| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 23 2006 : 10:32:42 PM
Hello from Okinawa Japan. I am so thrilled to have found this site! I am a stay at home mother of four ( 2 boys 10 & 12 and twin girls 5) who has dreamed since I can remember (which is a looonggg time ) of having a hobby farm where I could grow my food, cook on a wood cookstove, have a milk cow, a few chickens for eggs, maybe a horse or pony for the kids, a few bee hives and whatever else I felt I needed or wanted and could afford! I lived on a farm once as a girl for 2 years, but I think we grew more bugs then food! However, my gradmother always grew her own vegetables and preserved fresh fruit and vegies since I can remember as well as made her own bread from scratch until she was 87 years old (which was 3 years ago) so I grew up with a love of the taste of homegrown and processed food(Thanks Grandma!!). I am anxious to learn all I can and also would love to make friends who understand that inner yearning I have. I read almost everything I can get my hands on to help me at least have the "book knowledge". Where I live now I could not have any farm type animals, or bee hives, or plant any fruit trees. However, I can have a garden (which I have not had since I was 12 years old!) So if I can figure out how to do that with the language barrier, from what I have read it would be a great help. We hope to relocate back to the USA soon or at least in the next 2-3 years and I hope to move onto some land at that time. I love reading, writing, animals, children, the taste of home grown food and home baked bread, cooking, scrapbooking, interior decorating, old homestead arts, and the smell and sights of the country (even the stinkie ones! ) to name a few. I look forward to learning all I can and making some wonderful friends!
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jul 16 2006 : 7:40:13 PM
Erin,
No I haven't because of two things; first, I can not read konji so I would not know what I had nor how to care for it and second, I can not bring those seeds back with me so I would go through A LOT of trouble to learn how to grow and care for something that I could never grow or have again. I am wanting to practice here so I have more expirence for my big garden in the States. I am hoping to grow carrots and tomatos and strawberries etc Things I know I will grow back home. If you know of a way that I can bring seeds home or get them back in the States then I would love to do that because there are things I am sure we would enjoy having in our garden Stateside if we could. Let me know!!
And thank you so much for your interest!!
Hugz!!
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Jul 16 2006 : 12:10:57 PM
Hi Buttercup - Have you thought about growing and collecting seeds for some of the native Japanese veggies that you won't be able to find when you go back to the states? |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 30 2006 : 07:54:53 AM
Thank you so much Jan! I am thrilled to have found this place and am already learning so much and have enjoyed the kindness of so many here. I look forward to getting to know you all better. Thank you again for the kind welcome and see you around...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| theherblady |
Posted - Jun 30 2006 : 07:42:48 AM
Whatz up Buttercup?
Love your posting name~~
Glad you found us from sooo far away~Looking forward to your postings~!
Welcome~
Jan |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 26 2006 : 10:07:52 PM
Oh Cat...LOL what a cute story! I totally understand how your dad felt!! I am glad he got it all going though! My husband loves the cucumbers here, he says they are so much bettter then the ones you get in the states. Maybe I will try my hand at those too.So many people grow little gardens here and it is really neat to see them. I have never been in one because all my friends that are native here do not have a garden but I admire them from afar. The kids and I have been watching the rice paddies as they went from mud puddles to young disorganized to organized plants and now it is harvest time and it is so neat to see the bunches of rice hanging to dry all over the place. It is the first time I have seen rice grow in person and we have enjoyed it! I like where we live now out more in the country side. It allows us to see (and often smell!  lol) the farms and gardens here and I love it! Now if I could just be able to try my hand at it ...I would be happy!!
I hope your dad's garden comes along splendidly!
Til Next Time...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| CityCat |
Posted - Jun 26 2006 : 6:21:08 PM
When I think of my favourite Japanese dishes (kinpira gobo, hijiki, oyako- donburi, korokke, udon, soba, kuri-gohan, manju, sekihan) they have nothing to do with fish. Well, not outright anyway. It's a bit hard to avoid fish when it's in the dashi/broth! And I know how odd it can be to live in a nation addicted to fish. My sister lived in Japan for 3 years, and she HATES fish. People couldn't believe she was Japanese! My Mom is the same way. If she didn't have to cook fish (my Dad LOVES fish) she wouldn't. And, oh, Japan has the most delicious tofu! When I visited a few years ago, I ate tofu as much as possible because it was wonderful! Silky smooth! My mouth is watering just THINKING about it!
