Firesign Family Farm

Firesign Family Farm We are a small, family run farm using traditional methods of sustainable, pastured livestock production. Visits are by appointment only; please no drop-ins.

Our main focus is raw dairy with both Normande X Jersey cows and Alpine goats. Located in beautiful southeast Michigan, Firesign Family Farm is dedicated to raising livestock in an ethical, natural environment using organic farming methods and without growth hormones, pesticides or prophylactic antibiotics. Through our classes and consultations we are also dedicated to passing on our knowledge and

expertise, giving you the opportunity to experience the joys, obligations, and gratification associated with life on a small family farm. It's a lifestyle of peace, joy, hard work and infinite reward. Join us! All visits are by appointment only.

**Firesign Family Farm is proud to be wheelchair accessible and welcomes groups and individuals with special needs!**

Freeze the last of the peachesPick beans (sigh, again)Make a batch of summer sauceWash, freeze yesterday’s butter batchT...
08/28/2026

Freeze the last of the peaches
Pick beans (sigh, again)
Make a batch of summer sauce
Wash, freeze yesterday’s butter batch
That’s my only line-up for today which just might leave room for a nap later; I’m still worn out from the late bedtime last night. And if this sneezing spell is any indication there’s an allergen playing havoc with my sinuses. Anyway, you’re getting nothing more from me this morning other than a reprint from a few years back. Oh, but did you see that moon last night? Spectacular! P. S. Not going back today.

There’s an old children’s ditty, “I Went to the Animal Fair” and it goes:
I went to the animal fair
The birds and the beasts were there
The old baboon by the light of the moon
Was combing his auburn hair
The monkey he got drunk
Slid down the elephant's trunk
The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees
And that was the end of the monk kerplunk!

There may be more lyrics but that’s all I recall, along with the tune which ran through my head last evening while going through the livestock barns at Chelsea Fair. Ah, the Chelsea Fair - so many memories also went through my head whilst there. I have only a vague recollection of the Fair from my own childhood; Mom I know you took us. My memories begin in my later early teenage years when I was one of the gaggles of young girls trolling the grounds dressed for attention. Plenty of that demographic in evidence last night along with the same of the opposite s*x. I don’t remember how I got there, don’t remember who I went with, don’t remember if I ever scored any notice by the opposite s*x. My clearer memories stem from the years of taking my own children, both before and after this farm acquisition, and those are the memories revisited through the evening along with the strains of this music.

I went to the Chelsea Fair
The birds and the beasts were there
They brought to mind a distant time
I think with you I’ll share
Their lambs my children did show
Rode the rides too don’tcha know
Spent money by the ton had lots of fun
And we’ll go again tomorrow

Most of the following was written back in 2015 and little has changed about the “showcase” activities of the event. The ...
08/27/2026

Most of the following was written back in 2015 and little has changed about the “showcase” activities of the event. The Chelsea Fair is here again; this event has been a summer time must do or at least really want to do in my life for a long, long time. Literally as far back as I can remember though my involvement doesn’t reach back anywhere near as far as its inception in 1872. Way back then it was held at the farm of R.B. Gates, a gentleman who had a sprawling acreage just southwest of the young town of Chelsea; this same land now hosts what has long since become the settled Chelsea Community Fairgrounds. Nice to think about, as you’re wandering through the midway or admiring various exhibits, that more than 150 years ago there were folks walking the same ground, oohing and aahing the same slicked out livestock, the same perfect produce, the same displays of strength and machismo. Of course nowadays we are egalitarian in our allowances of who holds the reins, or steering wheel, in the featured special events so both machismo and machisma are available for your entertainment. What hasn’t changed at all is that, in addition to all the animals and vegetables, there are still many local vendor booths, rural living demonstrations, and classic down home on the farm type fun events such as rodeo, horse, tractor and truck pulls, and demolition derby.

Rodeo, with its cattle and horseback centered activities, originated as a way for cowboys to put every day work skills to the test against their peers. Steer and calf roping, bronc and bull riding, and timed events like barrel racing all have their origin in ordinary taking care of business on a cattle ranch. Well, maybe not bull riding; its origin is more from the basic Neanderthal roots of battling wooly mammoths; an adrenaline rush with no correlation to anything remotely resembling necessary skills in the work force. While little in the way of these skills are necessary on your average farm they still remain “in our blood” so to speak as the farming community recognizes the inherent partnering of humans, horses, and cattle.

