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Another convert to…
…sous vide cooking. The young son of a friend recently was given a sous vide cooker for his birthday. His very first attempt at a ribeye steak (grass fed if not Thistle Hill) was a smashing success. Incidentally, if you’re one of those who prefer your meat more well done. Your just increase the settings We were late to using the sous vide method. Son-in-law Curt introduced it to Thistle Hill about two years ago. Being a traditionalist, it took awhile for me to be converted but there’s no doubt this technique of slow-cooking guarantees a perfect steak every time! Heating in water results in a more tender, moist steak…
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Making it hard on us…
…this veteran cow went to the farthest point of the farthest pasture to have her calf. Riparian areas are great—and we have them all over Thistle Hill—but it makes it tough to find new calves. The mothers are often no help…looking in a direction away from their baby, I’m sure to mislead us! This dam, X2a, has since moved all the way around the herd and some distance away in the other direction…the baby bull trotting right along. After a few days when she’s sure she has her baby well-disciplined, X2a will rejoin her herd. And Carolyn just brought up something I had forgotten…when it came time to have her…
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The heavy lifting…
…is left to son-in-law Curt Humphries who is stuck with the jobs no one else wants…in this case finding a missing calf and returning her to mama. THF 13 is a blend of English and American genetics. Mom is from our favorite “2” line and the sire again was our Essington Park bull. David
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In support of a 50-year farm bill…
…by a giant in the field of regenerative agriculture. No one has better captured the beauty of farming in sync with nature than Wendell Berry. The Kentucky farmer, poet, writer and environmentalist writes in the Atlantic in support of the 50-year farm bill. https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/11/the-50-year-farm-bill/265099/ While Berry may stand alone in his wordcraft, I do want to mention an even earlier writer I think qualifies as the father of the sustainable ag movement: Louis Bromfield. His Malabar Farms had a big impact on even my city anchored family in the 40s. I still recall my mother and father reading aloud from Malabar Farms at our dinner table. Still on my personal…
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An overnight delivery…
…not sure how Church managed to find this one in the dark, but he did! And he’s special too. His working number is 12 and he’s out of Church’s personal cow…a gift from his grandmother on our last trip to England. The original dam was Ashott Barton Tulip, purchased by Wooz and then taken to Bovine Genetics where Stella Scholes bred and flushed her. The embryos were implanted here at Thistle Hill. And now those calves are having their calves…pure traditional English Devon here on American soil. Sorry for the color quality but the original is so dark nothing really shows. If it were a negative and not digital I’d…
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Multiple blessings…
…7, 8, 9! These three came in a bunch a week ago. But THF 7 was camera shy and we waited until we had pictures of all three. THF 7 and 8 are bull calves…7 out of a cow in our American herd; 8 is traditional English. So is 9…a smallish heifer. All three were sired by our Essington bull…a proud graduate of Brian Drake’s legendary herd. In addition to contributing his best cow to our partnership, Brian was always generous with his wisdom and hospitality. For those who have asked: we do raise our English and American animals together and will use an English bull with the American cows…but…
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Today’s blessing…
…a little heifer THF 11…weighing 70 pounds. She’s a three-quarter English calf and was an elusive little girl…still needs a tag. The ratio is still tipped heavily in favor of bulls though…8 to 3. David
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Just in time…
…for Thanksgiving. The advance guard of a flock of wild turkeys crossing Thistle Hill farm. We’ve seen the return of a number of birds to the farm since we eliminated all “cides” about 20 years ago. In fact there’s been an up-swing of all wildlife including our very own resident bear. Almost all our pastures have adjacent riparian areas including water. But our partners are increasing bold. These turkeys are right in front of the main house. David
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Lest we forget…
…pork is on the way. Five pigs that look like they’ll be ready from now to Christmas. This year we’re raising mostly Berkshires…with some Tamworth thrown in. Most pig growers seem to eventually settle on Berkshires for the flavor…and all-around performance. In the past we’ve favored Tamworth and Gloucester Old Spot, but we thought it was time to try the popular favorite. All three of English heritage breeds and each has their advocates. These Berkshire are the best-mannered we’ve had so far…and finishing faster than others. In this picture they’re being fed a mixture of spent brewers grain and a growers ration heavy on corn. Ours pigs are raised entirely…
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One man’s legacy…
…the inspirational story of a retired businessman in Texas who is leaving quite a legacy. It reminds me of Louis Bromfield…whose tales of Malabar Farm in Ohio got us interested in regenerative farming before it was cool. Thanks to Shannon Kincaid, an artist friend in Dallas who suggested the link. David