No No

Don't wait for this to happen before making a range rotation. It is so depleted and barely any sign of life.

We suggest not to have goats and chickens in the same range as both of them eat grass to bald the land. Sure goats and chickens may co-exist in the same farm, but have a several ranging area.

Caretakers err and we also miss on somethings because of a lot of work and matters in our minds. Like this ranging area...mistake. Common mistake...which makes it worse because it is so easy to to have avoided it.

Range rotation! Think of what is bad for you, it will be bad also for the land. If you get depleted and dry, it will take more than just vitamins to get you up and about. Rest, rest rest and in terms of time, you will have to wait and ride the down time.

It happened to us also. It occurs when you trust too much, thinking that your instructions are listened too.

The above wasn't caused by mixing goats and chickens. It was a case of not moving a batch of layers on time.

Plan ranges. Make it easy to rotate. Set up posts and just move nets.

Took time to dry up that area. It will take time to revive it. Rake and water. Rake and water...rake and fertilize. Soon after you will see bursts of new life. Notice that when you aerate...new kinds of flora comes out. They had been burried, waiting to be unearthed :)

Grass Height

People ask if they should just let their grass grow?

Sunshines love soft grass. If you have an unused area and the grass is tall, cut them down to about one (1) inch. Let it rest first before you let out a batch to range in the newly cut area. Why wait? Because the Sunshines will attack the sprouts as soon as they come out and the grass won't have the opportunity to thicken.

For this photo, why didn't we cut? This is not a ranging area, it is where the ready to slaughter wait to be picked up. No shade in our farm's entrance, so the tall grass acts as umbrellas :)

Avoiding My Eyes

Above is one of our holding areas. That is what we call the areas where we send our "to harvest". Why do we move them? Easier to transport to dressing. No more selection here, they had been chosen already.

When I was at the farm the other day, they decided to miss making eye contact with me. Maybe they think that I have the final say on who goes at that phase......they all go, per holding area.

On a normal basis, they go by the net and look at the other side....it must apply to all..this "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence" thing :)

My point here might be missed....it is convenient to have a "holding area". Preselect the ready to harvest. Move them to an area that has food, so they are ok while they wait for their time. Keep it near the access road for easier transport.

If your harvest keeps up with your sales, then perfect. If not, I suggest invest in freezers. Dress all, instead of feeding them. There is a curve in growth. Once reached, what they eat won't convert to gained weight. Even if they gain...assess the weight requirements of your market. Harvest when you reach that weight.

Healthy Cravings

For people who have a sweet tooth like me, I have to find my fix and find answers to my cravings. Yes, most often they are very unhealthy with all the sugar, cream and gooey delicious stuff!

We have become such milk drinkers. 10lts of Goat and 10lts of Carabao's, a week, between two adults. Sure, Goat's is healthy...but I get my fix from Carabao's milk. So creamy and yummy without preservatives. Besides, milk is a complete food. I don't get hungry...but then, I still love to eat :)

Today, all alone in Manila...I wake up with cravings. Shouldn't be the case as I had three (3), yup three huge slices of Mango Bravo last night as midnight snack! Stood up to get some Goat's milk and opened a pack of Almond Crunch. I get those packs of nuts and keep it my pantry.

Nuts and milk...healthy cravings are not impossible :)

Canal

When we first brought the idea of this property to our agri friends, Zac Sarian instantly told us to build a canal all around. That will make the former ricefield dry and we get to use the elevated area as planting area and we get to have a default fishpond all around the property.

I took this photo on day1 of the back hoe in the property. Pretty fast work. Today is his second day and he is almost done making the canal/fishpond. Didn't appreciate the idea at first, but now that I can see it, very simple and good. We get to have chickens, vegetables and fishes for our consumption.

Tomorrow, we start on our farm road, that will be some sort of roundabout in the area where we will have a reception or rest area.

We let this new ranging area rest for quite sometime. When they started fencing and some movements happened to the soil, new plants instantly came out. Rest to give time for new! In five (5) yrs, we should have a mini forest here.

Planned on the planting materials and will be ready to replant soon. Poultry houses will be up after that. It was nice to have the opportunity to plan after experiences. If you have tendencies for flooding, then instead of relying on pumps to throw water, we worked on canals, dams and valves to release water.

We are like an island after this! Water all around that is actually a dam/canal, now to hold our swimming food. Can't wait to see my winding road also!

That will have to wait, while we go to Amanpulo on Tuesday....join us in Amanpulo in Palawan :) We are actually doing a seminar there for a group and our host decided to fly us there. Even if it was open for others.......its not easy to fly there unless a guest.

Going To Agrilink 2010

Barely having time from the turnaround after IFEX, we now get a call about our booth for Agrilink 2010! That is in October, but it takes time to plan, so yes....we are now starting to look forward to our October show.

Our 4th year to join Agrilink, touted as the biggest Agriculture trade show in the Philippines.

WHAT: Agrilink 2010
WHERE: World Trade Center, Pasay City
WHEN: October 7 to 9

We always plan to give you something better :) See us at our booth!

Cooling Effect

What do you do to cool yourself these days? I have my wet tissues inside the chiller section of my ref. There are several packs that are chilled and I take one (1) with me when I leave in the morning and return at the end of the day. Bottles of body sprays are in the ref too. During long trips, I have them inside a cooler where we keep our drinks too inside the van.

How about my chickens? How do they cool themselves? Sure there are shade trees around, but they want to wander.

Some of our ponds have dried up because of this El Nino we have. The Sunshines have thought that their ranging areas have been widened for them. They now leisurely take a walk down there. It should have a very cooling effect....the wet grounds, the large leaves of the Water Lilies that act as umbrellas in our story books.

I decided to see what they were up to...walking down to go up close and personal.....Wasn't sure to what they were up to down there...

They had been munching on the Water Lilies! No, no, those are not Parsley leaves that seem to border the pond...they are chewed Water Lilies.

Searched on what they may be enjoying and typed Water Lilies on my search button. Water Lilies are edible and medicinal :) Besides, Sunshines know what is good or bad. They were taught well as chicks hahahhahahaha.

It Goes Up

The temperature may be very high these days, but we have observed that early mornings in our farm tends to be breezy and cool. Today was no different, so Doc Rey instructed to have several of these drums set inside the brooders. The chicks will have a choice, when they feel warm they go away. But when chilly, they have warmth to run to. The brooders are well ventilated, so there will be no problem of having it too warm.

