Author Archive | James T. Verrill

Bringing Back Balance !

By James T. Verrill on August 13, 2014 in Living a Better Life, Shops At Fayrehale

The past year has been tunnel vision focused to finish renovating the barn and get Shops At Fayrehale opened! As you know, we accomplished and announced that in my last posting over a month ago! The last 5 weeks have been spent adding inventory to the Shop and enjoying a short break from painting and renovating.

I am way behind in updates on the other sections of www.fayrehalefarm.com and can not emphasize strongly enough that for the time being – the best way to stay up to date and follow us is with our Facebook pages! It is easier to make frequent updates there and we have active pages for the Shops At Fayrehale, Fayrehale Chanteclers and Fayrehale Icelandics. Why don’t you take a minute right now and like the Facebook page for the segment of our endeavors you would like to keep up to date on! Just click on the links above.

Our lives have been OUT OF BALANCE and it is time to refocus and bring balance back! Our gardens, usually so abundant and productive, are nearly non existent this year! Seed staring and planting abandoned for efforts to get Shop open.

We did manage to hatch and ship chicks this season. Ran the incubator and shipped chicks up until 3 weeks ago when we declared the season over. Predators have been worse this season than I can ever remember them being. Coons, foxes, skunks and possibly a fisher. We have lost over 100 birds despite taking all possible precautions.

Forced “down-time” right now following abdominal surgery to (hopefully) fix a radiation fibrosis induced situation has me thinking about regaining balance. With the shop opened, I think we can pull it off.

Next year, the vegetable garden will be abundant. Next year may be the LAST year we hatch and ship chicks all over the country. The next year will see the house back in order so we can have friends over to eat. The next year will see renovation work on a bedroom so we can have friends stay over. The next year will see us taking some time to smell the roses. All in the flow without a rigid deadline like opening the Shop had. None of these planned endeavors is any where near as massive as the one we just accomplished.

I understand why we had to take life out of balance and it sure feels good to have accomplished the Shops At Fayrehale — which we have planned and prepared for, for over 15 years.

I smile when I pull in the driveway

My Being Beams When I walk into the Shop and see what we have created!

We worked hard, and succeeded, in presenting an eclectic mix of beautiful Antiques, Christmas decorations, cards, advent calenders and Gifts. We worked hard, and succeeded, in having a nice selection under $5, under $10 and under $20! Believe me when I say that is not easy in this day and economy when we need to meet our standards for nice, quality merchandise!

So, I do not apologize for smiling with satisfaction! I am pleased. I deserve to be pleased! Customer reaction is positive and extremely complimentary.

I rest now, as I heal, and think about bringing back balance! During this forced quiet time (only feeding critters, Abigail and Self plus opening Shop) I will study iMovie so my YouTube videos will be smoother. I have uploaded two so far and plan a series as we feature and promote ours Artisans and our Products.

Introducing Shops At Fayrehale

Shops At Fayrehale #2

May there be Peace and Balance in all our Lives

July 4th arrived and Shops At Fayrehale doors opened!

By James T. Verrill on July 5, 2014 in Shops At Fayrehale

It has been a journey with a vision. A journey that will never end. We had to set a firm date and use this deadline to accomplish enough to allow the public in while we continue to add inventory and fill the shelves.

We needed to insure that we looked good enough and interesting enough for people to want to come back. I think, based on two days worth of comments that we achieved that.

The journey started with an 1840 barn attached to our Vermont home and filled with things – good things!

July 4th found us far from full, particularly in the antiques area, but presentable.

We have worked hard to offer a unique and affordable selection of nice merchandise. We have a large selection under $5. under $10 and under $20.

We have used Artisans for as many non antique items as possible. The more local the better but always a hard working, talented Artisan.

Plenty of nooks and crannies as you circle Shops at Fayrehale

The Signs

Our neighbor brought down this opening day gift and a nice card. We hang it on the door when we are open

Now to bring some balance back in to our lives. The gardens are much smaller and started a little late this year. We did ship hundreds of chicks around the country. Predators (particularly racoons) have been terrible this year.

We will continue to expand inventory in all areas and fill the shop.

Properly used:) Facebook is a great tool. We encourage you to follow Shops At Fayrehale on Facebook. That is where we make our most regular updates and where we have posted many pictures of our progress in this journey.

If you are in the area, we would love to have you stop.

If Not For June

By James T. Verrill on June 2, 2014 in

If Not For June,

My memories of Winter in December…
With a wish to witness,
The freshness of Spring March would bring…
Would not still remain so vivid.
As if only yesterday visited.
If not for June.

If not for June,
My eyesight would not be teased…
By the freedom felt in Summer,
With hopes that linger of those things I could do,
Under clear skies showing bright Sun.
And seeing the fun shared by nearly everyone,
If not for June.

And if not for June I would not be able to reminisce,
From so many experiences I could pick.
June seems to be the month I can do this.
With a thankfulness I am still in the midst,
Of a year that appears to have just begun.
With so much left to offer before it is done.
And for me this happens only when June comes.

