Tollen Farm News

OPENING DAY IS APRIL 6TH FOR THE 2012 SEASON!

2011-03-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

SAVE THE DATE!
COME SEE ALL THE NEW AND EXCITING ITEMS WE HAVE FOUND
TO HELP YOU DECORATE YOUR CREATED SPACES. WE HAVE
UNUSUAL, ECLECTIC, FUN, USEFUL, WHIMSICAL, AND AWESOME STUFF!
CHECK OUT THE FARM SHOPS AND PET SOME OF THE ANIMALS.
SAVE THE DATES! MAY 18 & 19TH AND COME TO THE THE ANNUAL
DONKEY BIRTHDAY PARTY
ADMISSION IS $1.00 PER PERSON.
JOIN US WHILE WE CELEBRATE THEIR BIRTHDAYS
SHARE SOME CAKE AND HAVE SOME LEMONADE
PLAY PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY
WHILE YOU ARE HERE, YOU'RE SURE TO FIND SOME GREAT TREASURES TO PURCHASE FOR YOUR OWN HOME OR GARDEN!

WINTER IS HERE!

2011-01-15T14:53:00.000-08:00

THERE REALLY ISN'T ANYTHING QUITE AS AWFUL AS MUD!
Oh how I hate to slip and slide through the mud to the barn!
It seems as if we are having plenty of RAIN to keep those fields slippery!
Have you ever WALKED RIGHT OUT OF YOUR BOOT? Yep, your foot keeps moving but your boot is planted in about a half a foot of mud and it stays put. The next thing you know is that your stocking foot is landing in "gooey" mud!
The best thing I can think of in those situations is to think about SPRING!
It will come one of these days and the grass will grow and the sun will shine.
Around here, the lambs are due to begin arriving in mid March, just in time for Spring Vacation from the local schools.
I don't usually let the moms and babies out of the barn until the lambs are about a week old. They need to "mother up" with their moms and get introduced to the flock. They also need shots and their tails need to be docked.
I will post some photos of the new lambs as soon as they begin to arrive.
Meanwhile we will all live with the MUD!

HORSE UPDATE

2010-08-03T11:10:00.000-07:00

AUGUST 2nd two of the horses were put in the round pen to begin training. The round pen, is just that, ROUND.
It is a 60 foot circle where 1 horse and 1 person can inter act in a controlled space.
The person's goal is to get the horse to Walk, Trot. Whoa. and Stand on command.
It also gives the trainer a place to work off some of the horse's EXTRA ENERGY safely!
Many horses need time in the round pen to be able to settle down enough for a rider to safely mount and ride.
Our 4 horses are not broke to ride YET.
We are beginning at the BEGINNING!
Snowy and Baby Girl are the first two to be introduced to Sabra and the round pen training.
I watched and this morning, I took Huck in for a brief session. She was so worried about being there without her pals and watching them run around in the field, that it took most of her time in the pen to just get her to pay attention to me and then to WALK around the circle.
TROT isn't an option with her yet. She finally settled down and would complete 2 whole circles with me walking fairly close to her. She is not comfortable very far from me right now.
Next in the pen was Polly.
She did pretty well EXCEPT for wanting to STOP all the time and eat the grass. When I got her past that point, she walked the circle with me quite a ways away from her on the long line and also was able to complete a couple of circles at a trot. WHOA is yet to be accomplished quickly.
We will update our progress with the horses and put in a couple of photos as soon as we get a new camera!

DONKEYS ON PARADE

2010-07-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO SHOW OFF OUR HERD.
WE ARE OPEN THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY APRIL
THROUGH SEPTEMBER FROM 10 TO 4.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME AT ANOTHER TIME THAT WORKS IN YOUR SCHEDULE, PLEASE CALL TONIE AT :
503-682-1604.
THERE ARE PRESENTLY, 12 DONKEYS IN OUR HERD.
STARTING WITH THE OLDEST AND WORKING DOWN THROUGH THE HERD, HERE ARE THEIR NAMES:

CHOCOLATE DELIGHT a chocolate brown jenny
SERENA a slate grey jenny with a black nose
SHADOW a slate grey jenny with a white blaze on face
COWBOY a spotted, brown, grey. white jack, (our stud jack)
CISCO KID a dark brown jack ,( stud jack )
SMOOCHIE a grey-dunn jenny
EMMA a grey-dunn jenny
COMMANCHE MOON a spotted jack ( stud jack)
CHOCOLATE'S SUPRISE red and brown jenny
PONCHO grey dunn gelding
TINKER BELL grey dunn jenny
BRONCO BILLY grey dunn jack with red and black ears and black stripe

He Has A Name!

2010-07-06T21:05:00.000-07:00

Our new little donkey finally has a name.
As I said in my last post, it takes me a while to pick the "right" name foe the new babies around the farm.
He will be called BRONCO BILLY from now on. Of course, that will get shortened to BRONCO in no time.
He loves to race around the pasture with his tail straight out and his little nose up in the air. He bucks like a rodeo bronco just for the fun of it. He is full of life and seems to be enjoying it immensely!
He comes right up to the fence to be petted.
Like all mini donkeys, he loves attention.
I have not put him with the older group of babies yet. I will eventually add, Smoochie, Serena and Bronco Billy in with the rest of the female donkey herd.

It has been said ,by many breeders, that a male donkey ,(known as a jack), will often times try to kill a youngster that is not his offspring.
I would not take any chances with any of my donkeys!

