We are together, in person, for this episode!! Because we were together, it seemed like the perfect time to deviate from our 101 courses to address a highly requested topic in a conversational style. We've been asked time and time again to address how we both balance farm life with family life and all that goes along with it. While we are not experts- hopefully our thoughts, tips and tricks will help you.

The last week of Women's History Month Shout Outs goes to Kiki Joy of Black Smoke Fibers! She is combining everything we love, from local sourcing of fiber to foraging for hand dying! Don't miss her collaboration with our good friends at Revivall Clothing. You can find her at Home | Black Smoke Fibers

Recommended Resources this week:

-"Vanishing Fleece" by Clara Parkes Search Results | IndieBound.org

-Teaching Lesson Planner (Tara's):Teacher Lesson Planner: Weekly and Monthly Agenda Calendar | Academic Year - August Through July | Vintage Floral (2019-2020): Emmeline Bloom: 9781074511821: AmazonSmile: Books

-Plum Paper Planner (Steph's): Plum Paper

As Always, you can reach us at

[email protected]

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Happy Milking!

Garden time, Baby! Join us this week to learn about all the general types of gardens, from in ground, to raised beds, to greenhouses. With so many options in gardening, let this episode get you off on the right foot.

This week's shout out goes to Long Hearing Farm of Rockport Washington! Elizabeth Bragg is running a lovely CSA Farm using indigenous practices to honor her heritage. Check them out at Long Hearing Farm. For a good read, Caring for the Soil Takes Generations: Long Hearing Farm Transfer Story — Rogue Farm Corps

This Week's Resources:

- Urban Oko (Container Garden) My Edible Garden Tour 2020 |Small Space Apartment Balcony Edible Garden - Container urban Gardening - YouTube

- Bootstrap Farmer (high tunnels) DIY Greenhouse Kits | Explore Greenhouse DIY Kits to Save Money | Bootstrap Farmer

- Square Foot Garden Foundation Youtube Square Foot Gardening Foundation - OFFICIAL - YouTube

- Square Foot Gardening, 3rd Edition by Mel Bartholomew All New Square Foot Gardening, 3rd Edition, Fully Updated: MORE Projects - NEW Solutions - GROW Vegetables Anywhere | IndieBound.org

As always, you can email us at

[email protected]

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Happy Milking!

What's better than goats? Goat kids, most definitely. And lucky for us, kidding season is here! Join us this week to brush up on goat birthing (kidding). We cover everything from what to have in your kidding kit to what to do with improper presentations.

Our youngest Women's History Shout Out goes to the badass 23 year old farmer, Cheyenne Sundance of Sundance Harvest Farm in Toronto Ontario Canada! Cheyenne is a self taught farmer, managing two urban farms. She also focuses on farming education- specifically providing free programs to marginalized youth in her community. Go check her out and support her at Sundance Harvest (sundanceharvestfarm.com) and check out the food network article at How Food Injustice Inspired This 23-Year-Old to Start Her Own Farm, Plus Her Advice for You (foodnetwork.ca)

This Week's Resources:

- Fias Co Farms Fias Co Farm- Kidding: Birthing & post birth information (make sure to check out the presentation illustrations here too)

- Extension Service Goat Reproduction Parturition/Kidding – Goats (extension.org)

- Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats, 5th Edition: Breed Selection, Feeding, Fencing, Health Care, Dairying, Marketing: Belanger, Jerry, Bredesen, Sara Thomson: 9781612129327: Amazon.com: Books

As always, you can email us at

[email protected]

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Happy Milking!

The 101 courses continue as Tara gives us the fast and dirty on all things pigs! Learn everything you need to get started raising your own pigs. From picking a breed to feeding to loading for processing, we have you covered!

Women's History Month shout outs continue with the well deserving January Spencer of Thors Forge and Farm. There isn't anything this incredible woman cant master! Check out her amazing metal pieces at Thor's Forge by ThorsForge on Etsy

Check out our new website! www.milkmaidspodcast.weebly.com

Recommended Resources this week:

-Premier1 Fencing: Pig QuikFence® 6/30/12 - Premier1Supplies

-Jordan Green's Youtube Channel Pig Playlist: Pastured & Forested Hogs - YouTube

-Jordan Green's Tire Pig Feeder Build a Tire Feeder - YouTube

- Livestock Conservancy Pig Breeds: PigChart2020.pdf (livestockconservancy.org)

-Fence Tester: Fence & Battery Digital Tester - Premier1Supplies

-Pig Nipple Waterer https://www.qcsupply.com/270120-dial-a-flow-nipple-waterer-1-2.html

As always, you can email us at

[email protected]

Please rate, review, and subscribe- it really helps us out!