As with rodeo, the entertainment events of a county fair arose from everyday activities too. The "pulls" are all about "mine is bigger than yours"; an ages old posturing claim to fame among humankind. And it's all about horsepower, whether of the four legged variety or what you have under your hood. There are definite roots in necessity; strong teams of horses historically cleared forests, dragged loaded stoneboats, hauled heavy laden wagons, and pulled cultivation implements of all sorts through the farm fields of yore. And while there are pockets of American culture still relying on real horsepower, notably the Amish, for the most part these functions are now performed by tractors and trucks. It's not uncommon on a farm for something big to get stuck and require something even bigger to hook on and haul it back to firm footing. The attendant excitement and drama, mud and swearing, the "holler down at the neighbors, we need more oomph" immediacy that gave birth to these county fair events. The bleachers will be packed!

Then there's the demolition derby. As country as it comes too though with no basis in, or reflection of, everyday skill or necessity; this is mere Peter Pan syndrome at its finest. Big boys and girls smashing big toys with an "I don't wanna grow up" contagious enthusiasm; again the stands will be full.

We’re going this evening; it’s rodeo night, carnival ride pocket gouging night, gasp at the fat steers night, and eat junk food for dinner night. Maybe I'll see you there!

08/27/2026

Well this is about the best Day of the Dog tribute you could ask for. Choked me up.

08/26/2026

Nothing to see so just close your eyes and listen to the sound of Late August. Most of September will play the same gentle, yet insistent, background buzzing as the cicada section of the insect orchestra dominates the score. You can close your eyes anywhere on this farm this time of year and know without a doubt summer is ending because autumn’s entrance vocals are on the turntable and the speaker volume is turned up high. Oh, there will be hot, humid days yet to come but the buzz in the trees tells us the few short months of high summer, those few short months that can seem interminable with their oppressive heat and work load drudgery, are coming to an end. God be praised! I am not a fan of summer in case you didn’t know.

But autumn? Oh, another story and I’m already feeling rejuvenated with the prospect of busying through cooler days. “The List” has been made and the anticipation of tackling both big and little projects, both critical for winter preparation (straw for hoop house insulation) and more discretionary but nonetheless fun (burn the huge bonfire accumulation). Mother Nature has cued the music and I’m ready to dance again.

08/25/2026

You have to look at nothing but the view for a few minutes to get the point of this video. Oh, and you’ll need the volume on because this is about a noise. A strangled chicken sound; brief but repeated every few minutes though I didn't record that long. The sound a young rooster makes as he’s learning to crow.

Crowing roosters at daybreak - though they do crow all day long - is as “country” as it gets. Movies, books, poetry, paintings, pottery, ceramics, and clothworks have all celebrated this ubiquitous barnyard background audio most evocative of a beautifully plummaged male representative of these common farmstead poultry perched on high, head thrown back as the classic notes of a full throated cock-a-doodle-doo are sent aloft. Arched, sweeping tail and draping hackles a glow in the reflected light of dawn. But these birds do not come into maturity with accomplished voice established. Nope, they go through the same adolescent squeaking and squawking as can be heard in any middle school boys choir. Doesn’t stop them from trying and eventually the vocal chords cooperate and we’re gifted with the very sound that made the Apostles quaver as it defined their hour of denial.

Made our local officials quaver too as they embroiled themselves in ordinance struggles attempting to regulate just who had to listen in this overwhelmingly rural township. It is either music to one’s ears or an annoyingly intrusive sleep disrupter and, as a strong proponent of the former, I am grateful our acreage affords us protection from their overreach. A morning without cock’s crow would be a dismal silence as far as I’m concerned. Even a crow as inept as the one shared here from the few months old Silver Laced Wyandotte just finding his voice. He’ll be full-throated soon enough. Head thrown back, tail feathers arched and sweeping - - - -

08/24/2026

NOW we should start seeing some pasture regrowth as we REALLY got the rain last evening. Plus these cooler temps will encourage the late season grasses to begin to flourish. It remains to be seen but it would make our lives easier if we could split the milk cow herd again. Though I do really love seeing them all together in one pasture like the visual shared with you today. Ideally we’d have the cows we’re only milking once a day - Gloria, Schadenne, Harley, and Daisy - back in the west field leaving Annie and Freya with their calves in this east field. The yearling heifer Beatrix, and the younger steer we’re not graining yet, could go either place but most likely they’d stay east to give Snowman more company as we begin his very slow weaning process.

