Welcome to Crazy Boy Farm
Family Friendly Farming: For Our Children and Yours.
For information on our Community Supported Agriculture go to the CSA tab in the sidebar to the Left. We would love to have you join the Crazy Boy Farm family.
Thank-you for joining us as we share just a little bit about our family and the journey we are taking together and with you. For more information about us read The Legend of Crazy Boy
Thank-you, your growers, Proeun and Amy.
The Flu Strikes again
Then bam an illness comes out of no where and knocks us off our feet. Effie and I are down with the flu. Although already today things are going better, but yesterday, my yesterday was a day. At first I was thinking, "man with all the things I have going on I don't have time to get sick. Now I will be behind."
But as I was sitting on the sofa yesterday afternoon in the silence holding my sick baby who only wanted to be held by me, I realized this is probably what I needed to slow down. And it was a beautiful moment. The older children were playing safely outside with Hiro and Jack (the canines in the family). We don't have cable so whereas before on a day like yesterday I would veg out on the sofa with movies or TV the TV was silent. I wasn't feeling well either so sitting up at the computer didn't sound good and I was able to just be for a moment.
In the end I was able to get most of my tasks done anyway, but at a slower pace with more interruptions and it was good. Then off to bed early and both Effie and Jack slept almost all the way through the night. Today I have decided to continue taking it easy as who knows where this illness will go from here. So if you don't hear from me for awhile assume we are just being and getting over whatever illness comes our way.
A boy and His Dog, Jack
We kept it all hush, hush. Yesterday evening we loaded the kids in the car for a "surprise." They thought we were taking them to a restaurant. Along the way we passed the "Happy Hound Hotel" and Two was whistfully asking when he could get a dog.
We pull up to the house and Two said "why are we here?" Then he heard dogs barking, and he looked at us.
Here he realized that he really was getting his own dog. Of course every farm can use a good farm dog and as any mom of more then one child knows this a shared dog, but it is also a dog for a boy. Two loves it and takes him out for walks and wants me to wake him up at night when I let Jack out (Two picked out the name).
I feel like there is something really special about living with animals and being responsible for them. I am so happy that Jack has joined our farm family. He is missing his mom and littermates right now, I feel so sorry for him, but I guess all we can do is love him up real good. He loves the outdoors and Shack, the outdoor cat that is most attached to us. Oddly Shack doesn't seem to mind Jack. I'll try to post pictures soon.
7th Annual Immigrant and Minority Farmer Conference
This year I was on the planning committee and one of the presenters. It felt amazing being able to give back and share my experience with the farmers starting out just like I did. Well honestly most of them probably have more experience then I did but you know what I mean.
Here is the audience from one of my workshops. I spoke on 2 panels. One about Long Term Financing where I shared tips and things we had learned along the way. And then this workshop where I talked about "Sharing Your Story: using your history and experience to market your farm."
According to Glen Hill, Executive Director of the Minnesota Food Association, this is a unique conference and the only one like it in the country. Other conferences I have attended are geared more towards the land owner while this conference is geared towards the beginning farm who will be renting land and often facing many hurdles on their way to ownership.
I have spoken before with translation but this time everything I said was translated into at least 5 languages, "Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Karen and Nepali." Hill added that they want to make a conference where everyone feels comfortable asking questions. At one point a Spanish speaking gentleman asked me where we bought out chicks. I was blown away, I guess we really have come a long way. (FYI we bought the chicks from here and they are all still thriving.) As Aaron Blyth (Also of MFA) said, "This is why our work is so important.
Between the chicks arriving earlier then expected, a traffic jam and a mandatory training at Proeun's work the children had no choice but to come with me for the 2nd day. Luckily Proeun was able to come back and help before my workshop and the people at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture were willing to share their table with the children for a quick breakfast treat of bagels and fruit.
Here the children learn playdough tricks from a new friend. Of course bringing them with us was difficult and not ideal and by the afternoon they were starting to melt down but Two is already at an age where he wants to know what we are learning and is making suggestions for the business. So I am reminded we are a package deal, stuff happens. Four years ago there were only 2 of them, but now they are active members of our farm and business. Next year we will let them play with their cousins though, hopefully.
Chicks Arrive
For those of you that have never ordered chicks before this is how they come--in a box to the post office. It took just a day to get our chicks from the hatchery in Iowa. Meaning they arrived earlier then expected. Luckily we had everything set up and we have learned a lesson.
