Slow Turtle Farm LLC

10/26/2024

I've been away from my page for a bit.
I'm recovering from hip surgery done on Monday. I pulled a project into rotation that had been shelved, a WIP, with a simple repeat stitch since my dexterity and focus are impaired from the wonderful pain management I am receiving. This is a free pattern called Trio Blanket by Felted Button with 3 skeins of Scheepjies Whirl. This is a super lightweight blanket with the softest cotton "yarn"!
I am listening to podcasts from favorite contributors and learning about new ones that I am thoroughly enjoying.
When I want to detach completely, I've hooked up the Xbox for silly entertainment. I'm a huge Lego game fan. It brings out my best inner child and my worst teenager years! 🤣
John is taking good care of his girls, Sansa, Princess, Me, and all the rest!
Have a great weekend!

09/27/2024

Spent last night with some homemade comfort food, reminisced about past bucks that have been major influences here on the farm, and naming a small handful of kids for 2024.
The farm fared well. We lost power for a brief time in the wee hours of the morning, a large branch and a dead tree came down without causing damage.
Feeling very thankful.

09/18/2024

IYKYK ❤️

09/16/2024

Interesting morning on and off the farm. Dubba being her silly self and the owner of Martin's Larsen Farms, Eustis sent a special bundle of 3rd cut alfalfa just for "Goat Lady"! The goats are happy!

09/03/2024

I've spoken about this ad naseum. It's not a matter of if, but when it happens again. It's not something you can "fix", but be aware that custom mills in Florida have zero checks and balances. If the big companies are trying to get the lowest prices, how do you think the mills are operating with much smaller margins for profit? These people are a business. They make and sell feed. They don't test. No proof. You have zero recourse in restitution and that won't bring your animals back.
This was posted on one of my lists.

"Just a note of warning. The corn in the midwest is not performing well this year. It is severely stressed from drought. While that means that feed prices are sure to go up, it also means that once the crop starts hitting the market this month and next, aflatoxins are going to be a huge possibility. The US food supply is SUPPOSED to be tested and not used, but when big AG purchases grain on the market at the lowest price possible, it sometimes makes its way into livestock feed. It would be wise to invest in an inexpensive blacklight now so you can check your feed before feeing it. It will show up as a bright greenish-yellow color under blacklight.
It is sad to say, but one of the biggest companies in the USA allowed aflatoxin infected grains into their Goat Chow back in the late 1980's and many goat herds were really hurt by this. Goats can not handle even a small load of Aspergillus Flavus Toxin". ~Jennifer Herold Smith-Stanton

08/21/2024

It's been a while since I've posted. Everything is fine here on the farm. I'm doing physical therapy and have 3 different doctor appointments coming up. Let's see if one or all of them can help fix me.
I had this video come across my personal feed tonight and thought I'd share it with you.

I had that same chart recorder for my bulk tank. While we did not have a transporter pick up our milk, we did have to sample every tank full of milk prior to sending thru the hose port into the cheese plant for processing into cheese. The transfer pump was similar to the one on the truck.
The samples were used to test for antibiotics. The state came to sample our milk for somatic cell count, bacteria, etc monthly.

08/03/2024

It’s , a celebration that didn’t exist in 1979, when this prize-winning Central Florida goat and its proud young owner were photographed. Although goat cheese has been consumed for thousands of years, culinary historians tell us that it only became popular in the United States after Laura Chenel of Sonoma, California, began introducing it, using techniques learned in France, about the same time this picture was taken. (The special month began in 1998.) By 2012, the Tampa Bay Times reported that the artisan cheese movement had hit the Sunshine State big time. Bon appétit, y’all.

07/11/2024

Reflecting on where we've been, where we are, and where we're going. Lots to regret, lots to be thankful! Happy with the journey! ❤️

07/04/2024

Happy 4th of July!

Be safe and happy!

Pictured is Salsa when she was much younger. Salsa has been retired now for a couple of years.

