Blogging

Does anyone who knows about blogs know of a setting or anything that would make the comments automatically show up below the posts rather than having to click on them to see them? I think that would be really helpful.

Interns

How are things at the farm? Are any of the new interns settled in, building beds, planting termaters, etc? Are the interns signed up for the blog? I'm trying not to be neurotic or something; I'd just like to know that things are set for the summer and that progress is being made.
Teacrimes

Meat Chick Safety

Last night an animal attacked the chicken tractor. One of the chicks was seriously injured and had to be put down. The animal was able to attack the chick through a small gap (about 1") between the bottom of the chicken tractor and the ground. When moving the chicken tractor and before putting the chicks to bed we should remember to check around the outside of the pen to make sure that there are no such gaps. There are a number of bricks stacked around the chicken tractor to block up the gaps to ensure that this type of attack does not happen again. Let this attack be a reminder to us all to be more conscious of our animals' safety and security.

Windmill Progress

From Wes:

Hey all!
Just wanted to update the greater farm community and say that the concrete foundation for the windmill is finally poured despite mother natures need to pour rain nearly all this past week (Which was wonderful for the successful and fast-growing garden).
Next steps should begin this week and I want to invite all that are interested to again email me and we can get you involved (no commitments necessary).
Hope everyone is enjoying the beauty of may.
Peace
Wesley

Millah Fahm!!

Hey Folks!
Thanks for setting up the blog Miriam. I hope it will get used often. If anyone wants any suggestions for stuff to do around the farm, I probably have a few ideas. Just let me know. (For instance: put more shredded paper in the coop and see the office ladies about getting more bags of it.)
It would probably help the layers to have a little more cover around the yard, and to make sure they are closed in before it's actually dark.
Love,
teacrimes

Hooray

yes, let's do this. i am already dying to know how the chicks are doing in the tractor and how the garden is coming along and how you all are managing on fighting the various pests of deer and slugs and others out of the garden. i am so excited about this summer even from afar.

Miller Farm Update: 5/16/09

Since graduation there has been a lot happening here at Miller Farm. As the spring semester farmers moved out and the May Term/summer farmers moved in, life out here was a bit more chaotic than usual. However, over the last few days things have begun to settle down as many of our temporary guests have left and we all become accustomed to the new daily routine. The first of the summer interns move in on Monday and I believe that much more work will begin to be done as they settle in. Still, many important things have been happening. The broiler hens have been moved into the chicken tractor and are doing well. The tractor itself is holding up nicely and has proven to be relatively secure-- so far we haven't lost any of the hens (despite the best attempts of our cats). We had a small farmday this morning despite of the rain and a decent amount of weeding was done in the garden.
We continue to struggle with protecting the new generation of laying hens. At my last count we were down to just five. We are unsure of what is getting at them-- some maintenance guys said it was probably a badger. It also might be the hawk, though I haven't seen it around lately. We have worked to patch the fence of the chicken yard as best as possible but I fear there is only so much we can do. Any suggestions?
A funny thing happened last week. I was eating dinner on the porch when a car I didn't recognize drove up the driveway and a boy jumped out and ran over to the chicken coop and hunched down by the fence. When I went over to investigate I saw that he had just dropped two baby chicks inside the fence! He told me that a girl on his hall had bought the chicks at the farm store a few weeks earlier as pets and had abandoned them at the end of the semester. I was pretty mad at this. Luckily we had a pen set up in the greenhouse for the broiler hens so we were able to accommodate them, but what if that hadn't been the case? Those chicks surely would have died if he had just left them out there. This instance was frustrating on many levels but it really made me think about the different ways that students uninvolved with Miller Farm think about this space. How do we make this place a more relevant/respected/important space for a larger number of students so that they know why they can't just drop off their unwanted cats and chickens here? I think that's something to work on.
With that in mind there is a pants-off/dance-off/bake-off tonight in the kitchen. 8:00pm. BYOBaking goods.

Who Else?

I sent an invite to everyone I could think of who has lived at the farm in the past year. I know I'm missing a bunch of people. Can someone invite the current summer farmers or send me their email addresses and I can do it? Also Charlie? And other past and future farmers? I think anyone who is already invited can invite more people, but if not, send me their email at miriamdolnick@gmail.com and I'll be sure to do it.

It's Summertime at Miller Farm

Dear Farmers and Friends,

This summer, we'd like to keep a record of all of the wonderful things happening at the farm as well as create a space for current farmers to communicate with current, past, and future farmers about the goings on in Richmond, Indiana. It would be wonderful if the current summer farmers would post several times a week with updates, questions, pictures, etc. so that the greater Miller Farm community can chime in with ideas and tips based on their Miller Farm experience. This could also serve as a space for current farmers to ask questions to other farmers, ranging from where to buy chicken food to where the secret patch of asparagus is in the garden. Anything you want to know! If there is a greater dialogue between old and new farmers, this could be a way to pass down Miller Farm information to future generations as well as create a smoother transition between the summer farmers and the fall ones. So please chime in! Ask questions! Update us on what's going on!