<![CDATA[Hidden Springs Farms]]>http://www.hiddenspringsfarms.comen-ushttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rssCopyright 2010Hidden Springs Farms<![CDATA[Links]]>We have found these links to be helpful as we learn more about farming, goats, and more. If you have a suggestion for an additional link, just send us a note.

Government Agencies:

www.usda.gov

 

Goat Sites:

www.jackmauldin.com : Jack has an extensive website with much information for the new goat farmer. 

www.tennesseemeatgoats.com : This site has so much information on raising meat goats that I visit it regarlurly.  The articles are worth printing out and keeping handy. 

www.abga.org 

 

Our Neighbors:

www.gourmentpasturebeef.com : Our neighbors and good friends, Josh & Kathy Gunn, have a wonderful business selling pasture-fed beef.  You will not find better service or beef anywhere!  When you visit their site, tell them we said "hello".

 

 

University Extensions:

Langston University:  www2.luresext.edu/goats/index.htm

University of Maryland:  www.sheepgoatmarketing.info/ 

 

Misc.

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy:  http://albc-usa.org/

 

 

]]>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:25:36 -0500<![CDATA[Poultry]]>We added Poultry to the farm in 2009.  It has been a learning experience, but we have enjoyed farm-fresh eggs, fresh chicken, and wonderful turkey.  All of our poultry is started in the barn, under the heat lamps until they get all of their feathers.  Then, we move them into "chicken tractors" that allows them to be outside, in a protected environment, and to get all of the benefits of eating grass, bugs, and enjoying the wonderful sunshine. 

  Our turkeys are also started in the barn and then moved into the pasture.  This year, we will be raising heritage breed turkeys including Red Bourbon and Royal Palm.  We chose breeds that are being followed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Several breeds are considered threatened or endangered.  For more information about this wonderful organization, click here.

Raising Heritage Breeds is more costly and time consuming than raising White Breasted Toms. While supermarket turkeys grow to an average of 32 pounds over 18 weeks, Heritage birds take anywhere from 24-30 to reach their market weight. But those who have tasted Heritage Breeds say the cost-and the wait-are well worth it. Heritage breeds are hardy, self-relient birds. 

We will be offering fresh Turkeys to our customers in time for Thanksgiving this year.

We will be offering fresh chicken to our customers beginning in May and will run through-out the summer and fall. 

**All of our poultry is processed at a USDA facility


Red Bourbon Turkeys strutting their stuff

 


]]>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:23:28 -0500<![CDATA[Gardening]]>Gardening can be a great way to relieve stress and cut down on your food budget.  It doesn't take a lot of space.  In fact, even if you live in an apartment, you can grow some vegetables.  Hidden Springs Farms offers a wide variety of classes and workshops for the beginning gardener.  

We also offer free downloads to you.  Our first download, "Building a Cold Frame" is available for free by clicking here.  Check back often for new downloads.

 

]]>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:15:31 -0500<![CDATA[Greetings From Hidden Springs Farms]]>Greeting from Hidden Springs Farms,

   We are another month closer to SPRING!  Or should I say, "hopefully" we are closer to spring.  It has been a long winter this year in Middle Tennessee and we even had some light snow showers today.  We are pretty confident that Spring is coming.  We've seen some spring flowers starting to work their way through the soil. We've been busy in the garden area on those rare pleasant days.  This past weekend, the greenhouse got a new cover and we set up 3 cold frames.  Now there is cabbage, spinach, broccoli, and cauliflower seeds planted in the cold frames.  The greenhouse is filled with a wide variety of tiny little pots filled with seeds waiting to sprout.  We keep everything covered up and warm during the cold nights.



    We tend to stay in the house a bit more when the weather is especially cold.  But we aren't just sitting around.  This week, we tried our hand at making GOAT'S MILK Soap and home-made Cheddar Cheese.  The Cheese (pictured above) was also made with some our Gwendolyn's goat's milk.  The cheese had to age for 4-12 weeks so we'll have to let you know how it taste. 


   I have a special deal for the first 10 people that reply to this newsletter.  I will send you a bar of our Goat's Milk Soap FREE!!  All I ask is that you try it and then complete a short survey for us that I will include.  We really want your feedback and input before we add our soap to our product line-up.  So, the first 10 people that send me an email that includes their mailing address, will get a bar of our soap once it has finished curing.  (It will be ready in about 2 weeks) 

   Our CSA sign-ups are still underway.  If you are interested, click here to sign-up.  And, feel free to pass the information on to your friends and family.  We are giving a discount through the end of March for those that sign-up and pay in full.  We will be starting our CSA Member Newsletter very soon.

