Kidding Season is underway!
February 28, 2018
We have kids on the ground! Kidding started in January, and we had some challenges (as well as sadness), but we have lots of healthy kids running around the barn as February comes to a close. We're expecting a few more kids in March and April, and we'll update our sales list as we make decisions about which kids to retain. There are already some quality kids listed for sale on the "Goats for Sale" page.
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Now Attending Madison Winter Market
You can now find Summer Solstice Farms at the Madison Winter Farmers' Market on Saturdays from 9am-12noon. We'll have grass-fed beef, goat, goat milk caramels, and sweet potatoes available. On occasion, we may also offer a few select baked goods. Come support us and the other great local vendors on Saturdays at the Broadway Fountain in downtown Madison, IN.
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Senior Buck Sale--June 2017
May 28th, 2017
Now that kidding season is finished and we've had linear appraisal, we have an idea of which direction we'd like to take our goat herd. For that reason, we are selling all of our senior bucks (proven breeders). If you purchase and pick-up/transport any of our bucks (including kids) in the month of June, you'll get a $50 discount (taken off the listed price). See the "Goats for Sale" page for available bucks.
Pictured here is WoodBridge Farm Booty Call doing what he does best...eating. |
Kidding Season Ends
May 22nd, 2017
Linear Appraisal is Complete!
May 11th, 2017
Our goat herd participated in ADGA's linear appraisal performance program. The program provides an "expert" to come to the farm and evaluate each goat's conformation in various traits. Goats are given a score for each trait (both linear and structural) as well as a final, overall score. The appraisal session was very informative, and it has given us a chance to evaluate our herd's strengths and weaknesses as well as formulate a plan for future breeding. Results of appraisal are listed below:
Apple Tree Acres Temptation--FS85 (VVE+) Dancing Angels HAW Dallas--FS84 (+VE+) Summer Solstice Constellation--FS83 (+VVA) Wood Bridge Farm Booty Call--FS84 (+VV) Summer Solstice Alt Korma 2*M--FS84 (+AV+) MeadowWild M. Raita *M--FS79 (++VA) Mapleberry W. Honey's Lassi--FS81 (+A+V) The letters in parentheses in order represent scores for the following categories: General Appearance Dairy Strength Body Capacity Mammary Letters: P--poor F--fair A--acceptable +--good V--very good E--excellent |
Goat Meat Now Available
March 27th, 2017
We had two wether goats processed at Brewer's Livestock (USDA inspected facility) last week, so we are fully stocked with goat meat. These goats were raised humanely on almost 100% pasture, browse, and hay. They received occasional grain treats (oats, barley, sunflower seeds--no corn, no soy) during hoof maintenance and the couple of times they broke into the milk parlor. Prices are as follows:
Fat: $4 / lb (great for soap making) Liver: $5 / lb Heart: $5 / lb Soup Bones: $5 / lb Ribs: $8 / lb Roast (leg or shoulder): $10 / lb Ground: $10 / lb *Loin Chops: $12 / lb *Rib Chops: $12 / lb Leg Steaks: $12 / lb *Chops come 2 to a package and on average, a package weighs 0.3lbs. It's a great way to try goat if you've never eaten it before. |
Kidding Season Has Begun
March 17th, 2017
Kidding season is underway here at the farm, and it all started with our Nigerian Dwarf gals. Summer Solstice Constellation delivered a huge 5-pound buckling on March 2nd. A couple days later, Dancing Angels HAW Dallas unleashed QUADS! We're enjoying the cute kiddos before the Alpines start kidding around the 22nd of March. Most of this year's kids will be for sale, so stay tuned to our sales page for more information.
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Summer Solstice Farms is a host site for ADGA Linear Appraisal in 2017
January 1, 2017
We have signed up as a host herd for this year's Linear Appraisal program with ADGA. Linear Appraisal is a great way to get feedback on your goats' conformation without attending shows. As a host herd, we are open to others bringing their ADGA-registered goats to our farm to get appraised that day. To participate, you must contact me first to get approval to attend at my farm (only current negative CAE/Johne's tested goats will be allowed) and then sign up with ADGA. The tentative dates for our area's Linear Appraisal are May 4-16. It could happen on any of those dates--we will be notified of the specific date as the application period closes. For more information or to find a host herd closer to you, go to the ADGA Linear Appraisal page or contact me via email. I also welcome anyone who wants to come to watch and learn. It's free of charge, and I'll provide refreshments.
(http://adga.org/performance-programs/linear-appraisal/) |
Summer Solstice Farms receives cost-share assistance from Historic Hoosier Hills' Central Muskatatuck Watershed Program
November 1, 2016
Above: Grassed waterway drainage (planted in wheat and waterway mix) divides two of our fields which were planted in teff as a summer cover crop. The field on the left was tilled prior to fall planting while the field on the right was mowed and not tilled. You can see that the teff grew back and is leaving lots of residue (the brown stuff) on the field--that's a good thing!
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This fall, we were able to rent a no-till drill from the local Conservation District to plant 14.5 acres of cover crops and seed a waterway drainage with financial help from Historic Hoosier Hills. Our pastures have long been strip-farmed in corn and soybeans and is very low in organic matter. In June we planted teff both as a cover crop as well as a grazing forage for the livestock. We were able to cut it twice this summer before mowing most of it and tilling a few acres into the soil. After terminating the teff, we planted a combination of radish, annual ryegrass, red clover, hairy vetch, and cereal rye. It grew nicely throughout the fall, and only winter-killed in late December with prolonged cold temperatures. We expect the clover and rye to come up in spring as the soil warms. Some of the land will be converted in our market garden while the rest will become pasture. Many thanks to Steve Franklin and the folks at Historic Hoosier Hills for helping us keep the Muscatatuck River clean!
Cover crop radishes grew to be huge! The holes they leave behind as they rot should help to improve drainage on our poorly drained clay soils.
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