Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Scifisarah]

Please don't tell the neighbors that I am housing evil, forked-toed, devil chickens. They already want to pillory me for being a pagan druid who practices vundun and earth-magick while singing sky-clad in the shower.

I had something like that on a silkie chick I hatched, and I guess it is called a "lobster claw" toe. Not desirable for showing, but maybe better for scratching.

 

[gaitngirl]

yes, I have my crapsman tractor and both a garage and a huge shed out back. That's something new to consider.

That's what I call my lovely GT from Sears!! And I get blank looks . . .

. But they don't have to put the belts back on every 5 minutes of mowing. Or deal with the 101 other things that are constantly going wrong with it.

 

[RaZ]

That's what I call my lovely GT from Sears!! And I get blank looks . . .

. But they don't have to put the belts back on every 5 minutes of mowing. Or deal with the 101 other things that are constantly going wrong with it.

There was a time when Sears sold decent products and actually backed their branded products. That is no longer the case.
Buy the highest quality tools that you can afford. Or buy the same tool 2 or 3 times before getting the one that you can use.
(off my soapbox now)

 

[NovaAman]

I dunno, my craftsman mower isn't to bad so far. I did pull a huge nest out of the engine this spring my dad got it from his buddy, his kid screwed up the deck and something else. Anyway, my dad rebuilt it, then don dropped it off the truck, and my dad fixed that. Been using it for 3 years and this spring was the first time I had a prob with it... Love mice.

 

[RaZ]

At today's MDARD meeting, 2 of the topics addressed were:
Agriculture Processing Renaissance Zones and
Strategic Growth Initiative.

Both updates were given by Mike DiBernardo, Grants/Economic Development Specialist (Office of Agriculture Development).
The first addressed the tax abatements available for expanding ag businesses.
The second described how grants (up to $250K)are available to expand ag based operations if they are "value added" processes.
(The model described was a recent Gerber expansion)

A glib comment from a commissioner about "backyard farmers" being eligible resulted in a serious reply from Mr. DiBernardo. Essentially, he said that any process that is value-added may be considered for grant funding. Things like honey extractors, egg washing equipment, wool spinners and looms, milking equipment and even saw mills may be considered.

What I took away from this presentation was that there is grant money available for any of us who may be producing a commercial product from our ag-based root stock.
My initial thought was a portable saw-mill for the cut timber that I gather and a centrifuge for extracting honey. But it also applies to wool spinners, soap makers and any commercial venture that uses machinery to make an ag product more marketable (think artisan smoked ham or chicken).

The take-away message seems to be that there are some avenues available for us little guys to try to make a living from what we love to do in the first place. As long as we are "commercial" with our intent and have a process to follow.

I see an opportunity here for several of us. It is certainly worth asking about. The worst they can say is "no".

 

[uchytil]

There was a time when Sears sold decent products and actually backed their branded products. That is no longer the case.
Buy the highest quality tools that you can afford. Or buy the same tool 2 or 3 times before getting the one that you can use.
(off my soapbox now)

Sorry, but having owned Craftsman for many years, and toro, Cub Cadet, MTD, Kubuta, Echo, Husqvarna, and a host of other makesI can tell you there is nothing wrong with Craftsman. The older stuff actually was worse. The parts direct, although pricey, has anything you need. All of the equipment out there is made by the same people. Parts are assembled and sold under different names. If anything I would stay away from some of the Chinese knock-offs. I'll take advise on chickens and critters, but anything mechanical is my world. The best thing you can do for your equipment is clean it off after use with air, or a brush - no water. Keep the oil changed. Keep the air filter clean. Keep the blades sharp, or replaced (best to let a pro do this as sharpening can affect balance and even removing blades can cause injuries if your'e not careful). Try and store equipment inside, or at least under a tarp. Moisture is a huge enemy of equipment. There, so I'll jump off my soapbox. And, I'll defer to ya'll about raising these pesky critters. My new interest is solar power!

