→ 2010-07-25 06:38:24 (19 Comments)
November 19, 2009
The menagerie of animals that live here on the urban homestead provides us with countless hours of entertainment and free “therapy” – bringing smiles to our sometimes stressed brows.
Here’s Lucie (aka Lucie Goosey) digging her way to China (well, grubs or bugs more likely)
Diggity dig!
Estella, seeing Lucie’s hole is bigger, stops her digging and comes [...]
August 3, 2006
by Anais in Barnyard, DIY Projects, Highlights, Homestead, Metal Roofing, News, Posts by Anais, Rabbits, Updates
Sierra
Goodbye Bunsie
We have some very sad news to report, Tuesday we had to put our 4+ yr old dwarf bunny, Sierra, to sleep. We are all very emotional over this traumatic decision, but it was in her (and our) best interest. This past few weeks we could see that she was slowing down (her [...]
June 20, 2006
by Anais in Barnyard, Chickens, Community, Ducks, Garden, Goats, Homestead, Journey Reflections, Kitchen, Menu Planning, Outreach, Posts by Anais, Rabbits, Solar Oven, Weather
Hot & Busy
It’s been quite warm these last couple of days; however, it’s supposed to cool down slightly today.
The other day I made two lemony sweet jars of lemon verbena syrup. I plan to use the syrup to sweetened lemonades and other fruit desserts. Yesterday, we baked up another batch of blueberry muffins (with our [...]
April 11, 2006
Strawbale building
It’s starting out again as a gray, cold and overcast day(and so was yesterday). Our long awaited winter weather that we should have had in January and February is delaying warm spring weather for now. For now, our warm sweaters, coats and long sleeves are still out and being used. This is definitely [...]
December 27, 2005
by Anais in Barnyard, Community, Energy, Garden, Homestead, Journey Reflections, Kitchen, News, Outdoor Shower, Outreach, Posts by Anais, Rabbits, Simple Living, Updates, Water, Weather
The warm weekend that was predicted never materialized instead we are experiencing foggy, partly cloudy and sometimes drizzly weather. The drizzle isn’t much, but heavier rain is expected sometime this week – and we hope their forecast is right this time!
Spent a lovely time at a friend’s home for vegetarian dinner on Saturday night. We [...]
November 2, 2005
by Anais in Barnyard, Community, Earthen (Cob) Oven, Energy, Garden, Homestead, Kitchen, Lighting, Menu Planning, Posts by Anais, Rabbits
Dirty bunny
Someone’s having fun! Sierra’s enjoying the warm fall days by digging a tunnel in the animal enclosure. She certainly is taking the digging seriously! Unfortunately, we’ll have to fill in her excavations since it’s pretty deep and we don’t want to have any accidental cave-ins.
The guavas are ripe! We have been looking forward [...]
August 1, 2005
by Anais in Barnyard, Beneficials & Pests, Community, Garden, Highlights, Homestead, News, Posts by Anais, Rabbits
Butterfly enjoying artichoke
The butterflies are back for the summer, visiting the flowers, flitting from one to another.
Our emotions are still a raw after Moonshadow’s passing (thanks to all who wrote, it’s greatly appreciate during this dark time), but life goes on and there is work to be done as we move further in our journey.
One [...]
July 31, 2005
Moonshadow
Oh, I’m bein’ followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadowLeapin and hoppin’ on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
This entry is very hard to write… It’s a sad, day here on the homestead, our sweet Moonshadow passed away this morning. The poor thing battled but the fly strike was worse than previously thought. Jordanne held Moonshadow as she [...]
July 27, 2005
Summer growth
The muggy weather has finally left – thankfully! For a few days, the humidity and heat were pretty brutal. We are back to our regular schedule of summer-like weather. Boy, it sure is nice to be rid of the humidity. We can actually sit in the shade and not break a sweat.
Posting on the [...]
July 20, 2005
by Anais in Barnyard, Clothing, Garden, Homestead, Natural Pest Management, News, Posts by Anais, Rabbits, Simple Living, Updates, Weather
Summer blessings
Urgh, it’s sooo muggy! We want our “dry heat” back!
The garden is growing and growing, keeping everyone busy. New crops going in, old ones going out. and harvesting of summer crops. New crops are ripening each week — apples and limas are the latest to come into production. The kitchen counter is overflowing with [...]
May 26, 2004
by Anais in Barnyard, Beneficials & Pests, Chickens, Community, Ducks, Garden, Greywater Reclamation, Homebrew Biodiesel, Homestead, Posts by Anais, Rabbits, Rainwater Harvesting, Skills & Crafts, Structures, Transportation, Water, Water
Biodiesel Mixin’ Mixer
Backing up just a bit:
Sunday, May 16, The Biodiesel Mixin’ Mixer was another success with many attendees from across the Southland.
Thanks to all those who brought contributions for the potluck (it was quite a spread!) and toKPFK for spreading the word.
This past Sunday, we hosted PTF’s first Homebrew Biodiesel Workshop. Reservations were filled [...]