I recently watched one of my jacks go after a little dog who ventured into his pasture. Donkeys do not like dogs. They will attack one if it enters their field. Many folks use mini donkeys to protect their sheep from dogs and coyotes for this very reason.

A donkey will chase it's prey head on and strike at it with their front feet and their teeth. They roll the offending animal under their hoooves and stomp it to death.

NEW BABY DONKEY ARRIVES AFTER 13 MONTHS OF WAITING!

2010-06-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

FINALLY!

The gestation period for mini donkeys is anywhere from 10 to 14 months so it is very hard to know exactly when a new baby will arrive. This little guy took 13 months and he is a winner!

Our newest baby donkey has arrived safe and sound. I found him trying to get all 4 of his legs coordinated so he could stand up, at 10:30 the other night in the barn with his mom, Smoochie.

It was Smoochie's first baby, and while she loved him to death and could not stop licking him, there was no way she was going to let that child nurse!
That area of her body was OFF LIMITS! She had no idea that she held the milk he needed to get going and make it in this new world. She would kick at him every time he tried to head in that direction or went behind her.

After about 3 hours of frustration on all 3 of our parts, I intervened and tied her up 3 ways until she had only 3 legs to stand on. Then I had to wait for him to find the right spot. Once he latched onto that teat he was a happy baby. I let him have as long a drink as he wanted and then I untied her and went to bed! By this time it was 2:30 in the morning! The next day ,when I went down to the barn, Mom and Baby were doing fine. Smoochie was allowing him to nurse with no problems.

He is now 2 weeks old and runs around the pasture like a little "wild man". His little tail is straight out and he flies along the ground. He loves to buck and jump up on his hind legs. I am trying to figure out the best name for him. It always takes me a while to come up with what seems to me to be the perfect name for the new animals around the farm.

Come out and visit. He is outside with his Mom, his Aunt, and his Grandma on good weather days.

lamb saved by quick thinking and good help!

2010-04-15T11:01:00.001-07:00

Saturday morning I was showing some folks the new lambs and right then one of the ewes began to lamb.

Eventually she produced a large fellow but he was not breathing

I got him breathing but then took a look to see what he was, boy or girl, and discovered that he was bleeding out!

His umbilical cord was herniated and protruding out of his belly!

I had the poor folks who were watching all this trauma, throw me a piece of twine that I used to tie off the bleeding area. I rushed up to the house to get my keys to take him to the vet.

Jenny Thrasher was here looking at a piece of furniture that she wanted to buy and she immediately offered to drive.

Thank goodness for her quick help.

Newberg Vet Hospital put him back together and I am happy to say that he is doing fine 6 days later.

Check out the wonderful photos that Jenny has on her BlogSpot.

Here is the link: http://jennythrasherphotography.blogspot.com

OPENING WEEKEND JUST AHEAD!

2010-03-25T11:48:00.001-07:00

SPRING BEGINS AT THE FARM!

OPENING DAY WILL BE APRIL 8

YES, WE WILL BE PART OF THE FAVORITE 5 COUNTRY FARMS

SPRING TOUR ! APRIL 9-10-11 & 16-17-18

THE FARM HOURS: THURSDAY THRU SATURDAY 10-4

2010 SPRING OPENING on APRIL EIGHTH at 10 AM

2010-03-15T18:14:00.000-07:00

JOIN US FOR OUR 2010 SPRING OPENING ON THE EIGHTH OF APRIL.
WE WILL BE OPEN FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM , THURSDAY THRU SUNDAY
IF THE WEATHER COOPERATES, THE NEW BABY LAMBS WILL BE
OUTSIDE WITH THEIR MOTHERS.
IF NOT, YOU CAN STILL SEE THE LLAMA , HORSES, AND MOST OF THE MINI DONKEYS. WE HAVE MANY WONDERFUL NEW ITEMS IN THE SHOPS AND IN THE GARDEN!
COME BROWSE THROUGH OUR ECLECTIC SELECTION .
YOU ARE SURE TO SPOT SOMETHING YOU WILL NEED TO TAKE
WITH YOU FOR YOUR OWN YARD OR HOME!
PUT APRIL 9, 10 & 11 AND APRIL 16, 17 & 18 ON YOUR AGENDA FOR THE

Favorite 5 Country Farms 5th annual SPRING TOUR OF FARMS!
You can get all the details from us and a map of the locations when you stop
by THE FARM.

TINKER BELL GETS READY FOR CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

HOLIDAY SHOPPING HOURS

2009-12-10T09:03:00.000-08:00

WE ARE OPEN
EVERY THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
10 AM TO 4 PM
DEC. 10 THROUGH DEC.20TH
JUST GIVE US A "JINGLE" IF YOU NEED TO STOP
BY AT ANY OTHER TIME TO DO ANY LAST
MINUTE GIFT BUYING

FOLLOW THE RED & WHITE SIGNS

2009-11-19T06:33:00.000-08:00

FAVORITE 5 COUNTRY FARMS

2009-11-19T04:38:00.000-08:00

4 th ANNUAL HOLIDAY TOUR BEGINS FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27th AT 10 AM!
Visit 5 farms in the Wilsonville-Sherwood area and have a wonderful day!
Every farm has something different to offer in the way of Holiday gifts, and greens.
Find the perfect Christmas tree at Rolling Rock farm,
get a fresh holly bough and a hand woven scarf at Monte Bella Ranch,
add some sparkel to your life with jewelry from Pure Pizazz,
check out the clothing made from the fibres of Alpacas at Elan',
and buy a unique gift at Tollen Farm.
Enjoy watching the friendly farm animals,
have a cup of cider and a cookie or two.
Make new family memories.
Follow the red and white Favorite 5 signs.
Friday thru Sunday from 10 to 4
The last day of the Tour is December 13.

