Farming is immersed in constant changes. Less than a month ago the seed catalogs were the only sign of plants to come. The ewes had just been shorn, revealing their pregnancies previously covered by thick layers of wool. The goats were moving a little slower each day as they neared their due dates. The fields and the yard were shades of brown earth and dried grasses with hardly any signs of spring even though the winter had been mild.
Today the trees have budded out and the grass is a vivid green. One field is plowed and the others soon will be (after the new adjustment bar for the tractor arrives). There are equipment repairs, and schedules to discuss and questions to answer.
 |
| Twin lambs with Mom |
There are lambs running to catch up to the ewes who are headed out to the hay feeder. It can become quite noisy when the lambs cry out to find their mothers and the ewes answer back. There are goat kids run and play and bumping the udders of their moms trying to get a little more milk. They are small enough to fit through some larger holes and in fence and often escape making their way all along the fenceline much to the dismay of their mothers. They crawl back through when they're hungry, and nap near mom.
 |
| This is probably the same way she slept in the womb. |
There are turkey eggs in the incubator to rotate three times a day, and 95 little broiler chicks who arrived at the post office and are now growing rapidly in one of the hoop houses.
 |
| This little one is 24 hours old |
 |
| Warming under heat lamps |
There are seeds in packages that also arrived in the mail. There are racks with lights and shelves where the plants get their start. There are seeds already sprouting underneath those lights with popsicle stick lables to help us keep track of what is in each flat of seedlings.
 |
| Prepping lights in the seed house. |
.
 |
| Seeding |
There are so many details that Robin keeps track of them in her farm notebook, an ongoing list of what needs to be done. She has kept her notebooks all the way back to our first year as a CSA. It is a good way to compare how the seasons have differed
In a year of intentional down-sizing, we seem to have gotten a little carried away in a few areas. On Craigslist, Robin found an add for three barn cats to be given away. (We know there is no such thing as a free critter). Planning to take only two of them, Gigi was dispatched to Forest Lake to pick them up. They were all very cute with sweet dispositions for barn cats. Unable to make a decision, Gigi came home with all three. One has since moved into house with us and has managed warm the hearts of the other pets. The other two are quite happy sleeping on the hay in the barn, and parading around the farm as if they have lived here for there whole lives.
 |
| Quartz, the new cat on the block, charming Marl |
The other new addition arrived last Sunday from our friends, Kevin and Connie in Eyota. Robin and Gigi drove down to pick up the calf with Robin's small pickup truck. His name is Poundcake, Philly Cheesesteak, or Portabella depending on who you ask. With an abundance of goat milk available, he is already drinking a gallon a day.
 |
Checking out the view through the side window.
We're looking forward to sharing the abundance from the farm with you again this season. The membership form is below. Fill it out and send it in with your payment. Please fill out a form even if your information is the same as in the past. Until next time...
|