   And, finally, we have several weekend classes this month.  All of the details are on our website.  Children attend for FREE. 
March 6th Planning Your Vegetable Garden 10:00 - Noon  ($15.00)
March 13th  Tool School 101 9:00 - 11:00  (Free class for the ladies!)
March 20th Cluck, Cluck, Cluck Chicken Workshop 1:00 - 5:00 pm  ($35.00)
March 27th  Raising Goats Workshop 1:00 - 5:00 pm ($35.00)

     We will have pictures of baby goats in our next newsletter.  The girls are getting very close to delivery time.  Spring is a wonderful time at Hidden Springs Farms!

    Until next time.....stay warm!

The Staff of Hidden Springs Farms

  
]]>Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:59:53 -0600<![CDATA[2010 CSA Sign-ups NOW from Hidden Springs Farms]]>A Bright and Cheery Hello from Hidden Springs Farms,

   We are happy to announce that sign-ups for our 2010 CSA have started.  You can sign-up through our website by clicking here.  This year we will be offering a Veggie Share, Egg Share, & Herb Share.  Our neighbor, Gourmet Pasture Beef will also be offering their Beef and Pet Food shares.  You can get details and sign up for Beef and Pet Food by clicking here.  If you sign up for all shares (veggie, eggs, herbs, beef and pet food), you will receive a $50.00 discount.  When signing up on our site, use the Coupon code: ALLIN and your $25.00 discount will be applied.  Gourmet Pasture Beef will take $25.00 off of your Beef & Pet Food share as well.  Also, sign-up for any of our shares and pay in full by March 31st and you will recieve a 10% discount.  (use coupon code: earlycsa)

   For those of you that would like to make payments, we require a 25% deposit and then will inovice you for 2 additional payments: June 1st & August 1st.  Our CSA will begin in June and go through the end of October.  If you have any questions, please feel free to either email us at info@hiddenspringsfarms.com or call (615) 210-7525.    We are limiting our CSA to 20 members this year, so sign up early.  We sold out very quickly last year!

      We are offering 4 Work shares at Hidden Springs Farms for those that would like to work for their veggies, eggs, and herbs rather then make a cash payment.  Work Shares require a commitment of 2 hours each week working on the farm.  Don't worry, we won't ask you to drive heavy equipment or clean out horse stalls....you will be helping with the harvest, weeding, and general garden work.  We do ask that you contact us to discuss this option before signing-up for it. 

     We hope everyone enjoyed the recent winter storms.  We love the snow.  It is so beautiful. 


        It is too bad that the snow doesn't last.  Snow + Sun = MUD!   The chickens were the only ones not happy about the snow.  The first day of the snow, they came out of their coop, put their feet in the snow, and turned around and went right back into the coop. 

      We are counting the days until Spring.  It really is right around the corner.  It won't be long before we are working in the garden and the sun is shinning.

    Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

The Staff at Hidden Springs Farms]]>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:34:29 -0600<![CDATA[Wintery Greetings From Hidden Springs Farm]]>Greetings from Hidden Springs Farms,

     We hope that everyone had a fabulous Christmas and that your New Year is off to a wonderful start.  The wintery weather has been rough on the farm.  With temperatures rarely exceeding 20 degrees for almost 2 weeks, it has been a challenge to keep ice out of the animals water and to stay warm while caring for everyone.  Using a sledgehammer and rack, we take about 2-3 inches of ice off each water trough every morning. 

     We've added a few new animals to the farm since we last sent out our newsletter.  First, there is Gwendolyn, a Nubian Dairy goat.  (I'll get a photo on the site soon)  Gwen is a sweetie and milking her twice a day isn't near as much work as we expected.  She eagerly goes to the barn and jumps up on the milking stand.  As long as she as some grain to munch on, she doesn't mind being milked at all.  We've tried our hand at making cheese and have been very happy with our results.  Next, we will try our hands at Goat's Milk Soap.  We'll let you know how that goes. 
   Our 2nd addition is "Chic", a now 12 week old Border Collie.  She is a doll and so much fun.  She introduced herself to all of the animals and really loves the goats.  She loves the chicken a bit too much so we are working on understanding that chickens are NOT to be chased.  In this photo, Chic had just arrived at our home and had her first bath.  She wasn't too happy with that, but enjoyed the attention she received. 