Tollen Farm will be open
Friday November 27th until Sunday December 20th
10 to 4 Thurs thru Sunday for your Christmas Shopping.
You are sure to find some great gifts here!

TEN TOP THINGS HAPPENING ON THE FARM NOW

2009-10-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

1. Our newest baby donkey. She was born on September 27th.
We have not thought of the right name for her yet!
2. New Horse inspired metal garden pieces. Since the arrival
of the 4 rescue Arabian Mares last fall we have added
some interesting items to our shop. We are beginning to
collect cowboy and girl boots and we have an old calvery saddle on hand as well.
3. Sheep Shearing Day was last Sunday. It was the first time
that our llama, Jomocha Almond Fudge got shorn. She was a trooper!
4. The Horse Barn addition. Now we hope to be able to keep all 4 horses dry
this winter in the barn.
5. Lovely wool fleeces for sale from our flock.
6. Favorite 5 Country Farms Holiday Tour is just around the corner.
Mark your calendar for November 28. Go to the blogspot for all the information
This is year number 5 for this great family event. You will find a link
for Favorite 5 Country Farms on this site.
7. Comanche Moon is now a year old. He is our little spotted jack sired by
Cowboy. He is for sale and is a cutie!
8. LEAVES LEAVES LEAVES are falling! This not one of our favorite things as it
is impossible to keep them all raked up!
9. Fall Apples and Hazelnuts are falling off the trees in the orchard
10. The Squirrels are busy gathering all the nuts for winter dinners.

ANTIQUES&ART&AGRICULTURE THIS WEEKEND ! AUGUST 15 AND 16 HOURS 10 AM TO 6 PM START YOUR TOUR AT TOLLEN FARM ADMISSION IS $2.00 OR A CAN OF FOOD

2009-08-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

JAMOCHA ALMOND FUDGE

2009-08-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

2009-08-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

ANTIQUES&ART&AGRICULTURE

2009-07-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

AUGUST 15 AND 16
SAVE THESE DATES!
PLAN TO COME OUT AND TAKE THE TOUR
FAVORITE 5 COUNTRY FARMS IS AGAIN PUTTING ON A HUGE SUMMER EVENT
WE PARTNER WITH THE LOCAL WILSONVILLE FOOD BANK TO HELP OUR
NEIGHBORS.
ANTIQUES&ART&AGRICULTURE
IS A TOUR OF 4 FARMS.
EACH LOCATION WILLL HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS TO SEE AND ENJOY.
YOU CAN WATCH A HORSE SHOW, FEED THE GOATS , DONKEYS, HORSES, AND SHEEP, BUY ART, TASTE WINE, EAT FOOD, WATCH A SPINNING OR WEAVING DEMONSTRATION, CAPTURE THE DAY IN PHOTOGRAPHS, MAKE NEW FAMILY MEMORIES, FIND AN ANTIQUE TREASURE FOR YOUR YARD OR HOME, PICK OUT A BEAUTIFUL WOVEN GARMENT, SHARE THE FUN WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND MEET THE FARM OWNERS.

SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION!

2009-05-30T22:08:00.000-07:00

SIGN UP NOW
CALL TODAY

CALL: TONIE @ the farm 503-682-1604
TICKETS are $20.00 each or two for $30.00
Make your checks out to:Clackamas Co. Child Advocate's Building Fund
send them to:
Tollen Farm
11681 S W Tooze Road
Wilsonville, Or. 97070
visa also accepted in person when you purchase tickets at the door for $15.00 each
DON'T MISS THIS BENEFIT PARTY FOR CASA building fund
JUNE 20TH
4 PM TO 8 PM
TOLLEN FARM HOSTS:

LEW JONES ON THE GUITAR
TERRA VINA WINES ( $1.00 per taste )
Listen to the acoustical guitar music, taste the wine, pet the horses and donkeys, wander through the shops full of home and garden decor treasures, and enjoy the cheese, bread and salads provided by the farm for your pleasure.

Join us in the garden for a late afternoon and early evening SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION to benefit Clackamas County CASA's building fund.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

2009-05-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

WE HAVE OODLES OF GREAT GIFTS FOR MOM FOR MOTHER'S DAY!
COME ON OUT AND VISIT THE FARM SOON.
THE 4 RESCUED ARABIAN MARES ARE GETTING FAT ON THE SPRING GRASS
THE LAMBS ARE ENJOYING THE SUNNY DAYS OUT IN THE FIELDS
DONKEYS ARE BRAYING AT EACH OTHER TO SAY HELLO!
DOLLY AND BABY ARE ANXIOUS TO GREET EVERYONE
SPRING IS SO PRETTY HERE
DON'T MISS IT!
ANOTHER REMINDER!

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE 3RD ANNUAL
DONKEY BIRTHDAY PARTY
MAY 15TH AND 16TH FROM 10 TO 4
Join Emma,Smoochie, Commanche Moon,
and our newest little one, Chocolate Delight
for carrot cake, balloons, and lemonade
A dollar donation would be appreciated to help
buy carrots for all the animals!

