It is really satisfying to grow, process and cook your own food. This fall we will show more on the pig processing. Contact me if you want to learn more.

Sierra Ranch, LLC has a couple of openings for pasture rent. Sign up in February and get a $25 per month discount. $175 per month per horse. Have multiple horses? Ask about our multiple horse discount. Horses get hay in the winter and access to great grass in the summer. Shelters in both pastures. Trailer parking is free. Close to Oologah Trails. Located on a paved road. Round pen and riding area. Barn to feed in and tack room for your stuff. Contact me for an appointment to see the ranch or check out the Boarding page for more information.

Where you can leave the city behind!

I love using containers for several different reasons. I like the raised bed approach. It helps keep the weeds down. And now the chickens can’t get in the garden as much.

I have a neighbor with a trash pile. I have scavenged black tubs from it for a few years. The tubs are from feeding cows supplements. And one year we found a great old water trough that didn’t hold water anymore. It makes a great container.

Three Sisters Garden

This year I tried a three sisters garden in the trough. Along with some cold weather plants that didn’t make it in the cool weather, but that’s another story. I had heirloom seeds from Mozybeau Farms. (That is an Amazon link and I get a small commission if you buy threw it.) I planted several different things, but so far the corn is the only one making progress.

A three sisters garden is corn in the middle with beans around the corn and squash around the beans. I got one squash before the squash bugs got my plants. My beans are still trying and the corn is sky high.

Filling the Trough

I was worried about the amount of dirt it would take to fill the trough. I added some rocks that were supposed to make a front garden and didn’t. Then I had someone mention that you could add wood to the beds to create a  hugelkultur garden bed. Basically, you place scrap wood. I had wood from a fireplace I don’t use any longer as well as limbs that the wind blew down in the yard. Then manure. I used the chicken litter. I added a couple bags of peat moss on top for the growing area and to start the seeds. Next year I will need to add some additional dirt at the logs decompose.

Add Plants

Here is the tough with the cold weather plants and squash added. The corn and beans were added in the following weeks.

Then it was a waiting game to see what grew well. Some of the broccoli and cauliflower actually made tiny heads. I should have harvested them at that time rather than let them grow a bit more.

We have had a hot dry summer. Even with watering, it has been hard to make the garden grow well.

Squash Bugs!

As I said I got one squash. Then bugs attacked. Here the pictures. I also thought the little bit of rain we had gotten was enough and didn’t water for about five days. and then overwatered.

Follow me on Instagram and see the latest goodies from my gardens and what new things I am trying next.

If there is a topic you would like to learn more about, just visit the contact page and drop me an email. I’d love to hear about your adventures.

Where you can leave the city behind!

Life on a ranch is very interesting. Growing your own food and food for your animals can be fun and challenging. This blog has always been about how I am learning to grow more and do more with my land.

I was raised more in the city than in the country, but always had some country aunts, uncles and cousins to go visit. We had gardens growing up from time to time. And I have tried gardening in many of the places I lived before owning the ranch. I grow mostly in containers on the ranch. I will post more on that soon. The picture on the right is one night pickings. I also have chickens and get several eggs a day. I have raised meat chickens and turkeys. And will be posting more on that as well.

In 2017 the pasture had only a few horses on it that summer and we had great rain. The back 20 acres made 89 round bales. This year we haven’t gotten the rain and are hoping to get some hay, but are looking for hay from outside sources. Pasture management is tricky and you are at the mercy of the rain to make great pasture.

If you want to follow along on my journey to become more self-sufficient and learn to live off my land a bit more, subscribe to my newsletter in the box to the right. Monthly emails will go out with updates on how things are progressing. I will talk about what is working and what didn’t so that you can learn what to incorporate in your small homestead.

If there is a topic you would like to learn more about, just visit the contact page and drop me an email. I’d love to hear about your adventures.

Where you can leave the city behind!

So the turkeys are officially a week old. And I lost two in the first week, but some loss is to be expected. They are starting to be more active and are kinda cute little fluff balls. Not sure how much longer they will stay in the single pool area. They are getting more mobile.