     We have so much happening in 2010!  First, we are pleased to announce our workshop/seminar/class schedule.  There are things for adults and children.  We are especially excited about our Home-school program.  You can download a copy of our brochure by clicking here  You can register for classes by calling us at 615 210-7525 or simply sending us an email at info@hiddenspringsfarms.com  Of course, you can always call or email for more information.  Feel free to share the brochure with family and friends as well.
    Our next exciting news is that we are working with a group of Farmers, City Officials, and UT extension staff on starting a Farmer's Market in Robertson County.  We will keep you posted as everything develops but we are very happy to see a Farmer's Market coming to Springfield. 
    We will be announcing our CSA sign-ups the beginning of Feb.  This year you will be able to sign-up through our website.  (We do love the people that work on our site for us.  They continually add wonderful features and are a pleasure to work with.  www.smallfarmcentral.com)  Based on feedback from our 2009 customers, we made some changes to the CSA.  We are adding even more variety, a much larger garden, and more choices.  We are adding Pasture-Raised Chicken and Heritage Turkeys to our CSA this year as well.  We are finishing up our brochure and CSA handbook and will send that to you in our next newsletter.  A special note to consider, this year we will be offer several Work Shares through our CSA.  A Work Share is where you committ to a certain amount of hours working on the farm in exchange for a full share.  If you are interested or want more information about the Workshare, give us a call or send an email.  


  Farms really are great places for Children.  Our grandson, Tyler, loves to play with the animals, climb on the hay, and in general, play, play, play.  Trooper always keeps an eye on Tyler and ensures he doesn't get in to any trouble.  As the weather starts to warm up, plan to come and visit us.  Spring is a wonderful time to visit.  We will have new baby goats arriving, baby turkeys & chicks, and this year, a new Foal.  Bonnie, our TN Walking Horse is expecting her first foal the end of April.  We are so excited and will post lots of pictures when the baby arrives.
    We hope everyone stays warm......the countdown to Spring is beginning!

Best Wishes,

The Staff Of Hidden Springs Farms]]>Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:25:13 -0600<![CDATA[Workshops/Seminars/Farm Tours]]>Our Workshops & Classes for 2010 are now listed!   Click Here to download a copy of our brochure!  We are excited about the classes and workshops and hope you will join us.  We will begin our programs in March and continue until November.  There is something for EVERYONE! Registration will start  in February, but we wanted to get everything listed so you can start planning. 

EXCITING NEWS!  We will be offering programs for Home-Schoolers in 2010! And, we've added several classes designed for elementary-aged children as well.  We hope that you will take advantage of these exciting programs. 

 

Container Gardening

($20.00 2.5 hours)

April 17th 9:00 - 11:30

June 12th 9:00 - 11:30

This workshop is perfect for those who live in an apartment or who have a porch they'd like to decorate.  It is also great for those who live in a neighborhod whose homeowner association doesn't allow veggie gardens.  Learn to grow your veggies and herbs in containers.  Each participate is asked to bring a container and we will plant it during class.  We'lll look at the many possibilities fro containers, what makes a good container, and how to care for plants grown in containers.

Growing Culinary herbs

($30.00 3 hours)

April 24th 1:00 - 4:00 pm

May 29th, 1:00 - 4:00 pm

June 12th, 1:00 - 4:00 pm

This workshop will teach you how to plant, weed, mulch, water, harvest and preserve 8 culinary herbs including oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary.  We will talk about using herbs as compaion plants to repel unwanted pest.  You will take home several herb plants and some fresh herbs and recipes to use at home.

Planning Your Vegetable Garden

($15.00 2 hours)

March 6th, 10:00 - noon

April 10th, 10:00 - noon

May 8th, 10:00-noon

Join us to discuss space-saving planting techniques, good plant choices for smaller spaces, crop rotation, and mapping and drawing your garden plan.  Each partiipant is asked to bring a basic drawing of their garden space for use in the class.

Holiday Herbal Gifts

($35.00 4 hours)

November 5th, 9:00 - 1:00

Novembe 19th 9:00 - 1:00

Feeling stressed about the holidays?  Come spend an afternoon with use working with wonderful herbs making gifts for family and friends.  This workshop will include instruction on creating easy herbal body-care items, herbal soaps, sachets, cooking wreths, and herbal vinegars. You'll receive recipes, "how to's" for putting together wonderul baskets, and sevearl of our own herbal products.  Everyone will create their own herbal soup wreath and more.

CLUCK, CLUCK..Chicken Workshop

($35.00 4 hours)

March 20th, 1:00 - 5:00

April 17th, 1:00 - 5:00

May 15th, 1:00 - 5:00

June 19th, 1:00 - 5:00

Sept. 18th, 1:00 - 5:00

This workshop is for those of you who have through about raising chickens but aren't sure where to start.  We will discuss the basics of raising chickens from ordering or buying your chicks, raising them, and moving them into your hen house.  We will look at housing options, nesting boxes, and how to handle roosters.  Starting your own egg business will also be discussed and we will provide you with key contacts and regulations for the State of Tennessee.  We have brooder kits available for $55.00 that include everything you need to get started except your chicks.  Chicks are available depending on the season.

