Catching Up Again
It’s hard to imagine that it has been since July that we updated the web log. So much as happened it’s going to be tough to remember and cover everything, but we’ll break it out in to segments so we cover the highlights. Additionally, I plan to get the narrative up first and then come back and add the pictures we took.
Unpacking and Organizing II
Unpacking all of our household goods and organizing the house got pushed of to the side. Outside work became the main effort once we found all of the things we needed to get by in the kitchen. But even during Beth’s Christmas vacation we were unpacking containers and hanging pictures. Though there are still a number of picture piled up in the corner of our bedroom because we are not sure where they should go, or if we are even going to kept he stuff. I think we are turning into minimalists.
Garden
The garden had it ups and downs. Once we bought the goats and sheep the time spent in the garden became smaller. But over all we were very happy with what we were able to produce and right now plan to double the size for next year. However, we are hoping to get more things in during the spring and fall and minimize the hot summer.
The Field
Cutting and clean up the fields was still the biggest part of the work. Since the fields were in such poor condition we tried to cut as soon as the plan growth was shin high, so that meant we were always cutting. But the pay off will definitely be there down the road with better improved pastures.
The Goats
We made a purchase of seven goats, six Boar and one Nubian La Mancha cross, to assist clearing the pastures that had been overgrown with briers and multa-flora rose. They have done great job, but as fall approached and the forage dwindled and we had to start managing them differently and that it added to the daily chores. Right now they are staying the barn over the winter and I bring them to a new paddock each day. We lost two, one to bloat and the other to a neurological disease, we believe. Right before Christmas the first of four does birthed and so we have for seven new kids running around (one buck and six does).
The Sheep
We purchased eight Katahdin sheep, seven ewes and one ram, during the fall. The sheep will become the center piece of the farm as we want to sell commercial lamb. So far they are doing quite well on our pastures and if the ram does his magic we’ll have some lambs around the end of May or first of June. One of the ewes that we purchased came pregnant and on 8 January we were surprised by two lambs out in the field. We were told she was bred but as we were to learn sheep don’t really show and don’t have the tell tale signs a goat has indicating that a birth is impending.
The Chickens
We started out with 25 chicks and lost one straight away, and then 3 more died. But since the middle of December they have finally begun to lay eggs. Right now we are up to about 12 a day, which we are very happy to get in the middle of winter. Especially as cold as it is this winter. We’ll probably stay with these 21 for the next year, unless I can find a wheeled platform to build another egg mobile.
Right now the egg mobile I have is on skids and doesn’t have a floor. Not having a floor is great because there is little clean up, but I can’t move the chickens as fast and far as I would like to, mainly wanting them behind the sheep as they move from paddock to paddock. So if I can find something I would like to have another 50 chicken, which would go through the grass and sheep dung. But otherwise we’ll just stay with the 21 and plan for another way down the road.
Wood Cutting
Wood cutting became the number one priority when our firewood supplier bailed on us in mid October. One day we received a call from him telling us he sold all 30 cords of wood. What the hell I said to myself and to him later on. And in that conversation I asked “Why,” which of course there was silence; you know the kind when you question your children about something stupid they just did.
Well we planned on getting 5 cords to see us through until March and then we figured we’d have enough money saved to buy a new chainsaw. Well we don’t have the money to buy the chainsaw, hopefully that will come in March, so we are making due with my small Sears Craftsman that we bought back in Dayton for suburban life. I have four chains and chainsaw chain grinder and files, so do a lot of sharpening and moderate amount of cutting. Right now I stay about a week ahead.
Finding the deadfall was difficult in the fall but as winter came on we have been able to find enough. The problem we have is that the property was forested twice in five years before we purchased it so there isn’t the amount we’d feel comfortable with; but we are making due.
But for next year we’ll be set. We started selectively falling trees and well be set from here on out. We can really say there was a lesson to be learned. It’s just the way it goes. The guy sold us the wood the year before and we figured the same ting would take place this year…but so it goes.
New Barn
We had a new barn built for our equipment. It’s a nice one, 12 ft x 48 ft. The guy that did the finish carpentry on our house framed and roofed it, then I helped to side it with rough cut poplar boards. It turned our real well.
Looking back at all we have accomplished since May and my returning from overseas it has been wonderful. We’ve really made some great head way.
For the rest of the winter, we are clearing the fence line for a new perimeter trail, which straight line distance will be three miles, and for the perimeter fence we’ll start putting in as time allows. Also we’ll be continuing to clean up and expand the pastures from the growth. And at least once a week update this web log.
