The Twins, "Nosebite" (aka Nifkin) & "Orangecicle", in the middle is "Remedios the Beauty".   Thor was off hunting. Want more pics?

What’s Growing This Week:   Celery Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Spinach Mandarins Navels Broccoli or Purple broccoli  (S, M) Carrots (M, L) Chard (M, L) Butternut (M, L) Cauliflower (L) Cabbage (M, L) Pistachios (L) unless marked with box size initials,  all items are in all boxes

 Pablito....

The Farmer’s Daughter
     I have learned a lot about growing plants from my farmer mother, but Pablito has that topic covered.  Since he’s on vacation, I’ll focus on small domestic animal husbandry.  I know many people who have tried to care for newborn kittens so often orphaned in the wilds.  If you’re a dog person you may want to skip ahead.  But if you have children you may find yourself coaxed unexpectedly into foster motherhood.

     This is my third litter—after adoptions leaving me with one half feral survivor who dumped us to persue a standoffish relationship with a neighbor who feeds her FancyFeast..  It doesn’t take long for them to develop independency, even a kitten a few weeks old can already have feral tendencies.   It’s an exhausting, expensive, comical and heartwarming (or breaking) experience, but whenever possible, their best bet is with mom.

    Found in a bin of sun warmed drying garlic, a box of day old kittens were brought in to me by someone musically calling out my name “VALERIAAAA”.   Day old, eyes still closed,  ironically kittens resemble what they will one day live to hunt—mice or rats.

 I called the SPCA, which in our area shares an office with the pound.  I was  surprised when they said they’d be right over as all other times they’d said “Sorry, were overloaded.”  After thinking about it I called back to discover they were sending the animal control to pick up and destroy the kittens.  The SPCA sure has changed.  I remember my first donation as a child was $5 to the SPCA.  It’s a huge entity now, and  they seem overrun, focusing more on prevention than adoptions.  Every time a new animal is dumped in the country, finding it’s way to our farm, calling them has only led to “we’ll get back to you”.  They do still provide low cost spaying which can never be undervalued.

 So I drove off with my box of kittens.  I went and bought pet milk, tiny bottles, and a flea comb.  Getting home with them, I started their first feeding.  Wary  at first, the warm milk soon swayed them, but for one.  The little grey one just lolled his head back limply, as if to say “you’re not my mom, that’s not my milk, and I’m giving up.”  His speedy little heart beat was faint and uneven and he was literally dying in my palm.  In a soft pleading voice that only the truly desperate can manage, I told him he was going to be a big cat, he’d be fine…  then out of nowhere “Your name is Thor and You will be King!”  Ok, maybe you had to be there. “Thor” reached up and grabbed the lip of the bottle and didn’t let go until it was all gone..  We still  call him Thor.  He’s a big guy.

 If you’re ever wanting your kids to know what it’s really like to have babies, raising newborn kittens is an excellent example.  The best part is they grow up much faster.

     The early feedings are difficult because their systems are not yet used to processing food.  I’d give them a  little wrist tested warm pet milk followed by a brief soft stroking of the tummy, going down from the chest to the tummy area.  Repeat twice, followed by another longer rub.  Olympic athletes don’t get this many massages.

    The next phase is the difficult part.  For beings that will spend the rest of their days grooming themselves to perfection, they start off life sordidly messy eaters.  They are also too fragile to get baths every two hours—which is how often they should eat the first week.  (yes, nights too).  I am lucky enough to have two dogs who cleaned the crew after each feeding.  If you don’t have a willing pet with a tongue, you’ll have to use a  slightly damp washcloth.  Before you dry them off, you have to stimulate their digestive system.  The reason most kittens don’t make it is because they can’t go to the bathroom without  help.  Warmth  and wetness and stoking their little bottoms for a few minutes until they go is essential.   I believe their whole elegant persona is an attempt to negate the startling truth of their beginnings.

     I put them in a box with pillowcases, and a heating pad on low under it.  Eventually, they learn to escape it, so keep it near the ground with towels or other landing gear.

Over 30 fleas each came from their little bods which could not have sustained that kind of a drain.

    The second week feedings may be four to six hours apart.  At four weeks dry formula is added to the milk and bottle fed, opening the tip more to accommodate the thicker consistency.  Upon completion of infancy, it was endearing to see one take it’s first step—because it was a pounce.
Literally.

   In the next few weeks, they emerged into the house, and everyone had to walk sliding their feet along to avoid stepping on them.
Their sideways rambling little bodies came out of everywhere.  When they learned to control their limbs, Stalking 101 began.      4 am classes everyday, and heaven help you if your toes are outside the covers.