Lawrence S. Pertillar

Lilac, Lilac, thy sweet odour fills the room!

I look back at my last post and notice how drab our world was on April 21st when I posted Spring is Springing. Suddenly the leaves appeared and the Lilacs gave their grandest display in years! We have over 40 different lilacs, along with the old fashion purples that line Route 5 and the enormous old fashion white that was behind the house when we purchased this property. For over two weeks now the yard has been perfumed. The memories of the harsh winter are starting to fade. One feels alive again and excited about the months ahead. We still have the Canadian Lilacs to bloom and extend the season.

We have been busy. Shops At Fayrehale did not make our hoped for Memorial Day opening. Illness both with us and our carpenter slowed us down as did wet cold weather that interfered with painting. We are okay with that and rolled with life’s events. Currently on schedule for July 4th opening and this looks doable.

A small amount of touching up and second coating will have the Antiques At Fayrehale shop area (shown above) ready to fill with inventory. I can work away at this as I continue to finish painting the back area and right side where Christmas and Gift areas will be. Things are moving quickly now. It is exciting to see it coming together. We have been doing more regular updates at our Shops At Fayrehale facebook page. Later when time permits, I will update the transformation of the barn to shop on this site.

I am just back from a three day visit to Star Island where I volunteer for the Shops on Star and continue to work with the New Hampshire Artist who paints porcelain in the style of Celia Thaxter. Tom held down the home front and took care of all the poultry.

Gardens are about to be planted. Have been waiting for the soil to warm. Some new raised beds created with old Borders Books and Music shelving units will be the first planted.

These will be in the area near the shop entrance and customers will be welcome to help themselves to some fresh beans or salad greens. We plan an umbrella table and chairs with WiFi available for members of a party not interested in the Shop. We want them to be comfortable and occupied while others shop.

The chicks continue to hatch and we ship around the country. We have stopped taking orders for Icelandics this year while we concentrate on building our own flock. We continue to hatch Chanteclers.

I am fortunate to have this special place we call home! It has a peaceful beauty that embraces nature and a powerfully positive energy that connects to the Universe.

Some keep the Sabbath going to Church –

I keep it, staying at Home –

With a Bobolink for a Chorister –

And an Orchard, for a Dome-

Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice

I just wear my Wings –

And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,

Our little Sexton-sings.

God preaches, a noted Clergyman –

And the sermon is never long,

So instead of getting to heaven, at last –

I’m going, all along.

Emily Dickinson

Spring is Springing!

By James T. Verrill on April 21, 2014 in Chantecler Chickens, Icelandic Chickens, Shops At Fayrehale

Spring is Springing !

Yes, Spring is Springing! I can not yet say Spring has Sprung! We are still having some freezing nights that make heavy ice on the water and cover the vehicles with snow like frost. Yet, the lilac buds are swelling, the rhubarb is peeking though and the daylilies are announcing their forth coming beauty. Spring is in the air and that is energizing.

The incubator has been humming beside me now for 4 weeks and we are having excellent hatching rates! Even the first hatch, which I wondered about because of the horribly cold winter conditions during egg collection, came off in the high 90s for hatch percentage. These were intended for us to raise here at Fayrehale. Once grown out, some will be sold as older sexed pullets to customers who do not want to raise straight run chicks and some will sustain us in 2015:) This hatch had Chanteclers, Icelandics and Vermont Farm Flock eggs in it. They have been moved to a brooder in the first hoop house. We had to install the shade clothes on all the hoop houses for these sunny 70 degree days as the other two are still housing the Chantecler & Icelandic breeding flocks.

The second hatch occurred last night and this morning and it had an equally good hatch rate. Three orders were mailed out this afternoon. Two boxes of Chanteclers and a box that was half Chanteclers and half Icelandics. They should arrive at their new homes tomorrow and Wednesday. This will now be a weekly happening as we fill our prepaid orders and keep receiving new orders. The incubator will hum away as long as there are orders to fill. It is exciting to finally having people discover and appreciate this great Canadian heritage breed that was developed for cold climates.

The end of May is careening towards us! So much yet to do and yet I know that with better weather allowing for long days and nights, we can be ready for a soft opening the end of May! Grand Opening will most likely be the 4th of July! This weekend, with Tom’s help, we got half the floor area thoroughly cleaned and stained. Even though this area will be covered with an Oriental rug and will not show, it needed to be cleaned and sealed. We used a Cabot solid color deck stain that covers everything! OH! if only this old barn floor could talk! What where the carriage horses that walked across it and wore down the boards on their way to their stalls in the back of the barn?? Were they Morgans? I like to think so… this being Vermont and I having been a breeder of Morgan Horses in years past.

F A Y R E H A L E

Fayrehale has a 14th century connection to the Verrill (Varrall) family and I have used “Fayrehale” all my adult life as a name for my property, a prefix for animal registries and now for Shops at Fayrehale.

