June 19, 2016
by Deborah Burgess
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We’ve had a great Father’s Day weekend so far, and Farmer Bob has had a ball! Saturday, our shearer came out early in the morning on one of the prettiest days we’ve experienced so far. It was cool and breezy with low humidity…a perfect day for being outside tossing sheep around!
Here’s our shearer, Al, who does a great job and is so careful not to hurt our sheep.
May 29, 2016
by Deborah Burgess
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We had so much fun with the wonderful guests who came to tour our farm yesterday! The rain might interfere with our tours this afternoon, but we aren’t about to complain. It means that our pastures will stay green with thick, healthy grass for our sheep, and the ponds will be filled with sweet, fresh rain water. When you live close to (and depend on) the land, you notice weather patterns and we are grateful that we haven’t had an early summer drought, as we have in some past years.
Here are some happy memories from Saturday:
This young lady is a Girl Scout, and we hope she brings her whole troop back for a visit!
May 27, 2016
by Deborah Burgess
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Hold a duckling, pet a lamb, pick up our hens’ eggs right out of the nest box…and learn about the animals on our farm. Stroll up the gravel lane to the Back Forty, cross the wooden bridge and enter the sheep pasture to learn about our sheep, their guardian dogs, and Clarence, our big spotted donkey, who loves attention. Maybe he’ll bray for us!
Schedule a farm tour: Continue Reading →
May 25, 2016
by Deborah Burgess
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Here’s our adorable little Border Collie, Carly (HR Carleigh), when she was just a pup last spring. She has added so much sparkle to our lives over the past year, and is the smartest dog we’ve ever had. She’s loved learning and always tries to please us and do a perfect job with her lessons.
And here she is with Farmer Bob almost a year later, with breeder/trainer Brian Cash of HardRock Border Collies, and her sire, Neal. Continue Reading →
May 24, 2016
by Deborah Burgess
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I remember having this for supper often as a child. I knew when we had fried potatoes one night, the next night we’d have a super delicious blend of leftover fried potatoes and scrambled eggs. Years later, I came across an actual recipe for this and, get this, it was called “Poor Man’s Supper.” Well darn! I didn’t know we were poor, but my dad WAS a school teacher, so maybe we were, but I’d rather think that we were just “frugal” and made good use of leftovers. This certainly doesn’t taste “poor!” Take a look:
May 23, 2016
by Deborah Burgess
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Plan to bring your family and friends to the country for a leisurely walking tour of Fox Trot Farm on this upcoming long holiday weekend. We’re just south of Waxhaw, a beautiful, short drive through the country. Tour times on Friday, Saturday, and Monday are 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. Sunday tours are 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Please call 803.804.3541 to reserve your spot as space is limited. (For this holiday weekend, we are waiving the tour minimum and will group folks together according to their time preference.) Just $5 for each person over 2 years old. Please wear closed toe shoes so you won’t stub your toe, and plan to have fun. Fresh eggs for sale this weekend for $3.50/dozen, and free honey sticks for the children. (5066 Rowell RD, Lancaster, SC is our street address for your GPS.) Public restroom and hand washing station available.
May 23, 2016
by Deborah Burgess
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Do you remember our precious Rosie and Daphne when they were so tiny and adorable last spring?
Here’s my favorite picture of Rosie! I had to make her a sweater so she wouldn’t get cold. Isn’t she just the cutest little thing in the world? Continue Reading →
May 20, 2016
by Deborah Burgess
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May 18, 2016
by Deborah Burgess
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Swarming is a fascinating mechanism that honeybees have to ensure their survival as a species, and it was also a challenge for me this spring to keep from losing my own bees to swarming. You see, swarming occurs when the colony creates a new queen, and the old queen leaves with more than half of the colony to settle somewhere else and start over again. Thus, one colony splits in two, and sometimes it swarms again. Divide and multiply! Usually this happens in the spring, and beekeepers everywhere start getting calls about swarms spotted on fence posts, trees, and even TV antennas. (Call me if you see one and I’ll come get it!) Interesting fact: The bees are least likely to sting when they are swarming, because they’re so focused on finding a new home.
This spring, I set up a “bait hive” in my own apiary. I outfitted this hive box with some drawn out wax comb and a bait called Swarm Commander that was created by a fellow SC beekeeper, Derrick Scott, of Blythewood Bee Company. I had seen signs of swarming from my strongest hive for a few days, and it looks like I got this bait hive set up just in time because, the very next day, the colony swarmed and went right to my bait hive. That’s something that is exciting to a beekeeper! Continue Reading →
April 12, 2016
by Deborah Burgess
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What a busy weekend we had here on Fox Trot Farm! Our hens are laying beautiful, extra large blue and brown eggs and, at $3.50/dozen, they are a real bargain! Come to the farm and stock up!
This sure is a “bucket-o-chicks!” I put them in the bucket while I clean their brooder every day. They are warm and fluffy, and they love to have their picture taken while being cuddled. Bring the kids while these chicks are still small and adorable. They grow up so quickly! Click HERE for more info on tours. Continue Reading →
