On Barn Cats

The Barn Cat. The little creatures that everyone thinks about when they do think about the barns on the farm. Most farms do have them. The pictures above are of 2 of mine...Splash and Tansy. They have no interest in coming in the house and seem quite content outdoors. They don't bother the birds much at all, but mice, moles, shrews and such are a different story.

Unfortunately, many barn cats come to us, and friends of mine with barns, by way of being dropped off. It seems that when you have a barn or out buildings, you become the target for every idiot that decides to throw a cat out the door of their car. But, they do pay their way.

There are many myths about barn cats, but there is one that I want to address, and that is on feeding your barn cats. Many feel that, if they feed their barn cats, they won't be good mousers. This couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, stop feeding your barn cats, and you will end up with no barn cats. If no one fed you, after awhile you'd simply leave. And many do. 

My cats are fed twice a day, morning and late afternoon. This doesn't stop them for doing their job at all. Late spring, summer and fall especially, they are still doing their job, with full bellies. And I have noticed the difference since they've been here. Fewer mouse problems in the winter, when they are most likely to go into buildings or make a home someplace in our classic summer car when it is put away for the winter. No, you don't need to starve your barn cats for them to do what's expected.

Feed them and they'll do a better job....and stay. And if you're afraid that they'll get birds that come to your feeder, then instead of putting the feeder on a tree branch, use a tall shepherds' hook. They can't climb it. Don't leave anything by it that will allow them to climb high enough to reach the feeder. Don't put near picnic tables, chairs or anything that your barn cat can climb on to get to the feeder.

And when at all possible, spay/neuter your barn cats. When you need to replace them, many places now have cats that they are specifically looking for barn homes for. They may be feral or just not people friendly. But you really don't need to "breed your own".

Forum is Up Too!

The NCH forum is up too. There are many topics to participate in, so please feel free to sign up and jump in. Link to the left!

We're On Facebook

I just published the Facebook page for NCH. A bit sparse, I grant you, but it is finally up. Link is to the left for easy access!

New Forum

There will be a new forum for NCH available in a few days. Please feel free to join in and exchange information, ask questions, and converse. Please note that while I want everyone to enjoy the forum and utilize it extensively, spamming, scamming, heated arguments, extreme language, intentional misinformation and the like will not be tolerated and could cause expulsion from the forum......permanently!

Watch the blog for posting of the link. It should be up in a few days, as I stated. Then, join in and have fun!

Keep Watching.....

The New Century Homesteader will be offering online workshops and programs for international audience in the near future, as well as podcasts and You Tube clips. Dates will be listed both on the website (in development), this blog and on Twitter (@nchomesteader).

Also, podcasts and clips will be accessible on the blog.

So, keep watching and I'll start getting things up, probably in February. Until then, there will be weekly updates.

Getting a Jump on Spring

I couldn't resist, and stopped in an area greenhouse that is open year 'round here. Tough to find around here. Some plants were on sale...actually quite a few were, and there sitting amongst the sale items was one rosemary tree that was left over from Christmas. It was a beautiful plant and the price was excellent, but I have always had problems keeping rosemary of any form in the house. After talking with a couple of the employees (and finding out even the "pros" have problems keeping it in their house) I decided to take it home.

So, now I have a rosemary tree sitting in my window. After having no luck in keeping smaller rosemary plants in a southern window in a cool room, or a southern window in a warm room, I decided to put it in an east window in a moderate room. Not heavy sun (when we have it), but lots of light. I can only hope I can keep it going. I've tried everything else in the past. If this doesn't work, then I'm out of ideas. But I'm optimistic! It needed some trimming, so I already used some of the fresh trimmings in my turkey soup. And bringing it home, the truck smelled wonderful! A friend had gone out with me and commented on how good it smelled every time we got back in. It does look like the dirt in the pot will need some loosening, as it is getting really packed down. (I had to do the same with my meyer lemon tree and ornamental pepper plants as well.)

Everyone cross their fingers for this little rosemary tree (and me). I really want to be able to set it outside in the spring.

Loooooong Winter...Already and What's New at NCH

Yes, I've been gone for a while. I got busy and time got away from me. Then we got hammered not long after Thanksgiving and the snow just didn't stop. (I'll post a few pictures later. ) Finally it has....at least for now. 40's today and 50's tomorrow. Maybe some of this crap will thaw.

Anyway, seed catalogues are coming in and I'm putting together my wish list. Also trying to get things going for New Century Homesteader's Online Workshops, which will be starting in 2011. It will be busy and I hope I can get the advertisers and major sponsors necessary.

It is an international program and I hope to offer free and very moderately priced worshops and written pieces so all can access.

NCH will also be coming to online radio soon. It should be fun.

As for what is going on this absolute second? Well, I'm roasting a turkey carcus, given to me by a friend after Christmas, as they don't use it. I'm wanting to see what difference I get in flavour in soup by roasting the carcus first, before making the broth. Usually I just drop it in the pot.

Also, I'm trying my hand at ketchup making. Making up my own recipe, so we'll see. My Mom wants me to complie and publish my recipes, and I probably will when I develop more of them.

Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!