Last Thursday at the Spiddal Market tg4 dropped in and I got a chance to put my 'fluent' Gaeilge to use. After many hours in hair and makeup, and severe prompting, something 'as gaelige' came out of my mouth. Could someone please tell me what I said!?
This is a bit messy to get at, but:
go to http://www.tg4.tv/
click Cúrsaí Reatha - Cartlann
then click Nuacht TG4 - 30/7/09
scroll in 8 minutes and watch in wonderment.
The 15 Miracle Turkeys
These boys are survivors, an hour before this was taken they were on deaths door. I left one heat lamp off in one of the brooder circles and in the space of 1.5 hours 18 out of the 60 were nearly smothered and dying of hypothermia. But with the initial help of Maria who kept them going until I got back. I then stuck them in the range oven for 30 second periods, heated them up with a hair dryer and gave them sugary water to drink, kept moving them, and in the space of 2 hours they had turned the corner. I'm now watching the Galway races and keeping them going.
It just proves that there can be no room for mistakes when rearing turkeys.
In the end thankfully only 3 were lost, a good lesson to get, particularly this year when I thought I was practising a 'zero mistake tolerance' in the brooder. I could be here kicking myself now. They dont look 100% yet, but hopefully they will all make it now.
This is why raising turkeys isnt easy!
Its Turkey Time!
350 day old turkeys landed yesterday, the major focus on the farm for the next two weeks is to ensure these little fellas settle in well and get safely through the first critical couple weeks of life.
The Friendly Farmer Makes The Tuam Herald
Last week we had the pleasure of a visit from Tuam Herald journalist Siobhan Holliman and photographer Ray Ryan, both have a keen interest in local food and small start up enterprises. Click on the link below to see their angle on the goings on @ the friendly farm.
The Friendly Farmer Tuam Herald Atricle
The Friendly Farmer Tuam Herald Atricle
McGeoughs Oughterard Stocks Probably the Best Chicken in The World
James McGeoughs Butchers in Oughterard is a great supporter of small food producers, the range of top class local produce the shop holds is a credit to the McGeoughs. He has been stocking our pasture chickens for well over a year, and was a great support to me when I was starting up. The reason for this is he is also a small food producer and he knows the ups and downs involved in supplying meat of superior quality on a small scale. Take a look at the video below to find out more about his Connemara Air Dried Lamb, serious, serious food. If your passing through Oughterard its worth calling in to James, as his butchery is probably one of the best around, plus as they say around here 'he is a gas man'. Take a look at his shop @ http://www.connemarafinefoods.ie/
Summer Festival Tour Part 1 - Athenry Agri Show
The pigs are going back on the road, and its a typical reunion tour (/we need money to pay for feed bills tour) . They have settled their differences and are heading back on the road for the summer festival season. This weekend it was a toss up between Oxygen and the Athenry Agricultural Show, the boys have decided to stay local and appear in Athenry, back to their roots man. So if you have nothing for doing on Sunday (and I mean nothing) call into Athenry Mart, where you will see two pigs completely out shine every other animal, cake and prize turnip there by sleeping through the whole day. Rock on man!
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