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Last evening our family visited Hill Place Farm in Hornby, New York, to tour the farm and learn about their fencing improvements, feeding, winter management, and marketing strategies. The event was sponsored by sponsored by the Finger Lakes RC&D and Cornell Cooperative Extension. We enjoyed our evening tour and the scenic view amongst the ridges capturing a peaceful sunset. On our pasture walk, the owners Don and Deb Borden discussed their effective fencing improvements to eliminate the threat of coyotes, control deer contamination, and improve herd confinement. Also discussed were pasture rotation and parasites and the concern of deer worm, which is not harmful to deer but causes paralysis and death in goats. We were reminded of the danger of wilting leaves in the prunus species, such as cherry, peach, and plum trees, as drought, frost, and cutting will cause wilting; prussic acid (cyanide) develops as the leaves wilt and is extremely toxic. Also discussed were invasive plants such as Russian olive and multi flora, which have been dominating much countryside. Goats are great for reclaiming land inhabited by brush, but not everyone has goats to control the invasiveness effectively. The Bordens currently run about 130 boer does, the majority being purebred with a few alpine and sanaan crosses, on about 30 acres of browse and pasture. They have developed a pelletized grain formula to ensure that all of their goats get equal nutrients. Goats fight over food and have established heirarchy, so the younger and less dominant does would be left with fewer nutritive elements. Hill Place Farm's claim to prestige in the goat world is their premier bucks...Pipeline's Sparkplug *Ennobled,* Magnum's Maximus, and Rommel, all top winning show sires. They wait until the doelings are a year old to breed them, giving time for sufficient pelvic growth for kidding and overall bloom. Breeding begins in late July to have kids in December and January, thus meeting the market for 40 lb Easter kids. In order to balance the busyness of kidding season, they currently breed a number of does for September kiddings. The other top market is for 100 lb. kids is at Christmas time. The Bordens have found that the value per pound is only half of what it is at Easter time. So it is a better financial decision to sell at Easter instead of having to feed and maintain the market kids from spring through to December. The annual Northeast Premier Breeders Annual Boer Goat Production Sale at the NY State Fairgrounds is where they sell their top line production stock. . We enjoyed our visit to Hill Place Farm and learning about their management practices and seeing their goats! |
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FOR SALE: A literature based unit study titled The Prairie Primer by Margie Gray (soft cover, 335 pages) in like new condition for sale for $40.00 with shipping OBO. This is a 2nd edition, copyright 2000. FOR SALE: Saxon math DIVE cd in excellent condition with original packaging.This is the Win/Mac versions (Windows 98 and higher) of Math 7/6, 3rd edition. It has only been used about 5 times without problems. I love having these for my children as it saves me time teaching and they can rewind and go over any areas they don't understand. This disc is virtually new (I have a duplicate), I am asking $40.00 including shipping. (savings of $10.00!) I can take paypal. Please PM me if interested. Thanks! ~Annette |
 Recently I have become keenly aware of a growing trend in self-empowerment, inner magic, wizardry, fairies, "tapping into the power of the universe," and the like. The topic of Waldorf Homeschooling came up this morning on a message board I frequent, and I decided to do a little research. I found this this new-to-me curriculum strikingly similar to the K-12 program (William Bennett's project) we *tried* back around 2001. (It didn't work out for us).Overall I am not so much in disagreement with the philosophy of childhood learning processes as I am acutely aware of the focus on fantasy, fairytales and myths.The site actually states that "if a child is not supplied with images of fairy tales, the contents of his soul will be supplied with idle talk...resulting in a field filled with weeds." I beg to differ. Life lessons can be learned from fairy tales, but what about true worthwhile stories and experiences, and the Bible itself? I am not personally opposed to a good fairy tale once in a while, but in general regard them as a waste of time. My extended family read my sister and I fairy tales, and we had our favorites, but I don't honestly believe they did us any earthly good. I would be more inclined to class them with imaginative entertainment category than with essential life lessons. My children also enjoyed "Hansel and Gretel" but I don't regard them as valuable educational material. Therefore studying fantasy and fairy tales have little place in our home. Too many other things are so much more important. Bible stories and wholesome children's stories have much better standing in the development of moral values and standards for living. But more disturbing than the fairy tales are the occult teachings promoted on the homeschooling website.
Perhaps not all Waldorf type programs lean so heavily on the subjects mentioned at the beginning of my post, but the Waldorf Homeschooling website has some very unsettling beliefs in fantasy (which is promoted as being truth and enlightenment.) I honestly believe all this fairy, gnome, wizard, Harry Potter stuff is more than just bordering on the occult. This is serious, and it is dangerous. It deceptively appears to many to be lovely and wonderful for the children, but if that segment is a part of all Waldorf programs, we should stay away from it. I see our nation being misled by this lie called "spiritual enlightment" being disguised as education. We must be vigilant against such things. Personally I find it very disturbing that this form of education could be regarded as progressive.
I recently posted on my blog the reasons why we homeschool. When it comes down to it, educating our own children is our God-given responsibility (not the government's), and our ultimate priority is 1)teaching them to know God, 2)training them to be effective witnesses for him in every sphere of life, and 3) to protect them from worldly values and beliefs. Now that doesn't mean we study Bible lessons all day. Language skills, math, history, science, life-skills...these are all important to building our effectiveness in life. Keeping our children at home provides a safe place for them to grow and experience natural daily rhythms, family togetherness, parental example and values, and flexibility in learning styles with individualized attention to needs and potential. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 tells us: And thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart: And thou shall teach them diligently to thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up.
