Sunday Walkabout 3-13

a sure sign of Spring!

Wow! It has been a productive week here on the hill.

I do love a productive week.

Although, I must admit, I don’t  care for the sore muscles and tiredness that come along with a good week’s work. But, that’s why I appreciate Sunday (and ibuprofen) so much.

Things seem to move along at warp speed this time of year as new jobs pop up at every turn.  The weather has been incredibly warm and it is really beginning to look like we pretty much missed winter weather this year. (no complaints from me about that)

finishing up the field pen

The Boss completed the broiler pen early in the week. But, before he could put it in position in the field, Angus needed to move out of the tractor shed and into his own paddock. 

I think he knew something was about to happen.

Time to try out the ram hauler!

I must admit, I had my doubts about this contraption. But, anything would be better than some of the ways we’ve attempted to move rams over the years. Herding a single animal with flocking instincts is difficult and trying to lead an animal that isn’t halter-broke is a nightmare…so, you can believe me when I say this worked like a dream!

He walked in, he rode along, he hopped out…and presto…he’s re-located.

isn't he handsome?

I don’t think he was too thrilled to find that he was still all alone, but he has adjusted nicely. The ewes aren’t so happy…they know when the Boss fires up the tractor that something is happening. And, they can smell that fresh, green grass and they keep standing at the fence protesting their unfair confinement.

one more load of hay

They were somewhat consoled when we picked up the last load of hay from the hay guy. We aren’t in the desperate straits concerning the hay supply that we were this time last year, but, we had the hay on reserve, so it was important to follow through and pick it up. Besides, this way we’ll be ahead for next year. A big thanks to the kids for helping the “old folks” unload and stack. 

moving the pen to the field

new pen in position and ready for birds

With the ram moved, the broiler pen completed, the hay stacked and the tractor parked in the newly cleaned tractor shed, the Boss finally completed a project he started last season. He put gravel and pavers in the processing shed. Not only does this look nicer, but it will give me a level place to stand on processing days. I can’t wait to try it out.  I do need to scrub the walls and the sink and we’re ready for the season. But, it won’t be long. Just five weeks to the first processing day…

Let’s face it...the season is rolling...we might as well say it’s Spring.

While some folks might note the first robin or daffodils as the first sign of Spring…for me, it’s algae in the stocktank. The first stretch of warm weather brings a bloom of green scum that has to be addressed on a regular basis. It’s not particularly good for the animals to drink the algae and the best way to clean it is to use a scrub brush. There are water additives out there that keep the algae at bay, but most of them contain levels of copper that would kill the sheep.  Someone suggested goldfish, but, I can imagine how the little fishies swimming around their noses would make the sheep freaky. 

So, I just keep scrubbing…

so clean and tidy...

However, my reason for being in the barnlot had nothing to do with the stocktank or goldfish. As unbelievable as it might seem, given this week’s amazing temperatures, this time last year we were digging out from a nearly a foot of snow! The only way to get the creep feeder clear for the lambs was to use a shovel to remove the snow and open it up. The metal shovel left deep gouges in the top of the feeder that were starting to rust. This was only going to get worse...and a creep feeder with no top is of no use. And, while I keep asking for another creep feeder, I want an additional one, not a replacement. They are not cheap, so we need to take good care of what we have. Good thing I love to paint!

before 

It just wouldn't be a barn job without a little helping NOSE from "Girlfriend"!

finished feeder back in use

But, even my paint job failed to impress the sheep. They are seriously hung up on the scent of fresh, green grass...out there...

it won't be long until it's time to graze once more

Although, honestly, I don’t know how they can smell it, because to the uninitiated, this time of year is just plain stinky. I can guarantee you’re not aware of any “fresh floral scents” as the sprayer trucks, spreader trucks and tractors head out to get the fields ready for crops. I have heard more than one farmer refer it as the “smell of money”…and, while that may be true, it’s a little odoriferous when the wind is blowing just right. Read this old post about “spring spreadin’ “  Click HERE.  

compost on middle garden

We did our share of spreading, too---although on a much smaller scale. The Boss put compost on the middle garden before plowing it and the back garden. The middle garden will see broccoli plants in less than a month...and ‘taters will be going out back real soon. I spread the compost out over the asparagus patch in hopes of a bumper crop---in another month or so.

finished asparagus patch

plowing the middle garden

you have to look closely...but, there are signs that Spring IS coming!

In other news, "lamb racing" season is in full swing. It's hilarious to watch and we have absolutely no reason to ever be bored. 

look at the extension!
look at the muscling!

racing is on an endless repeat cycle for a while in the Spring

...and there they go the other way...