OPENING WEEKEND APRIL 9-10-11-12

2009-04-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

CELEBRATE SPRING

JOIN US AT THE FARM FOR OUR

OPENING WEEKEND

The latest news is that we had a" surprise" little baby donkey bornWed. evening! Chocolate Delight presented us with a darlinglittle jennet . She will not be on view this weekend as the weatherlooks a bit wet. Mom and baby are doing fine and will be keptby themselves for a few days to get well acquainted without anyof the other female donkeys trying to steal her away from her mom! Yes, they do try that once in a while!The new baby's name is "Chocolate Surprise".

2009-04-03T07:02:00.000-07:00

FAVORITE 5 COUNTRY FARMS

4TH ANNUAL SPRING TOUR

APRIL 3, 4,5

HOURS 10 TO 4

DON'T MISS IT!

THE NEXT SIGN OF SPRING ON THE FARM!

2009-03-22T05:21:00.000-07:00

So far we have 7 new little lambs " on the ground". That means all of them arrived safely and are doing fine. A pair of twin ewe lambs were the first to arrive. Their mother's name is "Noisy", as she is constantly talking! The lambs are very cute. One is named Dot and the other one is Gracie.
The next to arrive was a big fella by the name of Peter. He was BIG! His momma did not have room to carry twins! At birth, he was one and a half times as big as one of the twin girls.
The third ewe to lamb had a pair of twin boys. Just for fun, we are calling them Target and Bulls Eye because of their markings.
Our Lincoln ewe had one very pretty , all white, little ewe. She has already been sold to a friend but she will live here. He has not seen her yet and therefore she does not have a name. I call her Camella.
Number seven is also a big boy. He had to be pulled, as did the twin rams. He was "stuck".
That means his head and 2 front feet were all trying to arrive at the same moment! The legs are bent at the "elbow" and make it very hard to push that baby out! Pulling each leg out straight, one at a time, then gives the mom a better chance of pushing that baby out. He does not have a name yet. He is not as large as Peter, but a close second.
There are still 2 ewes who have not lambed. I expect that the lambs will be here any day.
Both of the ewes will be happy to have their babies born and we will be glad to see them arrive.
We are always relieved when everybody arrives safely and is healthy.
Our new Romney ram did a great job . These lambs were up nursing in minutes and all of them are leaping and jumping around like little jumping beans. You can see them for yourself when you visit the farm.

SPRING OPENING!

2009-03-06T06:59:00.000-08:00

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

The farm opens this year on Friday, April 3rd.
Join us to welcome the new season!
It is the week before Easter and we will have lots of wonderful
Easter gifts.
Easter baskets filled with bulbs
Easter candy treats
Easter Bunnies,(MAYBE)
Little Lambs to see out in the field
New Linens for the table
Thousands of unique Home & Garden Items
On Friday, APRIL 3rd, 4th, and 5th, we join the ;
Favorite 5 Country Farms Spring Tour
Come to the farm and we will give you a map and flyer that will show you how to get to 3 other locations you can visit on an easy 8 mile Country loop drive. Meet the owners of these farms .
You can visit favorite5countryfarms.blogspot.com for all the details!

2009-02-19T12:05:00.000-08:00

HOW TIME FLIES!
It seems like the snow lasted FOREVER, but since it has melted, it seems like the days are flying by!
Here at the farm, the sheep are getting heavier carrying their lambs and probably can't wait to have those babies! The lambs are due to begin arriving about the second and third week of March. It is always a busy time NIGHT and DAY around here during lambing season. As far as the ewes are concerned, the nights are just as likely to be the "right" time to have their babies as the day time. All nighters' are not uncommon in the barn. Any volunteers for that shift?!
Most of the ewes have twins. Since a ewe, ( the mom sheep), is naturally built to handle two offspring that usually works out great. However, triplets do occur sometimes and that can create a shortage of a ready milk supply for the little ones. When a ewe has 3 lambs, we sometimes need to mix up some milk re placer and bottle feed a baby.
The moms are given plenty to eat and are always penned up with their babies in pens called "jugs" for about 4 days. This gives everyone time to bond and lets us take care of any medical needs the lambs may have . At the same time, we can see how well the lambs are doing too.
Ewes can count! If a momma is missing a baby she will call it until it comes to her. At first, moms and babies recognize each other by smell and sound .
We are mindful of the weather and do not put young lambs out in the rain. Sunny mild days will find the whole flock out in the pasture. Rainy days mean that everyone is in the barn. After the lambs are about a month old, they can be outside any time.
Spring is coming and there is no better way to announce it than to watch a bunch of new lams frolic in the field!
It is a time of new beginnings. We invite you to join us here on the farm to watch it bloom. The lambs, daffodils, apple trees, the 35 year old wisteria, nut trees and other fruit trees, roses,
little donkeys, horses, and a myriad of garden and home decor treasures. Come find something to take with you to give you a feeling of renewal in your own home and garden.

LET IT SNOW!!!!

2008-12-27T18:10:00.000-08:00

We have posted some photos of the beautiful winter scenes here on the farm. True, it meant that we did not see many of you out here shopping! Our wish is that you had a Joyous and Happy Holiday with your family and friends. If you now have "cabin fever", stay turned in and we will plan an end of WINTER SALE for sometime in March.

