After some twists, turns, and a few “surprise!” family emergencies around Thanksgiving, I did not have a chance to get checked out untill early this year. My doctors were rockstars, and for the most part, I’m back to my usual quirky self. But the bloodwork? It threw me a curveball! Cholesterol: fabulous. LDL (the “bad” one): superb. But my HDL – the “good” cholesterol that helps keep memory sharp – was alarmingly low at 44 mg/dL, just under the healthy range for women. So began my journey to boost my HDL, which, as you might’ve guessed, brought the Goth Spices to life!

From Brain Fog to Beetroot: How the Spices Began

To raise HDL, I was already doing the usual – eating the right foods and all. But, oddly enough, my HDL kept falling! Research led me to anthocyanins – those fabulous antioxidants found in dark-colored veggies and fruits like blueberries, black carrots, and, yes, beets. As much as I love most anthocyanin-rich foods, there are some that… let’s say we have a complicated relationship, like beets, radishes, and eggplants. But I couldn’t let that stop me.

Cue the idea: could I transform these tricky veggies into something magical, like spices? After a few experiments, I had a eureka moment – drying and blending them into earthy, spicy mixes. And the best part? They weren’t just healthy but actually delicious.

“Goth” Theme? Well, Here’s the Thing…

One day at lunch, with my newly beet-based black and purple “spice of the day,” a coworker quipped about my “Goth Diet.” And there it was – the theme! Dark, moody, and full of darkly colored charm, the Goth Spices were officially born.

These spices are no ordinary blends – most ingredients are grown right here at the farm with nothing but the love of our rescue animals and all natural goodness. For things like beets and radishes, which we didn’t grow ourselves, we sourced from organic farms nearby in Germantown and Carlisle. A few items, like vanilla and cloves, hail from tropical climates, but we make sure they’re as pure and organic as possible.

Our new gothic blends do look fabulous and taste even better! But those rich, vibrant colors? They’re all thanks to the beautiful, natural ingredients we’ve packed into every blend. No artificial coloring agents here—and there never will be. Just pure, lively hues from Mother Nature herself, making sure every sprinkle not only tastes amazing but looks like a masterpiece on your plate.

Drumroll, Please: Meet the Spooky Lineup

Each spice brings a bit of mystery and magic to your cooking, a nod to the darker, richer side of farm-to-table.

All our spice blends are officially bottled up and ready (though we’re always open to a dash of constructive feedback!). We’re working hard to get every last blend listed on the website as fast as our farm fingers can manage. But between gathering crabapples, tucking the garden in for winter, getting our aquaponics up and flowing to keep those fresh herbs coming all season, and—most importantly—making sure our rescue animals are cozy for the unpredictable Ohio winter… well, let’s just say it’s a spicy time around here! Thank you for your patience as we bring a little more flavor to your world.

The HDL Update

Fast forward a few months and, with a little help from my Goth Diet, my HDL’s back up! I’m now in the 40s, aiming to hit that golden 50 by next year. And, just because Halloween is the Goth Spice’s debut, don’t expect them to vanish after the season – they’ll be here year-round, because sometimes, a little touch of magic is just what the pantry needs.

The post So, What’s with the Goth Spices? appeared first on Drunken Duck Farm & Rescue.

The Great Bunny Relocation of 2024
With winter around the corner and soaring electric bills, we’ve moved our rabbits to the cozy bottom level of the barn. It’s warmer, more efficient, and just in time for their weekly cleanings and check-ups. We’re also gearing up for a big de-miting session to keep our fluffy friends happy and healthy. But don’t get too comfortable, bunnies—we’ve got plans for a brand-new rabbit enclosure set for summer 2025! Want to help fund some fluffy real estate? Donations welcome!

New Furry Friend Alert
Leilani, a Dutch rabbit whose previous owner joined the Army, is a new addition to our rabbitry and will be up for adoption after she has been evaluated. She arrived with a pinworm issue, but don’t worry—we’ve got it covered! Leilani is settling in nicely with the rest of our fluffle.

