I really didn’t want to use my blog for government bashing but the EPA’s attempt to regulate backyard BBQs in my opinion is an excessive over reach of their authority.  Totally ridiculous.

What concerns me the most is where is this madness going to go?  They are trying to regulate woodstoves.  This could be disastrous to rural America.  There are so many in rural America that rely on woodstoves for heating their homes.  The EPA continues to move forward without even considering the impact that this will have on these Americans.  I remember growing up  my grandparents relied heavily on wood heat.  It was economical and cost effective for them.  They were on a fixed income and they had acres of fire wood to harvest to feed their stove.  I don’t know the number of people that still rely on this method of heat but I am sure the numbers would be staggering.  With the high cost of electricity it is the only way they have to supplement their home heating.  Now that way of life is at risk.

As if that wasn’t enough now they are coming after backyard BBQers.  Really?  What is more American than firing up the grill and grilling a meal?  What would the Fourth of July be like without firing up the ole grill and enjoying some hamburgers, hot dogs and pork steaks?  I know they are supposedly talking about gas grills at the moment but will they stop there?

What is next?

My concern is that they will try to regulate campfires and campfire cooking.  This is my backyard and as you can see I am an avid Dutch oven cook and love cooking over the open campfire.  To me there is nothing more relaxing than sitting around the campfire with friends and relaxing with some adult beverages.  It is a way of life that I enjoy dearly and hate to think that the EPA would even think about regulating it.  Frankly it scares the hell out of me.

Maybe I am over reacting but the erosion of our civil liberties everyday is enough to make me nervous.  Maybe it isn’t on their radar and they won’t regulate it but the possibility is there.  It is time for Americans to stand up and reign in the EPA and fight these ridiculous attacks on our freedoms.  JMHO.  Now go out and fire up that grill and let them know how you really feel.

“There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm.  One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.  Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

I am a full time farrier, part time beekeeper and my wife and I run a small hobby farm.  We raise sheep, have a milk cow, chickens, rabbits, five dogs and four horses.  We also have raised bed gardens and dabble in canning our own food.  We also feed out a couple of steers each year and we KNOW where our food comes from.

I feel in today’s world it is good to be as self sufficient as one can be.  It is a full time job 365 days a year taking care of all the animals but it is all worth it.  We are lucky to be living our dream.

These are pictures of two sets of twins that were born in March.  We have had a total of three sets of twins and one single so far this year and have two ewes expecting.  They are out of a Dorper/Katahdin cross ram and Katahdin ewes.  We would like to have a total of 10 ewes with a ram.

Here are two steers that we fed out and our future milk cow that we call Riba.  She has a ways to go before she will be ready to milk but you have to start somewhere.  All were bought as bucket calves.  They had to be fed milk two times a day for about 2 months.  The stories I could tell you about that time on the farm would have you in stitches but that is for another time.

Both of my grand parents were farmers and my wife’s grandpa raised beef cattle.  We are not new comers and had a background in raising animals.  I regret that I wasn’t able to establish a hobby farm earlier in life but it is what it is and I was finally able to realize my dream.  I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

I will admit that it isn’t for everyone.  It is a lot of work and vacations are virtually non existent but it is the life we chose.  The animals have to be fed and taken care of 365 days out of the year no matter the weather conditions.  They are totally reliant upon us to feed and take care of them.  If you are sick you just have to suck it up and take care of them.  You can’t call in sick.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it.  Just remember when you make that next purchase at the grocery store that there was a farmer who made that purchase possible by putting in a lot of hours and a lot of work.