Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes

When I mention our Jerusalem artichokes (or sunchokes), people often ask me what I do with them. Well, I feed them whole to the pigs, and wash and chop them for the goats. Some people eat them raw, but we find they are gas forming. Instead of raw, I like to lacto-ferment them. They also make a nice addition to roasted vegetables. Since it's nearly the end of the sunchoke harvest, I decided to roast a batch the other day as a side dish for homegrown chevon burgers.

Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes

• Jerusalem artichokes, cut or sliced into bite-size pieces
• olive oil
• salt
• pepper
• garlic powder
• Optional: any other veggies you'd like to roast with them, cut or sliced into similar pieces

Mix all of the above, coating the pieces well. Spread out on a baking sheet. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

That's my standard veggie roasting recipe, but since it seems to be such a universal favorite, I'd be curious as to how others do it. Care to share your roasted veggie secrets?

Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes © April 2016
by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Passing Through

The other day Dan and I had just sat down to lunch when we heard our rooster send out an alarm. Those of you who have chickens and roosters are familiar with this, and also that not all alarms sound the same. Some of them are just alerts for the hens to know a human or a cat is approaching the area. Others are more urgent, such as when a hawk is somewhere overhead. Dan and I have learned to heed these alarms, and if something doesn't sound quite right we check it out.

This time Dan went out to take a look. Within seconds he called me to come see.

It was a wild turkey passing through the yard. This is only the second wild turkey we've seen on our place since we moved here. Every single homestead critter stopped to stare at this odd, lone bird. None of them knew what to think except Meowy. It didn't matter that it was twice as big as she is. She immediately took off after it and chased it away.

Meowy the turkey chaser.

And that's the wild critter report.

Passing Through © April 2016 by Leigh
at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Jessie's April Fooled Me

Yesterday I had a lot of errands to do, so after chores I got ready and headed out. I got back around lunchtime and then checked on water buckets and hay feeders. I also collected eggs. I found one hen in the girls' hay feeder and a duck egg in the corner. I looked around on the goat shed floor, because chickens and ducks alike lay eggs in the straw. Jessie was standing in the stall next to me, and I could see something black on the floor behind her. That could either be a chicken or a duck, I thought, and I moved to where I could get a better view. This is what I saw.

Jessie wasn't due until April 6th! It was one wee little girl, solid black, completely dry, and with the placenta fully delivered right next to her. 

She was already fairly steady on her legs and finding milk.

Jessie wasn't too sure about this strange little goat that seemingly appeared from nowhere. But she's letting her nurse and doing a lot of sniffing, so no worries.

Jessie's April Fooled Me © April 2016
 by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/