Today was a beautiful 70 degree day and I took the opportunity to work on painting the wooden letters that will spell “Fayrehale” on the front of the barn over the shop entrance. So much easier outside than when I started them in the kitchen! Looks like back side will take 2 coats and front side 3 coats. Want them well sealed before they go up. It would be nice to not have to repaint then:)

Another brain storm! I learned many years ago that when ever I procrastinate and something is not done when I, or others!, think it should be done there is a good reason! These three units were cleared from the barn last fall and covered with a tarp for later removal. Winter hit and they stayed put! A GOOD thing!

This unit was being discarded as it had no glass in one side and no way to remove door and replace glass (even had someone else more skilled than I look at it) Thus no use in the shop! NOW, the glass will be removed from the other side, the entire unit will be painted the same green as the shutters on the house and “Fayrehale” on the barn and it will be used outside some where along the lilac hedge on the side of the driveway. NOW, use your imagination. Side pieces and a cross piece will be added so that a 6 pane window sash can be hung above it. This section will be white. The bottom of the base unit will have a window box w/ flowers (inside) and there will be two clay pots on either edge of the top (framing the hanging window sash) An outside display unit to be used when we are open. Three shelves for what ever and 6 panes for ornaments.

The other two units are old Borders fixtures that have slatwall backs, The backs will be removed and the slat wall used in the very back of the barn near the pellet stove. If the sides can be saved, they will be filled with soil and become raised beds. Not accomplishing something when initially intended can be very good.

Earlier this month and after my last posting, I celebrated the 66th anniversary of my birth.

Tom and I spent a nice day in the Upper Valley and had a celebratory dinner at Worthy Kitchen in Woodstock. Tom gave me an iPad. We need it to take credit cards when Shops at Fayrehale opens. This gives me an opportunity to become familiar with it and the finger swiping moves that are not my natural style!

You may have heard about the third eye and someone may have told you that two heads are better than one!

I do like the camera on the iPad. It will serve its major purpose of taking credit cards while providing a portable way to quickly check e-mail.

Time to call it a day. Have a carpenter coming tomorrow to help me in the Shop. Best get some sleep.

HAPPY SPRING

HELLO April ! —– PLEASE Do Not Fool Us !

By James T. Verrill on April 3, 2014 in

HELLO April ! —– PLEASE Do Not Fool Us !

It has been a winter whose time has come to end! A winter with way too many nights of extreme, cold, subzero temperatures. A winter determined to make us welcome Spring with open arms and big smiles.

April arrived and I waited patiently and silently to get through April 1st — quietly wondering if Mother Nature was going to fool us! So far so good:)

On March 31st, you could not see the stainless steel fence around the pallet garden in the front yard, you could not see the two half barrel planters along the road that hold the egg signs three seasons of the year AND the annual flooding of the lower southwest corner of the property had not started!

The pictures above were snapped April 2nd. Two days of sunny weather in the high 40s saw the snow start a dramatic retreat. Here’s hoping it continues. PLEASE do not fool us Mother Nature!

As Spring approaches, I look at the list of what has to be accomplished and set priorities. The incubator is humming away here on the table next to me. Full of eggs that hopefully will hatch and start providing the chicks that we send around the country.

I am SO ready to see boxes like this ready to go to people wanting to start their own flock of Chantecler and/or Icelandic chickens. In 2013 we were already shipping by this time. I have been waiting for fairer weather as it is not just Vermont that has suffered this winter, it is the entire Country. I refuse to send newly hatched chicks out until I know it is safe.

The first potential hatch is Sunday, April 13th and then we should be on track for something to hatch every Sunday. The first one is questionable. I put 16 dozen eggs in and a week later candled them down to 12 dozen. The 4 dozen I pulled were obviously duds. This week I will candle again, two weeks in and see what is going on. These eggs were gathered during extreme cold so anything that hatches is an early gift. Unless there is a surprisingly miraculous large hatch, which I am not expecting, we will keep this batch here at Fayrehale. They will grow out here, some will provide older birds for sexed pullet requests later in the season and some will feed us next winter.

Hopefully the 12 dozen I added last Sunday will be in better shape as the weather had started to become slightly more moderate! They too will be candled this weekend and the obvious duds pulled.

Longing to get the gardens going!

The gardens are still under 12-18inches of settled snow. Seeds need to be started. With living conditions as they are this season, I have very limited time and space to start seeds. This is when one welcomes an offer to barter and I have a friend who will be starting seeds for me in return for older, sexed Chantecler pullets. What perfect timing and the needs of both are easily met.

Lots to do before opening Shops at Fayrehale the end of May!

We provided some updates in an earlier post.

Winter made it impractical to heat the barn to painting warmth. We did paint shelf units in the kitchen and the last two are in here now. Soon, hopefully, we can break out the paint, do some touch up second coating and finish the unpainted areas in the barn. Not as bad as it may look to someone who isn’t visualizing the finished project.

