Last night my farm girl friend Chris came over to drop off something I had loaned her. I asked if she would come in and sit for a visit. She said no, she had to hurry up to the airport to pick up her sister. But when I asked if she wanted to go to the barn to see the pig, she said yes without hesitation. She took time to visit and pet all the pigs, especially Steve, the big sow, and the horses too. We had a nice talk, out there in the barn.
So I conclude and concur that farmer comfort zone is more in a barn than in a living room.
Haylady
Friday, June 8, 2007
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Bear and the rednecks
In early June, '07, at 11:30pm a cow moose with a newborn calf ran fast across the front pasture. A short while late a brown bear followed, tracking their scent.
A car honked enough to distract the bear so the moose and calf could escape, and the bear turned and headed toward my house and barn. I called my son ...my short message was "brown bear front pasture". Before I hung up the phone half the family was on the floor headed to the farm, "loaded for bear" as they say.
The oldest grandson, who is his own person, and doesn't think like the rest of us, really, just made me laugh because he is big, has a shaved head, and was sauntering down the driveway at nearly midnight in blue basketball shorts and flip flops, with a rifle and Leuopold scope slung over his shoulder, looking for bear. Bear hunting in blue shorts and flip flops.......It just made me smile.
Bear, like moose, lived to see another day. But I found certain evidence on the sheep that things were just not exactly right. She had her back entirely covered in mud, which was crazy because sheep just don't spend any time at all rolling over. And also she was quite lame on the front leg.
Keeping a watchful eye,
Haylady
A car honked enough to distract the bear so the moose and calf could escape, and the bear turned and headed toward my house and barn. I called my son ...my short message was "brown bear front pasture". Before I hung up the phone half the family was on the floor headed to the farm, "loaded for bear" as they say.
The oldest grandson, who is his own person, and doesn't think like the rest of us, really, just made me laugh because he is big, has a shaved head, and was sauntering down the driveway at nearly midnight in blue basketball shorts and flip flops, with a rifle and Leuopold scope slung over his shoulder, looking for bear. Bear hunting in blue shorts and flip flops.......It just made me smile.
Bear, like moose, lived to see another day. But I found certain evidence on the sheep that things were just not exactly right. She had her back entirely covered in mud, which was crazy because sheep just don't spend any time at all rolling over. And also she was quite lame on the front leg.
Keeping a watchful eye,
Haylady
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Margaret's Extreme Makeover
One aspect that fascinates me about farming is the cooperation that animals exhibit, when given the chance.
Margaret, the sheep formerly known as Lamb Chop, has been an interesting creature who has taught me lots about the sheep related aspect of farming.
Lamb Chop came to the farm from the Fair auction when my son bought her as the Blue Ribbon winner in the 4-H competition. Her bloodlines are a mix of Suffolk, Romney, and Ramboullet. (note to self...check spelling...) She just looked like a Margaret to me, so that became her new name.
Part of Margaret's heritage being a strong wool breed, she grows an enormous fleece, which must be sheared at least annually, sometimes more. The first year, the whole family got involved, taking turns. We knew nothing. Neither did Margaret. We built a small pen out of pallets, and got in there with her, two people at a time, and jumped out when she got frisky. With 4 of us taking turns and using scissors of all things, we got her shaved down in about 3 hours.
The next year, we got smarter and bought some hand held shears. Also, two of the helpers "had something else to do", so Connie and I took turns holding Margaret and working the shears. Our main goal was not to cut the sheep. No blood, that was our policy. After two such events, we had our time down to 1.5 hours, but Margaret was still not happy about the program.
By the third year, Margaret had lambed. So we had two sheep to shear. Connie and I were getting better and started to talk about taking our show on the road. ha. By then we had graduated from scissors to shears, to electric livestock clippers. Connie won't touch those things, so that's my job, while she uses the non-power shears to trim the edges and icky stuff while I run the power clippers.
The 4th year, Connie decided that her sheep should be sheared by a professional so she borrowed a horse trailer and we loaded Lambo up. She was gone a total of 5 hours, which included drive time and wait time at the shearing location for about 3 minutes of actual clipping. But in her mind it was time well spent because she is a social being and she enjoyed talking with the other sheep and alpaca people.
As for me, I preferred to stay home and de-fur Margaret all by myself. It took me two sessions of 1/2 hour each. Total one hour. I came out ahead, time wise, but Margaret looked like she had a poodle cut. At least she was cooler. Also, I did research and figured out how to trim her hooves. I call it Margaret's Extreme Makeover.
Now the reason for this long story is not the telling of the wool removal, but in fact is about what I learned about Margaret today.
I have a great fear of hurting her if she fights when I am down to clipping the area around her neck, her ears, and her eyes. But Margaret actually turned her head this way and that being really helpful to the process, as if to say.... "I know you are trying to help, and I really would like you to trim this stuff off because it's hot!!!"