March 14, 2004
Moonshadow & Sierra are the cutest and friendliest rabbits we know (OK so wejust may be a little biased…). But they absolutely love to be petted and give everyone that drops by their little world “bunny kisses” (licking ours andeveryone’s hands and faces like a dog would).
When you walk near their home they run up [...]
January 14, 2004
by Anais in Barnyard, Energy, Homebrew Biodiesel, Homestead, Outdoor Shower, Posts by Anais, Rabbits, Solar Power, Transportation, Water
While parts of thenation are in a deep freeze, we’ve had a warm spell this whole week – so warm, in fact, that in the evenings and mornings one can walk around in short sleeves and barefoot!
BIO FUEL UPDATE
I put up a preliminarybiodiesel page, will have to work on it a bit later and load [...]
November 23, 2003
by Anais in Barnyard, Compost, Energy, Homestead, Posts by Anais, Rabbits, Solar Power, Vermicomposting, Weather
The guys built a nice worm box underneath the rabbit hutch out of scrap wood. They used a light row cover material for the top to deter pesky flies. The bin will accommodate our expanding red worm population.
In the past two days the solar panels have produced over 4.6 KW of power. Pretty impressive for [...]
November 7, 2003
We have pretty much completed the chicken coop renovation. Only a few minor touch-ups remain to be done, otherwise it’s a drastic improvement over theold coop. Leftover bamboo and pieces of wood we had lying around were used to build this new structure and we only needed to buy a few things. The gals are [...]
June 5, 2003
Socializing
We let the bunnies {Sierra and Moonshadow} in thechicken {and nowduck} run. It’s really amazing how wonderfully they get along!
It’s all part of the cute scenario that plays out daily… The chickens wait patiently behind the excavating bunnies {who enjoy themselves by digging their little hearts out}, eagerly anticipating the tasty morsels of bugs that [...]
February 19, 2003
Photo of the burrow, Rearview of Moonshadow, Moonshadow & Sierra after a hard hour’s work
We try to let the bunnies out each day or so for a romp around the yard. Recently, they have gotten it in their little heads that they have to dig a burrow. Moonshadow started it and now Sierra’s got the [...]
January 16, 2003
Sierra Moonshadow
One of the bunnies (Moonshadow) had a bad case of sniffles with sneezing attacks. For awhile there, we were a bit worried but now she’s improved… more like healed. We didn’t want to bring her to a vet as they would just prescribe some drug or antibiotic that would only treat the problem [...]
January 10, 2003
Wire area where the bunnies eat allowing their droppings to fall into redworm bin
Finally completed the vermicomposting system working under the rabbit hutch. The guys built a funnel underneath the wire section of the floor where the bunnies eating area is (The rest of the hutch flooring is wood. We didn’t want the bunnies [...]
December 27, 2002
by Anais in Barnyard, Chickens, Garden, Homestead, Posts by Anais, Production: Harvest Tally, Rabbits
And so another year is shortly coming to a close. This year we were very blessed in being able to almost reach our goal of harvesting 2 tons of food (stay tuned for the final tally) and we were able to experience the joy of raising baby chickens and rabbits.
Bunnies playing in the yard
This coming [...]
December 15, 2002
Finished!!
ONE DOWN…
The guys finished the bunny hutch on Friday by putting the overhang up. Instead of plywood, they used some old plastic canvas which would allow some sun in but keep out the rain.
The bunnies are enjoying their new home, especially their new “living” space.
Now to tackle adding worm bins to the bottom [...]
December 11, 2002
Almost finished!
The guys almost finished the rabbit hutch. All that’s left to do is to put on the shade roof and attach the waste disposal system/floor.
They also plan to attach worms bins underneath the hutch for more vermicomposting space. The rabbit droppings will drop through a funnel and into the worm bins… no need [...]
December 3, 2002
The orange trees have tons of fruit on them and it looks like it’s going to be a good year! Nothing like the taste of a fresh, sweet orange in the morning.
The guys are working on a building a rabbit hutch, it’s going to be really nice. Photos will follow… shortly.
Been working on in the [...]
November 28, 2002
November is a month to give thanks for our blessings.
We have a lot to be thankful for this year. Our bountiful garden harvest, (even though it was bad drought year) our hens, rabbits, our home and family and last but not least that we are able to share our journey with others. Wishing everyone a [...]
November 17, 2002
I put together a list ofNEW PLANTS that we’ve acquired this year here on the urban homestead, which will continue to grow!
The bunnies are doing well, they are very playful and like to be petted. Moonshadow’s the hyper of the two, while Sierra is the shy one.
We had a family meeting the other day and [...]
November 13, 2002
Yesterday we picked up two dwarf rabbits. The black and white one’s MOON SHADOW and the brownish one’s… well, we haven’t picked a name yet. They really are taking to their new home, though Cassidy, our cat is wondering what all the fuss is about. The rabbits will be a great addition to the “homestead” [...]