With time getting ever shorter until Opening Day, it’s time to get serious about the hoophouses. 

There is a WHOLE lot of work to do.  One day, I put in some onion sets (for green onions) and some seeds, turned on the irrigation system and went on my way.

When I went back later to weed the green garlic and shallots, it was evident that the water had never gotten to my completed project. Not only had it not gotten any water, there had been a flood on the other side of the hoophouse.

An investigation was launched.

Apparently, a rat found that hoophouse living suited her quite well.  Can’t say that I blame her. Protection from the elements and fresh groceries 24/7 and an old hay bale made for a most luxurious rat habitat…but, I guess a water supply proved to be a problem. So, she ate a three-inch hole in the supply line hose. Every time I turned on the water, a flood ensued just below the rat housing.

eaten hose

If you’re wondering how I know it was a rat…oh, I know. I’m really surprised all of Mbrk doesn’t know. I picked up the hay bale that we were using to insulate the irrigation regulator from freezing…and the rat looked at me from her lovely little home. I screamed. The rat looked terrified and scurried away. The dogs came barking furiously to the “rescue”. The hens (who were enjoying the hoophouse weeds right outside the door) all shrieked and flew off.

Then, I found a rat nest. Fortunately, the rat had not yet had the babies as the nest was still in pristine condition. I’m sure all of Mbrk is grateful for this, because I cannot convey to you the ruckus that would have ensued if I had put my hand into an entire nest full of baby rats!

repairing the rat damage

The Boss was summoned and the system repaired.

The shallots and green garlic don’t seem to have suffered from the extra watering, although I now know that it is much better to water AFTER weeding. My gloves may be dry by next week…and my jeans smell like algae and are covered in mud. And, I don’t know when I will be able to wear my boots indoors again. But, the weeding is done.

I am SO excited about the shallot crop!

Ah, yes…Spring.

The hoophouses will be the focus of our full attention in the upcoming week. (and I’m really hoping that the rat is too traumatized to ever attempt to move back in) Those little seeds I started a couple of weeks ago have become healthy, hearty seedlings that are just waiting to be transplanted. I love putting the transplants in the ground, it looks so beautiful and holds such promise.

seedlings

beautiful sunlit lettuce

…and that was the week on the hill.

 

all tuckered out after some serious "lamb racing"

I hope you have a Happy Sunday! 

Thanks for stopping by…come visit us again real soon.

P.S. It's National Ag Week
…does Ag mean anything to you?

All Hail the "Hefty Wife"

---this is somewhat dated. It's been languishing in my draft folder for a while---

One cold, dark January morning, I found myself standing in the chicken yard, in the dark, in the bitter cold, bracing against the diggin’ bar while holding a flashlight, before breakfast… I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself.

this is a photo of a diggin' bar, in the dark, in the chicken yard
(you will have to imagine the cold)

And, then the Boss laughed out loud when I said...

It sure is a good thing I am a hefty wife!  

…and while I know I need to lose more than a few pounds (at least that’s what that silly little BMI chart says) I’m not making any sort of self-deprecating statements or feeling bad about myself. I take more than a little pride in being "a hefty wife"!

I guess I should explain.

Years and years ago, a friend told the story of an older farmer who insisted that every farmer needed a hefty wife.  And, he was happy to note that the younger farmer’s wife fit the bill. Confused and fully aware that his own wife was looking daggers at both of them, the younger farmer listened intently for clues. Obviously, the old farmer didn’t mean a big or fat woman, his own wife was fairly trim and the younger farmer’s wife was a teeny-tiny little thing.  No, he simply meant that unlike some of their more dainty counterparts, a good farm wife needed to be thoroughly involved with the operation, ready to pitch in at a moment’s notice and possess enough strength and stamina to work as a full partner to the farmer.  Whether it’s catching/vetting livestock, driving truck/tractor or planting/harvesting crops, it helps to be substantial enough to get the job done.

Gardening, preserving food for winter, milking, cooking, cleaning, veterinarian duties…the jobs that fall to the farm wife are multitudinous. Strength (both physical and that of character) is an absolute necessity.

Then there are the millions (no exaggeration here at all!) of times that the farmer says (in one way or another) “Dear…can you lend a hand?” 

Even though the original source of the phrase has been lost through the passage of time (or maybe the wrong woman heard it without explanation and “offed” the poor old guy, I don't know), it brightens up even the most mundane of tasks.

And, while it’s probably more than a little self-serving…I just want to say…

                         All hail the hefty wife! 

She’s a necessity on any farm.

Proudly serving since 1984.

