Our pups are $300.  Both Male and Females available.  1st and 2nd shots completed

Our livestock is guarded by our Anatolian Shepherds, Emma, Trooper, and Little Girl.  Anatolian Shepherds come from the Turkish Anatolian Plateau and can be found across that region into Afghanistan.  The Anatolian was bred as a livestock guardian (not a herding dog) and will happily live his or her life in constant association with sheep or goats, horses, chickens, turkeys and children.  They are fiercely loyal and very intelligent with a long memory. 

 Because of their size and possessive attitude toward family, property and livestock it is important that  Anatolians be well socialized.  Adult male Anatolians will weigh in at 100-150 lbs., while females will weigh 80-120 lbs.

  Our Anatolian Shepherds are not pets.  They are working dogs and keep our livestock safe from coyotes, foxes, domestic dogs, and more. 

This is Emma, Our Female

This is Trooper, our male

   We hope that all of you had a wonderful holiday season and were able to spend time with family and friends.  Christmas is such a busy time for everyone that we often forget to slow down and just enjoy being with family.  We had a wonderful Christmas and a very busy December.  We are excited to be starting a new year.  We have so much planned for 2012 and lots of announcements for you in this newsletter.  

First off, small drum roll....Our 2012 CSA program is now available for you.  This year we will again be offering our Adopt-A-Hen (eggs) share and Poultry Share plus we are adding a Soap share and A Goat's Milk Herd Share Program.  You can download our brochure by clicking here and you can easily sign up going to the Member Sign-up section under the Farm Store tab on our website.  The Goat's Milk Herd Share program gives you partial ownership in our herd of Nubians and under this program, you will receive raw goat's milk each week.  This program is new and we will have a very limited number of shares available.  If you have questions about any of the CSA programs, please contact me.  

Our next announcement is that our 2012 Workshop & Class schedule is now available and it is a FULL Schedule!  There is something for everyone and we can even design a special program for groups of 8 or more.  (Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Home-schoolers, etc)  You can review our line-up by clicking here.  We've increased the number of Soap Making classes since they were so popular last season and are starting classes earlier in the season.  We hope you'll plan on attending some of our classes and bring a friend.  

We are adding a new program "Soap Making Parties".  If you are looking for a unique way to celebrate a birthday, bridal shower, or baby shower, consider hosting a soap making party.  We come to your location and your guest get to learn a new skill and take home their own creations.  Details are available by clicking here

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   We made a quick trip to Missouri right before Christmas to pick up my Christmas present.  Pearl and Little Bitty.  Pearl, pictured above, had her baby before we picked her up.  Little T-Bone is doing very well and growing like crazy.  Bitty is due to have her calf anytime now so I am watching and waiting.  Both girls are percentage Belgian Blues.  If you google Belgian Blue, you'll be able to see just how muscular these cows get.  I will be updating the website soon to have more information about the breed.  Right now, I am just enjoying getting to know the girls and having them getting to know me.  It didn't take them long to figure out that the lady with the food bucket is OK.  Our trip was quick, but we did have a great time.  It was an 8 hour drive to get there and well....about 10 1/2 hours home because we missed an important turn and took the scenic route.  But everyone arrived happy and healthy.  My two little Dairy heifers, Josie and Clarabell, finally discovered that they are cows and not goats.  We let the big girls get used to the little girls through the fence before we put them all together, but had no problems at all. The little girls play with T-Bone daily.  I will post pictures of Bitty's baby as soon as it arrives.  

    A quick update on everyone else:  All of the "girls" are bred and we will be seeing our first Nubian kids towards the end of Feb.  It is always an exciting time when the baby goats start arriving.  The hens have gone into slow-down mode.  When the days get shorter and the weather colder, the hens decide it is not important to lay as many eggs.  I guess everyone is entitled to a vacation now and then.  The horses are fat and happy in the pasture.  I ride when I get the chance and the weather cooperates.  And, well, the dogs and barn cats are always up to something.  

    The seed catalogs are arriving almost daily and believe it or not, it will be time to start getting the garden ready for planting soon.  Time really does fly by......

   The Staff of Hidden Springs Farms

OUR 2012 Workshop/Class Schedule is NOW available!  

We offer a wide variety of classes and workhops on our farm.  Classes include:

~Raising Chickens

~Raising Goats

~Growing Herbs

~Soap Making

~Canning 101

and

MORE.....

You can click here to get a pdf copy of our class/workshop schedule!  

How does it work?  It's really quite simple.  Where ever the party is being hosted is where we'll be.  We come prepared with all of the tools and goodies to make soap.  We do the work, and you make the soap.  Fun! Simple!