Winter has also been used to find and connect with local Artisans to purchase inventory for the Christmas and Gifts sections of Shops at Fayrehale: Antiques, Christmas, Gifts

We have made some awesome connections and are well on our way to offering green, local, Artisan made items along with the antiques.

There have been personal challenges this winter!

The snow, I can handle. The ridiculously long, like all winter!, periods of extreme cold, not so much:) In addition I have have to deal with radiation fibrosis and I had to eliminate some inner anger left from an intended act of kindness!

The radiation fibrosis is the result of radiation I had 30 years ago after my cancer surgery. It is not life threatening and thus is an irritant that I will have to live with for the rest of this life. A small price to pay for 30 years of post cancer life to date and how ever many more years lie ahead as I turn 66 next week:)

Radiation fibrosis takes 20 plus years to appear. I was on schedule as I lived with the cyst, then three cysts for 7 years or so. Last fall they became red and irritated from pant belts and seat belts. I went to Dartmouth Medical and had them removed on November 14th. Then the fun began. The two smaller ones healed. The larger one that was directly on and in the surgery scar has yet to heal. The Doctor’s can not tell me with 100% certainty that the perpetual draining will stop! We are working on it and each visit they cauterize that “wound”. I do believe it is helping. Hopefully not wishful thinking on my part! Next cauterization is April 14th.

IF, I am to drain for ever more! I will design an elastic wrap w/ velcro that holds either washable pads or feminine pads! It would also be nice if there was a good use for the fluid that drains so i could collect it and sell it!!! As I said, regardless of the eventual outcome it is a small price to pay for life! The other changes, red, thickening, creasing skin are limited to the 3″ x 4″ radiation port and can easily be airbrushed out or my scantly clad modeling photos:)

I did have to quell some inner anger left from an intended act of kindness. It wasn’t as easy as it should have been! I still have to stifle small doses at times. They will be less likely to bubble as winter ceases! Many of you know that we openly and willingly housed a convicted sex offender that had been friends with Tom at Colgate eons ago. He was locked up for thirty years. We opened our home and our lives for 18 months and then his inner evil bubbled and his manipulative, vindictive, horrible true nature reared its ugly head and there was a messy departure in which he attempted to do as much damage as possible to various social and personal relationships! He succeeded at varying degrees. That has not generated the feelings that I had to fight! Karma will deal with that behavior and he has no good ahead in this life and will hopefully do a better job when he returns for the next one.

The inner battle I had to fight was the large financial burden he was. Thousands with a BIG “s” that would have been available to quickly fix the furnace and hot water heater that were knocked out last December by a burst pipe. Now I lived adequately with the wood stove making a warm kitchen and through the floor register a warm bedroom. I had cold running water and I quickly learned how to thaw the ice in the toilet bowl! Still better than a walk out back to the outhouse:) The Majority of the people currently living on this earth would jump at the opportunity to switch places with me.

Still, during some of those bitter cold spells, the anger would start to bubble. Not proud of it. It was not right nor was it good! It just was. As I said, choices had to be made and the priority had to be getting the shop open so it would start generating some income and not pouring very limited funds down the “cellar drain”. The breaking weather is helping! It soon will be totally eradicated!

Life is good. Life is moving on. On April 1st I ordered myself a gift! I bought Paradise Lot: Two Plant Geeks, One-Tenth of an Acre, and the Making of an Edible Garden Oasis in the City.

Next I will gift myself with Ben Falks’s The Resilient Farm and Homestead: An Innovative Permaculture and Whole Systems Design Approach

Ben Falk is a Vermont Treasure.

Permaculture is the subject I must study this season.

As Spring arrives I am revitalized and looking forward to moving back into the tent! (later than usual), getting the gardens planted, the chicks going to new flock owners and Shops At Fayrehale open. If you are in the area this summer, stop and say hello.

Life is Good !

Rolling With Life — Adjusting Priorities

By James T. Verrill on February 15, 2014 in Living a Better Life

1948 – 1966 – 2014

For six and a half decades my journey in this life’s experience has ebbed and flowed as necessary for continued forward progression. I have never been accused of stagnating for long. Friends and acquaintances have thought, and some have called, me crazy. Reflecting as I have this winter and more recently as I shovel out from this snow storm, I think the world would be a better place if more people could roll with life and adjust their priorities.

Why ??

Pictures like the recent highway scene above (and worse!!!) appearing on the news, drives home how inflexible people, in general, have become. They accept no deviation in their desired routine! Mother Nature is not honored. Why would anyone in their right mind be on the road in a major snow/ice storm unless they are Emergency/Health/Fire/Police involved. What happened to common sense? What happened to staying put while the storm is cleared? As I said, the picture I am using is mild compared to many situations out there that have been shown on the news. Add to this the anger exhibited at airports with flight cancellations and delays! People have totally lost touch with reality and lost their ability to roll with life and adjust priorities!