We ordered Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpintons, Sumatras, a couple Polish and a mixed package. It will be so fun to see how these chicks develop and what they will look like.
Two's favorite is this little Polish guy. You can see to poufy feathers that will be quite striking the older he gets. (We ordered a couple Polish roosters as these are Proeun's favorite).
They are so cute and run around under the heat lamps. It is surpising how strong they are on day 2 of life. You have to be very careful when in the brooder though because they will sneak up on you. While I was working with they lights this little sheila climbed on my foot for a bit. Be very careful where you step. Luckily we haven't lost any yet.
Last night we did discover a potential problem though--"pasting up." This condition is when the chicks poo pastes up on their rear ends blocking their "vent" and keeping them from pooing (really technical) anymore. It can be deadly. So we discovered some chicks with pasting up right before bed last night. Treatment includes dipping the chicks rear end in a bowl full of warm water to soften it and then using a q-tip or paper towel to remove the hopefully now soft poo. Then you blow dry the chicks butt and keep an eye on them. Yes this is what Proeun and I were doing until 10:30 last night. Animal husbandry at its best.
This morning when the kids asked to check the chicks I explained the problem to them and they really enjoyed looking for the chicks with the condition. They are really getting to be a big help. I am convinced that they prefer to have a job to do and be of value and service to the family then living and idle life. And honestly I prefer it too.
Making Home--Studio
I always thought of studios as something for "serious" artists, but after reading Soule Mama for going on 2 years now I see a studio as a place to create beauty in all forms, and a place to include children. That's why in our wonderful new home the studio and homeschooling room are one in the same. I will give more details on the room soon.
After a little break in the unpacking to work on Hmong Times stories, plan a couple presentations I have coming up and prep for the chicks today I was in the mood to beautify the home a bit. Yes the major unpacking is done and now the organizing and beautifying is taking place.
My studio is one area where it is mostly set up but definitely not organized. In our previous home my sewing area was in the basement and occasionally the dining room table. So the storage of all my supplies was a bit haphazard to say the least. Now it is in an area of the house where I want it to look beautiful.
A few years ago I was given all sorts of beautiful linens and a wooden trunk. They seemed to go together ala hope chest type stuff and then went into the basement at my previous home. Here I have closet space and so can take out those pieces ready for use.
That frees up so much space in my trunk that it has now become my stash. The previous owners of this house gave me some beautiful tins
so now I have one for buttons and one for bits of lace and ribbon and beauty to add to pieces. 
And just like that another little spot is ready. Of course there are still things to be put away and organize all around it but a little bit of functional beauty that also looks out on our bird feeder is quite a nice little break. I am looking forward to putting together more or this little spots.
Tractor!
Need I say more.
When we had our business meeting last week and discussed all the necessary plans and purchases I would be lying if I didn't admit to just a little stress. But my husband has taken care of it once again, finding exactly what we need for a great price and now we can cross tractor off our to do list!
It's a Yanmar 26 horsepower. It arrived yesterday with free delivery, love the customer service up here, seriously. We purchased it from Olson Power and Equipment. If you are in the area and need any tools they are great people. We also found out they rent equipment so for the occasional heavy duty labor that needs a bigger tractor we have a source for that and once again they deliver, yah!
The kids had a great time riding the loop with their dad and it is really starting to look like a farm now. In a few short weeks our chicks arrive. Plans are already made for the greenhouse, and packing shed. Things are starting to role and things feel great.
I even have a new pastime.
I love going out after the snow and looking for tracks. This one was almost run over by the tractor but it gives you an idea of how big the bird was that left these wing marks as it is framed perfectly in the tire tracks. There were 3 such tracks, this being the heaviest and the hopping mouse tracks were no more after this. I thought hawk, but Proeun said owl. It's great to see the evidence of wild life.
The Business of Farming
Farming really offers you everything. I remember talking with a wonderfully intelligent woman I knew who felt that her work no longer challenged her. I thought in my mind that I will most likely never have that problem. Between raising 4 eternal souls, homeschooling them, running a household and business with my husband I am always challenged--in a good way, mostly.
Now is the time for the business of farming. Words like marketing, cash flow, customer retention, asset aquisition and such become part of bed time conversation with Proeun. Decisions have to be made, big decisions like greenhouse placement, cooler placement, tractors, soil amendments and organic certification.
It is a challenge, but I love a challenge. I am so so blessed to be on this journey with my husband, and he loves a challenge to.