I have written about this drum in several past postings. You put holes around the drum. Set it atop a base like hollow blocks...so the chicks won't burn if they get pushed towards the drum. When elevated, the chicks may walk around and under :)

Am not sure what was used today, but normally they burn coco shells, wood, rice hull.....fire goes up.

Some are wary about using alternative heaters such as charcoal or burning other materials, as they think the smoke will suffocate the chicks.

See how the smoke goes up? Have you ever seen smoke that bends and goes down? Unless they are seeking ways to escape :) I know.... you have images of burning rooms in movies, where you see smoke crawling under closed doors. Then, eventually once they are out, they go up again.

After the material used had burned...you have charcoal or carbonized rice hull that is perfect for use as bedding material or for your organic vegetable plots.

IFEX Philippines 2010

Right after we set up on opening day, good that I decided to take a picture, as there will be hardly time after as we got busy. Talk talk talk....time to rest a little, then a flurry of activities again. Thank you to CITEM's Doris, Luz and Pia for promoting IFEX 2010 well.

Co-branding, co-ordinating, co-marketing....Alaminos Goat Farm and I met in IFEX 2008, since then we had been helping and supporting each other. Great decision to show side by side. Without borders :) We have the same market profile and it suited us well to be associated.

I won't push a product that I don't believe in. Doc Rey and I consume 20lts of milk a week. Alaminos Goat Farm supplies us with 10lts while I get my other 10lts of milk from Philippine Carabao Center. The best milks I can say. The Carabao milk gives me the cream I live for, the Goats give me the best milk, closest to mothers' :)

Best opportunity to bring out our Sunshine Sausages for intro to the general public. Did pretty well. People who had bought from us had already reordered them, just a few days after. I can't say what sold best. All sold equally well. Salve of APDC, the developers of Sunshine Sausages was there the last day. She saw how the response to the product was, and will be scheduling processing dates again.

Totie and company of Alaminos Goat Farm assisted us from ingress to egress.

Rocky helped during Summer schedule breaks...must be the two good looking men that attracted and brought in the sales? It may have helped, but it is really the healthy goat and chicken products that pulled them in :)

Full support is important from suppliers to media partners and co brands. BTW, Louis Perrault of SASSO was behind us too.

I tell you.....am not yet done posting this and we got a lot of calls from institution accounts already for Sunshine Sausages. I love IFEX :)

Umagang Kay Ganda, May 5

Set the alarm at 2am this morning, so I can roast a chicken for the table set up for Umagang kay Ganda guesting today. Chicken done by 3:30, so we met the call time of 4am.

The morning variety news shows are harder to do because set ups are done early. Shoots are done earlier than interview time. Then, more often than not, you stay until "goodbye" time :)

Today was no different. Set up by 5am. Photos were taken for background showing while interviews at about 5:30. Actual interview was at 6:30.

Nope...I am not complaining. Nice to sit around the studio and grounds. There is a different world there. A corner or a garden becomes an instant set up for the "traffic guy"...a meter away, with a tarpaulin background, transforms to the "weather man's" stage. You think we were far away? Uhuh....an arm's length, drinking coffee :)

Winnie Cordero has interviewed Sunshine Chicken several times for Agrilink events. This time, she sees us with eating chickens and not live dayold chicks. She instantly noticed the new line of sausages.

After that, we went to World Trade Center for ingress of IFEX Philippines 2010. I like doing the booth early, before everyone gets there. The official contractors are everywhere busy, but they can still attend to you for your needs.

Pays to be settled early...you know.

Chickens Have Wings

Wings are part of a chicken and they are not easy to throw away :)

In our new line of No Chemicals, No Preservatives Sunshine Sausages, we had to debone the chickens. We had this mound of chicken wings that wasn't even attempted to be deboned anymore as it will take a lot of time and effort.

It was originally packed to go to the freezer for giving away etc...then the person who was doing the product development thought of marinated Chicken Wings!

That story got to the interview last Saturday during Radyo Negosyo. They asked about our roasted chicken that was brought for stylized food presentation and the talk went to the tray of sausages. Next to it, lay the wings. I actually had it there because it was a filler as the tray was kindda big. I was open about the story of the wings, how it was brought about and the original throw away state it was in...but then, people who are used to developing and creating, finds ways to use things.

Now, the wings might bring us to higher plains :)

Wake Up Early

Normally up by about 5:30 to go to the farm, if we are in Isabela. In Manila, 6am is our lazy day. When there are farm visits or out of town seminars, we get roused by the alarm at about 5am.

We get a call today for guesting at Umagang Kay Ganda, a morning show over ABS-CBN. Call time is at 4am...that means up at 3am, May 5.

I can't complain. Thank you for these opportunities :)

Seminar For AANI, May 8

WHAT: Seminar in Raising Sunshine Chicken
WHEN: May 8, Saturday, 3pm
WHERE: AANI Quezon Memorial Circle, enter across PHILCOA
WHO: Doc Rey

This will a free seminar given by AANI (Agri Aqua Network International). For details please call AANI at (02) 497-2755.

Wisdom From Age

Do you find yourself sometimes not wanting to attend to something then ending being happy? I do and did recently.

When we were invited to do a free seminar for a group of Senior Citizens, I was wary....maybe it is the picture of sad, very old people in my mind...flashes of your civic activities in homes for the aged when you were much younger.

Two weeks ago, Doc Rey scouted the area but didn't enter. He said it looked nice inside, but it was way not accessible and far. So on the day, we got to the gate. The instructions texted to me was "open and close the gate after you"....fairy tale segment of bad times to come? Bad me! I should have seen it as independent minds and movements of the group we were to encounter.

At the end of the driveway, we were greeted by the organizer and the owners of the venue. They knew Zac Sarian, who was with us, and were so happy as they had been inviting him to visit the place but he didn't find the time then. Zac also didn't know where we were going nor who owned it...so everyone was equally surprised.

It was actually good as I didn't have to entertain him as Doc Rey as doing the seminar. The owners toured him and they went through the garden that showed very interesting finds for Zac. I won't preempt as am sure he will write about it in his columns as he was so excited.

I sat myself at the back near the table for the boodle lunch. 30mins prior to lunch, some of the men and ladies stood up to prepare the table. The rolled Banana leaves were unruly when laid. I thought about rolling them the other way...thank God it worked :) I saw how the men brought out their swiss knives and worked on the table and layout of things. Not contented, one even brought out garden shears from his body bag to clip on the some wayward materials. One laid out Banana fruits from the fresh tangkay that was brought as baon. It was laid in twos at intervals. Meant to be shared by all. What struck me the most???? The man who had shears went through all the Banana fruits and clipped the top. The most logical reason for me, was that it was going to be easy for the person to peel the banana. Wasn't that sweet a move?

