Ranch Newsletter | August 2024

Originally sent to subscribers on August 31st, 2024

Farm Update August/September

Similar to July, August has been steadily busy with markets, CSA, and birthdays. We celebrated my birthday with a BBQ with friends.

This last weekend of August marks a big change though. We're about to enter our last week of CSA for the season and I also had my last market at the Historic Monastery Farmer's Market.

August has been a terrible month for wasps. Craig was stung 5 times, 4 of which were over a weekend. I've been stung three times. And every time we were just minding our own business, not bothering any hives or anything. They've just been very rude and onery lately. Craig and I are very happy for the cooler mornings since the wasps aren't coming out until the afternoon now. It also gives us a chance to fight back. We've been going out early to find nests and spray them before they have a chance to wake up.

I recently heard someone say that a bad wasp year means we're going to have a bad winter and there have been lots of signs in nature that winter is going to come early. I've been feeling like winter is going to come early this year, but it's just a gut feeling, not based on anything in particular. What do you think?

There isn't a whole lot on the calendar for September, but there is still plenty of work to do around the ranch. Soon we will be getting things winterized, cleaning up all the tools, and switching from regular water buckets to heated ones.

I have not been happy with the soil in some of our raised beds, so this year I'm going to be utilizing cover crops to improve the soil through the fall and winter, so I have to get the beds prepped and planted pretty quick.

In CSA news: The CSA season is nearly over and I'm toying with changing a few things next year. I'm not going to share exactly what just yet because I want to wait for feedback from my current members before I make a final decision.

In goat news: The three baby boys are for sale! They're $100 each, so if you, or someone you know has been wanting to get goats keep us in mind. The boys are castrated. If you don't have goats, you'll need at least two as they are companion animals and need another goat with them. Wethers make great companions for female goats, they are also great as pets.

In natural skincare news: I now have subscriptions! You can find them at the bottom on this newsletter. I've created 4 different subscriptions for soap, salve, lotion bars, and facemasks.

The market season is winding down, but I still have a few stand-alone markets through the fall.

I've been playing around with some ideas for new salves. So far I'm a little disappointed with the results, but I'm going to do more research and see if I can add a couple new options next year.

I'm also starting to look at what has been selling and what hasn't. My novel soaps (soaps based on classic novels) were released at the beginning of this year and there are 2 that I may not make again as they aren't selling as well as I had hoped.

I'm also looking into making my own powdered goat milk and making a change to both our bath bombs and powdered face masks. Adding goat milk powder to both and removing the coconut milk powder from the facemasks.

In book news: I've written a children's picture book about goats! It is now available for purchase! I have plenty of copies on hand if you'd like one. It's called If You Give A Goat A Flower and the goat in the book is based on our very own Finnick!

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