Well now, I should have said "Had" in place of all the "haves"... I've recently moved and will have to totally restock the stock :) Different (harsher) climate requires a few different practices and breeds.

I had a couple of Alpine/Saaran cross does, but will need to go to a heat hardier breed with smaller bags. The ground is rocky and there are a lot of rip and tear sorts of plants here that are hard on large, low hanging teats. There is a popular mixed breed in use here that is small, tougher than nails and seems to live on rock and cactus spines... Will need 3 to meet the milk production of One of my previous nannies though!

Same with the chickens... Orpingtons would have issues with the heat in combination with their tendency to get fat. Rhode Island Reds do okay (I hear) along with White Leghorns. I'm thinking of trying Ameracunas though, because they have a wilder nature and are leaner and hardier, thus more likely to survive the heat and coyotes and coy-dogs I've seen here already. They are just deadly on the snakes too, which is a huge benefit.

Right now, I am working on the winter garden. Not much good soil available, so lots of time and hard work rocking up some planting beds and trips to the seasonal creek for soil I can work with. lol I just hope I can get it all done before the real weather sets in!

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