I can understand the plant thing. My Dad speaks a bit of Japanese but can't read any Japanese. He and my Mom visited my sister in Japan and he brought back seeds. My Dad is gardener man extraordinare! He bought seeds for everything under the sun. The frustration started when it came to grow the darn things. I remember him stomping up the stairs cursing about the bloody packets and not being able to read a) what was in the packets and b) the instructions! Once my Mom explained to him what seeds he had and what he should do, he was still grumpy, but you could tell he was really excited about getting them babies growing. He ended up growing 2 types of eggplant, Japanese cucumber, okra, and some green leafy things (even I don't know the names!) in addition to what he would normally grow in a year (beans, peas, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, lettuce, spinach, carrots, radishes, onions, mustard, shiso, chives). This year he's excited about growing gobo (burdock root).
-Cat |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 26 2006 : 03:33:49 AM
Cheryl,
No thank goodness...they would always say he was going over but for one reason or another he never did and I thanked God every time! One of our friends went and though he lived he was injured very badly and I have a girlfriend who is shipping out in a month and I am really worried about it because she is single mom.
As I said before I am vegetarian, but even if not I am with you, I get attached to my animals and could never kill them for food. I know many do and I am sure it is much healthier and all but couldn't do it!! Oh and I heard about the pretty eggs...those would be so neat to have! How do you manage having to keep all your chickens seperate? I always hoped to have mine together...could one of you who has chickens explain how to avoid having to keep them seperate? Thanks! and til next time....
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| CFlohe |
Posted - Jun 26 2006 : 12:42:38 AM
Hi Buttercup,
I'm raising my chickens for the eggs. Some people raise them for meat but I get too attached and don't think I could eat one even if they outlive their usefulness. I don't have a problem with eating chicken I buy from a store though which sounds ridiculous, I'm sure the chickens you raise yourself are much healthier for you. I've got 5 Bantam Black Silkies, 5 Barred Rocks and 2 Sicilian Buttercups, one a hen and the other a rooster. The woman who I got the Silkies and Buttercups through emailed me that she's having surgery and needs to get rid of 3-4 Araucanas that lay pretty green eggs and I was tempted but we're kind of getting stretched for places for the chickens. Jenny, do you keep all your chickens together? I had put a couple of the Black Silkie Bantams in with the 2 Buttercups and that was a disaster. The Buttercup Rooster was very nurturing of the Silkies but the hen was very mean to them so now they're all in separate areas. I'm still not sure what sex the Barred Rocks or Silkies are. I tried to take pictures of the Silkies but they come out just looking like a ball of fur.
I'm definitely glad my son is in the states! He says they're going to be deployed next summer to Iraq and I'm going to be a basket case if that happens. He works on the helicopters so he says he wouldn't be pounding on doors anyway but anytime anyone is on the roads over there it seems like their life is in danger. Did your husband have to spend time in Iraq?
Cheryl |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 26 2006 : 12:37:22 AM
Jenny,
Thank you so much for the info! I already saved the website you gave me on my favorites so I can go take a peek later! It is good to know that she(Mona) is easy to handle. I am shorter but stocky myself so may not be tough dunno... I like the fact that you have so many different types of banties..that might be what I do because I really like the conchins, but there are several others I like and my husband as well so we may end up with a bantie rainbow! I would terrified to have a full size bull but a little mini I don't think would be scary at all especially if I could raise him from little. But I may change my mind!!
I have friends that have bulls that are really well behaved but I have seen others that are horrible!!
I fully agree about the milk being healthier! that is one of my main reasons for wanting to get my own food the old fashioned way because I think it is so much better that way!
Thank you so much again!!! I look forward to talking with you again!!
