So You Want to Learn to Ride?

Jenny Rousey-Dick

Learning to ride a horse is easy ....... as long as you have a lifetime to learn. The Henry's walked into the Sindorf Equestrian Center door about 4 years ago to get a couple of riding lessons for daughter, Phoebe. A couple of lessons were all that were needed since Phoebe, 9 at the time, had been on a horse since she was 2 years old. Well, that was a mistake....not going to Sindorf but thinking she just needed a couple of lessons. 

Jenny Rousey-Dick is Phoebe's Trainer and delivers instruction to her students as a master teacher would captivate you in your favorite class. Jenny is tough but soft when needed. She is demanding but yielding as necessary.  

Jenny is teaching while Fame is sticking his tongue out.

Phoebe continues her 

dedication to riding and her twice weekly sessions with Jenny. This is another excellent example of the idea that "good things happen to good people". Jenny happened to the Henry Family.

How to Care for Chickens in the Dead of Winter

Taking care of chickens in Palmer, Alaska 

is no easy feat. In just the past 12  days our daytime low temperatures have fluctuated from a low of -18 degrees to a warm....tropical zero today. Last week we had winds in the 60mph range and the wind chill factor put us at -29 degrees. You have to have really strong structures that are able to resist high winds and to protect animals from the wind chill. I had one of my best hens escape from the pen, just like in the movie "Chicken Run". She didn't last long. She froze in the standing position. We decided to just leave her and use her as a winter yard decoration until the Spring thaw. You have to heat everything here. Our chicken barn is heated with infra-red lights. and all of the water containers must have individual heaters.

Red Fence Farm hand, Keoni Quilinderino, can tell you that chores, especially water chores on the farm, have to be completed quickly or you'll have a big frozen mess on your hands. Keoni, in each of the photos, reminded me that one of the best things to do for your chickens during the long, dark, cold winters in Alaska is to hug your chicken everyday.

Grow Your Own in Small Spaces

Goat milkers, shoemakers, fashion models, computer geeks, politicians, lawyers, teachers, chefs … all city dwellers … all can grow food at home after work in back yards, community gardens or on flat roofs. For the past 33 years, City Farmer has encouraged urban dwellers to pull up a patch of lawn and plant some vegetables, kitchen herbs and fruit. City Farmer teaches people how to grow food in the city, compost their waste and take care of their home landscape in an environmentally responsible way.

The City Farmer website is a collection of stories about all of the work at City Farmer in Vancouver, Canada, and about urban farmers from around the world (even Palmer, Alaska). The site is maintained by City Farmer executive director, Michael Levenston.

City Farmer awarded “Garden Communicator of the Year” by BC Landscape and Nursery Trades Association. Liam Robinson (right) of Watermark Gardens presents the award to Michael Levenston (left) of City Farmer.

Free Goats

Amazing But True

These goats are free....they run free. Some of the world's most beautiful animals live on Aruba and the goats run wild. These goats enjoy the great life and don't have to wait to be fed or watered or have their hooves trimmed. They roam this sixty-seven square mile island. 

I researched this place and the wild goats but did not really believe all I read or heard so I sent one of the "Henry Milker" researchers to check it out personally. Regina unselfishly gave up her entire Christmas vacation to travel to this far-away land and document the existence of these free-roaming goats.

Check out the white tip tail

Grazing in the ocean breeze