JOIN US FOR THE 3RD ANNUAL:

2008-12-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

FAVORITE 5 COUNTRY FARMS HOLIDAY TOUR
JUST CLICK ON THE LINK TO THE BLOGSPOT
FOUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAGE TO
DOWNLOAD A MAP
EVERY FRIDAY THRU SUNDAY THROUGH DEC 21ST

BIG NEWS COMES IN BIG SIZES!

2008-12-05T21:30:00.000-08:00

OH WOW, WHAT INTERESTING NEWS HERE AT THE FARM !
We have "adopted" 4 beautiful Arabian Mares in the past 2 months.A friend of mine read an article in the Oregonian newspaper about some abandoned horses that were to be auction off the last day of September. I saw the advertisement on Craig's List for the same auction and told him about it. We decided to go. Of course, neither of us knew what to expect.
There were about 20 horses in the barn.Each stall had a clipboard attached to tell you the name and age and sex of the horse. Bids were to be written on the bid sheets until 3 PM that same day.
At 3 PM the horses were sold one at a time to the highest bidder. Ages ranged from 6 months old to about 24 years in age. We picked some out that we liked ,for one reason or another, and bid on them as they came up for sale. We ended up with 4! All of these horses had been abandoned by their owner and left to die!
If it had not been for the kindness and good heart of the farm owner they would have died. She fed them and farmed them out to friends until she could file a lean on the owner and get permission to sell the animals . Some of them were hard for her to part with as the family became attached to the horses. A few of the animals did not have names that were known so they were given temporary names. Two of those mares ended up here at Tollen Farm. The other two we purchased do have names that don't suit them but will do until we think of better ones!
All of the girls are halter broken and friendly. They range in age from 2 1/2 yrs. to 6 yrs.

TWO PEAS IN A POD

2008-11-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

These two boys have been here on the farm for quite a while. When you come to the farm, you will probably be greeted by "Cookie" but you will not even catch a glimpse of "Dancer".
Dancer is the orange cat in the basket and Cookie is the black and white one. They sleep together at the back door every night. In the morning they eagerly await the opening of the back door and the morning ritual of greetings, petting and best of all, a full bowl of food! Even Dancer, who is extremely shy, will allow a small bit of back petting before he gets his food.
He immediately runs off the porch when anyone comes near the back porch or the back door opens a second time. He has been acting that way for the past 13 years . He arrived as a wild little "gift" kitten and just never felt comfortable around humans. When Cookie arrived as another stray "gift"kitten, they worked it out and Cookie became "boss cat". They just love curling up in the big basket and keeping warm just like two peas in a pod.

VISITORS FROM JAPAN

2008-10-31T10:44:00.000-07:00

Oh what an experience these young people from Japan had at the farm this week!They loved petting the donkeys and getting their photo taken with one.
Of course, the little guy, Comanche, was a favorite!

Jamocha Almond Fudge, our baby llama, was NOT about to let ANYONE touch her. She is pretty shy around strangers.

Then they visited the sheep barn, met the new ram, got to see and touch various types of wool, and find out what different kinds are use for commercially. While touring the farm,they saw all the ewes out in the field under the filbert trees . Picking an apple off the trees in the orchard to eat was a treat for them too. We enjoyed their visit as much as they enjoyed coming!
Some of them found treasures to buy in the shop. Everyone had a good time.

A SAD DAY

2008-10-31T09:02:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, October 25th Momma Llama died. She was not doing well on Friday and Saturday morning our vet came to see her. We tried everything we could to save her but it just wasn't to be. Her little cria, ( cree ya), is 10 weeks old and really too young to be without her momma! However, she is now eating hay, drinking water, and getting a grain and milk replacer pelleted food to help her continue to grow and be healthy.
She is also becoming tamer and petting her is an option, if done with care and in a calm manner. Llamas do not like to be touched on their face or head. Jamocha Almond Fudge does like her neck rubbed and her back petted. She likes to put her face up to yours and touch you with her nose and mouth. Llama kisses are a new experience!

MEET OUR NEW RAM

2008-10-15T21:25:00.000-07:00

The handsome guy you see on the right rubbing noses with one of his new "girl friends" is our new ram. He is a purebred Romney Ram raised by Dr.Fred Fredricks of Pin Oaks Farm in Aurora,Oregon. We are very happy to have him on the farm, but will keep our distance. He is not used to people so he is somewhat afraid of being too close right now,and keeping it that way is a very good idea with a ram! Having a big guy like him who weighs about 300 pounds decide to "ram" into you at any speed, is no picnic in the park! Fortunately, it is usually possible to sidestep a "hit",( if you are looking in the right direction when he decides to charge) ,if not, you will be knocked down.We do not have a name for him yet.
His previous owner, Fred, has been raising and breeding top notch Romneys for many years. He spent time in New Zealand with breeders there researching and helping develop the finer qualities of the Romney breed. He brought back semen from Australia and New Zealand rams to introduce those blood lines into US Romney flocks through artificial insemination.
The cross between the ewes on the farm and this ram should make great market lambs. You can judge for yourself next spring. The lambs will begin arriving on about March 10Th.
The flock consists of 10 ewes,4 Lincolns and 6 Hampshires. We also have 5 ewe lambs that will not be bred this year.

FALL IS CREEPING UP ON US!