Although I was at the onset of an Asthma attack and had to rest, I observed and had a different seminar meant for me, all to myself. This group wasn't a helpless lot. It is good that Senior Citizens have a bonding. They know one's needs and wants. They have taken full responsibility for themselves. They have the tools for their activities.

This must be the good that the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts training brought to us. I saw it most evident as they were prepared :) I don't know if the kids these days still have those trainings :(

Don't get me wrong. This was a very intelligent group. Much like you and me when we get to their age now :)

Some posts ago I talked about retirement without knowing I will see why in the next days. My friends and I were also talking about setting our own retirement place. That way we all know one another and will enjoy activities together. We will have the same set of friends and family members are known to one another.

Going Back To What You LIke And Have

I learned a lot of things last Wednesday (boy why is it spelled that way). We, together with Zac Sarian and Doc Rey went to Batangas to conduct a seminar that merits another post, and to visit a grower near by.

This grower I remember well because he had attended a seminar thrice, yes 3X. First, maybe then he was scouting what to do. 2nd, by then he knew he wanted to grow Sunshines and he brought a partner with him to attend. 3rd, he just got his first batch and maybe wasn't confident about it or he just needed to be reassured that he was doing right.

On the way to the farm, Doc Rey was always mentioning that this was the one who wanted to do some work with drug rehab guys as he just got out of rehab. I wasn't paying attention as this man was middle aged already...but then, Doc Rey did visit him already some two weeks back...

Because I know his loading schedules, I was expecting to see a free ranging batch and a brooding batch. Gone are the supposed to be ranging batch as it got bought in one flash. In Doc Rey's last visit, he mentioned the availability of RTR in this farm to another vet friend. Good the referral got through.

I told you, there is a market for the "ready to range" RTR as we call it.

The grower started talking...how he loved farming even as a kid...but he got wayward...etc etc. He spent 8 yrs in rehab, he is now 54...not yet graduated from rehab fully. So it means he was in rehab since he was about 46, but was dependent for like almost 30yrs. So Doc Rey was right!

People who know me know how blatantly open I talk (others will say tactless), so I said good he wasn't affected! He talks intelligently, he doesn't move in slow motions. He is very well mannered. I wouldn't have guessed.

Getting side tracked! My real point here is that when he wanted to recreate his life, he went back to what he knew he wanted to do but never did...farming :) He had good friends and family who propped him up. Working as scaffoldings, but not as crutches for him..w/c is really good, I think.

He saw this idle farm of his friend and the friend offered him to spend time here and work together. Step one, he was going to farm. In the process he was enjoying, working and being productive. Things he hadn't done for a long time. Now, he even wants to give projects to similar drug dependents still in rehab. He is so happy with a clean life that he wants to do everything all at the same time.

Hold it :) Focus....

He was looking the other way :)

Then Zac Sarian showed him the mature Kalamansi Trees. It just needed some caring and fertilizing. It was already mature and should be very productive with a little work done on it. Much like our farmer here, don't you think? :)

These Kalamansi Trees will give income to the farm.

Our farmer stopped and listened. Saw the light.

Then he talked about expansion. Very excited because he is seeing the prospects in the first small ventures.

Next to the Kalamansi Trees...ready for use :)


When you don't know where to start or what to do for the first steps. Go back to yourself and enter your heart...then look out around you.

No Preservatives, No Chemicals - Free Ranged Sunshine Chicken Sausages

We had been testing several groups' taste buds....it really varies! Much like a Villar, Gibo, Erap and Noynoy stuff.

What I and my friends wanted, was what the APDC group didn't like. Taste has really something to do with food you grew up with. The common Filipino taste buds don't like herbs blah blah....we met all. We came up with four (4) variants: garlicky (patterned after the Vigan Longanisa), sweetish (skinless), spicey and the herbed.

Now we have produced and will introduce it during IFEX Philippines 2010.

For the past two weeks we had been asking our customers to taste test and some of our dealers/wholesalers. When they found out that our freezers had it already, they started ordering! We hope to leave some for the IFEX in May 6-8.

These sausages are at PHP500/kg and will be included in our home delivery route. You may order it in assorted variants :)

May1's Radyo Negosyo

We are guesting tomorrow at Radyo Negosyo. Hosted by Carl Balita, this is over DZMM-Teleradyo, at 7pm.

See you on air :)

ANC's Shop Talk

We got a call from ABS-CBN today for a guesting at ANC's Shop Talk for Friday, April 30. We had a previous commitment for a visit to friends' farm activity on that day. But, it is a very good opportunity to be invited to Shop Talk. We can split that day and Doc Rey and I can go separate tasks.

This show is hosted by Pia Hontiveros, and is geared for those who want to succeed in business, yet live balanced and fulfilled lives.

Come to think of it...yes I am happy and generally contented. My needs are met. My wants? Well, hmmmmm I can have it if I want to :)

Please join us for April 30's Shop Talk. I hope it gets shown over TFC too. This interview will be our promotion for IFEX 2010.

Where Do I Retire?

After all the relaxing moments I get when we are on the road for seminars ( we treat those trips as vacations), talking with friends about the need for a retirement place for us as a group, so you know you will enjoy the same activities and circle of friends...it led me to look for the these photos to show my friends.

This property was bought by my parents in the 70s and it eventually went to me. It used to be part of Alaminos, but is now part of Baybay Norte in Sual, Pangasinan. Picture a "letter U" jotting out from a shore of white sand. I didn't appreciate it before as a kid to have a hill because it took time to run to the water. But now I see how lovely it is to own a hill with a beach almost all around, 360degrees view of water.

This is the left side of the property taken from afar to appreciate the elevation of the land and the view it can get from all sides. This side is the salvage area. May not be a tempting sight for most, but as a child I loved this area. I would go there by myself and those rocky formation gave me my own small pools with colorful fishes as company. Still does today, although I can't say I will still fit into those small pools.

As you walk towards the property, before you climb to the top, from the left side...this is your view. No obstructions, you get the view of the beach beside you. Close to still virginal state. Seaweeds are the only conceived dirt on the sand. The people you see there is the crew of surveyors we got, to map out and make sure of the concrete posts.

