From officemanager at svionline.org Mon Jul 13 21:14:17 2009 From: officemanager at svionline.org (office manager) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:14:17 -0500 Subject: [Sviannouncements] Pasture raised chicken from Ulinawi! Message-ID: <26BBE236-8DFF-40FF-A81B-5470E20A26C1@svionline.org> New from Ulinawi, Moonshadow's sister community - pasture raised chicken. Ulinawi is a fledgling community and family farm, and in our first attempt at larger-scale livestock, we've raised up a whole flock of rhode island red roosters. these birds have been ranging widely on our fields of invasive chinese honeysuckle, doing triple-duty in pasture management, fertilization, and growing into big healthy dinners! this year, we experimented simultaneously with classic breeds (rhode island reds and buff orpingtons) and with the super-bred, giant- breasted, cornish cross creations. our results were about what you'd expect - the cornish cross developed giant breasts in the first six weeks of life, but were sluggish and seemed very reluctant to thrive. the classic breeds were hearty and wily, but didn't recognize the cornish cross as the same species, and were slow to put on weight. now, three months into this endeavour, the cornish cross are all in the freezer (there are a few left - they were delicious!), and the reds are ready to be harvested. all these birds have fed on bugs, greens, compost and non-medicated feeds, and are delicious and healthy - but not at all what you see stamped with tyson at your supermarket. they are smaller-breasted and smaller-bodied, considered a "poulard" (adolescent) at about 3# each, but they are the hardy and traditional birds developed from the 1800's in massachusets and rhode island. they will be available exclusively for pre-order (they're still alive) for pickup at the wednesday main-street market in Chattanooga. if you're interested, please contact nada jones at craftmonkey at ymail.com or 510-853-0888 thanks! .bradley jones ..510-853-0888 Chris Gilligan Board of Directors - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sequatchie Valley Institute 1233 Cartwright Loop Whitwell, TN 37397 (423) 949-5922 tel svionline.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From officemanager at svionline.org Wed Jul 15 10:45:09 2009 From: officemanager at svionline.org (office manager) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:45:09 -0500 Subject: [Sviannouncements] Moonshadow and Ulinawi at the Chattanooga Farmers Market today! Message-ID: <3766EF8D-9E63-49D1-96BB-80F2F72D01DB@svionline.org> Moonshadow and Ulinawi join all the other wonderful farmers and gardeners at the Wednesday Market today on Main Street in Chattanooga... next to Niedlov's bakery! - Go buy some fresh herbs, sign up for chicken, gobble some fun yummies! and support local food production! Wednesdays From 4:00 - 6:00 pm On Main St Between Market and Broad On the Corner of Main & Williams Across from Hiroshi's Sushi Downtown Chattanooga on the South Side Chris Gilligan Board of Directors - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sequatchie Valley Institute 1233 Cartwright Loop Whitwell, TN 37397 (423) 949-5922 tel svionline.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ashley at svionline.org Mon Jul 20 15:05:36 2009 From: ashley at svionline.org (ashley ironwood) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:05:36 -0500 Subject: [Sviannouncements] local dairy herd share announcement Message-ID: here's some info on a local dairy herd share - please be in touch with lisa at: fastfields at earthlink.net three cheers for progressive movements in the world of raw milk! ********************************* Explanation of Community Dairy Herd Share Project Purchasing a share in the dairy goat herd means you are a co-owner of the herd. Therefore, a portion of the milk produced by the herd belongs to you. Once you become a shareholder in the herd, you will then help to maintain the herd by providing a monthly husbandry fee. This enables me, as the herd owner , to provide quality feed,hay, medical attention when necessary,housing,fencing,routine care,and of course provide clean,quality milk. Share Holder and Herd Owner Contract It is agreed and understood by share holder that share holders interest in the herd is a limited interest, shared with others of co-ownership in the herd and that the interest purchased does not convey or vest in share holder sole ownership of the herd or of any particular goat in the herd. It is further agreed and understood that specific goats in the herd may change over time as goats die or herd owner adds or deletes from the herd in herd owners sole and absolute discretion,however, herd owner shall not be obligated to add to the herd or replace a goat that is sold or dies, but may do so at herd owners discretion. All herd management is at herd owners discretion as well. Share holder shall be entitled to receive on a weekly basis one gallon of milk or a proportional share of the milk produced by the herd, provided share holder is not delinquent in monthly husbandry fee. The exact amount of milk provided to share holder may increase or decrease due to normal lactation curves and when does are dried off during last 2 months before freshening. Herd Shares and Husbandry fees are as follows: One time herd share of $65.00 -- 60 day refundable opt out -- after 60 days share holder may opt out at any time but fee will not be refunded. --share holder may sell or transfer herd share to another buyer upon approval of herd owner and new contract must be signed by herd owner and new share holder. In this case the herd share fee will be waived, but monthly fee will be due at signing of contract. Monthly Husbandry Fees are as follows: $40.00 due at date agreed on by share holder and herd owner. Barter Option available in exchange for share purchase or fees or both on an individual bases, terms to be agreed on