Snowman is a month old today and it’s time to begin separating him from Freya overnight; this is best accomplished by bringing her in for afternoon milking then putting her in a different pasture from where he is. Leaving him pretty much business as usual with Annie’s calf, who is now romping and playing with him, as company, and familiar territory so the only thing changing is access to mom. Until we milk her in the morning then reunite them for the day. Snowman is already sending Freya into the evening milk stall mostly tapped and within another couple weeks he’ll have her emptied out to where we’ll not even bother milking her at night. We’ll simply rotate her through from the one field to the other. She’ll certainly be full in the morning when we’ll take our share then he can have the rest through the day. This would be the routine up until we cut him off completely in another couple months. By then we’ll have begun the same program with Annie’s calf; we’re talking late October/early November at this point. There’ll be many other big changes that will have happened by then.

The garden will be mostly put to rest, the wood stove put back into use. The broilers will be in the freezer, the two current hogs butchered and two more to grow out taking their place. The turkeys will be getting close to their date with destiny and at least one of the finishing beef steers will be processed. The doe goats will be bred and have entered into the last month to go in their seasonal lactation. The blanket I have wrapped around my feet and knees this unseasonably cool morning will be de rigueur; I might even be wearing socks.

But if the rains don’t continue, if the pastures don’t green back up, I’ll have to come up with a plan B for the cow/calf progression. I’m thinking about it.

08/22/2026

Cue the Hallelujah Chorus!

I’ve yet to venture back into the corner where the ground bees are garrisoned but I am, from a safe distance, keeping th...
08/21/2026

I’ve yet to venture back into the corner where the ground bees are garrisoned but I am, from a safe distance, keeping the grow tubs within their claimed territory watered against eventual harvest on a cold day. The beets, carrots, kale, and green onions that are planted in those tubs will hold until fall and even benefit from a frost or two in terms of sweetness. Wouldn’t mind having the potatoes dug but I’m not risking the pain and suffering for a few spuds. And to heck with the chard; it’s a leafy mess but the cows and goats will appreciate it when I finally get in there to clean up for winter. But that’s at least a couple months away.

In the meantime there are tomatoes and peppers galore to deal with and this is a year in rotation for making salsa, cowboy candy, and hot pepper jam; a few jars of salsa and pepper jam will get us through a year but we go through cowboy candy fast. For those of you wondering what cowboy candy is - just very sweet, very hot spiced pickled peppers. Usually a recipe calls for just jalapenos but I make mine with a combination of the hot banana, poblano, big chili, and yes, jalapeno, peppers I grow. Makes for a more colorful blend and swimming in the vinegar syrup as they are, I doubt you can tell me what kind of peppers I’ve used. When I started making this condiment years ago it would be jarred in pints but I’ve long since switched to quarts; like any pickle these keep for months in the fridge but an opened jar never lasts that long in this household. Made batch #1 yesterday and will make more today.

08/19/2026

Thought you might like to see how big Snowman has gotten already. He’ll be a month old in a few days and is maturing nicely. Annie’s little brown calf is only a week and a half old but still isn’t much bigger than Snowman was at birth. Of course, Freya is a bigger cow than Annie as well and the higher Normande percentage blood will tell. Annie’s calf, dubbed so far only as Bubb, is just getting to the point of galloping around and wanting to play with the older calf; so cute. Bubb will be offered up for sale if anyone’s interested; while not herd sire material he will make fine beef. Which is what we’ll do with him if he doesn’t sell.

We moved Gloria, Schadenne, Harley, Izzy, and Daisy from the west pasture over to the east field with the two older steers, Annie, Freya, and the babies. So, except for the two younger steers and the bull, all our cattle are in this one spot. There’s a lot of grass and clover in this field yet as the water table is higher and the soil is a heavier muck than the west pasture which was becoming overstressed from this drought. We could have just left those cows there and fed hay, we’ll feed hay in the east field anyway, but the plan is to allow the grass to rest without further grazing pressure. IF if if if we finally start getting some good rains, and soon enough, the grass will rebound and we’ll be able to graze it again through the fall and early winter. Hope springs eternal but we got skunked again last night. It is a joy to see the entire bunch together, they’re so pretty with their varied coat patterns and colors. I’ll get some footage of them all together to share with you soon. By the way, if you’re interested in Annie’s calf - he’ll be weaned and ready to go sometime just before Thanksgiving, text me at 734 449 0247 and we can talk about it.

Address

7500 Trotters Lane
Whitmore Lake, MI
48189

Telephone

(734) 449-0247

Website

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