I took this photo as I emerged from thr right side of the property, now facing the beach proper. To my right, will also be water view..remember this property stuck out..sort of a tongue shaped.

We climbed back on the left side of the property. Now I appreciate the hillside, not really a cliff, as I can maneuver the climb up :) If I built a house at the top, I think I want to have sort of pier or terrace that extends to the sea, from this elevation. This beach area is so calm. If you walk in the water, you walk for a long distance at knee deep. When the water decided to get deeper, you won't notice the very gradual way it did.

Not yet quite at the top :) But the photo gives you a clear idea of the possibilities in terms of developing, and the view of 360degrees. At the back side, at the top, you see mountains, but still get a view of the still and expansive waterscape.

Thankful that my father chose this. He should have the eye for beach property, granting that he was from Alaminos, the home of Hundred Islands. 30yrs after, the property is still far from the chaotic life.

Unsaved

We, in Santiago City, have been experiencing whole day brownouts. 2nd day today....thanks to generators.....I am pleasantly cool in these hot days.

What irritated me was my own doing.

Yesterday, I typed up this long post about a common mistake of allowing a ranging area to go dead, as in no life seen, no living grass...nada. It showed a vivid photo of the ugliness of death. Just seeing the picture, you will not want to step on that area, some sort of respect for any possibility of a living creature there.

I clicked a wrong button and there went my browser...it died too!!!! Opened a new window of browser, but I can't find it in my blog's drafts :(

The topic was very important than someday I will write about it again. For now, much just like range rotation, it will have to sleep for some days. It was just frustrating...my error. Can't blame anyone.

That topic had a moral lesson. This post has one too. Type and save first on a word file. Then just cut and paste when you are about to publish in your blog. You just add one more step. Stop being lazy by short cutting and typing and publishing in one click.

You thing I learned? I just typed this and will publish in one click. Habits....

PS: Just as I clicked publish, I got an ad to try using Goggle Chrome for blogging to avoid losing whatever :) That I will look into.

Use What You Have

Dinner for three last Sunday and Ididn't have anything stocked in my pantry nor freezer.

What did I have?

1) Dressed Sunshines - We haven't had our chicken for the longest time!

2) Olive Oil, Garlic, Salt and Pepper are staples in a kitchen.

3) Pack of Rosemary. I keep herbs handy. If not for culinary, they are great for scents :)

4) Gallons of Vanilla Ice Cream. Leftover from a dinner we hosted some three weeks ago.

5) Almonds, hazelnuts and Pistachios in the freezer. Again, leftover from dinner party.

6) Newly bought Strawberries. I thought I will use it with my homemade Caramel sauce.

7) A bag of freshly picked lettuce. My neighbor just came from her farm and brought us organically grown lettuce.

8) Store bought Rasberry Walnut salad dressing.

That was all I needed.

Night before, took out a 1.5kg of chicken from the freezer...I have to make a mental note now to deduct that from my inventory! Let it thaw inside the ref. Next morning, did a salt and pepper rub all over. Got two garlic heads and halved them. Stuck them inside the chicken's cavity and let it sit inside the ref. Just before I slow baked the chicken, I stuck a big branch of fresh Rosemary inside the cavity. Dripped some Olive Oil around and inside. Set the turbo at 300 and cooked the chicken for 1.5 hrs. The Rosemary really made my kitchen smell sooooo goood! This was wiped out to the bones by three people.

While that was baking. I sliced my package of Strawberries into four, lengthwise. Thought of using all for salad.

Dinnertable set. Chicken done. I take out from the chiller the lettuce. Tore it up, put in a bowl and tossed it with the salad dressing. Topped the salad with Strawberries and I decided on just Pistachio nuts. I had to do this salad a second time as the first batch went fast.

As I had to slice a new batch of Strawberries, I decided to have some for dessert too. Vanilla Ice Cream, Strawberries and Pistachio nuts again in generous amounts. No Cherries for this Sunday's Sundae....but a good amount of drizzle of Bailey's. yummmmmmmmmm We had seconds, and bigger portions for second serving.

Oh yes, add Bailey's to what we have. We got big boys and I try to keep the bar stocked for their friends. Better to drink at home rather than go out and drive intoxicated.

I was really tempted to take photos. But felt embarrased as it was supposed to be a simple dinner for three. We were going to view the videos taken of the graduation three weeks ago, and taking photos of our dinner spread was sort of OA :) But, after the very good and filling dinner...and while writing about it now...I should have had photos to feed your eyes.

Point is:

Its not what you have...but HOW you use it. Same with housing materials for your brooders and ranging areas. It is not how new or expensive the materials need be. Using properly and achieving the goals are important. So go ahead, look around and use and make do with what you have :)

Summer Jobs

The new farm is right across the elementary school of the Barangay and the thought of training and giving allowance to the older students entered my "thought balloon" when we were starting to develop the area.

It will be offered to those interested and able to carry the jobs of feeding, watering and cleaning pens. It will teach them the basics of poultry management, entrepreneurship, discipline, and following the chain of authority. Aside from poultry management, I think all those traits are very important to an individual.

Most times, when students are made to do projects, they feel heavy about it as it is a task that is a "have to do". In this case, they will go into it only if they are interested. Plus, they will be compensated in some manner, depending on work done....somewhat like a grading.

The education is on the young minds level. They should also learn the value of agriculture based jobs and take pride in it. Not "just a farmer" but "A farmer" :)

BTW, this post was titled Summer Job only because that topic is all over the radio, TV and print media. But, I had this "thought balloon" before Summer and wanted to implement it during school year. By Summer next year, the project would have been in place. Then maybe, it will be ongoing for Summer break.

Make Way

Went to the farm after office. I was just left in the car, as Doc Rey was viewing the concrete posts buried on the new area we were developing.

Still caught the last rays of the Sun, excitedly took out my camera to practice. It was after I was downloading to my "practice" album, that limited spaces and drought may have been captured subjects in some photos I took. Looking through the lens, the aim then was to get comfortable with my camera. The pictures taken, showed me a different focus :)

In this dry season, when you can't plant rice due to the fact that your water is dependent on irrigation that they cut off...you should have planned or at the very worst, be planning what to do. Problems are no reason to stop moving and working :)

We are based in Isabela, where I will say 90% of farming is Rice and Corn. So I will talk from my vantage point.

You know the passages in rice paddies? Pilapil...am not sure how they are called in English. It doesn't have to be just that...a passage or border. Put it into good use. Widen it and you can use it to plant vegetables, fruit trees...and yes, even use for ranging of Sunshines.

