Hello beautiful peeps,
Farm updates include some fun animal updates and cheese cave status. But the real info is the stuff I put in there about the cicadas.
The Wytheville Farmer’s market information is farther down the page. You can skip there by clicking here. If you are looking for Herd Share pick up info, jump down the page here.
Quail
The quail chicks are enjoying their new home and doing well. They have grown from the size of my thumb to the size of my hand in three short weeks. In five more weeks they will be fully mature. They will only grow about another quarter of their current size. The current batch of 64 eggs in the incubator are doing fine as far as I can tell.
Sheep and Donkeys
The donkeys are keeping up with the lambs and getting scratches and hugs from me on a daily basis. One of the two ewes I talked about last week has given birth. These are the largest lambs ever born on our farm. She had twins that weighed 14.6 and 11.25 pounds. That’s over 25 pounds of lamb. She did fine though. Only one more to go. I suspect another week or more and she will deliver.
Goats
I am happy to report that the goats are still staying in their assigned paddock. It has been nearly two weeks and they are still in with the cows. They are happy and healthy.
Cows
Artificial insemination has started. During the physical exams that all of the cows received, we got confirmation that Buttercup is pregnant. However, she is only six months along. It will be August before she delivers that calf. The AI process will ensure that all of the cows are cycling together — except Buttercup. Perhaps next year we can get that straightened out.
Creamery
The special grout for the tile floor was picked up today by my wonderful hubby. The small cheese cave is about to be complete. And just in time. I have a new cheese that is currently drying at room temp that will need space to begin the aging process.
That’s it for the farm update. Now on to the farmer’s market update.
Farmer’s Market
Same, same here. Wytheville Farmer’s Market will be open on Saturday and again allowing you inside to make your purchases and pre-order pickups. Beginning with the first Saturday in June, the veggie vendors will be outside. The same stringent safety measures will be in place. A limited number of patrons will be allowed inside, keeping a safe distance everywhere. Unfortunately, still no browsing. You will enter on the covered side, follow the pathway that is laid out and exit on the uncovered side. We are in the same place as before. See you there.
You can pre-order with us or with your favorite vendor. Call of send and email and I will get you set up. Find vendors on the Wytheville Farmer’s Market Facebook page. You will find our products listed there as well as on this page.
We are running out of lamb and goat. We are out of beef. It will be August before we have more. On our list available on the Wytheville Farmer’s Market Facebook Page (see above link) you will find 1/4 and half beef as well as half and whole lamb. The beef delivery is for mid-August. Lamb will be available the first week of August. You can claim yours now by making a deposit for beef quarters or halves and/or whole or half lamb. I have very limited quantities. Make your deposit now.
Herd Shares
Herd Share Peeps, I will be inside near the exit door. I look forward to seeing each of you. Remember to let me know what you want for next week. Fresh milk and yogurt is available. And as always, cheese and butter.
New herd share opportunities are available. Contact me via email (melanie@peacefulheartfarm.com) or phone (276-694-4369).
Please go HERE to learn all about Herd Shares and get on our waiting list.
News This Week
- Products Available
- Let’s Get Together
- This week’s FarmCast, “The Cicadas in Southwestern Virginia Have Emerged.” is now available.
- FREE Cheese tasting downloads
Products Available to Herd Share Owners
| Choose 1 per week | 1/2 Share | Whole Share |
| Raw Milk | 1/2 gallon | 1 gallon |
| Yogurt | 1 quart | 2 quarts |
| Butter | 1/4 pound | 1/2 pound |
| Ararat Legend | 1/4 pound | 1/2 pound |
| Peaceful Heart Gold | 1/4 pound | 1/2 pound |
| Pinnacle | 1/4 pound | 1/2 pound |
| Clau d’ville Cheddar | 1/4 pound | 1/2 pound |
Products Available to the General Public
| Beef | Price / Pound | |
| 1/4 Beef (approx 100 lbs) | $7.00 | |
| 1/2 Beef (approx 200 lbs) | $6.50 | |
| Whole Beef (approx 400 lbs) | $6.00 | |
| Ground (approx 1 lb) | $7.00 | |
| Lamb | Price / Pound | |
| Lamb Loin Chops | $18 | |
| Lamb Rib Chops | $18 | |
| Lamb Kabobs | $12 | |
| Ground Lamb (approx 1 lb) | $10 | |
| Whole Lamb (approx 40 lbs) | $9.50 | |
| 1/2 Lamb (approx 20 lbs) | $10 | |
| Chev (Goat) | Price / Pound | |
| Ground Chev (approx 1 lb) | $12 |
As always, we’d love to meet you in person. You can find us at the Wytheville Farmers Market on Saturday from 8:00 am to Noon. Special procedures are in place for your health and safety, but come inside the building and see me.
As always, you may visit us at our dairy farm in Claudville, Virginia Tuesdays from 10 am to 12 noon and Saturday afternoons from 3 pm to 5 pm. Find out how we raise our animals and why you will love the taste of tradition that is inherent in all of our products. Herd share holders will be able to see up close how their cows are cared for and the cheese operation and where it is stored.
This week’s podcast, “The Cicadas in Southwestern Virginia Have Emerged.” Along with more detailed homestead updates, I put in some information about how the 17-year cycle of the cicada works.
I want to follow up on my previous FarmCast, The Taste of Cheese where I talked about developing your expertise with using descriptive words. The FREE downloads of Classifying Cheese by Type and Category and Expand Your Cheese Vocabulary are still available at our website. Please stop by and get your FREE resources.
You can LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE. Or, if you have an Alexa device, just say: “Alexa, play podcast Peaceful Heart FarmCast.”
And don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to the Peaceful Heart Farm podcast on Apple Podcasts, Android, TuneIn, Stitcher or Spotify