2008-09-30T13:24:00.001-07:00

As you can see in the picture of a part of one of the Sweet Gum trees that line the driveway, the leaves are just beginning to turn color. By the time they are through with their fall show of color, they will be a dark plum color.
The hay is getting put in the barn for winter and the new RAM arrived yesterday. He will go out with the ewes in a couple of days. There are always a "million" or so things to do before the fall rains really hit! There never seems to be quite enough time to get it all done!
Just a reminder, the farm is CLOSED for October and most of November. If you would like to visit us during that time, please call for an appointment. We will reopen the day AFTER THANKSGIVING for the Favorite 5 Country Farms Holiday Tour.

DON'T MISS THIS WEEKEND'S SALE DAYS!

2008-09-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
September 26, 27, and 28
DRAW A DISCOUNT OUT OF THE BOX
THAT IS YOUR PERCENTAGE OFF OF
ANYTHING YOU BUY THAT DAY
(PERCENTAGES RANGE FROM 20 TO 40 %)
FURNITURE AND WATER COLORS ARE NOT
INCLUDED IN THE SALE BUT ALL THE
REST OF THE MERCHANDISE IS!
ENJOY

OH MY GOSH

2008-09-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

JAMOCHA ALMOND FUDGE HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN SIZE IN 5 1/2 WEEKS!
COMANCHE MOON is the name we settled on for the new baby mini donkey. He has not grown as fast as the baby llama. He will be 1 month old this Thursday.
He is much more "user friendly" than the llama. He will come up to be petted, but Jamocha will not do that. She does come up to me in the field sometimes and if I lean over a bit so we are at eye level, she puts her nose up to mine and sniffs my face all over. We hum to each other. Yes, llamas HUM to communicate!
JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT THIS IS OUR FINAL WEEKEND OF THE REGULAR SEASON AND WE HAVE A HUGE SALE GOING ON!!
COME OVER
PICK A DISCOUNT FIGURE OUT OF THE BOX
BUY YOUR HEART'S DELIGHT WITH THAT DISCOUNT.
SEE YOU
THURS. through SUN.
FROM 10 to 4

JUST FOR YOU!

2008-09-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND COME TO THE FARM THIS WEEKEND,
(A WEEK BEFORE OUR BIG SALE), AND MENTION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE
THE "EARLY BLOG READER DISCOUNT", YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY SHOPPING
AHEAD OF THE CROWD AND GET A BIG DISCOUNT TOO!
THIS OFFER IS FOR SEPTEMBER 18,19,20,AND 21.
NOTE: FURNITURE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE DISCOUNT.

FALL UPDATE

2008-09-17T09:04:00.000-07:00

FALL END OF SEASON SALE-
SEPTEMBER 25,26,27,AND 28!
DRAW A DISCOUNT OUT OF THE BOX
GET THAT AMOUNT OFF YOUR PURCHASES THAT DAY.
NOTE: DOES NOT INCLUDE FURNITURE

Our schedule says that we are shearing the sheep this week end, however, we cannot find the shearer!
It is time to get them sheared. We shear in the fall so that the sheep have enough time to grow some fleece before it gets too cold but not enough time to be so "wooly"
that they take up too much room in the barn. Getting "brushed" by them as they run by, is like getting hit with a very wet sponge, pretty soon you are soaked!
If anyone reading this knows of a good shearer, call us!
Just a couple of reminders, we will be open until the last Sunday in September and our Fall Sale will be a good one. You can draw a coupon for your discount when you arrive. It will be the amount of savings you get that day. Don't miss this opportunity to save on something you like.
We will reopen for the Favorite 5 Country Farms Holiday Tour the day after Thanksgiving. You will be able to visit farms that feature different things and are all located within a 4 mile radius. Pick out a Christmas tree at Rolling Rock Farm, find some great jewelry at Pure Pizazz and get your Christmas shopping done at Tollen Farm, we may also include a local winery in the tour. You will be able to sample and buy wonderful wine from them.

BIG NEWS COMES IN SMALL PACKAGES!

2008-08-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

WHEW WHAT A WEEK!
The farm has two new babies! The first new baby arrived on Saturday afternoon. Momma Llama gave birth to a baby girl. We could call this new little one SUPRISE as she was definitely that! The mother has only lived here for about 4 months and I had no idea that she was going to have a baby! She was not at all tame when she arrived but got to the point where she would eat out of my hand and let me touch her neck. It's a good thing that she trusted me as I helped bring her daughter into the world. There was quite an audience watching the whole thing, including the lady who drove in the driveway to tell me that the llama was giving birth out in the field! Imagine my disbelief and astonishment! All the visitors to the farm helped. One lady kept Cowboy out of the way, as he was in the same field as the llama, and another couple got apples to feed him and keep him occupied. I did not want him too close to the mom and baby.
The neighbors all sat on the grass in their yard and watched her arrive. Everybody took photos. Little "Mocha" got a slow start as Momma Llama did not really have any milk at first for her newborn. I gave her a bottle that night and she slurped down 8 ounces of milk. The next day I got some colostrum from the farm store and gave her a couple of bottles. By Wednesday, her momma had plenty of milk for her. Mom and baby are doing fine.
Today, Thursday, I had a group of people here this morning and as we looked at all the donkeys, I made the comment that Moon Beam looked ready to have her baby today.
Sure enough, as soon as I was busy with other things, she did just that! By the time I discovered her little pinto jack, he was up, dry, and going to sleep on his feet! Sometimes, after they are born,the babies can't figure out how to lay down and they are so tired they almost sleep on their feet. It helps to lay them down but when I tried to do that, Moon Beam came over and body blocked me away from her son. She was just reminding me that SHE was his MOM and she would take full care of him! Most momma donkeys do not like people or anything else to get too near their new babies for a couple of days. They like to stand between everything else and their offspring. If it isn't raining this week end, both babies will be outside where you can see them.