      Dedicated students, next came the Apache butt tap, a variation of the traditional  “I could have killed you, but have chosen to let you live” attack.  I tried to reason with them that my behind is not a kill point, but they were unconcerned by that detail.  We’re so tall, modification was  necessary.

    After a few weeks of mixed food, you can start adding in poultry only baby food.  At this point the kittens will let you know what they are ready for, up to and including your scrambled eggs right off your plate. A litter pan the height of a baking sheet should be in their vicinity, and you can start putting them in it to familiarize them with it.  They may play.

12 months later, their many trophies adorn the back porch, and since they’re our kids we act  outrageously happy about it.

In the Fields
 Pablote helped me gather the inside dirt on the fields this week.

Welcome the Navels
We’re very happy about this year’s early arrival of the Navel Oranges.   They are about two weeks earlier than usual.  We’ll be seeing more of  the navels  throughout  January, probably longer, and each harvest will be sweeter than the last.    They are sweet now and will continue sweetening on the trees for some time.

It hasn’t been windy or dry enough for the fields to dry out enough for us to harvest the last of the potatoes, but we did get 3/4 of them harvested before the last rain.    This new crop has been in the boxes the last week or two.

Each crop of potatoes has a few that get green spots.  The greenness is caused by exposure to sunlight.  The plants are mowed a week before harvest to set the skin, so they won't be scruffed up in harvest and washing.  The removal of the leaves exposed a few potatoes to unfriendly sun.  Our sorting crew diligently removes the green ones, but if any do slip by, toss them and contact me for a credit.

A Holiday Treat
We’re very happy to be able to put celery in the boxes again this week, despite  non perfect weather for it.  Enjoy!
There is a bonus item in the medium and large boxes this week,  we had such a bountiful crop of butternut we sent it along so you can make a pie.    Small box people  need not  feel left out, we’ve included ingredients for everyone to make pie.
 

Valeria
 
 
 

Recipes............................

Rinse 1/2 pound spinach and steam or boil 7 minutes or to desired doneness.  Grate 1/3 cup parmesan cheese and place over spinach, cover to allow heat from spinach to soften cheese.

Serve sprinkled with Brandy soaked raisins and toasted walnuts.

Sweet Potato Pie
Bake 4 sweet potatoes (or butternut)  at 350 an hour to 1 1/2 hours until fork goes in smoothly.  Cool, and scoop out  mash placing in bowl .  Add  2 TBS pumpkin pie spice, or 1/4 each of cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg & ground ginger.  Sweeten with 1/2 C brown suger & 1/2 C Maple Syrup, or sub Honey. Blend until creamy.
  Spoon mix into 9” pie crust.  Bake for 1 hour at 350.  When pie is done knife inserted in middle will come out cleanly.
Can garnish with crushed walnuts .

Pie Crust
Mix  1  1/3 cub all purpose flour & 1/2 Tsp salt in mixing bowl.  Using a pastry cutter or knife (not hands, the heat will make it heavy) ,Cut half cup Crisco into mix, until resembles the texture of peas.   Cut in 3 TBS Ice water.  It does not need more water.   Gather into ball and flatten to 4 “ disk, refrigerate 30 minutes.  Roll out.
Press against bottom & sides of pan, trim edges.  Makes one 9 “ Crust  .
.

Produce 101: preparation & storage  % Spinach should  always be washed in the rainy season.  It is always difficult to remove all the grit . The Navels or the Satsumas can be squeezed and added to Fresh Cut Aloe Vera for a facial cleanser.  My guess is you’ll want to eat them.

Valerie Engelman

Vacations & Billing Inquiries
We need seven days notice before a vacation hold or other change of service.
Contact Valerie through voicemail at (530) 756-2800, or e-mail Goldenbell@aol.com

Account Balance Inquiries The account sheet is hiding under the sign off sheet each week with your account balance on it.  Mid month I've been e-mailing statments, so if you're not getting it send me an e-mail requesting to be added to the list. To be able to read the statements you need to be logged in as an administrator on a PC, and virus programs may corrupt the file.

MAILING ADDRESS:
Terra Firma Farm
P.O. Box 836
Winters, CA 95694
(530) 756-2800
www.terrafirmafarm.com
Goldenbell@aol.com
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Remedios, Thor, Orangecicle, Nosebite

Week one - we were too busy to take pictures the first few days.

The twins.  One is darker, other than that, identical markings.

Thor makes his way over to where Remedios is feeding.

When not attacking, they flash their baby blues

Clear view of the little rat like tails.  My assistant, Branden