Pregnant Goats?

I have been doing a lot of reading on goats lately.  I'm thinking my female goat and my dad's female goat may be pregnant.  I really don't know as I just got we got the female goats last year.  Jack, the male goat, wasn't a very willing participant so it's hard to know.  The other problem is that Besty has always been fat.  When people see her they always ask when she is due and during the summer and fall I would always tell people "she is just fat".  I am thinking Besty may be due at the end of April and Chloe will be due at the end of May.  Time will tell.  Some interesting facts about goats:

• Goats are pregnant for about 142 to 152 days.
• Twins is the most common, 1 and 3 kids the second most common scenario, and 4-6 being quite rare. 
• A baby goat is called a kid.
•  You can train goats to do tricks.
• Goats have no upper front teeth

Chloe and Besty.

 Lorissa

Jack who will be the father if Chloe and Besty have kids.

The Scarecrow Forest History

The Scarecrow Forest was started because people wanted to do more than just pick out pumpkins at our place in the fall.  We had 10 acres of land and a couple of buildings so we knew we could provide something for people to do.  Shirley came up with the idea of putting Scarecrows in the forest and our first year was in 2009.  Every year since then we had added something new or improved an existing feature.  We have a zip line, a paintball target, pump duck races, a tractor train ride, and much more.  The Snack Shack was my grandpa’s workshop when he moved onto the property in 1976 and the barn housed cows back then.  The barn now houses the giant corn box and a big straw pile to jump into.  The building behind the barn was where John had his trailer company and is now used as a barn room rental for groups of up to 150 people.  The room is used for weddings, corporate parties, and birthday parties.  Another interesting fact is before 2009 the only animals on our yard was cats and a dog.  We now have 6 goats, 3 mini horses, 4 sheep, one pot belly pig, Silkie chickens, Americauna roosters, two rabbits,10 friendly cats, and one dog.  Every year we have different scarecrow scenes in the Forest.  Last year we did a nursery rhyme and fairy tale theme.  The day cares that came to our place loved the theme so we are going to be doing the same theme this year.  We are hoping to have a humpty dumpty in our Forest this year.  For more information check out our facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Penner-Pumpkins-and-the-Scarecrow-Forest/127916470555020 or website at: www.pennerpumpkins.com.

 

Also on our site is a gift shop.  We sell honey, Sweet Cucumber Relish, Sweet Zucchini Relish, a variety of jellies ( a really popular one is my Cherry Bomb Jelly), toques, handmade cards, a very unique box (you have to come and check it out), play dough and a variety of other things.  This year Shirley and I are hoping to make Strawberry Jam and Strawberry Rhubarb jam.  If there is anything else you would like to see in the gift shop let me know.  You can check out what is for sale at:  https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Loras-Treasures/271678282877145

Lorissa Penner

History of Penner Pumpkins and the Scarecrow Forest Part 1

The Scarecrow Forest is turning 5 this year.  The Scarecrow Forest opened its doors in 2009.  Penner Pumpkins, on the other hand, we aren’t sure when it started.

Penner Pumpkins started off as a hobby.  It was a way for three girls (Donna, Lorissa, and Brendalee) to make a little money.  I stay it started in 1990 because that is when we moved to our current location.  John, on the other hand, says it started a couple of years before 1990. So I guess  Penner Pumpkins is 20 and some odd years old.  Us girls would sell pumpkins at the end of the driveway and at Highway 12.  As we grew older TJ and Shirley took over.  In 2005 John, Shirley, and TJ went to St. Norbert’s Farmers’ Market.  When the director of the market came by and asked for their business name the three of them looked at each other and TJ blurted out “Penner Pumpkins”.  We went to St. Norbert’s Farmers’ Market for a few years and then stopped because it just got too busy for us. 

Lorissa transplanting.

 In 2008 we put up a 20 foot by 80 foot greenhouse.  We use the greenhouse to get a head start with our vegetables and use it to grow tomatoes and cucumbers.  We now grow an acre of vegetables, but our  main crop is still pumpkins, gourds, and Indian Corn.  Last year (2012) we expanded our acreage and now have 4-5 acres of pumpkins, gourds, and Indian Corn and still one acre of vegetables.  We sell our vegetables at Pineridge Hollow’s Farmers’ Market on Saturdays and on our home yard.  For more information on what vegetables are available and our hours please check our facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/PennerPumpkins.

Lorissa and Shirley at Pineridge Hollow Farmers' Market.

 Lorissa Penner

We all can learn something new.

On Thursday John, Shirley, and Lorissa went to the Manitoba Direct Farm Marketing Conference in Dauphin.  The ride in was really interesting.  Between Headingly and Portage La Prairie we saw three cars in the ditch and after Neepawa we drove in a snow storm.  We arrived safe and had an enjoyable conference.

Three things I learned or enjoyed were:

1.  I learned a new word: Agri-tainment.  I have always heard of Agri-tourism and that word never seemed to fit with what Penner Pumpkins and the Scarecrow Forest is doing.  We are looking for new customers, but we mostly rely on our repeat customers.  For more information on what agri-tainment is check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agri-tainment.

2. On Friday evening we got to experience Ukrainian culture.  We learned about the historic Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection.  I love history so I found this really interesting.  We also learned an Ukrainian Polka.  I have two left feet and I still have two left feet, but it was fun anyways.  We than go to decorate bread.  Afterwards we had a delicious Ukrainian feast.  This experience is available for groups.  For more information phone Tourism Dauphin at 204-622-3216.

3.  We need to be fluid and change, if change is necessary.  If something is not working than we need to change what is not working.  A lot of times we resist change, even though change is necessary.


Lorissa Penner