Resources for Winter Nights
January 29th, 2007 by Jim VLooks like the next week should be cold, with predicted lows around zero until the weekend when they are predicting -10. Doing chores is now exhilarating, except for the extra clothes that make it harder to move fast. Looks like time to do some extra reading (and maybe start tax forms). For those of you who are interested in doing some agrarian reading, Salatins have put a list of Joel’s favorite books on the web at www.polyfacefarms.com/library.html. I would also recommend looking at the book selection at www.acresusa.com. I have at least one other favorite book that I do not see on the Polyface web site, “The Albrecht Papers Volume II, Soil Fertility and Animal Health†by William A. Albrecht. This book was very helpful in teaching me the connection between soil fertility and animal and human health. In the coming days I will try to post a review of this book.
Jim V
January 30th, 2007 at 6:50 am
Morning,
The one thing I enjoy about winter is I get more time for reading. Jim, I put the Albrecht papers on the list. It looks like a good one.
Its colder down here too, but about 30 degrees warmer than where you are. Chores are not too bad, but this weekend they are predicting snow flurries (shudder)….. Hey!!!! thats big news down here!!!!
Actually, thats the thing I like a whole lot better down here than in Michigan. In the winter, I feel comfortable working all day with just my overalls and maybe some longhandles. Allows a part-timer to get a ton done on the weekends.
Anyway, thanks for the reading material, my nightstand was almost cleared off . Thought I was going to have to start on one of the wifes romance novels….(ugggg….) Now I got something else to look for at the library…
Have a GREAT day,
Brad
January 30th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Brad,
Glad to help you avoid romance novels. When you pickup the Albrecht papers, just be aware there are about 4 volumes - or something like this. I much prefer volume II.
Keep warm in spite of the snow flurries. I think we will be doing as little as possible outside this weekend since they are predicting a shot of cold air this weekend. Friday they are predicting wind gusts above 30 MPH with temperatures in the single digits below zero. Looks like Tom gets to contend with -15 Saturday night, while it is predicted to be a balmy -11 at my place.
Jim
January 30th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Jim,
Another one of them weekends eh! Have to work on rebuilding the buzz saw during that time if all else goes well on the farm. But 15 below is still child’s play compared to what it really could get down to. I wonder how it’ll be going in the Turtle Mts and up Guy’s way in Manitoba, brrr! Almost feel like a southerner compared to them.
I was wondering here, now I bought me a flour mill the last few weeks and I’m a big fan of corn bread. In fact I love the stuff. Now the old farmer in me is wondering what’s a good variety of corn, a 100 days or less that would make good corn meal. I’ll raise it, no problem. I don’t have any idea if MN 13 or Wapsie Valley would do, although I’d bet they could be used. Any ideas out there in computerland?? I’m finding just a bit of time these evenings to shop for seed for the family, plus I just recieved the Seed Savers Big Book. One sparked my interest, “Hickory King White” 90-95 day. Plus a person could plant some of those short day Indian Corn varieties that thrive in the north, 67 to 80 day stuff.
It’s a sure sign of spring when I’m getting corn “fever”. Ah, what a wonderful plant! Never boring!
January 31st, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Tom,
We have ground “Indian corn” for flour and my wife did not like the dark color of the meal and bread. She says stick to a yellow corn, although it seems that a number of blue and colored corns are said to be good for meal. As I scan the web, seems that there are a number of sites that specify varieties of corn that make good corn meal. Here is one site:
http://rareseeds.com/seeds/Corn
They have a Black Aztec corn that originated in upper New York that they say makes good meal. They also have a painted corn that comes from Montana that they say makes good meal. Sites that I have looked at say Reids Dent and Bloody Butcher corn make good meal.
Here are a couple more sites, although most varieties of corn seem to be 100 day or above.
http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/vegetable/corn/corn.html
http://www.heirloomseeds.com/corn.htm
Jim V
January 31st, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Thanks Jim!
I planted some Black Aztec this past summer and I didn’t get a cob. In fact the plants stooled out and looked like volunteer corn clumps. Couldn’t figure that one out. I have had good luck with Painted Mtn from Montana and also Mandan Bride. I might plant some Krugs again which is a strain of Reids Yellow Dent, if it’s planted early enough and the summer is half way normal it should make it. I might try a little Bloody Butcher this year and see what it does. They say it’s a good corn for corn on the cob when young so at least I could eat that if it looks like it matures to late here. After this week I’ll put my full attention to it!
Tom
February 1st, 2007 at 7:10 am
I was going to say that Reids is about 110-120 days, but I’ll bet you knew that
. I’d be tempted to give it a try….. the almanac is predicting a long growing season…….
Have a GREAT day,
Brad
February 1st, 2007 at 11:05 am
Hey Brad,
Wanna come up this weekend and jump in the lake like some of them folks up north do. Weathers lookin good for it! Twenty some below with high winds coming. Yee Haw! It don’t hardly get much better than this!!
I’m looking at some 100 day Reids and might just try a few acres for silage and leave a little bit for picking if it looks like it would make it. I know it would with a half way normal summer which have been few and far between this decade.
Ah! I love thinking about all the possibilities with OP corn. Well, I’d better get back outside to snow furries, cool wind and never ending adventures
February 1st, 2007 at 11:59 am
Alright guys (and gals), I have a question for ya. Now no matter how hard I try, my new idea picker won’t shell corn (well, let me take that back… it shells more than it should, but the birds just end up with it…
). I came up with the idea of feeding goats ear corn, which didn’t go over well since they didn’t have front teeth. After watching them trying to gum it into a mush, I finally had pity on them and shelled it.
Now I’ve got the same bright idea for cattle. I hear tell of people grinding cob and all. I just want the critters to do the grinding. Can I feed whole ear corn to cattle? It would save me a lot of trouble and probably make my 80 y/o corn sheller last a bit longer….
Thanks,
Brad
February 1st, 2007 at 12:05 pm
oh, and by the way, when I was in college. A buddy and I decided a swim in Lake Superior in March was where it was at……… I’ve been thinned skin ever since
Besides, I don’t think anyone should see a 44 y/o fat man in a speedo anywhere in the contential US…… but thanks for asking
February 2nd, 2007 at 6:29 am
Brad,
Hmmmm, I never fed whole cobs purposly but have seen growed up cows gulp down corn cobs lickidy split without the slightest problem. In fact I’ve seen them gulp down the whole stalk including corn cob in one piece. Younger stock will have much more difficulty. We have a one inch screen for the grinder mixer that I use for rough grinding cob corn and the cattle love it. Of course those are all memories of days gone by when we had a thing called timely summer rains. I have a few corn cobs in the office here to remind me what they look like. Memories
Ten below this morning, tax appointment today, can’t wait till next week when things get back to normal if’n there is such a thing!
February 2nd, 2007 at 7:06 am
Thanks. I guess I’ll give it a try and see if they eat it or not. Yesterday was interesting. It took me to dark to break out my PTO auger. I was telling a buddy how I was having a hard time storing it, and he said “Well, us rednecks, we just drill a hole and leave it in the hole till the next time we need it”. Well, I’m bettin they don’t leave it for two years cause it had buried itself in the hole
.
Well, I need to get that corral built, so I went to get it out and it wouldn’t budge. So digging around in the sleet here, I finally got it out and ready for tomorrows fencing. Put me behind on other things though.. Some days, I swear I take two steps back and only one forward….
Taxes, the one thing I don’t have to do. My wife takes care of that. I do all the bills just so I won’t have to gather and sort and go to that appointment come tax time….. I think I’d rather dig augers out of the mud than have to do that…
Have a GREAT day,
Brad