Unpacking and Organizing II
Unpacking all of our household goods and organizing the house got pushed of to the side. Outside work became the main effort once we found all of the things we needed to get by in the kitchen. But even during Beth’s Christmas vacation we were unpacking containers and hanging pictures. Though there are still a number of picture piled up in the corner of our bedroom because we are not sure where they should go, or if we are even going to kept he stuff. I think we are turning into minimalists.
Garden
The garden had it ups and downs. Once we bought the goats and sheep the time spent in the garden became smaller. But over all we were very happy with what we were able to produce and right now plan to double the size for next year. However, we are hoping to get more things in during the spring and fall and minimize the hot summer.
The Field
Cutting and clean up the fields was still the biggest part of the work. Since the fields were in such poor condition we tried to cut as soon as the plan growth was shin high, so that meant we were always cutting. But the pay off will definitely be there down the road with better improved pastures.
The Goats
We made a purchase of seven goats, six Boar and one Nubian La Mancha cross, to assist clearing the pastures that had been overgrown with briers and multa-flora rose. They have done great job, but as fall approached and the forage dwindled and we had to start managing them differently and that it added to the daily chores. Right now they are staying the barn over the winter and I bring them to a new paddock each day. We lost two, one to bloat and the other to a neurological disease, we believe. Right before Christmas the first of four does birthed and so we have for seven new kids running around (one buck and six does).
The Sheep
We purchased eight Katahdin sheep, seven ewes and one ram, during the fall. The sheep will become the center piece of the farm as we want to sell commercial lamb. So far they are doing quite well on our pastures and if the ram does his magic we’ll have some lambs around the end of May or first of June. One of the ewes that we purchased came pregnant and on 8 January we were surprised by two lambs out in the field. We were told she was bred but as we were to learn sheep don’t really show and don’t have the tell tale signs a goat has indicating that a birth is impending.
The Chickens
We started out with 25 chicks and lost one straight away, and then 3 more died. But since the middle of December they have finally begun to lay eggs. Right now we are up to about 12 a day, which we are very happy to get in the middle of winter. Especially as cold as it is this winter. We’ll probably stay with these 21 for the next year, unless I can find a wheeled platform to build another egg mobile.
Right now the egg mobile I have is on skids and doesn’t have a floor. Not having a floor is great because there is little clean up, but I can’t move the chickens as fast and far as I would like to, mainly wanting them behind the sheep as they move from paddock to paddock. So if I can find something I would like to have another 50 chicken, which would go through the grass and sheep dung. But otherwise we’ll just stay with the 21 and plan for another way down the road.
Wood Cutting
Wood cutting became the number one priority when our firewood supplier bailed on us in mid October. One day we received a call from him telling us he sold all 30 cords of wood. What the hell I said to myself and to him later on. And in that conversation I asked “Why,” which of course there was silence; you know the kind when you question your children about something stupid they just did.
Well we planned on getting 5 cords to see us through until March and then we figured we’d have enough money saved to buy a new chainsaw. Well we don’t have the money to buy the chainsaw, hopefully that will come in March, so we are making due with my small Sears Craftsman that we bought back in Dayton for suburban life. I have four chains and chainsaw chain grinder and files, so do a lot of sharpening and moderate amount of cutting. Right now I stay about a week ahead.
Finding the deadfall was difficult in the fall but as winter came on we have been able to find enough. The problem we have is that the property was forested twice in five years before we purchased it so there isn’t the amount we’d feel comfortable with; but we are making due.
But for next year we’ll be set. We started selectively falling trees and well be set from here on out. We can really say there was a lesson to be learned. It’s just the way it goes. The guy sold us the wood the year before and we figured the same ting would take place this year…but so it goes.
New Barn
We had a new barn built for our equipment. It’s a nice one, 12 ft x 48 ft. The guy that did the finish carpentry on our house framed and roofed it, then I helped to side it with rough cut poplar boards. It turned our real well.
Looking back at all we have accomplished since May and my returning from overseas it has been wonderful. We’ve really made some great head way.
For the rest of the winter, we are clearing the fence line for a new perimeter trail, which straight line distance will be three miles, and for the perimeter fence we’ll start putting in as time allows. Also we’ll be continuing to clean up and expand the pastures from the growth. And at least once a week update this web log.
Comments
I would really love to make it out there in July. I know we would all enjoy it.
Martin Fields
B. C. 1st/75th Rangers
You and McMahon were my team leaders back in the day...Always be Hooah!
Facebook page-- Mingo Kane