Roots and Soil Homestead

11/02/2025

Yesterday, I took a cold process soap making class with my good friends and
It was not the most informative class, but it was a beautiful day out with friends. It also inspired me to research cold processed lard soap from our kunekune lard. Supplies will be ordered this week, and hopefully, next weekend, I can try to make a batch!

11/02/2025

Sawyer has been at the neighbors since September 28. Today we picked him up and brought him home. He looks great. They took very good care of him. Hopefully, they get some beautiful lambs out of him. I only used him on 2 ewes this year. 1 caught for sure. The vet said the other did as well, but she was re-marked by Perry. I'm hoping she wasn't actually rebred. We will know soon enough. She should be due in December. I have another ewe that was marked open at ultrasound as well, but she must not be. Perry has been in with the girls for 23 days and she has not been remarked. She looks pregnant to me. Again, we will soon see. Fingers crossed!

10/24/2025

Normally, I like to breed in August for late December, babies. That was just not in the cards for us this year. With the heat, only 2 ewes caught, and looking at markings, 1 of those lost her lambs and has been rebred (sadly by the wrong ram). The 3 replacement ewes we bought were simply too small until now.
I am trying to look more logically at our breeding schedules again and determine the best time of year. March lambs are actually pretty perfect for grass management and utilization. December babies are nice to ensure butcher weight before winter and fall breeding, but there are many downsides as well. I just have to decide if we will lamb 2 groups each year, first timers, and seasoned ewes. What do you do on your farm?

10/12/2025

I have wanted a freeze dryer for years. With surgery coming up in a few days and too many potatoes and tomatoes to still deal with, bought me my dryer and spent the morning getting it set up for the test run. Can't wait to try ALL the things!

10/07/2025

RSH Jenny 1 and RSH Andrew 1 had a stunning litter of 9 tonight. Queenie is a champ! 4 black, 3 ginger, 2 brown and white. Can't wait to get a better count on blue and pinks. So far, 2 ginger gilts, 1 ginger boarling, 1 of each for the brown and white spotted, and 1 of each black. 2 left to check.

10/01/2025

RSH Jenny 1 "Queenie" and WN Tapeka 27 "Synne" have been brought in off pasture for farrowing. They will get pampered in the mini barn pen for a few days and then move into the barn Friday or Saturday. Queenie is due to farrow Monday and Synne on Thanksgiving weekend. Astrid will stay out on pasture for a couple more weeks.
Going to be busy around here!

09/30/2025

Picked up our kunekune pork from the butcher today. We butchered a young boar and turned him into sausage. I chose 4 heavily spiced sausages to cover any taint. Theringer, rockworst, farmers, and chorizo. I can smell boar taint as it cooks but no taste of it at all. All 4 flavors are incredible! It is a great option for downsizing too many boars. We will 100% order all 4 of these flavors again!

09/28/2025

It was another great APBA Poultry Show in Olds. Our barred rocks are too young or molting so we only took our Silver Appleyards this year. Our cockeral took Champion Heavy Duck, and Best of Breed. 1 of our 3 pullets took Reserve Breed. I had the pleasure of clerking for Rico Sebastianelli for the morning and learned so much from him.
There is a show in January in Stony Plain for anyone wanting to try it out. If you don't want to show, it is such an amazing place to learn more about all types of poultry from the best breeders out there. What a blessing it is to learn from all of them!
Congratulations to everyone today. 👏

09/18/2025

Last night to enter in the Poultry Show in Olds. Going to be a great time!
Who's going?

09/06/2025

Due to some potentially serious, long-term health issues, I am proactively trying to downsize my kunekune stock. These girls are my keepers. My absolute favorites. I won't let them go for less than they are worth. I will not be selling them all but have listed them all for potential breeders to choose. We will only sell a maximum of 1 bred female from the 3.

IKHR registered RSH Aria Giana 1 "Astrid" confirmed bred. Due October 22. Astrid broke into the boar pen for a midnight tryst, and I am unable to confirm her suitor(s) at this time. There is a possibility of 4. I didn't plan to register this litter as 1 possibility is her brother. The vet has confirmed there shouldn't be defects for 1 litter, but these piglets are best for meat. $1700.00

IKHR Registered RSH Jenny 1 "Queenie" confirmed bred. Due October 6. Bred to IKHR Registered RSH Andrew 1 "Axel" $2000.00

IKHR registered WN Tapeka 27 "Synne" bred to IKHR Registered WN BH Tutaki "Nikau" due October 11-13 (bred all 3 days of her heat cycle) $2000.00

RSH Aria Giana 4 "Lyla" (DNA Pending) this 12 week old gilt is gorgeous! She is out of WN Aria Giana 17 and WN BH Tutaki. She is incredibly friendly as well. $800.00

IKHR Registered WN Aria Giana 17 "Asha". Asha was weaned a couple of weeks ago. She is in excellent condition and ready to be bred again right away or when you are ready. $1600.00

08/28/2025

If you are wanting to try your hand at Poultry showing, now is the perfect time!

APBA's annual Wild Rose Classic show is fast approaching and we are now set up and ready to accept entries! Our website has been updated with all the details and instructions for entering your poultry, pigeons, and eggs, so why wait till the last minute? https://www.abpoultrybreeders.com/wild-rose-2025.html

07/06/2025

Making space in the freezers for this week's meat restock. First on the list is rendering down our "white gold." This is the first time I've rendered pork lard. Kunekunes are a lard pig. Over time, I'd love to learn other ways to use the lard. This batch is being jarred for cooking lard.