Maybe this is in the forefront of my ponderings as I live though this challenging winter having adjusted my priorities.

The Bathtub This Winter 🙂

Last December during one of the subzero spells, we had a pipe burst. It was around a corner in a crawl space, so by the time I discovered it, it was coming through the cellar rock wall and flooding the cellar. Five inches was enough to take out the hot water heater and the furnace! The sump pump had not been able to keep up with it. Once the water was shut off, the pump removed the water quickly. I used a torpedo kerosene heater to dry things out with fingers crossed. Didn’t work.

The frustrating part is that where ever that pipe is (out of sight) that burst, it has been there for the eleven years we have owed the house! Never a problem until this year.

So here we are with some decisions to make. Some priorities to adjust. The $1000 deductible on our insurance meant we needed to cough up a thousand dollars! Then do we want a smallish claim against the insurance on the property, the main purpose of which is to protect us from a major disaster/wipe out?

So an assessment of our situation! We have cold running water to bath & kitchen.

We have a Vermont Castings Vigilant wood stove and firewood. This can heat the kitchen and, through a ceiling floor register, the bedroom upstairs. Thus we have running water and a warm area to live in. Think of the people around the world who do not have that much!

Water can be heated on the wood stove. So life can proceed w/o spending a $1000 plus an insurance claim at this point in time. Bathing is easily accomplished with a couple pans of water, locally made soap and a couple of cloths. We have the necessary amenities!

With limited financial resources, we need to establish priorities and right now the first priority is, and has to be, opening the Shops at Fayrehale the end of May this year. Paint and stain need to be purchased. Some work needs to be done by a carpenter we have been lucky to find. We have antiques galore for the major antiques portion of the Shop! We need Christmas, Gifts & Toys to round out the other portions. We have to look complete when we open the doors if we expect people to return and spread the word.

So what little money we can assemble is going towards this first priority. To do otherwise right now would be like flushing it down the toilet… using it for something we can temporarily do without rather than for something that can start to generate some income.

Using local artisans serves a dual purpose. It means that our hard earned dollars go to other small businesses plus the minimum initial order requirements are usually $50 – $200 so we can, with careful and tasteful selection, assemble a nice and varied range of inventory.

This priority also means that on subzero and/or stormy nights, I get up at 3am to stoke the stove, run the cold water (which is left dripping – little higher water bill is better than total destruction of the plumbing system!), check and remove snow on the hoop houses etc. It means staying more connected to the real world and to Mother Nature. It means ice in the toilet bowl in the morning — I spare you that picture:):) — and tells me to hurry up and start composting our own manure!

This last storm as given me time to reflect. I shovel the snow and today was day two of a three day shoveling project. No snow blower and no paid plow service. Again, our priorities, shoveling is good exercise when done carefully and wisely, (acknowledge widow maker snow with shorter sessions at a slower pace) why spend money unnecessarily. I was, however, aware as I shoveled the 30″ of plow gifted snow at the end of the driveway of the dozens and dozens of pickup trucks with plows that passed by! An awareness heightened by a friend who recently slid in to a snow bank and sat there while people just passed by.

If you don’t know me, bundled with layers and with a white beard, I look like an old man! :):) So these strangers are driving by an “old man” tackling 30″ of compacted, plow gifted snow! Not one stopped. The point here, is not that I needed or wanted help. The point is that all these people drove by without awareness or compassion for a fellow human being! I would have thought someone would have stopped. Not necessarily with an offer of free help. (three passes would have done everything). They could have stopped and said I can do that for you for $10, $20, $30 whatever! I would have graciously thanked them and declined.

It just enhances my comment above that people accept no deviation in their desired routine. They want no inconvenience, real or perceived. Too many have lost the ability to show spontaneous compassion for people they do not know. The world has become rigid, fast paced and isolated. Most people can no longer deal with the unexpected and perceived hardships.

Hopefully this gets you to reflect on your own situation in life and your own priorities. So much stress can be removed, life can be more peaceful and enjoyable if you just roll with life and adjust your priorities!

Permaculture – The Safe and Sane Way to Proceed! – Learn Along With Me

By James T. Verrill on January 29, 2014 in Gardening, Living a Better Life

Last evening, Tuesday, January 28th, I traveled over to Montpelier for the Transition Speaker Series topic ( Home Resiliency: Staying Warm, Fed and Watered in a Very Cold Climate) being held in the Hayes Room, Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

Ben Falk

Ben Falk was the speaker, discussing the most essential systems needed in our region to maintain a failure-proof source of the basics: heat, hot water, food, light and communications. Ben used his own home systems as a case study and explored the particular resiliency challenges we have always faced in Vermont, and how they are being exacerbated by a changing climate and economic conditions.

I have followed Ben Falk on Facebook for some time now to better know him as a person and I have studied his website and watched many of his educational videos to be introduced to Permaculture.