Til Next Time...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 11:04:28 PM
I paid $1,500 for Mona. She isn't registered. That is a fairly ordinary price for a young Jersey in our area. She is very gentle and easy to work with. When I got her she wasn't halter trained or anything. I made a point of working with her each day to tame her and get her used to being handled. She has just come along great. She is a nice size for me. I am 5'8" and stocky so I guess a very very tiny person may be intimidated..I am not sure. I plan to have her bred AI in July or August. I wouldn't get a bull..too scary. They can be really mean. There arn't alot of Jersey's near here so I don't have a choice with live breeding. You dry up a cow for two months before her due date. I think her milk is much much tastier and for sure creamier even after skimming off the top cream than storebought milk. Healthier in my opinion too!
I don't boil or heat if first. Most people with a family cow that I know of don't. There is a wonder forum that I visit each day www.keepingafamilycow.com that I have found to have wonderful cow advice.
My banties are mixed. I have some red pye, dark cornish, mottled cochin, partidge rock, silkies, gold laced wyandottes, japanese, white crested black polish, and gosh at least 4 other types..mostly 4 or 5 at least of each breed. My roosters are a mottled cochin and a Sultan. The mottled cochin is my main rooster and his name is Richard. Some of my hens have names and some don't.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 10:32:42 PM
Jenny,
yes I think you are right on the cost, I have seen prices all the way from $1500-$5000. I have the contact info for the association that is all about minis and I also am able through their website to find and contact breeders. There is also a club for mini Jerseys I can join and get information from once I am more sure if that is the way I will go or not. I do not know the price for a full size Jersey. The thing I liked though was that they (minis) are supposed to be very gentle and easy to deal with and easier to feed because of their size and lower quantity of food needed. I have looked at other breeds but keep comming back to the Jersey...just something there I guess I really enjoyed hearing all you do with your milk as well! That is what I hope to do make all our dairy needs with our milk. Since you only have one cow, how long will you be without milk during the year? Is it better for a family to have two cows and stager their birthing times to avoid the dry time? Do you have to inseminate every year like the books say and will you do it artificially or take her somewhere or bring a bull to your place? I am still debating on weather I want to get a mini bull too or what to do in that area. Is it true that fresh milk taste much creamer and richer then store bought? I have never tasted it. Do you boil yours before you use it?
Thank you for your comments on bantams...what kind do you have? I just have always had such great expierences with them and think they would be the perfect thing for us!
Sorry for all the questions and thank you so much for your answers and information! It means a lot to me to hear from those living it over and beyond the books and magazines I read.
Til Next time...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 10:01:25 PM
I don't know much about mini Jersey's except that I have heard that they are harder to find and more expensive (like anything small cute and special I suppose) I was determined my whole life that I wanted to have a milk cow of my own someday and that it HAD to be a Jersey and she had to be named Mona. I feel so grateful to my mom who made that happen last fall. 2-3 gallons would be alot easier to deal with than 5 1/2 or 6 gallons for sure..but it is never hard to find someone wanting fresh milk to buy. I DO make butter and yogurt and cottage cheese and mozzarella as well as riccotta. Havn't tried any longer aging cheeses yet..I am not as patient as I could be. I will some time though. Our family (husband and I and 4 of our 7 kids still at home) use about a gallon and 1/2 right now just for drinking ...a little less when the kids are not out of school for summer. The cream is just wonderful and we get about 3 cups sometimes 4 off the top of each gallon..and there is still some cream left in the milk too. We didn't keep Mona's calf (this was her first..and a bull calf) because we just don't have the space here...I would love to raise our own beef sometime..but I just don't have room for that. We have a few sheep and an angora goat too. I keep them for the wool...they are Iclandic sheep..and are small and hardy.
My chickens are Bantams and I love them. I always had big hens ..mostly RI Reds and barred rocks and a few Auracanas..but when we moved here 4 years ago I had visited my oldest son, who lived in Kentucky at the time, and we went to a place there where they had farm animals and like a petting zoo and stuff ...neat place...and I was very intriged by the banties. When we moved I decided that since I had to start over with my chickens anyhow I would do banties. I have about 3 dozen. I keep them for eggs..and keep the neighborhood in eggs!! They are good layers and wonderful mothers. I have two hens sitting on nests right now so I should hopefully have baby chicks in a few weeks. I can't imagine life without chickens..they are so fun to watch and so interesting!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 9:54:34 PM
Cat,
Oh I love tofu and use it all the time here at home and many of the seaweeds that they use I like as well. I also love several of their tofu dishes as well as their potato and sweet potatoe patties, their made from scratch tacos, their yakisoba, their "doughnuts" and their ice cream crepes to name a few things I love. I just asumed that you were speaking about seafood dishes because they seem the most popular among tourist and people who live here from the USA. Those things I do not even find tempting! But there are plenty of things I enjoy!