Want to raise Sunshine but no space?

If you have a fishpond, you may set part or the whole house on top of the pond, on stilts. The Sunshine's waste will go to the pond and the fishes may feed on them.

Okey, no fishpond...then just build the housing on the widened pilapil. Let them range there too. Of course, don't forget to plant fast shading trees. We did plant a lot of Sugarcane, Bamboo, Aratiles, Papaya etc.

Handling of Eggs

I came across this from one of my bookmarked sites.... Proper Egg Handling.

It will be of help to those of you who have flocks and want to go into egg production.

Fencing

It is not the espadahan, it is about fencing as in building a fence. But true, sometimes, several people end up pulling out their swords when borders are discussed and fenced off permanently.

Discussions about our new ranging area had been posted here several times. Dry season is the perfect time for construction as you can segregate and fix irrigated land and identify low areas to zero out development there.

This was a former ricefield so the borders now that are used are just the paddies or the "pilapil". We can't find a reliable supplier for those concrete posts, so we asked a crew to make them from scratch at the farm. They prepared the number we needed. Now we can fence off.

To make things easier for all, Doc Rey advised the neighbors that we will install a fence. The most convenient way was to follow the "pilalpils" that was there since heaven knows when. It gets repaired and widened in some areas, but that should just be negligible already.

"NO"....no way they said. "Have it measured". People always think that when you offer simple solutions...you are going to get the better deal of things :)

Ok, we got a surveyor to do that. Guess what? All around, we earned areas! Now they can't complain and have to stand by the surveyor's report. Because we went through expenses etc, we will want to get what was ours now. Its not right anymore to go back to the original offer. It was theirs to accept but they refused.

I think I heard Doc Rey saying we will assist in rebuilding the "pilapils" although not our obligation, its just sort of teamwork effort.

Borders and territories....are to be kept. So no issues.

Kabuhayang Swak na Swak Goes Sunshine Chicken

I still have to get my copy from the producers of Kabuhayang Swak na Swak, so thank you to Enri who was able to record this from TFC and uploaded it to youtube.

Because of editing, there are misleading points, as the thoughts were cut and joined at logical sequences but distorted some facts. But, overall, it was good. Shown for the Easter Sunday episode, April 4.

Or this:


Anyway, you are here at our website...get the correct info here as you read through, for free range chicken in the Philippines.

How Do You Like Your Veggies?

Since we have a chemical free farm, best for me, are the ones freshly picked before you eat them. Some can be taken raw. If they have to be cooked, I like them boiled and then with some bagoong w/ Dayap, or salt on the side.

But, Manila is 8hrs away from the farm. The temperature in Manila is steaming hot. I can get locked up in airconditioning but that is no fun. Last night, I wanted to eat good salad, and airconditioning was a major ingredient :)

Now where do we go for our salad when in Manila? I used to love the Oriental Chicken salad at CPK, but they changed the recipe. Then, some years back, we discovered the salads at Cyma, the Greek restaurant at Shangri-la Mall and at Trinoma.

This is my all time favorite: Roka Salata

How Can You Forget?

Must be the exciting life? The endless activities? The never ending reinventions?

How could we have forgotten that we were going to be featured in Kabuhayang Swak na Swak for Easter Sunday????

Late Saturday night at about 11pm, we attended mass that that we thought was Salubong mass. When they announced that Salubong was at 4am, we agreed to wake up for that. So we did.

As we were having breakfast, our phones were ringing like gongs! My cellphone was almost going to "hang" with all the texts coming in to inquire. Calls from everywhere, even overseas.

Then Doc Rey gets a text from his sister that "you looked good"...then we looked at one another and ... "Oh no! Swak na swak!!!"

Even today, the day after, people everywhere says they saw the episode.....I have to be patient. I still have to receive my copy of that episode.

Thank you to Kabuhayang Swak na Swak, aired over ABS-CBN. I think they really believed in the episode as they want to attend a seminar too :)

BTW, not just the phones got affected. The website stats doubled since Sunday.

Batangas Caravan

Extended trip around Batangas in April, culminating with the Lipa Seminar on April 28.

For the growers in the area, good opportunity for farm visits and questions answered.

We will also be in lookout for prospective dealers in the area for day old chicks. Contact us if interested.

Learning

Painting is something I've wanted to take up before. My freehand is terrible, so the thought of taking up the brushes remained a dream.

Photography also excited me before and even as a kid, I remember to have had good cameras...or ok, my dad had good cameras. In recent years, the small digitals were my companion. But the dictates of the business led me to get a good DSLR and playing with it is my swap to painting. If I can't freehand, then best is capture what my eyes see :)

Some time ago, I took a food writing course and the food photographer speaker was Mark Floro. I sort of reconnected with him as we were neighbors in Philam, and our fathers played tennis daily. Now that I want to go into Photography, it is but senseful that I search for him.

You might be interested to take up Photography :) Here he is.

Great Trip

From Vigan, we were off for La Union.

The moment we checked our bags, we decided to go up to Baguio for dinner. Met with our long time dealer in the area, Doc Karen. Discussed schedules for deliveries and talked about marketing her growers' produce. We also asked a friend to join us for some coffee and talked about future projects.

We went to Gilligan's in Legarda. You have to go see the group Smooth, that is at Gilligan's Mondays and Wednesdays. I was so enamored with their music. The selection and the blending of voices....really my type!

Meetings, dinner and music done...it was time to leave Makati, errrrr Baguio (it was so crowded and the faces you see are the Manila group too). It was fresh oxygen, when the thought of driving down to La Union was started.

Holy Week is not my time to travel. I prefer that these days are taken in solace. This year was different. One of my friends, Mitos, is celebrating her 50th. So, it was agreed to be all together. Good that La Union was the meeting place, as it was near my work appointments for the week.

Great opportunity to practice my new Canon DSLR! After all those clicks done, I think I want to take a course in Photography :) My friends are just so happy now that they have tons of photos.

Watching the sunset...

Later on, Doc Rey comes back and said we should stay a little more on the beach as a floating Stations of the Cross will start as soon as the Sun sets....it was a sight. Simple but it made you pray in the calmness. By that time the Churches were busy with the Visita Iglesia.

Last day for Mitos' 49th. In transit....not dragged, but moving and getting there :)
You wouldn't want to see her 1st photo as 50...