Soap Party Guidelines:

*  Parties are scheduled Friday, Saturday, or Sunday between 11:00 & 9:00 pm (We can accomodate other special dates with you, just contact us and we'll find the perfect time)

*  Ages: 8 to Adult

*  Parties typically last 2 hours

* Limit of 10 guest (we can accomodate larger parties, but this requires a 2nd instructor and additional fees, please contact us for details)

* A Microwave oven must be available at party location

FEES:

Cost is $25.00 per guest with a $200 minimum.  A $50 deposit is required to book your party

     It's hard to believe that it is December already. Another year is almost over. We hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with their friends and families. I will admit, it is much quieter around the farm now that the turkeys are all gone.  I've heard from many of our customers that purchased a turkey from us this year and everyone gave high marks! 

    The weather has been typical Tennessee weather.  One day sunny and 70 and the next day, cold, windy, and temps in the 30's.  We've had a considerable amount of rain and honestly, my goats all informed me that they were moving to South Texas and I said I'd go with them.  Goats don't like rain and neither do I. 

    We had a wonderful time at the Christmas Sampler in Springfield the beginning of November and were happy to see so many of your there.  Our goat's milk soap was a big hit and we met many new friends.  If you are starting your Christmas shopping, don't forget our wonderful soaps.  You can order right on our website (or if you are local, just give us a call) and we have a special gift for our readers who order online.  If you order $25.00 or more between Dec. 1st and Dec. 15th, enter the promotion code Merry and you'll receive $5.00 off.  That's like getting a free bar of soap or a free jar of Gardener's salve.  Also, we have a new program that is a perfect gift:  Our Soap of the Month Club.  You can sign up for 3, 6, or 12 months and have the option for 2 bars or 3 bars of soap sent to you OR a friend each month.  You can download details by clicking here.  We will send a card announcing your gift and take care of the shipping each month.  If you have questions about the program after reviewing the details, just email us. 

    We often get visitors at the farm and usually enjoy having them.  This little fellow was not quite so welcome.  Going out to close the door to the chicken coop one night after dark, I turned the corner and ran right into him.  Not sure who was more scared, me or him.  Anyways, our son set a trap right outside the chicken coop, and sure enough, he was captured. I don't want to share my eggs with a opossum.  No worries, we do catch and release, so he was "relocated". 

Right after Christmas, we will have two new additions to the farm.  Pearl and Little Bitty, two percentage Belgian Blue heifers will be coming from Missouri.  (well, technically, they are bred heifers and once they deliver their calves, they will be called Cows....I'm am still learning my Cow Terminology.)  Belgian Blue are very muscular cows.  We're excited and of course, will keep you posted on how thing are going. Here's a photo of Little Bitty:

   In January, we will be listing our 2012 Workshop & Class Schedule.  We have lots of exciting workshops & classes planned for you.  We will also have information on our Poultry CSA, Egg CSA, and more.  We are excited about the New Year!

   In closing, we want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy,Happy New Year!  We appreciate all of you and the support and friendship you've given us.  We have met so many wonderful people and love what we are doing.  Have a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON!

The Staff of Hidden Springs Farms

Hi to everyone!

    The last few days we've had a taste of fall here in Tennessee.  It was only in the upper 30's Sunday morning.  I'm not complaining...I am ready for the cooler weather.  It has been a long hot summer.  The horses are starting to get their winter coats and the days are getting shorter, so it won't be long before we will be braving wintery weather.  The animals are all enjoying the cooler weather.  The turkeys are counting the days until Thanksgiving....

    Fall is a wonderful time of year.  For those of you with home-school groups or others that simply would like to visit the farm, fall is a great time to do it.  You can email us for details and we can schedule a convenient time for you to come. 

    Just a few more weeks of the Robertson County Farmer's Market.  If you haven't been lately, you need to plan to visit.  The weather has been great this growing season so there are still lots of veggies available.  Last week I saw several types of peppers, sweet potatoes, beans, lettuce, raddishes, pumpkins, and more.  Take advantage of eating local! 

    We are still getting ready for the Christmas Sampler (Nov. 4th & 5th) in Springfield.  Here are some of our newest products that we will have for sale:

Peppermint Food Scrub


Felted Soap (a washcloth and soap all in one!)


Cupcake Soap.....yep, its soap.  Looks good enough to eat, but do not recommend it.  

   We wanted to share a recipe with you that is prefect for these cooler nights.  And, also quick and easy to make.....I love quick and easy:

Cha Cha's White Chicken Chili

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Slowly cook and stir the onion until tender. Mix in the garlic, jalapeno, green chile peppers, cumin, oregano and cayenne. Continue to cook and stir the mixture until tender, about 3 minutes. Mix in the chicken broth, chicken and white beans. Simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Remove the mixture from heat. Slowly stir in the cheese until melted. Serve warm.

This is comfort-food.  Serve it with some homemade crushy bread.....as my grandson says "yummy!"

   Have a WONDERFUL October!  

The Staff of Hidden Springs Farms