A QUICK RECAP

2008-08-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

ANTIQUES & Art is over for another year. We had great fun putting it on and look forward to next year being bigger and better. It is always a learning experience
to create and run a huge event for the public.
The Wilsonville Community Sharing Program collected 859.00 in cash and 800 pounds of food for the food bank. That is wonderful news. The volunteers who took care of gate receipts and counting visitors were friendly and did a super job.
Our vendors outdid themselves with their creativity and goods for sale. The carriage rides with Don Price and Johnny Blue Eyes, were a great addition to this season's show.
A big THANK YOU goes out to everyone who participated and came to the event.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! THE ROAD IS DONE

2008-07-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

Hooray! The new road is finished. You can now drive from one side of Wilsonville to the other and go right by my driveway..........wait just a minute...don't go by my driveway, turn in and see all the wonderful "stuff" we have here.

ANTIQUES & Art

2008-07-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

THE favorite 5 country farms summer event is just ONE WEEK away.
This show is a MUST SEE!
WE WILL NOT BE OPEN AT THE FARM ON AUGUST 7,8,9 AND 10
WE WILL BE AT ANTIQUES & ART at Rolling Rock Farm which is just up the road from Tollen Farm about a mile and a half. You can follow the RED and WHITE favorite 5 signs along the road.
DETAILS :
The DATES and HOURS
FRIDAY : AUG. 8th 2.00PM to 8 PM
SATURDAY: AUG. 9th 10AM to 8 PM
SUNDAY: AUG. 10th 10 AM to 4PM
GREAT ART: COOL ANTIQUES: FANTASTIC MUSIC: HOME COOKED FOOD:
GO TO OUR WEB SITE FOR ALL THE DETAILS:
http://www.http:;//favorite5countryfarms.blogspot.com

BIRD FENCES

2008-07-03T13:45:00.001-07:00

Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see an enlarged photo of the new bird fence panels available. They can be purchased in green, white or rust finish. As they are quite popular, you will need to order them. To see a yard installation, just drive down Washington Street near 2nd Ave, in Sherwood, Oregon.
They really add a wonderful cottage flavor to this house.

TOOZE ROAD NEWS FOR JULY 10 11 12 13

2008-06-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

TOOZE ROAD SHOULD BE OPEN THIS WEKEND.
IF CREWS ARE PAINTING THE STRIPES ON THE ROAD, YOU MAY HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES... PLEASE BE PATIENT,(I have been for a year now), IT'S WORTH THE WAIT!
IF YOU ARE COMING FROM PORTLAND ON I-5,TAKE EXIT 286,
THAT IS THE STAFFORD EXIT OFF I-5.
TURN RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAMP AND GO TO DAY ROAD.
TURN LEFT ONTO DAY ROAD AND GO TO THE STOP LIGHT.
TURN LEFT ONTO GRAHAMS FERRY ROAD AND GO ALL THE WAY TO THE STOP SIGN AT TOOZE ROAD.
TURN LEFT ONTO TOOZE ROAD AND LEFT INTO THE FARM DRIVEWAY.

COLOR YOUR GARDEN ! ZINNIA WEEKS JUNE 5-15

2008-06-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

WOW! Will we EVER get to plant the garden this spring?!
It will be summer soon!
We have a color solution for you . Come on over to the farm and pick up some zinnias and a "garden to go!" to brighten up the yard. It seems as if the rain has knocked off all the earlier flowers so everything is GREEN.
GREEN is good but some INSTANT COLOR would really perk it up.
We have state fair zinnias in a variety of colors and spreading zinnias that stay close to the ground and spread out.
You'll see a picture on this page of the neat new metal fence panels we found that just hook together. Little birds grace the leaves on the panels. There are some new trellises and metal garden stakes. We will also have some of these items with us at the Sherwood Saturday Market on June 7th.

2008-05-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

CLOSED SATURDAY, MAY 31st
PLAN TO ATTEND:
ART IN THE PARK in Wilsonville this weekend
and
The CANBY WINE AND ART FESTIVAL too!

JUST FOR YOU!

2008-05-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

We are always on the look out for new and interesting items for you.
In an effort to make sure you get the best "stuff" at the best prices, we will be CLOSED this Saturday, May 31st,
The old saying, "The Early Bird Gets The Worm", couldn't be truer when it comes to the cash and carry, antique,and one of a kind items, section of the Portland Gift Show! We will, post some photos of what we find on this blog page next week.
Speaking of next week, starting Thursday, June 5th, we will begin ZANEY ZINNIA WEEK. I know, I know, the sun needs to SHINE to get these flowers producing an abundance of blooms , but we're going to give you a head start with these plants. We will have 2 types of zinnias for you to choose from, tall garden "state fair" zinnias and spreading zinnias. The spreading plants travel along the ground and the flowers are much shorter, but they are just as colorful as the tall ones. To me, nothing says summer more than a garden full of these richly colored flowers!
If you have the opportunity to do so, check out the article about TOLLEN FARM in the new issue, June and July, of The Country Register. The front cover features lavender.
The photo feature on our blogspot this week is of out 35 year old wisteria. When the sun came out, so did the flowers and when the rain hit, the flowers began to fade and fall, It is glorious when it bloome each May and it always smells devine!