by both parties and signing of barter contract. MILKING Share holder shall provide eight (8) new, clean, one (1) quart glass jars, each labeled with Share holders name, to be filled with Share holders milk. MILK PICKUP Share holder shall be responsible for picking up the milk at herd owners home at a mutually agreed-upon time, and at the time of pickup, for returning four (4) clean glass jars for the next milk pickup. Herd owner shall not be responsible for the storage of milk for more than twenty-four (24) hours after the scheduled pickup or for providing containers for Share holders milk. It is essential that both jar and lid be scrupulously clean and thoroughly dry. Whenever cleaning containers for milk,start by rinsing away the old milk with water that is lukewarm. (Either hot or cold water can cause a deposit of milk solids--"milkstone"--to remain on the surface of the container.)Then wash thoroughly with soap and hot water, rinse well, and dry completely before putting on the lid. The milk supplied will be raw--that is, it is not heat-treated or pasteurized. It will be chilled; and you should take care that it remains so until you can get it home and into your refrigerator. If you have some distance to drive or stops to make before you arrive home, it is imperative that you make provision with insulated containers and ice or chillers to keep the milk at refrigerator temperature until you return home. TERM - The term of this Agreement shall be one (1) year from the date hereof which shall automatically be renewed for successive one-year terms unless written notice is given by Share holder or herd owner of intent to terminate agreement. FAQ How long will raw milk keep? If you handle as above, the milk will easily keep a week with no change at all in quality. Indeed, we have kept raw milk in the refrigerator for as long as fifteen days, and it was still sweet and good. It is good practice to date your milk as soon as it is received. How can I tell if raw milk is spoiled? Most of us grew up with pasteurized milk; and thus are not familiar with the pleasant sour or tangy tastes and smells that develop in cultured dairy products. As you experiment with such cultured milk foods you will come to appreciate those new smells and tastes. (More about that below.) When milk is actually spoiled, however, it will smell quite unpleasant. Discard the milk if it has developed an unpleasant smell. What should I do if the milk smells bad after only a couple of days? Discard it. Please let us know right away, and we will investigate. If no one else had a problem--or if you find that only one of your jars did, while the others were okay--there was likely a problem with the sanitation of that particular jar. You should review your cleaning procedures. What should I do with milk that is more than a week old? As long as the milk still smells and tastes sweet and good to you, it is fine to use it. However, you will be getting milk each week. So, if you find you are consistently having extra milk, try making cheese,yogurt, fudge, kefir, etc. And remember, your pets will enjoy and benefit from any leftovers! Can the milk be frozen? Yes, but the butterfat from raw milk will separate out as flakes and will not blend in again when thawed. It may be used for some cooking purposes, however.. Will the births of the kid have an impact on milk supply available to share owners? Yes, they might; and you should keep this in mind as we approach the kidding season. During the last two months of a goats pregnancy, she should be allowed to be "dry" (not being milked) because she is putting so much of her body's resources into growing the kid. Also, after the birth, the kid will be nursing its mother until it is weaned. During the kidding season, there may well be times when we cannot supply you with milk in the normal amounts or on the usual schedule. We will try to stagger breeding of does to minimize supply issues, however, dairy goats are seasonal breeders and staggering can be difficult in a small herd such as ours.We will do our best to supply you then; and ask your understanding and cooperation. Will I still pay monthly fees during dry periods and for how long? Yes, as stated in the first paragraph of the contract, the monthly husbandry fee is for the care and upkeep of the herd.This includes the dry season when does are dried off during the last 2 months of pregnancy and the first 2 weeks after freshening.This helps to insure that the does and kids are strong and healthy at time of kidding and kids have the opportunity to "get off to a good start". Can Share holders visit the farm? Yes, but due to our large family and hectic schedule, a courtesy call for an appointment would be appreciated. please note my new email address ************************************ ashley "asha" ironwood sequatchie valley institute 1233 cartwright loop whitwell, tn 37397 423-949-5922 ashley at svionline.org www.svionline.org "some changes may look negative on the surface, but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge. there may be a period of insecurity and uncertainty. what should i do? as the ego is no longer running your life, the psychological need for external security, which is illusory anyway, lessens. you're able to live with uncertainty - even enjoy it. when you become comfortable with uncertainty, infinite possibilities open up in your life. it means fear is no longer a dominant factor in what you do and no longer prevents you from taking action to initiate change. the roman philosopher, tasitus, rightly observed that 'the desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.' if uncertainty is unacceptable to you, it turns into fear. if it's perfectly acceptable, it turns into increased aliveness, alertness and creativity." eckhart tolle - chapter 9 of "a new earth" -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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