Happy Milking!

This is the year to finally make the leap and grow your own meat, and this is the podcast episode to help you do it! We are talking pastured poultry today, a fast and dirty broiler 101 course to get you off to a good start.

We are kicking off Women's History Month with a shout out of Revivall Clothing in Bozeman MT! Laura uses deadstock fabric to craft up one of a kind women's clothing, by hand! She is a wonderful example of slow fashion. Get yourself some overalls at Revivall Clothing - Slow Fashion- American-Made Clothing

Recommended Resources this week:

-John Suscovitch on YouTube John Suscovich - YouTube

-"Big Chicken" by Maryn McKenna

-APPPA- American Pastured Poultry Producers Association American Pastured Poultry Producers Association - Home (apppa.org)

-"Pastured Poultry for Profits" by Joel Salatin

-Texas Poultry Shrink Bags TEXAS POULTRY SHRINK BAGS - Texas Poultry Shrink Bags

As always, you can email us at

[email protected]

Please rate, review, and subscribe- it really helps us out!

Happy Milking!

Trees and Weeds, what more could you want to know ;) We are mixing it up this time to talk FORAGING! Who else is ready for spring!? Tara & Steph talk some general foraging rules as well as highlight our favorite early spring plants- spoiler alert, they are trees and weeds.

In honor of Black History Month, this week's shout out goes to Black Cotton! Farmer Julius is rebranding cotton and taking the history of cotton and making it his own. He has some beautiful decor pieces available too! Go support them at BlackCotton

https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1295428429916049416?s=20

Recommended Resources this week:

Books:

-"Mountain States Medicinal Plants" by Briana Wiles

-"Foraging the Mountain West" by Thomas J. Elpel and Kris Reed

-"Herb Fairies" Series By Kimberly Gallagher

Others:

"Picture This" Plant Identification App

"Wildcraft!" boardgame Wildcraft: An Herbal Adventure Game – LearningHerbs

Alexis Nikole @blackforager

As always, you can email us at

[email protected]

Please rate, review, subscribe- it really helps us out!

Happy Milking!

We just wanted to update you on the state of hatcheries and the shipment of live animals. The USPS has announced on their webpage they are not shipping live animals this upcoming week, which has put these hatcheries in a bind as they already have chicks who are hatched. Please write your senator today if you are able to. We have attached the website in order to look yours up. Thank you for listening!

https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact

https://www.house.gov/

Chick talk continues this week, moving from the brooder to actual chick care. Join us to learn about all of the steps in between receiving your chicks to sending them out into the real world. Thinking about shipping chicks for the first time? We cover that too.

In honor of Black History Month, this week's shout out goes to Mudbone Grown! They pair education with getting food to people who need it- amazing! Find them at Mudbone Grown

Recommended Resources this week:

Premier 1 Prima Heat Lamp-

Prima Heat Lamp - Premier1Supplies

As always, you can email us at

[email protected]

Please rate, review, subscribe- it really helps us out!

Happy Milking!

Would it even be homesteading without chicks? Not for homesteader Tara and small scale farmer Steph. Steph has chicks coming, so we are talking all things brooder set up! By the end of this episode, you will feel confident in the many ways to successfully set up a brooder in anticipation of receiving chicks.

In honor of Black History Month, this week's shout out goes to Ivy Leaf Farms! They are doing amazing things for their community! Find them at Farm | Ivy Leaf Farms | Sunny Side

Recommended Resources this week:

Premier 1 Prima Heat Lamp Prima Heat Lamp - Premier1Supplies

DIY Mama Heat Pad Cave Brooding with Mama Heating Pad | BackYard Chickens - Learn How to Raise Chickens

As always, you can email us at

[email protected]

Please rate, review, subscribe- it really helps us out!

Happy Milking!