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Romeo’s Restaurant Menu
Come enjoy the fragrance and scenic view of Swine Lake from my rooftop terrace. It’s a cud-chewer’s paradise.
If you’re an herbivore, you can come on in. Carnivores stay away…you might eat us. You can get anything at Romeo’s Restaurant.
Appetizers
Pine needles
Assorted leaves – choice of oak, willow, pine, and cedar
Tough, fresh grass
Entrees
Hay
Wheat – whole or ground
Mixed grains – wheat, barley, bran, with a sprinkling of tasty minerals
Desserts
Cud.
Banana peels
Try my place once… I’m sure you’ll be Baaaaack!
Last Sunday we brought home our new daity goat, Juliet. Romeo was over the moon at having a new friend. Juliet was a little cool to him at first but has gradually warmed up. We brought her home in a slashing rain/wind storm. When we stopped for gas on the way home, I pulled the tarp back from her crate and she was unfazed by the weather. She was cuddled up warm in the straw, chewing her cud. Yesterday, she was not nearly as sanguine about the weather. Lisa had to lay down a walkway of hay to get her to go into her shelter. Before that, Romeo was a true gentleman. They were together in the Romeo’s small shelter, and he stood with his butt out in the rain so she could lay down in the dry straw. I think she’s finally starting to settle in on the homestead. The first day we had her, she called back and forth to my Dad’s cows across the road. Then she spent almost every waking moment bleating, especially when we’d walk outside or she’d see us moving in the house. Her voice is very loud. She has quieted down in recent days and spent more time cuddling with Romeo. One of their favorite dates is to sit in the sun (when it actually shows up), necks together, and chew their cud.
She is due somewhere around March 1. This will be her first kidding, so we’re not sure if we can expect twins/triplets. Or much milk. Actually, we’re not sure what to expect at all.
Welcome friends, neighbors, and new acquaintances! Welcome to our newest venture, a blog about life, culture, agriculture, literature, music, and a plethora of assorted miscellanies, whatever comes to mind. We have been keeping hogs for almost a year now, but our breeding herd, members of which will offer commentary from time to time, is just coming into its own. We are currently enjoying watching our first litter of pigs grow up. They are almost a month old now. The litter was on the small side – just five, of which four survived – but we are trying to give Rosie the benefit of the doubt for this first litter. With the cold, wet fall, she had some some very trying conditions to contend with. We will be keeping one of the piglets, a gilt Roy named Violet, for second generation breeding stock. She has been diligently watching Rosie and has started helping her to build the nest when we toss out new straw. She takes a small bunch into her month and runs alongside Rosie. She drops her bunch in the house and nudges it around, just like Mama.
 - Mutt poking his head out
WHO WE ARE—Swallow Acres Farm was established in July
2007. Then it was just Brooks, Lisa, Roy and Darlene, along
with the cats and the dogs. Clara came along in February
2008. We are a Christian family who believe in the Biblical
mandates of stewardship of the land. We made a
commitment early on to grow with organic methods. Since
we started gardening 5 years ago, we have refused to use
synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers in favor of
naturally-based methods. We have strived to work with
natural systems for pest control and fertility. Our approach
is a combination of organics, bio-intensive methods, and bio-
dynamics.
The Bible also requires us to look out for our neighbors. We
do our best to keep our prices reasonable or competitive
with local markets, but we will not refuse food to anyone in
need. Bartering or trading food for labor or other talents is
always an option.
 Back view of our farm on a snowy day OUR NAME— The name Swallow Acres is a nod to the tree
swallows that frequent our yard and gardens throughout the
year. They take over after the bluebirds in late spring.
Once their eggs have hatched, the swoop through the yard,
dive-bombing us if we come anywhere near the nest.
We enjoy the birds of prey that we share our land with—the
hawks, kestrels, and eagles riding the thermals over the
fields and the occasional owl calling out of the darkness.
We have had a bald eagle in our backyard and a red-
shouldered hawk perched on our lima bean poles and dog
pen.
THE HOMESTEAD—Learning and practicing the practical
arts of homesteading are crucial to our life and business at
Swallow Acres. We use the ointments, fresh vegetables and
venison, and the foods we preserve in our everyday lives.
We strive after a degree of self-sufficiency not to isolate
ourselves but in an effort to live as sustainably as possible.
Our products are an extension of our lifestyle.
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