Newsletter April 2006

May this newsletter find you in good health and in wonderful spirits. Since our last newsletter much has occurred at Townline Farm Poultry Reserve.

The Wedding

On September 10, 2005… We were married in a quiet but well attended ceremony. The wedding day was absolutely gorgeous and full of wonderful fall colors and brilliant blue sky. We enjoyed a well deserved honeymoon at the beach in South Carolina.

The Farm

Last fall we decided to concentrate our efforts in Heritage Turkey Conservation by raising only two of the many varieties available. After a serious review of our stock we decided that the KARDOSH BRONZE and the MIDGET WHITE were our very best specimens. They have been on the farm the longest time and were really our favorites. Both are excellent birds, but raising each variety will give us a good choice of sizes for the market. This also enables us to keep a larger breeding flock to help secure their survival.

The New Hoop Barn Buildings erected in the autumn of 2004 have done very well through their second winter and they are excellent for having the birds on pasture anytime they care to go outside. Previously the turkeys had to be housed all winter; now they have a choice.

Our plan to winter over extra turkeys this past year is going to yield some wonderfully large birds for the 2006 holiday season. It was a necessary decision and is showing great results already. We do thank you for your understanding and patience.

The BUFF ORPINGTON layer flock is doing very well and providing beautiful brown eggs. We do have eggs available practically all year.

The American Buff and Pilgrim Geese are beginning to revel in Spring and love is in the air….Hopefully, healthy goslings are to follow.

NEW TO FARM

We have added some new conservation projects to Townline Farm Poultry Reserve. The BUCKEYE and The DARK CORNISH Chicken. Both breeds be here by the time you read this letter. The BUCKEYE is a very fine American Layer, developed in Ohio “the Buckeye State “ thus the name. It is the only domestic chicken developed exclusively by a woman, Mrs. Nettie Metcalf, of Warren , Ohio in 1902; despite the fact that women were generally the primary poultry raisers on American farmsteads. The DARK CORNISH, a British chicken, has always been the benchmark in the meat chicken; 50% of the hybrid Cornish/Rock crosses that dominate the commercial poultry business. Unlike their hybrid cousins, the original Cornish is a great forager and is very active growing in a less accelerated, more natural manner.

Both of these varieties are worthy of preservation and the Buckeye is extremely rare and endangered. We are proud to assist in their survival.

BIRD FLU – H5N1

As all of you have no doubt heard this is a looming issue for all who are concerned about poultry and possibly even humans. This is NOT a new disease to poultry and it has been effectively managed in the U.S. Actually, Pennsylvania is particularly experienced with it as this “flu” has visited PA before and was well managed. Dayna and I are very aware and are being careful with biosecurity and the safety of our flocks. We are not panicked and encourage you to be calm as well. This issue does very well illustrate, however, the looming dangers that can threaten our food sources and farm infrastructure. Perhaps we need to re-focus and re-evaluate if our food sources should be allowed to be centered outside of the U.S. The biggest insurance against catastrophic pandemics in our flocks is to have flocks or herds spread out in all sections of the country. Currently our commercial raisers are very concentrated and greatly at risk for devastating losses. Should this tragedy occur, it will be the widely dispersed small flocks that will have the necessary gene pool to help revitalize the industry. You may not be aware, but a similar disaster happened before in the 1930’s.

**Buy Fresh -- Buy Local

You may be seeing a "Buy Fresh Buy Local" sign in your area soon. It is part of a campaign to increase for support local agricultural producers. Participating in this program is a great way to know your food sources and the folks who grow them, as well as the ingredients and efforts necessary to provide you with quality products. We at Townline Farm Poultry Reserve, support this program and encourage you to do the same. Granted, not all goods are available from local growers, but if they are available, we encourage you to support your neighbors

Thank you for reading our newsletter. As the new growing year proceeds we wish you quality products for wonderful dining and great health.

Dayna and Bill Yockey Townline Farm Poultry Reserve