Raising Goats

($35.00 4 hours)

March 27th, 1:00 - 5:00

May 1st, 1:00 - 5:00

June 26th, 1:00 - 5:00

Sept. 25th, 1:00 - 5:00

Considering adding a goat to your property as a pet or dairy animal?  This 1/2 day workshop covers the basics of goat husbandry.  We will discuss the different breeds including meat breeds, diary breeds, and fiber breeds.  We will cover how to choose the breed that is best for you, how to keep your goat healthy and safe and proper housing.  We will demonstrate trimming hooves, shearing (in season) and discuss breeding, kidding, and kid care.

TOOL SCHOOL 101

(Free Class)

March 13th 9:00 - 11:00

April 22nd 6:00 - 8:00 pm

May 22nd, 9:00 - 11:00

October 2, 9:00 - 11:00

Ladies, there is nothing worse then waiting for a repairman (or your hubby) to fix a problem around the house.  Leaky faucets, unclogging a drain, or finishing up a painting project can seem to take forever.  Why not lean how to use tools yourself.  This class, for ladies only, is designed to give you "hands-on" experience using toolds designed just for you.  We'll practice using hammers, saws, measuring, doing small repairs and more.  We use TOMBOY TOOLS in our demsonstrations. 

FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN

Tracks & Traces

Meets every Sunday starting April 17th -October 31st between 1:00 & 3:00 om.  $5.00 per child, per visit.  Adults Free. Registration required

Using all 5 senses - smell, listen, see, touch, and taste on your way through the trails, you will better understand the world around us.  Trek your way through the woods with your child and let the beauty of nature surround you.  We provide a map, informational sheet with things to look for, and a guided tour.

A Touch Of Country

Join us for a morning of fun.  We'll meet our favorite animals, work on farm chores, plant, harvest, and create.  Each class focuses on a particular animal group or seasonal theme at the farm.  Specific dates and times listed below.  Classes are designed for elementary aged children with an adult partner.  Both should dress for a mess with comfortable shoes. 

($5.00 per child, $3.50 per child for 4 or more classes.  Adults free, Registration required)

Where's My Sweater:  Meet our Angora goats and watch one get sheared.  April 2nd 10:00 am

Springtime at the Farm:  Come and meet our babies.  We wil have baby goats, chicks, turkeys, and more. April 23rd 10:00

Let's Make Something for Mom: Join us for a fun, "crafty" morning and make something special for mom.  May 7th, 10:00

Dig It:  Spend some time in our garden planting.  Take home a seedling to care for.  May 14th, 10:00 am

Cluck like a Hen, Crow like a Rooster:  Visit the chicken coop, collect eggs, and meet Mr. Rooster.  June 4th, 10:00 am

Ohhh, that Smells Good:  Walk through the garden and enjoy the sweet smells. We'll pick some flowers to take home. September 18th, 10:00 am

Let's Meet in the Pumpkin Patch:  Take a walk with us through the Pumpkin Patch and take home a surprise.  Oct. 22nd, 10:00

Gobble, Gobble, Where's Mr. Turkey:  Walk with us and feed our heritage turkeys. Nov. 19th, 10:00 am

HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM

NEW FOR 2010

($59.00 per child for the entire 6 week program.  Discounts given for multiple chilren from the same family)

Hidden Springs Farms will host a Spring and Fall Home-school program designed for children in the 4th - 6th grade.  The home-school classes will meet one-day a week for six weeks from 9:00 - noon.  Children arrive to learn about growing and preparing food, seed-saving, gardening, crafts, farm animals, and more.  Besides teaching children about farm living, these classes provide an opportunity for the children and parents to meet, socialize, and develop friendships.  Calsses will meet on Tuesdays and Thursday.  Please select the day you prefer when registering.

SPRING 2010

Tuesdays: April 20, 27, & May 4, 11, 18, & 25th

Thursdays: April 22, 29, & May 6, 13, 20, & 27

FALL 2010

Tuesdays: September 7,14,21,28 & Oct. 5, 12

Thursdays: September 9,16,23,30 & Oct. 7, 14

Hidden Springs Farms will provide a light snack during class.

 

 

 

]]>Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:11:03 -0600<![CDATA[New Product Graph: Fresh Herbs]]>Click here to view the graph.]]>Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:03:24 -0600<![CDATA[Merry Christmas from Hidden Springs Farms]]>Greetings,

   We wanted to take a minute to thank all of you for your support and friendship this past year.  While we have many exciting things planned for 2010 (more details after the 1st of the year), we wanted to send a short note to wish everyone a
VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS
 &
A HEALTHY, HAPPY NEW YEAR!



Happy Holidays,

The Staff of Hidden Springs Farms
]]>Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:36:38 -0600<![CDATA[Homeschool Program]]>Our fall 2010 Homeschool program begins TODAY for those registered to attend on Thursdays

]]>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:31:51 -0600