SMOOCHIE & EMMA INVITE YOU TO THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY

2008-05-12T18:34:00.000-07:00

THE "LITTLE" GIRLS ARE TURNING ONE! EMMA WAS BORN IN APRIL OF 2007 AND SMOOCHIE WAS BORN IN MAY OF 2007. THEY WANT YOU TO COME TO THEIR BIRTHDAY PARTY THIS WEEKEND. The party is all day long from 10 AM to 4 PM on Friday, May 16th and Saturday, May 17th. Enjoy some Carrot Cake , drink some lemonade, and stroll around the farm. We have lots of new decor items to tempt you for your home and garden .
You are welcome to bring carrots or cut up apples for all the donkeys, and the sheep, but please, ASK BEFORE YOU FEED THEM! If everyone gave them something to eat, they would get a huge belly ache!
We may be able to set up an opportunity for you to have your child's photo taken with one of the donkeys,( we have 10 of them ). Bring your camera! If your child is lucky enough to be the right size to sit on a mini, and you want their picture taken on one, we will put them up on the donkey's back and you can take the photo. There will be a charge of $5.00 for that photo opportunity. These minis eat lots of hay and neeed to earn their keep. Donkeys are very social animals and they Love people, just remember to WALK AND TALK QUIETLY when you are around animals. If you run and jump and yell, they will too! (They will run and jump to the far end of the pasture.)
You can park in our field as it looks like we will have nice weather for both days. Please park with the front end of your car head in to the fence.
We do not have a public restroom here so stop at the Cheveron station in Wilsonville before you get here. We do have handi wipes to clean your hands after you pet the animals....before you eat a piece of the cake! Come to the farm and have some fun.
This is a treasure of a find and you will find a treasure to take home with you.

MEMORIES OF MOM

2008-05-08T14:44:00.000-07:00

Everyone has memories stored away in their mind,in the old shoe box full of pictures, (you always ment to make into an album),on old family movies and videos,letters from loved ones, stories told by relatives, and LOTS of those impressions and memories were influenced by MOM.
This week end we celebrate MOMS everywhere. Bring your MOM out to the farm and if she WEARS A HAT, she gets a free plant. MOMS, bring your family with you to enjoy the ambiance and pure beauty of the countryside.
This is a treasure of a find to visit and you'll find a treasure to take home with you from Tollen Farm.We look forward to meeting you.
COME -ENJOY- BREATHE DEEPLY -RELAX

MAY DAY WEEKEND

2008-05-01T20:27:00.000-07:00

WE WELCOME YOU TO COME SEE THE APPLE ORCHARD IN BLOOM AND SMELL THE APPLE BLOSSOMS!
NOTHING COULD BE SWEETER THAN STANDING UNDER THE TREES, HEARING THE BEES BUZZ AND TAKING IN THE FRAGRANCE OF THE NEWLY OPENED BLOOMS. WHILE YOU ARE HERE, TAKE THE TIME TO WANDER THROUGH THE GARDEN AREA AND THE SHOP. YOU ARE SURE TO SPOT A TREASURE THAT BELONGS IN YOUR GARDEN OR HOME. COME OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN. PET THE DONKEYS AND WATCH THE BABY LAMBS LEAP IN THE AIR TO CELEBRATE LIFE!
WE WILL BE OPEN AT THE FARM AND ALSO HAVE A BOOTH AT THE SHERWOOD SATURDAY MARKET WHICH OPENS THIS SATURDAY ON PINE STREET IN OLD TOWN, SHERWOOD. THE MARKET HOURS ARE FROM 9 TO 1. YOU CAN SEE US AT ONE PLACE OR THE OTHER, OR MAKE A DAY OF IT AND SEE BOTH OUR BOOTH AT THE MARKET AND THE FARM. check out our web site at:
www.tollenfarm.com

2008-04-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

SPRING HAS SPRUNG ! : TOLLEN FARM opens for the season
THURSDAY, APRIL 17,2008 AT 10 A M through SUNDAY APRIL 20 - 10 to 4 daily
Our lambs were late arriving this year so we are late opening the farm to all of you!
We have 9 new baby lambs and they will be out in the pasture with their mommas this week end,( if it doesn't snow!). Plants are beginning to arrive and the herbs are flourishing. With the weather as cold as it has been this spring, (and wet), it is really too soon to plant much. Roses, bare root trees, shrubs, grapes and berries are all OK. Perennials are beginning to peak up out of the ground and the peonies are growing daily! Come out and wander around the garden and through the shop and you are sure to find a treasure or two to take home to enhance your own living space. We'll give you a cup of coffee to keep you warm. Button up your overcoat, put on your boots and head out to the farm. You'll love it here and want to make it a frequent shopping stop.
YOU WILL FIND
Gardens to Go! Trellises & Arbors Pots &Metal Containers
Water Colors Garden Benches & Gates Italian Ceramics
Herbs, Plants Unique Garden Decor Items One of a kind Home Accents
P S: The donkeys and sheep LOVE carrots or apples cut into pieces. However, if you do bring them treats, please ask before you feed them anything.