Circle M Farm

You can tell the insane workload of spring has lifted slightly, because here at Circle M we’re finally getting around to some of those tasks that are important, but not urgent – like shearing Howie! continued »

We bid a somewhat reluctant farewell to Piggy Lou, our friendly and gigantic sow, this morning when she went away with the butcher. We were only somewhat sad to see her go, for as endearing as she sometimes was, her size and strength had made her a bit of a danger in our fenced gardens. continued »

Thank God for the songs of Johnny Cash to give voice to our sufferings. We’re living “Three Feet High and Rising” here at Circle M where the fierce storms of the weekend, and our bucolic location at the junction of a creek and river, have conspired to give us lakefront property. Too bad the lake had to be on one of our gardens. continued »

Things are not going well with the little turkeys. Four have died so far. I’m trying to get some help from the hatchery I ordered them from at this point. continued »

Early this morning we added to our garage menagerie fifteen fluffy turkey poults. Ordered from Murray McMurray Hatchery in Iowa, these very rare turkeys are a breed called “Chocolate.” We hope they turn out to be as delicious as they sound, but in the meantime they are just awful darn cute. continued »

Well, our last dairy goat babies of the spring have come, and they are adorable. Best of all, they bring with them delicious fresh milk! continued »

My first experience with pigs was as a child in Pennsylvania. I’d toured an Amish farm in Lancaster County with my family, and we’d been invited to squat by the pigpen and stick our fingers through the fence so the fat pink piglets could come up and suck on our fingers. Which they did, enthusiastically, while my brother and I squealed in delight. In retrospect, I’ve got some serious questions about that visit. continued »

In our quest to employ ever more heat lamps on the farm during this chilly spring, we’ve just brought home 6 adorable Black Cayuga ducklings from Farm and Fleet. These are to be our garden guardians and slug clean-up crew as soon as they are feathered and big enough to handle the weather. continued »

While there are obvious drawbacks to having a baby pig in your dining room – “Mom, are you going to feed that?!” cries my daughter as Napster squeals ever louder in the pen next to her bedroom – there are some wonderful advantages. Like pig play dates! continued »

It is odd how ecstasy has no x. Anyway –
The barely-started month of May continues to have its extreme ups and downs here at Circle M. continued »