Rooster Drama
Castello, our indoor rooster, is missing his seeing-eye chicken. We’ve paired him with a temporary bantam hen, but the search is on for a permanent wingwoman!

Chicken Health Check
Wednesday, our 4-year-old handicap Samatra hen, came down with bumblefoot and an ear infection. With some TLC, antibiotics, and patience, she’s on the mend and will be back to her sassy self soon.

Pig Escapes and Cat Food Lures
Our pigs decided pasture life wasn’t for them and broke out, with Drew Baconmore taking a stroll down the road. Luckily, a scoop of cat food saved the day, and they’re all back safe and sound.

Fall Harvest Highlights
We wrapped up our black walnut harvest with four buckets full! We’ll be turning the husks into ink and dye, and the nuts will be for sale by the pound. Crabapple season is in full swing too, with endless jelly, candy, and cider possibilities.

Goth Chickens and Spooky Coops
Our Sumatra and black bantams now have a black chandelier in their coop, keeping the goth vibes going 24/7 with solar-powered mood lighting. Because, why not?

Minty Fresh Snacks (And a Catnip Surprise)
We did some mint garden thinning, treating our herbivores to fresh mint snacks. And in an accidental twist, I remembered I’d planted Nepeta racemosa—aka catMINT. After being mobbed by our cats, let’s just say we might be adding catmint treats to our product line!

A Spicy Situation… Literally!
We had a little mishap this week with one of our scorpion salt containers—turns out, vacuuming it up without a mask is a bad idea. Lesson learned: always gear up when dealing with the spicy stuff!

On the pepper front, we’ve moved four of our plants indoors to the hydroponic system now that cooler weather is rolling in. There’s still one last hot pepper toughing it out outside, but don’t worry—it’s coming in before the temps dip below 40. No chilly peppers here!

That’s the latest from Drunken Duck Farm. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for next week’s adventures—hopefully with fewer pig escapes!

Until then, stay warm, stay safe, and keep it quirky!

The post Weekend Update: Bunny Relocations, Pig Escapes, and Gothic Chickens! appeared first on Drunken Duck Farm & Rescue.

On Friday, I took the day off to prep for the festival, but instead, we were hit by high winds, power outages, and a flooded barn. By 7 p.m., we made the tough call to skip the festival and stay home to handle the storm damage. It was not how we expected to spend our weekend—fighting floods and downed trees was a bit more stressful than pretending to be a spice dealer.

Despite the chaos, there were some silver linings! Our Muscovy ducks decided it was time for a hatch party, and six little ducklings made their grand debut in the Not Duck Coop (The No Quack Shack). Since the power was out, we enlisted a Silkie chicken to become an honorary duck mom. The new family is now living happily ever after in the mini-chicken coop—until the next storm, of course!

The storm also brought us a couple more adventures—our boy pigs escaped and decided to help with cleanup, munching on fallen tree limbs and crabapples. And our newest security recruit, Josie Wales, had to be relocated to the main barnyard because, let’s face it, his kennel wasn’t going to survive those winds. (Fingers crossed his GPS collar did the trick.)

Sunday was spent cleaning up—grooming rabbits, fixing run lines, and making sure everyone stayed dry. While we didn’t hit our revenue goals this weekend, we’re not giving up! We’re planning to make up for it with other fall events, and we’re updating our website so our non-local fans can still enjoy our farm-grown spices from Drunken Duck Farm.

A huge thank you to the Germantown Pretzel Festival organizers, vendors, and attendees who braved the rain and mud! Despite the weather, you all made it happen, and we salute your dedication. We can’t wait to be back next year—hopefully with less rain!

Thanks for your support, and here’s to brighter days ahead! Stay tuned for next week’s update, and until then—stay dry, and keep an eye out for any surprise ducklings!

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