I wanted to be in the same room as Ben. I wanted to hear him directly. I wanted to check out and verify his Energy. All is good! Ben Falk is a young man who is “walking the walk” as he devotes his energy and expertise to educating and helping people prepare for as secure a life as possible in a rapidly changing world.

Ben Falk’s Recently Published Book.

I have a friend in Maine who received Ben’s book for Christmas! He talks about it consistently. It is on my list as the very next book I buy!

“The Resilient Farm and Homestead is a handbook for developing regenerative human habitat systems adaptive to drought, flooding, heat, power outage, price spikes, pest pressure, and the multitude of challenges brought by climate change, peak oil, food system contamination and economic decline. The book also details leading-edge strategies for regenerating soil, water systems and human health through the design and operations of the homeastead and farm.

The book covers the groundbreaking systems Ben Falk, M.A.L.D. and his team have established at the Whole Systems Design research farm over the past decade. The book includes detailed information on earthworks, water systems, rice paddies (likely the first on the planet in such a cold climate), livestock, species composition, site design and management, fuelwood production and processing, human health-soil enhancement strategies, topsoil production and remineralization, nuts, perennial food and medicine crops, and high performance buildings.

The Resilient Farm and Homestead is more than just a book of tricks and techniques for site development, but offers actual working results of agricultural ecosystems and presents a viable home-scale model for food-producing intentional, ecosystems in cold climates and beyond. Real world farm and homestead systems are articulated with gorgeous full-color photography and dozens of landscape architectural drawings.”

For myself, I look for the plants and systems I can use here on our own small .6 acres (remember that point before the 6!) Our small endeavor will involve more layered plantings and perennial edibles.

Paradise Lot – 1/10th of an acre – Less than our 6/10ths!

“Jonathan and Eric and their families manage a 1/10 acre urban backyard garden in Holyoke, Massachusetts. This edible landscape features little-used edible native plants as well as useful species from around the world. Over forty species of fruit and seventy perennials with edible leaves make for a long season of foraging. Many are arranged in an edible forest garden, an edible ecosystem composed of perennial polycultures of multipurpose plants. Other components include a tropical crop garden, edible water garden, poultry, annual beds, and bioshelter greenhouse with aquaponics under development. The book Paradise Lot tells the story of the development of the garden from a bare slab of ground to a diverse and productive demonstration.”

So with Ben Falk’s Recently Published Book and Paradise Lot, I have my text books for learning what I need to do to maximize the small piece of earth we are taking care of so that it can be left better than we found it. These two resources located in Vermont and Massachusetts function in my climate.

All you who read this are not fortunate enough to live in New England:):):) While you can easily Google resources local to your area, I will mention Adam Remkes and his Cedar Springs Farm out in Utah.

I also recommend that everyone with any interest in maximizing food production in a small area like and follow Jonathan Krausert who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah! He has been a role model and a mentor for me for a couple of years now!

I invite you join me in this important journey and encourage you to share your experiences, your successes as well as the things that did not work well for you.

We can lean from each other.

Feeding Fayrehale Fowl Fermented Feed!

By James T. Verrill on January 26, 2014 in Chantecler Chickens, Icelandic Chickens

How is that for alliteration !

Last Monday we were fortunate to have Lisa and Frank Richards of Mack Hill Farm in Windsor, Vermont attend our local poultry group’s monthly meeting. Lisa was invited to speak on feeding fermented feed to poultry.

The next day I started fermenting!

I started immediately because I learned I could start by fermenting the feed I was currently using! People ferment various whole grain combinations and I will make some minor changes as I progress with fermented feeding. For now, the important thing to me was the fact I could take the feed I use and thus have and start fermenting!

That means layer pellets, cracked corn and water.

Let the fermenting begin!

Last Tuesday I started 3 buckets and did two more Wednesday night. First feeding was Saturday with a 3 day bucket. I used a 4 day bucket today (Sunday) and will use a 5 day bucket tomorrow Monday) so I can see where in the 3-5 fermenting range we want to settle.

Because you can start with what you are currently feeding!, we started with a mix of layer pellets and corn. I checked to see if mash was less expensive as it soaks to mash and decided that the one penny extra per 50# bag for pellets was worth it to have less dust in the kitchen.

Pic #1 & #2 show the mixture in the buckets. Cheap bird feed (for sprouting) added to two (added to third after pictures taken). Middle bucket is just feed mix before bird seed

Pic #3 – water added to two – add tepid water The two on the right already need more water:)

Pic #4 – no covers available when I picked up the buckets so I used saran wrap to cover until I got covers yesterday.

Make sure you fill shy of 3/4 full w/ dry feed! It swells and bubbles as it ferments. I had to scoop out feed as I learned the right level! Keep adding water as needed and keep a little water over the top of the mix. I now add the birdseed after the initial swelling has happened.

There are currently six covered buckets in the kitchen! (only place warm enough for us to ferment right now) I have friends that do it in their basement. You want a spot where you can maintain 60-70 degrees, The open bucket is a 5 day bucket and will be fed tomorrow (Monday). The second picture just shows who the nose in the first picture belongs to! Abigail has been very intrigued and actually tried some before I found the covers.

