My ministry of cooking, canning, growing, and sharing!



My ministry of cooking, canning, growing, and sharing!

Three years ago we bought a small farm with ten acres. The property had a mucky creek on the South side that was covered in raspberry brambles and poison ivy. The back six acres were so overgrown that I couldn't make it half way through the first pasture. There was mud, 10 foot tall weeds, about ten million ground hogs, and a house with "fabulous" 80's wall paper on EVERY surface. I looked at this property and my mind was spinning with possibilities of what I could grow, raise, and even forage off this little plot of land. My husbands mind, who was standing in nearly the exact same spot, was spinning with the thought of how much work he had ahead of him.

From my Farm to my Kitchen is a way for me to share my stories, recipes, failures, and successes. It is a way for me to tell you how sharing with others has opened the flood gates for abundant blessings, new friendships, and great lessons.

We have fought to "take back" parts of our property that had been swallowed by willows and scrub trees. My husband has suffered the wrath of the evil wood emperor, Sir Poison Ivy and our five children have worked tirelessly to help with chores like, "go get Mommy some basil" or I KNOW there's a Morel out there, GO FIND IT!

Please enjoy this glorious adventure with our family. Learn the lessons that I stumbled over, take the great recipes that I share and leave the miserable ones. I am hoping to write each day but you never know if the kitchen or the laundry monster will get me!!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Canning

No time for blogging this week!  Canning is taking over MY LIFE!!!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Coturnix Quail

We raise Coturnix Quail.  They lay beautiful brown mottled eggs that our family absolutely loves.  We first had quail eggs on a trip to Sint Maarten.  I found a package of 15 for about 5 American dollars. The French use them in TONS of dishes and they make the most beautiful appetizers. They are sweet, buttery, and most delicious when soft boiled.  My son, Seth, thinks they are the "Bestest" thing EVER!


When we got back home I started looking for a market that carries the eggs.  Let me tell you that they aren't easy to find.  I did a little research on Quail and found out that they are fairly small birds that grow quite quickly.  Coturnix start laying eggs at 6 to 8 weeks of age.  How awesome it is that???  


We bought our first quail about 6 months ago and have been enjoying them ever since.  We didn't realize how quickly they grow.  By 4 or 5 days they start getting their first feathers.  Within 2 weeks we had to put a screen over them to prevent them from flying out.  We learned about the "flying thing" when my Golden Retriever brought me a 2 week old quail who was struggling to get away from the giant yellow monster. I can start sexing them by 2 or 3 weeks by color and at 4 to 5 weeks they are nearly adult size.


They are a wonderful teaching tool for our children. It helps them understand the cycle of life and death and a are a great tool for teaching responsibility.  These aren't pets.  They are livestock.  It is sometimes a difficult lesson for young children to understand.  Quail are spent by about a year and don't usually live past the second year.  If we "harvest" them at about a year we are able to enjoy their eggs and meat.  If we don't harvest them by the year we risk loosing the birds to natural causes and being unable to use them to feed our family.  I don't see that as being a good steward of Gods provisions.  


I hope you have an opportunity to try these sweet, delectable eggs.  If you live close, come get some!  We LOVE to share :)