 Jesus said: "I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 8:12 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. John 12:46 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousnesses of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His visible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incoruptible God into an image made like corruptible man-and birds and four footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen. Romans 1:18-25 |
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Has anyone read the book SO MUCH MORE by the Botkin sisters? (We have it but I haven't really read it through yet). Check out this video trailer about a documentary they are planning this year. I for one am anxious to see it! I hope it will be available to purchase; I think it is to be a TV documentary. My husband and I have four daughters; they youngest is going to be 10 next month, and the oldest will be 15 next month. I would love to give them challenging and joyful alternatives to growing up in a culture where girls are left exposed and unprotected to work in a worldly environment or go away to college; instead teaching them to be the heart of the home and training them to be excellent homemakers and wives by learning how to create a peaceful living environment, make the home a center of learning, bless others with hospitality, and develop entrepreneurial skills; thereby guarding our valued gifts from the Lord and arming them with godly attitudes to their special God-given roles to pass along to their daughters. We have several young sons also, and I think that it would give them a higher view of what to look for in a wife. We need good strong families who will have a vision for living life the way God intended. We need to embrace those unique roles and allow God to bless us for submitting joyfully to His beautiful plan. I hope the documentary will give many families a real eye opener and inspiration for a better way. Please feel free to leave your comments on the topic here if you like! I would love to hear your thoughts. |
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Tomorrow is the birthday of my favorite person and best friend... My husband is very special to me. He is a very loyal, loving, hardworking, honest, and dedicated husband.
He makes wise decisions for our family, especially regarding the training and education of our children. My "dragon slayer" works hard so I can stay at home and care for our children, and his heart is always with us so he isn't away from home any more than he has to be. He values our time together and takes me on walks around our farm and even takes me along hunting with him. We enjoy the times he takes us to the lake or park for picnics and enjoying nature. He has provided a wonderful homestead with places for the children to roam and explore. Many women have told me their husbands wouldn't hear of them having more than a couple of children. It makes me grateful to have a man who is willing to have lots of babies and enjoys them so much. So far we have 10 and he would love to have more. God has truly blessed our desire for children and we have been given a goodly heritage. His mature spiritual insight and wisdom are a real encouragement to me and the adults in the Sunday school class he has been teaching faithfully for nearly four years now. My husband has a very good mind and I appreciate the benefits of having such a strong, smart, AND capable husband. He is thoughtful and loving, often helping me with cooking meals and making sure I get some time for myself. He showers me with things I enjoy, such as our home in the country which he rennovated so creatively, our romantic private room with a view, and our goats which I enjoy so much; and he is very supportive of my efforts at making and selling goat milk soap and other skincare products. He treats me with love and respect and I feel honored to be his woman. Life with my man has been full of adventure and surprises. This week he came home from work and pulled an adorable little grey and white kitten out of his shirt. That is just a little thing, but I NEVER would have expected that from him! He says he must be getting soft. Well, I think he is one terrific husband and father. He is sweet and generous and always thinks of us first and works faithfully to provide us with a good life, and he deserves to be the king in this castle. I know that he loves me more than life itself. I Love this man. He is a real treasure to me and I am blessed to be his wife. So Happy Birthday, Shawn, and Happy Father's Day too! I LOVE YOU
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He can do just about anything. Any job he has ever had has proven that his leadership abilities and skills are exceptional.
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I found this over at Our Little Homestead...read it all the way to the end and see what you think: 1. The Garden of Eden was in Iraq . I hope this is a prophecy of what will come to those people in IRAQ. |
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I am interested in meeting other large homeschooling families. We live in a very rural area and are part of a small church, so I often feel isolated from anyone who shares common ground. I have met a couple of larger families on homestead blogger and have found it to be a great encouragement and inspiration to read their blogs and occasionally write to a few of them as well. My husband and I have been married for about 17 years and have 10 children aged 15 months to (almost) 15 years old...four girls and six boys, (the last 5 being boys). We moved to a mountainous rural region in northcentral PA over 3 years ago after living in the busy Lancaster, PA area for a number of years. We have always homeschooled and select our own curriculum from various publishers such as Saxon, Rod and Staff, A Beka, and Christian Liberty Press. The older students are able to work independantly much of the time and are motivated in their studies, which has allowed me time to begin a small home business making goat milk soap from our dairy goat herd (just started last summer) and selling it locally. You can visit our family website at www.NaturallySoothing.com to see some pictures of our family and homestead, and the products we currently have available. Please help me find your blog by introducing yourself, and I look forward to meeting you! |
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June is here and the lupines are in their peak. They are so beautiful that I don't feel the photos do them justice. Last year I planted seeds and got the young plants in the new raised bed my wonderful husband made me. This year they bloomed in a variety of colors and shades. The Sweet William are also in full bloom and this morning ds3 was checking out a couple of Tiger Swallowtails as they danced about the flowers. I am also including a picture of a fawn we found in one of our fence rows last month.
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