You will note that I have the buckets sitting on boot trays. They have swelled and bubbled over as I learn the amount of feed to start a bucket.

Fed Fayrehale Fowl First Fermented Feed

Yesterday (Saturday) I took a 5 gallon bucket of fermented feed (3 days fermenting) and fed the birds. The 4 chicken pens attacked it like one would go after an addictive special treat! Crazily eating it.

The ducks and geese were more cautious and not so sure that “slop” was appropriate. The Saxonys dove in first and then the geese decided they were missing out on something good.

I was using 100# every 2 days of dry. 100# made 6 buckets of fermented so if there is a 50% cut, I will use 1.5 buckets a day. If a 30% cut, I will use two buckets a day. I will get this fine tuned!

Either way! 30% to 50% is a significant decrease in feed costs and the birds are healthier and the yolks will be larger!!!

Today, Sunday, was day 2 of feeding fermented feed! The birds were all excited and got right down to the business of eating. I like seeing all that moisture going in to them too during this cold weather! I used 1.5 buckets today.

Looks like I am using about half the feed that I was using before. Will keep working on portions and number of feedings until I am sure they are satiated each day.

I plan to stick with this system for now with a minor addition or two! I will add some dried kelp (a cup or two per bucket) AFTER I check to make sure it is Atlantic Coast sourced and not from the Pacific Coast!. I will also add my food grade DE (diatomaceous earth) to the mix when I feed it. In the spring I will switch out the cracked corn for crimped oats.

That is what I am doing to start! I will post several good links for you to use as resources and there is lots of research out there. Fermented feed not only saves feed and cuts feed costs, it makes healthier birds.

Resources:

Mack Hill Farm Fermented Feed

Mack Hill Farm Fermented Feed Follow-Up

Mack Hill Farm Fermented Feed Finale

10 Foods to Ferment For Chickens

Benefits of Lacto-Fermenting Feed For Chickens

The Science of Fermented Feed

Backyard Chicken discussion – Fermented Feeds

Why and How to Ferment Your Chicken Feed

The above will give you a great start. Our birds all seem happy with the change and I sure like to see all that moisture going in to their system during this frigid weather. I feed twice a day so it is consumed before it freezes. You just have to work with your birds until you find the amount they will consume. I still scatter some scratch (after morning feeding which is the larger feeding) to keep them occupied and to keep the bedding worked.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Day 3 – Feeding Fayrehale Fowl Fermented Feed – observations and conclusions about feeding fermented feed! WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG ??

I had been verbally told that it was a good way to feed. I could have done research and started way sooner than I did! Thank goodness Lisa Richards of Mack Hill Farm came up to speak to our local Poultry Group!

It absolutely saves 30-50% on feed. Thinking that I will fall in the 40% area? 4 bags out of 10 not used, $40 out of $100 saved — I can handle that!!

I used 1.5 buckets yesterday (that would be 50% less) and I fed 2 buckets today (that would be 33.3% less). My feeling is that the amount needs to be in between these two amounts.

I will continue to observe — Thinking I may end up alternating days — 1.5 buckets one day, 2 buckets the next … all depends on clean up today. I am no more into creating frozen feed than I am in making ice w/ water:):)

Speaking of water! They get fresh water after they are fed (and clean it up) so fresh water taken around in the afternoon. They seem to be “washing their beaks”! and then it freezes over night.

Will keep observing this too. They are getting lots of water in the feed now. You will be amazed at the amount of water absorbed by the feed.

So I am thinking that real savings will be 40-50%.

The birds themselves appear much more content. They are excited to see the feed bucket and dive right in but it is not frantic! They tend to business and once satiated they roost for a while. AND, NO, they are not drunk! fermented feed does not have that high an alcohol content! I think they are pleasantly satisfied!!

Besides kelp (EAST coast sourced) I will also add a little alfalfa pellet — The Chanteclers, particularly, love hay and consume the best of what I put in their hoop.

So, I will keep observing, and continue to wonder! —

WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG ??

How We Ship Fertile Hatching Eggs — Successfully!

By James T. Verrill on January 16, 2014 in Chantecler Chickens, Icelandic Chickens

My apologies to regular readers who may not be interested in this specific post. I attempted to title it in such a way that you could skip opening it when you received your email notification if you were not interested.

Here at Fayrehale, we successfully ship fertile hatching eggs from our Chanteclers and our Icelandics all over the country. Including into the true wilds of Alaska! This particular Alaska mailing took 10 days and had an 80 something percent hatch!

I have been asked repeatedly how we package the eggs for shipping. The easiest way to respond is to do a pictorial tutorial here, as a blog post, so that it has a URL that can be shared.