Thunderbird Resort in Poro Point. It was like an Oasis. A refreshing site in the middle of the dessert. The Blues and Whites all around was calming and you are transported to a time in Greece.

Doesn't my friend Jessica make a double take for Jackie O?

View from the Resto/Bar of Thunderbird Poro Point. If you want peace and quiet from it all, this may be a place for you. No beach area in front, you have to walk to the right side a bit for a swimming area, or you may enjoy the resort's swimming pool.

A very productive week indeed....Next stop...search for Mark Floro!

As For Dressed Chickens...

....which means the ready to cook :)

The deliveries continue to most areas of Metro Manila, until Alabang to the South and Fairview area in the North. Come to think of it now, that is like a bus route :)

For a minimum of 5kgs order for dressed Sunshines, we can deliver to you the frozen and vacuum packed meat, together with eggs if you require them too.

We have varied sizes for the different market needs. Normally, deliveries are made on a weekend. If there are impromptu needs, we try to serve you. If not, you may pick up at our QC outlet with advance notice.

Slowly developed the market...for consumer awareness. The people have to know what is available in the market and easy to be found. It creates then the market and encourages the small farmers to raise them.

Because of the land requirements and the expectations of profit, the big farmers are not really lured into doing the colored free range market. The farmer's capital is secondary to the passion and advocacy to go into raising Sunshines. So we pave the way for the smaller , colored free range chicken farmers in the Philippines :)

Help us in this vision. Buy dressed Sunshine Chickens! Share the info with your friends please.

Email info@solraya.com or text us (0917) 847-2639.

New Set Of Breeders

Our production of colored free range Sunshine F1 Chicks are up and there will be no more long waiting time for booking orders. The Certified Breeders from SASSO of France arrived in September 2009, day before Ondoy.

Also, logistics have been more cooperative and our network for Northern Luzon is getting back on the road. The South Luzon will follow shortly.

Thank you for the trust and support, that the colored free range industry in the Philippines, has shown. The Government and private sector made us go farther each year.

Patrons

My mom had a constant companion for some Eight (8) years before she passed some months ago. She has had several changes of nurses, but a constant was her Flowerhorn. Another companion she had, long before I came to life was an image of Jesus with a Sacred Heart. She transferred residence in her later years. This was one of the very few things she took with her. She practically changed all furniture, but brought the Sacred Heart with her. I grew up with this image in the corridor leading to bedrooms. As a child, I thought it was God looking at us from Heaven. The original had clouds and angels in the background.

Devotees of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are promised of a peaceful death. My mother had that. She decided the "when". The "how", was peaceful and quiet. After which, one of the things I inherited was Flowerhorn. It was so interactive and would almost do cartwheels for us. The times we are out of town, Benny the feeder will say it was sad and was always alarmed. When we got back, we don't see any problem as she always greeted us with splits and head turns.

Last Thursday, we decided to hang the Sacred Heart above the aquarium. This photo was taken Thursday late night. We had a party....maybe she wasn't used to the crowd? The last photo taken of her in the background, as we were wrapping up "to go" for guests....

This out of town trip was no different. Benny told me yesterday that she was sad again. I wasn't alarmed as it was always the case. I knew that when we got home Saturday, she will greet us with hugs.

This morning, Tita Pilar called and told me the bad news. Flowerhorn died. They walked into the living room to feed, but found her dead. I hope the Sacred Heart also gave her a peaceful death. She was really part of the family. When you visit Mommy or Lola, you were also like visiting the Flowerhorn. We saw how she grew!

I really felt so bad. Even Doc Rey felt inutile as a veterinarian. We have pet shops and we should have seen the signs. But, no, there was none!

Over breakfast, we were discussing. Much like a meeting with our vets as we discuss cases as a group. Doc Rey was thinking out loud...hybrid...new...no real known data...he asked me to search on lifespan. I did "8-10 yrs" :(

There are patrons and companions in life. Much like sponsors. Mommy had the Sacred Heart and Flowerhorn.

My patron is St Jude. Ever since I was a in High School, it was St Jude who assisted me in desperate cases. I had been visiting an image in the Cathedral in Vigan. I am glad I was able to visit my St Jude today, as I have so many blessings to thank for.

My post has no chicken...but there will be no chickens in my life if I didn't have my patrons.

SM, Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan

Can't get away from SM. It may not be me...it is that, SM is all around...for consumers and to uplift lives of those around them :) They have the power to make it work in bridging livelihood for others and giving the best to consumers.

I grew up with SM North EDSA near our house. As a child, I'd walk around Cubao where my grandparents stayed and hop to SM. With Sunshine, our Fairview outlet is right across SM Fairview, which made me decide not to give up the location and just renovate now. We are making a new outlet in Cubao, again peeping at SM Cubao....My father always kidded that SMC stood for his initials.

Then we got calls to supply SM chain of supermarkets with our dressed Sunshines. Now another SM arm wants us to straighten out the free range chicken project they have started and the logistics for marketing, since we have been asked to supply dressed chickens.

Doc Rey did the first in a series of visits and seminars for SM Foundation last week. Because of the projection of the program, this will be an exciting endeavor.

Nice uniforms for SM Foundation's members.

Yesterday, we got a call from them, saying that the feedback was very good on our visit. The members learned a lot and understood the WHYs in their previous grows.

I had the best Guinataan Bilo-Bilo ever during the seminar. Then lunch was with the family of SM Foundation's agriculturist. Sweetest water from a deepwell, and a great meal that used vegetables they grew without pesticides.

We will see more of Batangas :)

Region 1

Headed for the week, to Ilocos Sur and La Union.

If you want to meet up for questions, you may text us at (0917) 847-2639.

Water

If you are from the city and have a need for water for bathing, cooking, washing and car wash...you you may not be affected by the El Nino.

For us farmers, water means a lot. We need to water the farm to produce the food on your table. You don't even need water to cook vegetables as they can be eaten raw. But we need it to nurture them til harvest.

As we were fencing a new area, I realized how important water is. Or looking at it from another point of view...how important that our soil isn't super dry. The crew can't put up the posts w/o water. Hard to dig, can't mix cement, etc.

In an area where we thought we didn't need water yet...we did. Water is basic.

Some people think that they may range their Sunshines in wilderland. Sure you may, but make sure there is a source of water. A deepwell, a pond, a brook....

Old Slippers

Old habits are hard to break. Harder is parting with security blankets.

My old, cheap simple camera that was also my video camera, conked on me after 2 yrs of daily companionship.