So this week, many many phone calls will be made, probably a few big purchases and plans will take shape.
We are also blessed to be presenters at this year's Immigrant and Minority Farmers Conference. We have attended the conference for the past 4 years. Now we actually have knowlege to share. We will be presenting on business plans for long term funding and advanced marketing--sharing your story. One thing I love about this conference is the international component. When I present it will be translated into at least 5 languages--Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Karen and Bhutanese. Amazing to think that I have something to share with people from so many backgrounds.
The Minnesota Organic Conference
Anyway this was our first year attending the conference and our first year attending a conference with a real farm waiting for us. By real I mean one with a house on it and one we have access to for all the little dreams and plans taking form.
And the conference had just the information we needed. Proeun attending a 1/2 day workshop Thursday on keeping bees and we discovered Cannon Bees very close to us. Great mentoring options there.
For the actual conference Proeun and I divided our time between workshops. I learned about both hoophouse production to extend the season and the viability of greenhouse production for all winter use. Proeun learned all about bovine genetics and meat processing in Minnesota and we both attended the workshop on small scale poultry (the chicks are ordered and will be arriving early next month!)
Then there was the trade show where we learned all about fertilizer options and organic certification services. We also found a great local place to buy strawberry, raspberry, elderberry and asparagus plants.
As you see our youngest was learning the ropes. The youngest often comes with us for logistic reasons while nursing but now our oldest is showing an interest in the learning side. Every night when we came home Two wanted to hear all about what we learned and what our plans are. Maybe next year we will have 2 children in tow. Notice I didn't bring the good camera, just way to much to carry and keep track of.
Of course I am all about the food. This conference actually has a "forager" as part of the planning committee. Here are some of the great breakfast treats.
Eggs, apple cider and cherry juice so simple and so so so good. At one of the workshops I went to about agriculture in Norway and Denmark the presenter said that in the early 1900s when communism was sweeping Europe the leaders in Norway, which was a pretty poor country at the time, decided that to try and combat the threat they would work on the nations food, increasing quality for everyone and standarizing some favorites--such as open face rye sandwiches with butter and herring for lunch.
It is an interesting concept that keeping peoples stomach happy can combat revolution, but apparently it worked. Now the food in Norway is famous for quality and taste. I am all for a food revolution and enjoyed every bite this weekend.
The homestead
January 1st 2012 was a landmark day for us. On this day our family woke-up for the first time on our homestead. Since then it's been all joy and work and details and a whole lot of fun. Sorry we have been absent for so long--rural internet is not a given we are discovering.
Our days have been filled with lots of exploring as we set up home and farm operations so we will still be busy busy for the next couple months but here are some pictures from our recent wanderings.
A new favorite past time is hooking the dog, who doesn't stay still much, to the sled and letting the children dog sled. We need a bit more snow now though.
We also enjoy identifying tracks. Not too sure on these, maybe a young raccoon.
At least once every day the children thank us for moving. Now are we plan our chick orders and details for the next season they are so engaged, this is really the family farm. So amazing how easily we settle into our dreams but that they seem even more amazing when they are achieved. I have to pinch myself now.
Handmade Christmas
A couple of years ago Proeun and I realized that as our number of children grew so did the amount of accumluation acquired at Christmas. Between my side of the family and Proeun's 5 siblings it was getting crazy. So we decided to draw names for Proeun's side of the family and my side its all about handmade. Here are some gifts going out.
The table runner is the "Kid Art Table Runner" from Handmade Home with one adjustment. We have a laser print and all the iron on transfer paper I found was for inkjet. So we got some fabric markers and embroidery hoops and voila, kid art beauty. That is what we are doing
Here. We made a table runner for my grandma and great-grandma.
Then we have the felted leave coasters for my sister and her new house.
Next we have Shea Butter Brown Sugar Scrub with tangerine and grapefruit essential oil. I learned how to make this treat at one of Erin Piorer's (herbalist) classes. The girl's and I had a great time making this but at first I had a hard time convincing them it wasn't food since it looked and smelled so yummy. I made a double batch so that went out to all my ladies.
Finally the smokehouse almonds.
1 tsp salt
1 tsp liquid smoke
2 tbsp water
4 cups raw whole almonds
Disolve salt in water and liquid smoke. Pour over almonds and stir well. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place almonds on cookie sheet in one layer and bake for 2 hours.
Now with Christmas over we can really work on our move. The count down has begun. So I will be away from here for awhile. I will be back soon with pictures of our new place.