Tri-Fold Egg Cartons

We use a tri-fold egg carton that is perforated to that it can split in half making two, six egg components. Now, you don’t buy eggs! so you need to know someone in the neighborhood or at work who does and can save the cartons for you. We are lucky! Our Village Church has a monthly breakfast, Pete & Gerry’s donates the eggs, and they save the cartons for me! These tri-fold cartons play a large role in our success.

Yes! Toilet Paper!

Nothing fancy or pretentious about us! Toilet paper is always handy and we use it to wrap each egg. Roll the egg six or eight times in the toilet paper. The egg is in the middle so that there is extra paper at both ends. Stand the egg in a compartment as shown above. The extra paper on the bottom squishes around the bottom of the egg — remember this is the narrower end so that the air sac is up. Repeat until six eggs are standing like the one pictured above.

Snugly Encased

As shown on right side of picture above, the tri-fold is carefully closed. Extra paper nudged if necessary into its own egg shaped compartment. This folds the extra toilet paper over the top. Tape closed. Now each egg is gently and snugly encased in an individual egg shaped compartment. Wrap each 6 egg unit separately in bubble wrap and tape. I save and reuse bubble wrap. If you do not have any, someone you know does!

Boxing

Thicker (or more) bubble wrap is put around each 6 pack. The bottom of a Priority Mail Box is layered with bubble wrap or styrofoam peanuts. The 6 packs are placed side by side in the center of the box. Narrow egg end down. Bubble wrap and/or styrofoam peanuts used around all four sides and over the top. The box is sealed with tape. Everything is now snug. The eggs are very well protected.

We use regular Priority mail and insure in case package is destroyed en route. Remember you are mailing fresh, unwashed, clean eggs. There is plenty of time! Remember the eggs we mailed that took 10 days to reach their destination in the wilds of Alaska! When a hen starts a clutch she selects a nesting spot and lays an egg every day (occasionally skips a day) until she has a clutch of 16-20 eggs. That means the eggs sit for three weeks or so before the hen judges the clutch big enough and settles on the nest to incubate.

The point of that reminder is to let you and your customers relax! The eggs you mail will be received and will start being incubated faster than a hen would do it naturally!

IMPORTANT Note: We do NOT annotate the package in any fashion! We do NOT say “fragile”, We do NOT say “Fertile Hatching Eggs” – We just address and mail the package as if a regular (light weight) gift! This is important. It is known, and has been confirmed to me by people in the Postal System, that there are postal employees who will deliberately mishandle packages that are so marked. No need for them to know!

This system has worked very well for us and our customers have been very happy.

Three weeks after receipt they see the results!

Happy Mailing – Happy Hatching

Welcoming 2014 – HAPPY NEW YEAR – Reflecting on 2013

By James T. Verrill on December 31, 2013 in

2014 Will Be A Good Year !!!!

As the last four and a half hours of 2013 tick away, I am excited to begin the New Year.

2013 was, in many ways, a transition year. I managed to be freed from an unsatisfactory living situation, grew the Chantelcer breed and business, learned much about gardening in not previously experienced conditions, added Icelandic Chickens, started this blog, and made some major progress in getting the barn transformed for Shops at Fayrehale which will open the end of May 2014.

Please note! (Those of you who many not know) The unsatisfactory living situation I was freed from did not involve my husband but rather an individual we had opened our home to, who had lived with and basically been supported by us for 18 months, who ended up leaving on a negative note, and who caused as much disruptive and negative social activity as possible. I did not realize how much I had shut down during these 18 months until I was freed from the oppression of the situation! It is over and done with. Life is moving forward again and unfortunately, I will take a good hard look before helping anyone get a new start again. That is too bad.

2013 ends white with snow and cold! We are experiencing a week of subzero nights and low digit days. I am hunkered down. Staying warm and taking care of self and critters. Preparing to do some painting for the shop in the kitchen, shelves, molding, letters for the front of the barn etc., as it is not practical to heat the barn to painting temperature during this cold.

12 hours apart – 11:30PM and 11:30AM this last storm

We lucked out and had rain and an inch of wet snow this last storm. It still snapped a section of a three trunk birch. I am tired of the weather hype! It is winter. Snow falls. 6,8,10,12 inches of snow is not news! It is winter. Let me know if we will be getting 2 or 3 feet in 24 hours! Then I can shovel once or twice as it happens.

Our World Here In Vermont Is Beautiful

I started this blog site February 4th, 2013. Since then there have been 8,234 visits by 6,503 people. Thus 20.9% have been repeat visitors and the rest visited once. Almost 1000 have been outside the United States. More than I would have expected have communicated with me about various areas represented here. While not large numbers compared to many sites, I am surprised.

It shows how one can live a life of elegant simplicity, on the edge of a small Vermont village and still connect to many, scattered all over, with similar interests and concerns. I am humbled to think the life we are living may be of interest and assistance to others.

We enter 2014 prepared to open the Shop in May, to breed and ship Chanteclers & Icelandics and to garden even more successfully than we did in 2013.

Remembering, as we hope you will too, to take time to stop and smell the roses.

Welcome 2014

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