Because of the demand in what we do now, we decided to get a good DSLR and a separate HD videocam. Argghhhhhh so hard to learn new things. Then, because I have to install new programs for these two new gadgets, I learned that my laptop's CD doesn't work. Buuhuhuuhuhuh....so my new pics will have to wait.

Meantime, stay patient for better pictures for this site. I owe it to you to feed your eyes.

Kabuhayang Swak na Swak

Do you watch the weekend shows of Kabuhayang Swak na Swak over ABS-CBN network?

They did a shoot on Doc Rey last Friday and they said it will be shown on Easter Sunday, April 4.

It is just really introducing the product as the segment is short. For people interested in business ideas, the show is worth catching :)

Move Now

Way before El Nino came, when it was already being talked about coming, we got ready for it. Installed pumps and wells throughout the farm.

At present, when everywhere is dry and brown....we are developing a new site. An additional 3hectares for the Sunshines.

Concrete posts, nets and poultry wires have been prepared for fencing. Seedlings of Aratiles, Madre de Agua and a myriad of herbs are in the nursery. A grader had been booked to make dams and canals all around and culverts had been installed.

Why do all these dams and canals when there is no water around? Why wait for some obvious problems to crop later. Now is the time to move, when it is dry. Easier for logistics to go all around the property. Elevate and secure for potential scenarios. Mobilize now when it is accessible all throughout.

When you are around ricefields during El Nino...easy to find workers when there is no work...so now is the time.

Land preparation, much like brooding...is the most important :)

Mobile Homes

I had taken down the number listed on the billboard for a mobile home I saw in Libis. Called today and realized I got one number missing for it to be a legit telephone number.

That's ok. Searched, got the number right and further search led me to this site of mobile homes.

The Manila office of Carryboy is now accepting orders. They come in motor homes or mobile homes. There are pros and cons in both. If you go by the motor home, you are bound to use that vehicle without rest. For the mobile home, you can change vehicles that pull and let your other vehicle rest. But..... you are in your own world and don't know what is happening inside the vehicle that hauls you :)

I am such a compulsive buyer. If I was in Manila this minute, maybe I ordered one today. Tomorrow, I may decide I don't want one.

For those who are on the road a lot and are very choosy about accomodations...this might be an answer. Comfort has a price. You need to feel good when you are working on the road a lot.

On The Road

If we are quiet, it means we are busy on the road. Yesterday we logged in 600kms, going to Pangasinan...Alaminos, Sual, Binmaley etc. Very productive, thank you.

I have on my "To Do" list, to go look for a mobile home :)

Tighter Reigns

When there is no rain, no harvest, no income, no food, no income, no disposable income, no income.....waaaaaaaaaaa

That is our group's advantage. Problems? We have gone and passed them several times in the past. You see them now and laugh it off as you know several ways to get around it, after going through them before. We are seasoned entrepreneurs, working independently and dependently. Our jobs are sole responsibilities and decisions are respected...but then, we know how important that everyone is knowing of problems and joys.

We haven't met as a group, in person, for the longest time as schedules are hard to fix when you are all busy with this and others. But we stood by we have to meet is we are one. Long distance affairs are hard to come by :)

Meet we did today, over Shakey's Friday Special! I don't think we have had that for about 30 years! My partners are old friends too, so we talked about our Shakey's times together. Talk was more of small talk and catching up rather than business....but I think it is because we trust that one will do the best of their abilities.

In a few minutes...it was gathered that we import next batch when other businesses are holding back. We implement new ways and experiment on some. I will let you in on the new ideas some time.

Hand holding will give you strength and pride...knowing that confidence is there. We stood up feeling good about the group and resolved that once a month meetings are set...fixed schedules.

Harder times are not reason to set back. It means unity, closer looks and tighter reigns.

Free Range In Nasugbu

We had been invited to market and supply Sunshine Chicken in SM Supermarket branches since last year. That was approved about October of last year, but logistics was wayward. Besides, growing chickens for the dressed market wasn't our line of business. Offering it to various growers was easier said than done as it will mean quality control and monitoring will require several crews.

Fate has it that SM Foundation contacts us again for their livelihood program. Several calls and a meeting set led us to schedule a seminar for their recipients.

WHAT: Raising Sunshine Chicken from day1 to Harvest
WHEN: March 27, Saturday, 9am
WHERE: SM Foundation Demo Farm, Sitio Pingkian, Barangay Looc (before the Hamilo gate)
Nasugbu, Batangas
WHO: Doc Rey

FREE as it is meant for SM Foundation, but they said it was OK for outsiders to attend.

Let's take this opportunity. See you there!

Links To One

Discussing the past week as a whole, then daily activities, led us to talk about certain clients and activities in particular.

We did yesterday a one on one seminar for a farm. The several visits there have been helpful in explaining things, as you use actual scenarios as examples for the DOs and DON'Ts. The seminar is patterned to fit the needs, plus showing the general picture. Even if they opt not to follow conventional poultry management, the caretakers will understand why some natural farming methods are applied and what works. IF there is a problem, their knowledge of conventional will help adjust the natural farming methods utilized.

Not just the poultry crew was asked to sit in. Even the construction guy was called to listen. As I walked around, you know that certain things apply depending on your line of work. The poultry guys were taking notes on space requirements, feedings etc. The construction guy had sketches and computations on the building samples and their own designs to amend. He also had notes on wind direction etc :) There was one more man who didn't take notes nor ask questions, but he was equally attentive. Maybe he was the one that mixes the feeds and drink concoctions, much like the marinade man in kitchens.

What was amusing was there was a crew who prepared lunch. After the buffet table was set, they also sat down to listen to Doc Rey. They were on the "common mistakes" portion. Doc Rey loves this part as he says it is easier to remember the DON'Ts and the sins hahahhaha. Going back to my cute food preparer......as Doc Rey showed pictures to quiz them, the first to answer was this food prep man who just took his seat.

If he wasn't around during the seminar, why was he able to reply? I will credit it to the fact that he is part of the day to day activities of the farm and sees the chickens a lot. PLUS, common sense and high IQ :)

My point here is simple but often forgotten in success stories. Teamplay is very important. One person can't do all. We have to find that team....wherein the members all love what they are doing and their personalities work together. Key factor is that they are team players.

Many times when a group is sent to us, I am able to observe certain characteristics and you know right away who passes the ball well.

Get The Heat Off In The Park

Started early and got to Tagaytay for breakfast. I love being there for Bag of Beans. I prefer the original site, and thankful that is is just a short detour from the route to Natividad Farms. Now full tummies...we have the energy to run after the chicks to be set to range.