As far as the help with buying things.. I may need to take you up on that! I have friends here that write things out for me on paper. But many of them are not familiar with gardening or farming at all and have no clue what I am speaking about. And even armed with the note we still had a fun time getting grass because the military store was out and apparently they are not big on grass here in seed form. It just makes it harder and I hate to put people out so if they don't understand I just tell them it is ok and leave it be. I think I will go nuts when I get back home and can go to the garden centers and just read everything and ask questions and be able to communicate and shop with ease!!!
Thank you again for your kind offer and as the weather cools a little (new plants would die in this heat I think) I may have to send you an SOS!
Thanks again and I will think of you next time I eat my tofu!!
Til Next Time...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 9:41:45 PM
Cheryl,
How neat!!!! My mother's birthday is September 8 just like yours!! And now she lives in the Portland area there in OR. I just recently went to South Korea and I really enjoyed it there. I thought it was beautiful! But I am thankful for you that they(your family) are stateside now because I think it is easier to visit family across the US vs over an ocean! I am glad you got to enjoy your grandkids for a little while any way. I love the north east and the north west in the states the most so I think it is wonderful that you live in WA! I want some chickens for sure when I finally get a place. I had been partial to Bantams because my grandmother had some and I met someone else with a couple and they were all so friendly and had the best personalities!!! They were Conchins ( I believe that is the correct spelling). There was one in particular that would let my son when he was one hold and pet her and seemed to just love it! I had never seen anything like it! Most animals are terrified of little ones and often rightly so! But this little hen was amazing! So I fell in love! Of course I could easily fall in love with another breed because I love animals!! So who knows what I will end up with. Are your chickens friendly? Do you keep them for eggs or meat? I do not use a ton of eggs but would want a few good fresh ones for us to use. It is neat that you are enjoying them so much!! Can't wait to join you in the fun!!
Till Next Time...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 9:15:22 PM
Jenny,
I had been looking into miniture Jerseys. It seems they give 2-3 gallons a day. Are the full size ones good natured and easy to manage. I have dealt plenty with horses and ponies but never cows so I am worried that if I get a full size one I may be jumping in too far. What do you think? Also I have a family of 6 now and it may grow some more...how much milk do you think I could use for us a day ( we all love milk and dairy products) Also do you make cheeses or butter with your milk? And thank you on the tomatos..me too! I would love to grow some strawberries and potatoes too...we will see.
Til Next Time...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| CityCat |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 8:10:47 PM
Hey, if you have problems finding and buying stuff, just e-mail me and I'll try and find the right words for you. I may have to ask my Mom, but I could at least phonetically spell out the Japanese for you so you can march right into the store and say, "Kusa no tane kudasai!" and they would know you want grass seed.
It's too bad you're not enjoying real Japanese cuisine. I don't live in a big city so I find it difficult to find the Japanese food I want, like hijiki(a kind of seaweed) or gobo (burdock root). Then again, those food have fallen out of favour with the younger generation in Japan. They rather have big macs! Give me seaweed and tofu any day!
-Cat |
| CFlohe |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 1:31:59 PM
Welcome Buttercup! You'll really enjoy the wonderful women on here! I get such inspiration from them and there's always someone to answer my questions. I was born in Okinawa! My Mom took my brother and sister over to live with my Dad who was stationed in the Air Force, got pregnant with me so I was born in Naha? They really enjoyed life there and have lots of pictures. I was born September 8th and in their pictures it did look hot that summer. My son is in the Army and spent a year in South Korea, just came back to the US a few months ago. He said the summers are very hot and the winters are very cold there. He's stationed in Savannah, Georgia now and tomorrow night his wife and 2 little boys are flying there to live with him. I had them here for a few days, took them back yesterday, will miss them soooo much!! We live in Washington State so a long way from Savannah. When my son was in school in Virginia he flew home for a visit and he had said that when he had a layover in Chicago (he was wearing his uniform) people would come up to him and thank him for what he's doing and he felt almost uncomfortable about it, but I told him he should be very proud of himself! I went to South Carolina for his graduation from basic and this was July 9th, very, very hot! We were driving around base and here were these new people, probably most just graduated from high school and just starting that rigorous training in that heat!
