The Wild Side

Wild Turkeys

While leaving for work the other morning, I spotted a large group of turkeys standing in the middle of the long lane which connects the valley to civilization. The birds seemed to be resting until they spotted me and my camera pointed right at them. I didn’t have much time to take the shot, so I took what I could, bad lighting and all.

Turkeys Fleeing

As soon as I clicked off the first shot, I attempted another, and I was rewarded with a picture of these birds flying away.

Turkeys Flying

I never thought turkeys could fly, but after seeing them in action, I discovered the truth. Wild turkeys will fly if they feel threatened.

After seeing so many birds, I’m wondering what I can do to attract them to the farm, or how I can help to increase their numbers. I’m not yet a turkey hunter, but then again, I never thought I would be drying a deer hide, and yet that’s one side project I’ve been working on.

Deer Skin Furry Side

The deer skin shown was from a deer that was harvested on the same side of the hill where my home rests. I’m drying it in an attempt to learn some new skills, and eventually I would like to use the skin as a rug under my rustic looking coffee table.

Deer Skin Smooth Side

Here’s the other side of the skin, after I’ve completely dried out the flesh with salt. The next step will involve rehydrating the pelt, and then tanning it. There are several methods for tanning, but I hope to use the store bought chemical method, as opposed to using the gray matter of the source deer as a tanning agent. Lets just say I’m not quite ready to get gray matter on my hands, althought that’s the method that has been used by our ancestors for thousands of years. After the tanning, I plan to bathe the skin in smoke to give it the characteristic tan color.

Brussels Sprouts

I’m also learning that I need to adjust the time of year when I plant Brussels Sprouts, as the three plants in my garden look like they have had it for the year. The leaves are turning brown, and the sprouts themselves appear more like leaf lettuce then a small bundle of cabbage. I’ll try again next year, and keep it up till I get it right. That’s the stubburn nature that got me this far gardening, and I guess you could say it’s how I do things, just to see if I can.