The doctor talks to nervous caretakers. But they get relieved after the pep talk from Doc Rey and their eyes give them the confidence as they see how happy their Sunshines are at their debut, finding their own benches.

In these intense heat filled days, timing that they get to be free ranged today. They are 21days and at the right age to be set free. Am sure they loved their new house when they got transferred from their brooder house. Their caretakers were vigilant first time nurses and it can get strict and rigid, by the book there...

Look how they take a peek first.


"Walking and getting fresh air...let's do this daily"


They call out behind them, "Hey bros, it is much better and cooler out here. Come on down!"

We take a quarter turn to view them...and saw the next ranging area being prepared for their soon to arrive cousins.

Nice frame from here, but we had to rush to give the caretakers brooding lessons. After their 21day experience with natural farming protocol, it was now easier to teach them proper poultry management for free range chickens. Now the caretakers' eyes and ears open and comprehend why some things have to remain in management. Experience steps up to knowledge.

Were we in a hurry to do the seminar? Hahahhha...honest??? We wanted to get back to shed soon, as there is where lunch is served.

I did say the Sunshines enjoyed their walk in the park? Ed will want to take a hike with them.

Lipa Seminar - UPDATED

Doc Rey got an invitation to conduct a seminar for a group of retirees and senior citizens in Lipa, Batangas in April 28. Age isn't a reason to be idle, surely!

It will be open to all and free of charge. It will be held in a restaurant, so the organizers are requesting that you order some food during the seminar and leave a token for use of facilities.

Fair for fare :)

WHERE: Panyesenan Learning Center
Brgy Rizal, Lipa City
WHEN: April 28, 10am-2pm (seminar proper will be 10am-12noon)
WHAT: Raising Sunshine Chicken from Day1 to Harvest
WHO: Doc Rey
FEE: Meals will have to be purchased in the resort and please leave a token for use of premises

Open to all. See you there.

Graduation Day

As I am fixing schedules, planning for some graduations and calendared our harvest for next week...it called to mind that all those who loaded same day as us, about January8...should also be looking at harvesting next week or this weekend!

Perfect batch for the Graduation parties :) For the first time growers...you also sort of graduated in your experience in raising free range chickens.

For the long Holy Week break...you may welcome Easter Sunday with a feast.

It is all in the timing.

Make It Easy

We had planned way ahead and really think of ways to make life easier for all.

This post on clean water had drawn several queries in the last few days.

Timely that we got for ourselves, and we have some to spare for those who want to order too. Very easy to install. You make a hole through the PVC pipe and pry the connector in :)

Not a good shot....but it is simple and workable.

Foe or Friend

Snails are considered pests to rice farmers. They are collected and left on the road to be crushed by passing vehicles.

They will be good protein for your rangers! You can gather them and blanch them in boiling water in a drum, then step on them to crush the shells. Those shells will be good for your layers if you kept some. If your neighbors have their snails crushed on the streets, you may ask for it after they gather...or, blanch them after crushed.

I just think that it is easier to handle them whole when dunking them in boiling water :)

Sunshine Chicken 101

Basic Know-how From Day1 to Harvest.

Includes advantages, brooding, feeding, housing, ranging and business opportunities.

In DVD format, Doc Rey discusses an overview on raising Sunshine Chicken.

Available at all Solraya Enterprises and AANI branches (refer to link of dealer list for dayold chicks).

PHP350 for pick up at AANI and all Solraya outlets. We may send to you by LBC, all inclusive at PHP600.

For orders that have to be sent by LBC:

1) Pay PHP600 thru BPI: Solraya Enterprises, C/A 3535-8057-24
2) Advise us my email info@solraya.com or text (0917) 847-2639 about the deposit, include name and address for our LBC details
3) We send by LBC the next day. You receive it the day after we send.

Drying Up

The news on the radio and TV, well at least the news we get over regional channels, are scary and alarming. The water levels shown at Magat Dam yesterday was almost no where. You can see rocks on the sides already, when before what you see is just a huge basin of water. They say water to the lands for irrigation will be shut off March 20.

The line of priority is water supply for the pipelines, electricity and lastly, water to irrigate farmlands.

As we were discussing the plight of the farmers around us, over breakfast at the farm, it looks bleak. 99% around us are ricefields. A few have fish ponds. Both will be highly affected. We have a crew in the farm, fencing for us. They are assured of work for the coming days from us, but what about the others?

At the start of the news of the El Nino, which was months ago (so let's not pretend that we got caught on the heels), we had slowly installed deep wells, water pumps and drip hoses for the plants and of course our free ranging chickens.

Looking around the fields...you think "what will they do" in this trying times?

1) Plant vegetables to feed themselves and to sell to neighbors. Vegetables are easier to water as they are in plots or containers. You can fetch water to quench the thirst :)

2) Forced to good! Why did I say that? You are forced to dry up your fishponds and ricefields for several months. That will be your most natural way of disinfecting and time to rejuvenate the area.

Time to think out of your plots!

Don't Let The Heat Stop You

We are experiencing so hot weather! Our farm in Isabela is not getting a different wind from the neighbors'.

What makes our chickens still range around in this heat?

1) There is water, fresh water at that, all the time. We have installed more of those nipple drinkers (refer to a past post on this) that are attached to the PVC pipes.

2) Make sure that the ranging areas you are presently using have the shaded areas that they will need. You need them too as caretakers :) Our favorite areas now are the ones with a lot of Bamboo trees, Aratiles trees (the chickens love the falling fruits). Those make nice shades, and fast growers. They grow with the Sunshines.

You don't feel hungry when you have to eat under the intense heat of the Sun :(

3) Wet their grains to make it more appetizing for them in this high temperatures.

Don't be scared about the news of the Heat Strokes. Don't let problems make you watch and sit. There are ways to go about it. Remember, your chickens have a choice of where to stay.Thank you to free ranging chickens and natural farming.

And please don't forget your caretaker!!! We installed additional pumping wells and long hoses, so he won't have to walk far to fetch water. If it is convenient to do, then he will do it. Always try wearing caretaker's shoes.

If you ask about our Parent Stocks, the breeders...they are fine. Those are enjoying regulated temperatures.

Different Reasons

I got myself a set of the Cory Swatch. It came with a coffeetable book and two (2) watches.

What led me to get? I don't get quartz watches, but this one is obviously different :)

It had Sunshine!