Preserving, Canning,Cheesemaking and Green Living Australia

Plans look good to me Jo - we're in same position with 3 cows and no proper yards! My DH did make a crush recently but we couldn't get the cow in it - need proper yards and fences etc

Yeah would be good to look thanks Vicki, and thanks for the spine tip. Yep pretty lush pastures here at the moment, plenty of feed. Also had paddocks sprayed with natural rock dust last week which is supposed to unlock and make the minerals more available as well as add to them. Our soil is very low...

Ooh we have some Lowana I think....can't wait!

Ha with all my cow expreience not really! Just keeping an eye on her to notice if she has any changes (stature, eating, eyes, nose, udder etc). Have it forefront in my head to watch her hips to see how bony they are but that might be nothing at all to do with good condition!

Grrrr.....thanks for the tip will check our supplement out tomorrow. Antibiotics are great for life saving situations.....but otherwise they wreck the intestinal flora and are completely not good for us - or our cows!

Oh wow. Strawberries!

Ours are all growing but still very small and green....waiting waiting.

I freeze mine on trays not touching for half hour or so, then when you put them in the bag together tehy don't stick.

Well its very reassuring to know we are not the only ones to have trouble moving cows or get them to do what we want them to! I'm not at all worried about the calf now - our other cow Bianca is awesome and she is letting him feed as well as her own calf. So keeping an eye on her to make sure she doe...

Great idea. Guess its just like knowing your family doctor as opposed to seeing someone out of the blue.

Sounds so well organised Desley! Heidi and Vicki I'm glad we 're not the only ones who have been running round a paddock with misbehaving runaway cows! Yes we handfeed them occasionally (definitely not every day). Keeps them coming up to us - but 2 of the cows are a bit obstinate, the sheep on the o...

Well the crush is built with temporary cattle yard. And the cows, the dog, my husband, my father in law and I (with baby sleeping on my back) have all had a big run around the paddock in the wind and rain. Casualties - a broken electric fence, a trampled potato field and freezing fingers. Result - m...

Thanks Heidi for all the info. Its very helpful to read and focus on what steps we need to do. This is the disadvantage of not having experience with cows before this year - we are learning alot. My husband is halfway through making a cattle crush. Unfortunately heavy rain is hindering its progress....

No we haven't got round to building a crush yet - I think this will be our trigger we are looking up plans now. This is her second calf. Not sure how she went first time -perhaps that was why she was sold? Might give the last owner a call. So you think its just cracked teats but not yet mastitis? He...

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j156/HayleyKL/September2011104.jpg http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j156/HayleyKL/September2011107.jpg http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j156/HayleyKL/September2011105.jpg http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j156/HayleyKL/September2011106.jpg

Hmm have taken photos trying to work out how to get them on here....

Thanks Vicki. She's not a milking cow. She's a Highland. We have neighbour farmers with cows have been trying to get on to them see if they can check her out and give any more advice. The reason we have been doing the grain is to get her to have the vit c etc. Only a few handfuls morning and night t...

Poor cow. Looks so sore. Not that we;ve had cows before but just about certain its mastitis. Her udder is HUGE and her teats are all very red. She is not letting her calf (2.5 months) feed. He has been sneaking feeds from the other cow till she notices and walks off or knocks him away poor thing. We...

Hello and welcome! Container gardening can be great - specially herbs by your back door. And yeah you can also do the preserving and cheesemaking etc without needing garden space. When in rentals I've always just put a vege garden in without asking and they seem happy at the end as it increases the ...

Hi Jen and welcome. I grew up in the hills and worked for a while at croydon! Come some way now we're on 16 acres and living the life.

Whenever I make jam I end up with really tasty syrup. SO perhaps its me needs tips from you!

As of this arvo I have Kefir grains!

So...what are your top kefir making tips?

How important is it to wash the grains each time?

How do you consume your kefir? ( I was thinking on cereal for breakfast???)

And can I use the grains to make it with rice or oat milk?

Congrats on two new kids!

How do you disbud?

6 baby chicks hatched and survived so that makes 8 chicks in the laundry. And my goodness Vicki 10 roosters from 11 chicks! Last year we only had two roosters out of about 20 chicks!