**as for the reason I was in the chicken yard with a diggin’ bar, in the dark, before breakfast...

I was helping the Boss re-position the mobile henhouse in preparation for some frigid weather heading this direction. Any chicken moves are done before the chickens go outside for the day. (that way we don’t add chicken-chasing to the “to-do” list) With our very un-level land, one side needed to be up on a jack.  The wheel of the house kept pushing the jack along the frozen ground. The Boss couldn’t drive the tractor and keep the jack in place. “here…lend a hand!”  and he handed me the digging bar. By putting my weight against the bar, and leaning against the jack while he pushed with the tractor…the house rolled neatly into place…just in time for breakfast.  

YES!**

Sunday Walkabout 3-6

I think I see a hint of green!

With the start of March---the beginning of meteorological Spring---that countdown I mentioned in last week’s walkabout starts to get serious. There is so much to do and so little time.

March is also the time of year when I realize that all those rather grandiose plans I had back at the end of the Market, those plans that had me finally getting “caught up” and “organized” are not happening for at least another year. It always takes me a while to resign myself to this fact. Honestly, after all these years, you would think I would just stop making the plans. Because, as the Boss has pointed out...”ain’t never gonna happen!”

new field pen construction

On the other hand, the Boss is rapidly completing his own “off season” list. After more than a few trips to Lowe’s, the new field pen is nearing completion.  While he was working hard to finish the pen, I had exciting chores like cleaning the utility room floor and balancing the checkbook. (someone has to do the glamorous stuff)

nearly finished

The completion of the field pen is crucial to the success of the broiler operation...which requires a certain succession of events as we progress through the season. Chicks arrive, they live in the brooder for three weeks, they move to the field pen, they live and grow as pastured poultry for four or five weeks and then they are harvested. In the meantime, another batch has arrived and is living in the brooder...before moving to the pen...and…you get the picture. This will go on until October when the last batch of broilers for the season moves outside and layer chicks arrive to live in the brooder overwinter. By the time the layer chicks become pullets and are old enough to begin laying eggs and move in with the hen flock, it will be time for broiler chicks again...and we will continue the cycle, keeping us in eggs and chicken throughout the year.  Check this one out.  Just another example of the cycle of life…farm style.

March in Mbrk

As we get closer to the Spring equinox, you can begin to feel the shift in the intensity of the sun’s rays. That warmth feels SO good and everyone begins to suffer from Spring fever. Even though the winter weather wasn’t severe, EVERYONE I talk to is SO ready for Spring. I even saw a man in Lowe’s yesterday purchasing a large number of garden plants! (Personally, I think that was more than a little too optimistic...but, then, it really isn’t my concern)

baby cabbage plants

The wonderful warming rays of the sun aid in rapid growth in the greenhouses. But, they can also spell disaster. Much of my time is spent watering the tiny plants and assuring that the temperatures are remaining at a warming level and not cooking temperatures. It only takes one momentary lapse of attention and we will have to start all over again. (yep...learned that one the hard way...more than once)

pretty seedlings

Just about the time we started feeling excited about the warm weather...it snowed.

snowy choretime

No kidding.

We had four or five inches Thursday afternoon/evening.

morning in Mbrk

 It made for a pretty beginning to the day. 

9am

3pm

But, it was mostly gone by afternoon. That’s one nice thing about snows in March. They don’t stick around too long. And, the March winds keep the mud at a manageable level.

It made for some great photos!

The upcoming week promises to be warm...incredibly warm. I am hoping that means that we can get the hoophouses cleaned up and fully planted, although again, that might be just a little too optimistic. But, a girl can dream.

At some point soon, we will need to pick up the seed potatoes, (we are waiting for the supplier to call) and that will require a road-trip of sorts. Despite the tradition of planting potatoes on Saint Patrick’s day, we generally wait until the first of April. Whenever we try to plant too early, we end of with frozen plants. That weakens the plants, setting them up for disease and insect infestation and ultimately affects the size of the harvest. So, we will wait.  Even though patience is definitely NOT one of my virtues.  I will just be glad to know the ‘taters are indeed here on the hill, even though they might not get in the ground right away.

For right now, we are in somewhat of a “holding” pattern.

The chicks are growing.

getting big

The lambs are growing.

soon they won't fit in the feeder

All the seedlings are growing.

Just have to remember to keep them watered!

dewy cabbage leaf

As the countdown to the Market continues, we will inventory supplies and make preparations. After all these years, the anticipation of Opening Day doesn’t have the frantic feel that it did in the early days. (but, then, I don’t have to figure out how to purchase 500+ pounds of flour or where to store it. Sure don’t miss baking for the Market!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope you have a Happy Sunday! 

 

a passing rain shower provided an unexpected rainbow to start the week!

Come back and “visit” again real soon!