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The Old Mule

Old Mule Farms - Graves Station, Ga.

Blog posts : "General"

Natures Candy

A view from my back porch...

  We be picking blue berries and black berries for days now, turning them into jelly and syrup. You know canning jellies is a must for us and that we have been doing around here for a very long time now. The old farm gives in so many wonderful ways. We might take from…

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Plow to Ground

A view from my back porch...

  With a good start working in the kitchen garden where we have herbs among many other things that are essential to our pantry needs, just time now as the season changes will yield what is needed. Also, our regular garden is coming alive as it does this time of year w…

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Honored Tradition

A view from my back porch...

  Even though it's a bit early there are tell tell signs that nature is changing all across the old farm. Early might just springing before long and we will welcome it with open arms. The rush is not something that we seek rather the need to get fertile ground ready f…

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Warmer Thoughts

A view from my back porch...

  My mind has me thinking of warmer days, those days that are right around the next corner. The time when gray turns to blue, and black and white finds color among nature at its best. About the time I place the old plow in the ground for a new crop on the farm. Warmer…

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Snow Days

A view from my back porch...

  Christmas time is behind us now, a new year has begun, and one of the harshest winter weather patterns that I have ever seen has made its way to the old farm. Our temperature has dipped as low as 15 degrees a couple of times, even had about 7 inches of snow that sta…

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Time to Reflect

A view from my back porch...

  Cold weather has spread across the old farm as December rolls into position. The cows are fed with plenty of hay in storage for the winter months. We have a good supply of all things needed so were ready for some warm fireplace nights. This slower pace time is much …

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Thankful Living

A view from my back porch…

  Each year around the old farm the month of November has always been more of a time to slow down as we look back upon the weeks that lay behind us with thankful hearts for all that it has brought. Hard work is really a prideful normality to any homesteader enjoying l…

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Coal Fired Ovens

With the first day of autumn approaching there are slight signs emerging that one season is ending making way for yet another. The old farm has certainly scene these changes before and we embrace this cycle with open arms. Before long fires will be lit as the coals heat up our cherished dutch ovens …

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Resurrecting the Past

A view from my back porch…

  I fired off the ole smoker for a long slow cook of pork butts and fresh hams that soon was copped then sauced for our family 4th celebration. For decades I have been the pit master here on the farm bringing hungry appetites to the old farm table. Our family time is …

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Work Days

Summer is in full swing bringing with it the southern heat that we face each year. So, from that standpoint it is nothing new and helps us understand that we have a place among the familiar times of the south. Farm work continues each day full of adventure and pride in work well done. The occasional…

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Dusty Rain

A view from my back porch…

  Its somewhat dry here in the south. The old farm is about as dusty as it gets. I can remember each spring having to sweep out the hay loft after most of our winters hay was spent. A little dust never hurt no one, it just covers you with a great respect for a nice ra…

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Spring Blooms

A view from my back porch…

   Early spring has come to the old farm. Colors with fragrant scents fill most all of this place we call home. The refreshing part of this cycle is the fact that such a ole friend as spring still comes each year and we still embrace it with the same heart felt intens…

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Thinking Ahead

A view from my back porch…

   Thoughts begin to emerge around the old farmhouse as we talk about this years spring garden. Now as winters garden draws closer our sights focus on what comes next. Necessity with need has always driven this farm so plans are important. Whether one considers it sur…

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Warming the Cold

A view from my back porch…

   It`s easy to sit by the old fireplace feeling its warmth watching the flickering flames. Whether early morning or late evening the shadows that make there way along the ceiling and walls of this log homestead continues to offer comfort on any cold day. Many blessin…

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Life from the Past

A view from my back porch…

  Wintertime is forge time here at the old farm. Forging raw stock whether small or large with old school techniques makes things sing come spring. From repairs to forging out needed items we still carry on the old school blacksmith trade as part of who we are. Our pa…

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Gifts Received

A view from my back porch...

  It`s Christmas time at the old farm. This time a year a warm fire fills the old farmhouse bringing a connection from the past to the present even though it is a common way with us. Our work continues but for now it is with a much more laid-back feeling. Family is hu…

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Cold Days

A view from my back porch...

  Frost covers most of the farm this morning for the last day of this month. Tomorrow is also the last month of the year which brings my thoughts to a much slower pace as the old farm slowly crawls into deep sleep for the winter season. With firewood stacked high and …

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Overwintering

A view from my back porch…

  It`s overwintering time here on the old farm. I have been busy tucking and mulching in our spring onions for next year's harvest. Come early spring these fresh sights will find their way onto the table along with many other early vegetables. Around here we still gro…

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High Winds

A view from my back porch…

  Each year at this time when wind comes staying high in the tree tops it brings us the first of colder temperatures. That was the early sounds of yesterday echoing through the south hollow beside the old farmhouse. Today we awake to a snappy crisp morning here on the…

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Gathering Firewood

A view from my back porch…

  Our weather temperatures are changing here on the old farm. It's not yet cold enough to start building fires, but cool enough to spend a day or two gathering firewood. With a good stack of wood on the side porch when time comes is just a small sum of what we have st…

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20 blog posts