 

[ladyrsanti]

Congrats on the fair achievements. Our fair isn't for a couple weeks yet I think - though my boys have not expressed an interest in showing either the chickens or sheep (techy types). My farm-sitter happens to be the superintendent for sheep here in Kent county though and 4-H leader to a large sheep club. I'm looking forward to having a chat with him this week and maybe talk some wool because he has a large herd of suffolk and has no interest in the fiber, just the meat and showing. That said, he doesn't shear when the wool is long, just at slaughter so it's not always good for spinning. Still, the breeding ewes get sheared too and I need to work out something with the guy.

Please don't tell the neighbors that I am housing evil, forked-toed, devil chickens. They already want to pillory me for being a pagan druid who practices vundun and earth-magick while singing sky-clad in the shower.

I hear ya.

Are those Jacob's sheep? Very pretty!

Yes they are and thank you

At today's MDARD meeting, 2 of the topics addressed were:
Agriculture Processing Renaissance Zones and
Strategic Growth Initiative.

Both updates were given by Mike DiBernardo, Grants/Economic Development Specialist (Office of Agriculture Development).
The first addressed the tax abatements available for expanding ag businesses.
The second described how grants (up to $250K)are available to expand ag based operations if they are "value added" processes.
(The model described was a recent Gerber expansion)

A glib comment from a commissioner about "backyard farmers" being eligible resulted in a serious reply from Mr. DiBernardo. Essentially, he said that any process that is value-added may be considered for grant funding. Things like honey extractors, egg washing equipment, wool spinners and looms, milking equipment and even saw mills may be considered.

What I took away from this presentation was that there is grant money available for any of us who may be producing a commercial product from our ag-based root stock.
My initial thought was a portable saw-mill for the cut timber that I gather and a centrifuge for extracting honey. But it also applies to wool spinners, soap makers and any commercial venture that uses machinery to make an ag product more marketable (think artisan smoked ham or chicken).

The take-away message seems to be that there are some avenues available for us little guys to try to make a living from what we love to do in the first place. As long as we are "commercial" with our intent and have a process to follow.

I see an opportunity here for several of us. It is certainly worth asking about. The worst they can say is "no".

Cool. Definitely worth looking into.

 

[SillyChicken]

we got a new crapsman, once........................

 

[Farmerboy16]

Whew! Finally caught up a week worth's of posts! Congrats to all the wins, sorry to all the losses. Liked all the pictures!

Things have been so busy here, I am swamped! Plus melting in this horrible heat and humidity!

A lot has happened since I had posted.

Electric Fence have not been working and I have been trying to find a short for over a week, it was frustrating, and the pigs, steer, and the goats found that the fence was no longer "hot", so they kept getting out. I was feeding bread to the chickens, and the goats got into the chicken pen, and cleaned out the bread and the feed. Got so mad, tossed them into the enclosed and large pig pen. (It was empty, the pigs are in there for the winter.) The next day the goats got a bad case of runs from the chicken feed. Laubach, my sweet little buckling died from bloat on the 4th of July. Was crushed. My year old doeling had a very bad case of runs, at first I thought that she had the bloat, but with some care, she pulled through. She could not stand up at all for 3 days. I brought a replacement buckling the day after the 4th to keep her company and for breeding. Saturday morning, my neighbor called and asked me if I take one of her milking goats home for free, checked my parents, took her home, and my doeling got up within a hour after getting the new goat home. I have been(with younger sister's help) milking her 2 times a day. her milk is very good! But getting a lot of it! She a very sweet goat, loves to be petted. I have goat milk shares available to anyone who want some Fresh unprocessed whole goat milk.

Ethel

Bella, my cow, is showing signs of getting ready to calve! Within a few days to a few weeks! Her due date is August 10. I am expecting a lot of milk from her as this is her 2nd calving, so, have cow shares available to anyone who want some Fresh unprocessed whole cow milk.

Link to my website for more info- http://goldenwillowfarmhatchery.webs.com/cowgoatmilksharepage.htm

BTW, found the short in the fence, got it taken care of, and no more livestock getting out. It felt so good to hear the pigs squealing when they had gotten zapped by the fence! Woo Hoo!!! e

 

[kimmie6067]

Well my first big tragedy was last night, a coon broke a window and killed all but one young pullet, I just put a hen and her four babies in there yesterday she was so happy to have so much more room then this pretty sad about it

Kimmie