaf jerkey I always dry in Excalibur for first 24 hours at the begining to form an outer ‘crust’, then I can finish at mild temp.
I am rather lousy on various ‘safety measures’, but still… does the sun hot enough in Canada?
Thanks, Modesta. I will answer this in the answers next week.
Good morning, Tara! My question is on meat rabbits - I'd love to know what uses you like to put all the different bits to when you process.
We've been having our own ice cream making frenzy here. I was so excited to learn that yes, you can make ice cream with just goat milk, no extra cream required! I have yet to succeed in getting my own Mr. Dreamy McDreamboat to milk with me, but there's always next year. 🤭
Haha, okay Danae, I will get to that. And we'll keep our fingers crossed for the Tantalizing McTugboat to chug your way. :)
Haha, oops, I should have worded that better. No, no, I and my own tall dark and handsome have been happily married for going on 7 years now. He is always up for fresh ice cream. Milking the goat to make said ice cream on the other hand...
OH! Ha! I thought you were married, but I wasn't sure. So yes, much easier to get a goat then a good man! :)
Indeed. I mean, he might have been the kind of man who said "no goats," (or rabbits or ducks...) so I really shouldn't grumble about milking solo. 😉
I'm probably late to the party, but will ask anyhow, perhaps a different time you can answer. I'm curious to know a jumping off point for your chutneys. I know you don't consume sugar and every recipe I come across contains so much. I would love to can some this year for winter meats, but I really try to avoid all sweeteners.
I love your porch!! Also, is there anything that looks more comfortable than a cat sleeping? We have way too many photos of our cats in dream land.
Hi Tara!
I'd love to hear a list of what your favourite chutneys and sauces are to preserve?
I love your beautiful head bunting baby 🥰 its so wonderful watching mum and calf together. Although I always feel a bit sorry for mum! Haha
Thank you for sharing your kitchen and farm xoxo
I feel sorry for her, too! Like, okay, kid, the milk is flowing, what more do you want?!
I love the idea of pineapple weed ice cream! What are your favourite resources for folks who are beginning their journey into botanicals and wildcrafting?
Hi Tara, I so love to read your saturday farm roundup and inspiration.
My question is about your cats. One recently had kittens. Do you have a tom cat? Are all your cats still intact? No de-sexing? Me and my DIL are cat lovers and can't wait to have a farm with some barn kitties! Do you leave them to do their thing? etc etc haha! thank you!
Hi Tara <3
What do you do with all the fruit you get in? Do you make compote? Jam? When preserving fruit with honey vs sugar and no pectin, how do make them shelf stable?
Do you harvest wild nuts and use them?
Thank you!
I’ve been loving Bari Weiss lately. She is such a voice of reason.
I would love to get the low down on your dehydrator/any tips for making one! That is something I’ve been thinking of lately as a project I’d like to try.
I absolutely adore pineapple weed and chamomile and I think that I’ve cream would be amazing. I was delighted this year to see pineapple weed popping up in my garden soil. It has never grown on our property before so must have come in on some manure I got this year. I’m inordinately excited when a new weed that I like pops up. Last year it was plantain. This was also our first year with dandelions believe it or not. Just two and I’ve been spreading the “wishes” all around ;) Our property is in a regeneration from deforestation phase. It was second growth logged within the last 20 years so pioneer species are still going crazy and new ones are still popping up.
As always, so lovely to hear what you and Troy are up to. Love the screened in porch!
She really is a voice of reason. I've really been enjoying her offerings as well. It all makes me feel a little more hopeful.
Thanks for the question :)
Greetings from Florida! Squeezing my question in this week since I just missed last time! My question is around if you noticed that your girls had less “typical” hormonal/acne teenager mood swing problems than their peers. We recently switched to a mostly meat (yes from a local farm that We know the rancher by name, and they 100% rotational graze in regenerative ways) and fruit based diet. Our three daughters (2,5,7) have seemingly had less mood swings, tantrums, etc. I’m hopeful this sticks through teenage years so they don’t suffer from acne as I did. Curious if you noticed a difference among your girls? And thanks for the continued gift of your writing.
I’d love to know about pasture: how do you, if at all, assess your pasture for your animals? What makes good pasture or not so good pasture? How is it different depending on the animal?
I know that’s like three questions but they’re all related!
Hi Tara,
What makes a good fermentation crock? I'd love to pick up a few on estate/tag sales but never know wat to look for/avoid.
Thank you!
P.S. Many thanks for your inspiration. I have my first vinegar (pineapple) brewing on the countertop. Fingers crossed.
Hey Julia, avoid any crocks with lead in the glaze. A lot of the older ones do unfortunately.
Hi Tara,
A while back you shared some tick-prevention protocol, I don't remember if it was here or on your instagram (I did look). So my question is, what do you do to prevent ticks, and what advice would you have for someone who has just gotten a suspected Lyme diagnosis?