Anyway, just wanted to welcome you! I just started raising chickens a couple months ago and love it! Five of them are Barred Rocks and I've been letting them be in their fenced area during the day and bring them in at night to their bin. Last night 2 got away, that was fun trying to catch them but we finally did! They're all much more fun to raise than I ever thought, they have lots of personality!
Cheryl |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 09:07:22 AM
Buttercup...my cow, Mona is a Jersey. She is such a perfect size and has wonderful milk with lots of cream. We use her milk for our family and two other families get milk from us daily..plus usually enough for a gallon a week for a couple other families. She gives 5 and 1/2 to 6 gallons a day.
Wow..I never thought about what an adventure and how frustrating it would be to have to try to buy things in a foriegn land. I have never been out of the US. I hope you get your tomatoes soon!!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 08:28:54 AM
Aunt George,
Yes, my father was Army but then became a minister so we kept moving. Then I married a Marine, so of course the moving never stopped! Your thank you brought tears to my eyes...you all at home have no idea how very much words like that mean to those of us away from home or with loved ones away...thank you. As for me personnaly my husband just finished his time in the Marine Corps and so now is safe from the always looming deployments, and I am so thankful. He now works as a civilian for the military school system as a contract specialist. I have many friends and others I know who have either been there or are on their way, so it is still a very present burden on our hearts.
Thank you for your warm welcome. I can get some plants here but being a novice makes it harder because everything is written in konji and not many store clerks speak enough english to really help, so it becomes a guessing game for me! You should see what I went through just to try and get grass seed for our yard!! LOL what an adventure..so I feel a bit handicaped. But I keep reading and maybe if I can do well with my flowers and tomatos I can be on my way a little bit?!?  We will see...
Thank You Again and hope to chat again...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 08:14:46 AM
Hello Karin, and thank you! I am always happy to bring a good thought or memory to someone's day! Right now I just have a few flowers, and a rose bush that I transplanted and is doing well. Unfortunately for me I am very much out of my element here in terms of being able to go to a store and just pick up what I need because I can not read the bags and often am not sure what I am getting! It makes things interesting to say the least! However I hope to have some tomatos in soon and I am not sure what else.
That is so neat that you have a friend from over here...this world is so wonderfully small sometimes!
Thanks again and I look forward to chatting again...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 08:06:56 AM
Thank you so much Nancy Jo! I am looking forward to learning and making friends, as well as participating all I can! Thank you for your warm welcome and I look foward to seeing you "around"
Til Then...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| Aunt George |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 05:47:25 AM
Welcome Buttercup!
You sound like a true Farmgirl. Sounds like you grew up and are still military. If so, thank you to you and yours for the service you are doing for our country! Plant that garden girl! Can you get seeds or plants where you are? It is HOT and humid where we are...Virginia. I know you will love it here at Mary Jane's Farm. Everyone has been so very nice and helpful and loving! Welcome......auntgeorge |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Jun 24 2006 : 05:33:25 AM
Welcome Buttercup! Your name makes me think of The Princess Bride!!
(One of our favorite movies.) You definitely fit into this little group already! Are you growing veggies or flowers in your garden?
How exciting to live in Japan. I have a friend who is from there, and she is just the lovliest person.
Look forward to hearing more from you!
Karin |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Jun 24 2006 : 04:16:53 AM
BUTTERCUP,
Welcome to the site, I'am sure yo will fit right in, just keep posting away, so much to learn and so many ideas are to be found here.I find myself running to the computor several times a day when time permits to see what everyone is doing. So see you around the site!!
NANCY JO |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 24 2006 : 02:18:03 AM
Hello Cat, and thank you! How neat that you have a friend here! I have been here for a little over three years so I have been able to try a few things. I am vegetarian so many of the things people love to eat from Japan, I do not find enticing, but there are quite a few dishes I really love. Neat to meet someone who has been on this side of the world and I look forward to seeing you "around"
Til Next Time...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
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