05/31/2024

Well, this is difficult to write and at the same time joyous.

I've retired.

We plan on our ability to do certain tasks for a number of years and sometimes those plans go awry. It was time to find a new plan that was not as hard on the body, but we needed to find a buyer. That took over a year, and then it literally occurred overnight. We knew we finally had a potential buyer for the equipment and goats (still local), but were not sure on dates of transfer. A payment was made, and the next day goats were being loaded.
I was packaging cheese the morning the trailer came to start loading goats.
I will be advising and consulting with the new dairy to get them up, licensed, and running as fast as they can.

It has been a rough year without my ability to somersault around the farm, doing everything that needed to be done. Some days were hard to even walk. Carrying anything has been out of the question for months. It is beyond time to start healing my body. I want to be able to enjoy moments with the few goats that remain here, mostly other retirees like me.

I have valued our relationship and your support. I hope that the new dairy will be able to supply you with excellent products soon.

05/24/2024

It's Friday and Memorial Day weekend!

We are not going to be at DeLand Artisan Alley Farmers Market tonight.
We have had this weekend scheduled for John to see family! I'm holding down the fort and it's hot out!

I have most of our chevre flavors available for pick up at the farm gate if it's an emergency! 😁

05/17/2024

It's been a non-stop day and I've not stopped, I've overdone it, and there is no way to I'll be at DeLand Artisan Alley Farmers Market tonight.

Sorry folks. I'll see you in 3 weeks.

05/10/2024

I'll be there tonight from 6-9pm.

Rain or shine, our friendly community gathers to celebrate the beauty of local produce, the craftsmanship of talented artisans, and the joy of coming together. We can't wait to see you there 🌈🍎🥦

05/04/2024

Well, we're off again!

Artisan Acres Upick Blueberry Farm in Eustis opens for picking in a few minutes!
It's an absolutely fabulous morning to be outside!

Stop by and see us!

05/03/2024

Ready or not! Here we come!

John will be helping me set up tonight at DeLand Artisan Alley Farmers Market from 6-9pm so you can sample and buy the best of what Central Florida's spring growing season can do for our gourmet goat cheese.

This week we offer freshly picked peaches from Graham's U Pick Peaches, finely chopped, then added to a light glaze to top our freshly made chèvre.
We have a Blueberry topping with berries from Artisan Acres!
We have Sage and Honey from Wild Honey Bee Farm and all our other classic flavors!

Stop by and see why we are not just another goat farm!

04/30/2024

Good Afternoon!

I think we're finally adjusting to the new for us "normal".

We've been in a conundrum with my inability to run circles around the farm lately and so we are contracting how far out we can travel to markets so that John can set me up, then return to tear the tent down.
That's right! I'll be at DeLand Artisan Alley Farmers Market this Friday and at Artisan Acres again on Saturday. Our products that we have available can always be arranged during the rest of the week from our gate.
Due to the distance going back and forth, we'll be ceasing going to Audubon Park Community Market for now.

Look at the pretty peaches I picked up yesterday at Graham's U Pick Peaches! I also found a spot of Elderberry! While the plants are only flowering right now, I'll be back to check on them in later weeks for harvesting the berries. There may be a peach elderberry flavor on the horizon, so at least 1 batch of peaches will go in the deep freeze until then.

04/26/2024

Let's try to make this post again because the first one failed....well, this is a fine how diddy do.
Time flies, set backs happen, slow start to our morning, a necessary run to town, and realizing that there is not enough time to get necessary work done before John was supposed to head to DeLand Artisan Alley Farmers Market.

Some days you just need to take it in stride, don't let it spoil the rest of the day, and keep trudging forward.

Got back from town and found another 3 sets of hens with chicks that have come out of hiding with their broods, John had a smile on his face, the peacocks are in serious strut mode, and we're making plans to make up a much bigger batch of cheese today so we'll be ready for Sunday at Artisan Acres.