Greetings and Salutations!
Hi everyone! It’s certainly nice to meet all of you! I look forward to getting to know you better over the coming issues, but in the meantime, I thought I’d take a minute and introduce myself.
First and foremost, I’m a wife and mother of two girls. We live on more than 12 acres near the Ohio River. My acreage is mostly wooded and I love it. Nature and gardening have been lifelong passions of mine, so the wooded lot affords wildlife and bird watching opportunities galore. We’ve got a mom and her triplet does that hang out on our driveway. Our resident turkeys are loud and hilarious to watch. And, if I’m lucky, sometimes we’ll hear our barred owls calling to each other as I’m getting the girls into the car for school.
In addition to lots of natural habitat, my homestead backyard hosts my flock of chickens. I’ve got two mixed breed roosters along with some Buff Brahmas, Speckled Sussex, Black Australorps, Easter Eggers, Brown Leghorns, a New Hampshire and a Buff Orpington.
I am also a published author with my first book Backyard Chickens: Beyond the Basics (Voyageur Press, 2017) in pre-sale now and officially in stores May 1, 2017. Backyard Chickens: Beyond the Basics explores the realities of raising a flock for eggs. From odd eggs and molting to chicken behavior, feeding and preparing for the seasons, my book focuses on many subjects that aren’t covered in beginner books.
But, enough about me. This issue is jam packed with information and how-to articles for everyone! To name a few, you’ll find a wonderful spread on cheese-making. From easy mozzarella to hard cheeses and the best supplies, you’ll find practical advice for novices and experienced cheesemakers alike. You’ll also find an informative section on how dairy farms operate and alternative dairy farms utilizing goats and sheep. Plus, learn the best tools and procedures for digging holes on the homestead and much more.
I hope you enjoy this issue enough to keep it around for reference in the future. Happy reading!
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