We have finally gotten the berry trellises in the ground.  All we need is the wire strung up now.  So far we've planted our Triple Crown blackberries, Heaven Can't Wait blackberries and Fall Gold raspberries.  I'm still waiting on our Black Magic blackberries and Tayberries to arrive this October.  Then its berries next season! 
     Other goings on around the farm include preparations for this coming fall.  The chicken coop has been deep-cleaned.  They seem to appreciate it!  We are working on the chicken fence so they can once again enjoy the freedom of our yard.  Hopefully we will be seeing some turkeys soon.  Our one broody chicken has been doing a spectacular job sitting on the eggs, even with all my fussing. 
     Shooting Star is due at the end on August.  We are so excited to meet her little ones!  Her kidding pen is already set up and ready to go for her.  And we are forunate enough to get the buck, Spots Gone Wild from Diji Farm on lease this November.  He is going to add so much to our breeding program.  Thank you so much, Carol!  
     As the seasons roll along, we continue to grow and add more to both our breeding program and our little farm.  I'm looking forward to linear appraisal this next year.  It will be such an assest to better analyze our goats.  Also, we are working on updating each of our goat's section to include their complete pedigrees.   So keep a look out for that.  Once again, thanks for stopping by.  All of us at Franke Farm wish you and yours a wonderful summer! 

     Well, here we go again.  We have recently acquired some White Midget turkey eggs.  Hopefully in 28 days, we will have a bunch of baby turkey poults running around the pasture with our goats.  Our very lovely, very broody chickens are working overtime trying to hatch these eggs for us. 

     We've actually been thinking of adding some poultry back to our property since the first attempt with geese didn't quite work out.  But we've learned a lot.  And hopefully we will just keep learning!  So if everything goes good, we will be able to offer poults for sale next year.

     I really enjoy White Midget turkeys.  This hertiage breed was created in the 1960's at the University of Massachusetts.  It was developed as a smaller alternative to the commercial broad-breasted.  Nearly being lost to extinction, it was rediscovered by Dr. Wentworth and reestablished in the University of Wisconsin's poultry program.  At his retirement, birds were dispersed to poultry hobbyists who maintain the breed entirely.  We were fortunate to receive our eggs out of Wisconsin from some of the original strain. 

     White Midget turkeys are small in size, toms reach 13lbs and hens reach 8lbs.  They make wonderful table birds.  These smaller birds have a surprisingly friendly personailty and are easy to care for.  We are thrilled to have an opportunity to raise these lovely birds!