They don’t have to have marbles in their feed anymore. They know that feed is to eat. And they are doing well at eating.

Just a note about the pool. I was at the dollar store shortly after these were put on sale. Several had holes in them from shipping. I pointed that out to the manager and he ended up giving me all the ones that were damaged. It is so much easier to keep the shaving confined than just leaving things on the garage floor. If you are thinking about getting young birds a pool is a great way to contain the mess.

Check back next week for more adventures in raising turkeys.

Where you can leave the city behind!

All good stories have a partner in crime. I talked my boyfriend into having the birds delivered to his house and he could bring them to the ranch, so they could live in my garage for a bit. I ordered these from Hoover Hatchery. The minimum order was 10.

They get shipped and Alan picked them up at the post office. They were so tiny. I had their pen set up and everything ready for when they got to the ranch. Alan had had baby chickens before, but this was our first time with turkeys and with shipped birds.

We got them settled into their new pen. Added marbles to the water and food so they could find the important things in life. Modified their box to allow them a home and a place to get warm. And now we feed them and wait about 20 weeks. The last picture is what the toms will look like.

Follow Sierra Ranch on Facebook or Instagram to get progress reports on the turkeys. I will post more updates here as well.

Where you can leave the city behind!

Sie (pronounced ‘sigh’) as he sighs a lot is a 7 yo grade paint gelding that was bought at the Bristow sale in June 2016. He is about 14.1H. He loaded in the trailer to come home from the sale. I have not tried since then. He has been round penned and had a few short rides, since living at the ranch. He needs an experienced rider or someone willing to complete his training. He became the ranch’s horse when his previous owners could not pay board. He needs a home that can train him to be a great riding horse. He is for sale for $500 or best offer. Please and share and help me to find a great place for Sie.

Here is a link to Sie working in the round pen: https://youtu.be/NRDly0CTMCw

Email or call for to make an appointment to some see Sie.

$3 for a  dozen.

$4 for an 18 pack.

Located at Sierra Ranch, LLC, or we can meet in Claremore.

We even bought egg cartons and will have labels soon. Contact us to get your eggs.

Come ride a Champion at Sierra Ranch, LLC!

Sierra Ranch, LLC has two open slots for pasture boarding. The rates are $150 per month per horse. And during the winter we supply the hay. If you would like us to feed it’s $300 per month per horse. We have space to store your trailer. We have a nice tack room and feed room. We use our barn for feeding the horses that need fed, and not usually for stalling.

All boarders arerequired to sign a lease, hold harmeless agreement and follow the Sierra Ranch Mission Statement. Click the link to read the statement about care provided and costs involved.

We don’t allow stallions. We do require Coggins, shot and worming records.

If you would like to board with us, please contact us for more information.

Come ride a Champion at Sierra Ranch, LLC!

 What the Hay?

Here’s what you need to know about this important forage in your horse’s diet. Read Now

Finding a Farrier

Use these six tips to seek out a horseshoer who will keep your steed sound. Read Now

 
Keep ‘Em Moving!

Keeping old horses moving helps them stay loose and limber. How often do you exercise your equine seniors? Read Now

Get Your HorseMatch.net Book!

Something you don’t hear very often. Our sister site, HorseMatch.net, published the first book of hopefully many.  We have been looking at a variety of ways to make money to support the horses. For just $5.99 you get a great book about how to choose your next horse. AND you help feed the horses at Sierra Ranch, LLC.  Just click the link below or the Kindle button on the side bar.

Ride Calendar

Looking for a trail ride to attend.  Check out the great calendar on Oklahoma Horse Online.

Herd Dispersal Sale

Check out the horses for sale and give a Champion a home! And check out the Sierra Ranch eBay page for some cool deals on lots of things that help support the horses.  http://www.ebay.com/usr/sierraranch

In addition, we have added The Rustic Shop at Sierra Ranch and Equestrisafe. Click the names or the links on the side and buy something to show your support of the Sierra Ranch horses.

Come ride a Champion at Sierra Ranch, LLC!