Today I was TOTALLY amazed and fascinated. Margaret actively cooperated with the shearing operation around her head, neck, and throat. And for the other parts, she also lay quietly cooperative.
Now it never once ever occurred to me that Margaret would do such a thing. I have always tried to show her compassion and not be rough with her. I felt that if we worked together, it would be to her benefit. Today either she changed her attitude about the whole process or I finally recognized something that had been happening all along. Either way.......I love it when a plan comes together.
Haylady
Margaret, the sheep formerly known as Lamb Chop, has been an interesting creature who has taught me lots about the sheep related aspect of farming.
Lamb Chop came to the farm from the Fair auction when my son bought her as the Blue Ribbon winner in the 4-H competition. Her bloodlines are a mix of Suffolk, Romney, and Ramboullet. (note to self...check spelling...) She just looked like a Margaret to me, so that became her new name.
Part of Margaret's heritage being a strong wool breed, she grows an enormous fleece, which must be sheared at least annually, sometimes more. The first year, the whole family got involved, taking turns. We knew nothing. Neither did Margaret. We built a small pen out of pallets, and got in there with her, two people at a time, and jumped out when she got frisky. With 4 of us taking turns and using scissors of all things, we got her shaved down in about 3 hours.
The next year, we got smarter and bought some hand held shears. Also, two of the helpers "had something else to do", so Connie and I took turns holding Margaret and working the shears. Our main goal was not to cut the sheep. No blood, that was our policy. After two such events, we had our time down to 1.5 hours, but Margaret was still not happy about the program.
By the third year, Margaret had lambed. So we had two sheep to shear. Connie and I were getting better and started to talk about taking our show on the road. ha. By then we had graduated from scissors to shears, to electric livestock clippers. Connie won't touch those things, so that's my job, while she uses the non-power shears to trim the edges and icky stuff while I run the power clippers.
The 4th year, Connie decided that her sheep should be sheared by a professional so she borrowed a horse trailer and we loaded Lambo up. She was gone a total of 5 hours, which included drive time and wait time at the shearing location for about 3 minutes of actual clipping. But in her mind it was time well spent because she is a social being and she enjoyed talking with the other sheep and alpaca people.
As for me, I preferred to stay home and de-fur Margaret all by myself. It took me two sessions of 1/2 hour each. Total one hour. I came out ahead, time wise, but Margaret looked like she had a poodle cut. At least she was cooler. Also, I did research and figured out how to trim her hooves. I call it Margaret's Extreme Makeover.
Now the reason for this long story is not the telling of the wool removal, but in fact is about what I learned about Margaret today.
I have a great fear of hurting her if she fights when I am down to clipping the area around her neck, her ears, and her eyes. But Margaret actually turned her head this way and that being really helpful to the process, as if to say.... "I know you are trying to help, and I really would like you to trim this stuff off because it's hot!!!"
Today I was TOTALLY amazed and fascinated. Margaret actively cooperated with the shearing operation around her head, neck, and throat. And for the other parts, she also lay quietly cooperative.
Now it never once ever occurred to me that Margaret would do such a thing. I have always tried to show her compassion and not be rough with her. I felt that if we worked together, it would be to her benefit. Today either she changed her attitude about the whole process or I finally recognized something that had been happening all along. Either way.......I love it when a plan comes together.
Haylady
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Introduction
In this blog I plan to talk about the various aspects of farm life, and what they mean to me, to other individuals, to the family, and to the country. I will share experiences of my life on the three farms where I have lived, mostly the one in Alaska.
One might think a farm in Alaska is an oxymoron. It might be, but for sure, anyone who tries to farm in Alaska either is a character, or has character, or will develop it over time. Climate is the problem.... both weather climate and political climate. Non farm friendly weather climate include short growing season, cold temperatures, and non farm friendly political climate includes regulations, taxes, prices, and slaughter facilities.
Still, anyone who tries to farm will reap some benefits in satisfaction of self worth, exercise, fresh food, appreciation of sources, family cohesiveness, and healthy child rearing environment. As I say, The family that hays together stays together.
Farmers look happy in the pictures of various magazines devoted to farming by comparison to the pictures of other life styles.
Threats to traditional farming:
Till next time,
Haylady
One might think a farm in Alaska is an oxymoron. It might be, but for sure, anyone who tries to farm in Alaska either is a character, or has character, or will develop it over time. Climate is the problem.... both weather climate and political climate. Non farm friendly weather climate include short growing season, cold temperatures, and non farm friendly political climate includes regulations, taxes, prices, and slaughter facilities.
Still, anyone who tries to farm will reap some benefits in satisfaction of self worth, exercise, fresh food, appreciation of sources, family cohesiveness, and healthy child rearing environment. As I say, The family that hays together stays together.
Farmers look happy in the pictures of various magazines devoted to farming by comparison to the pictures of other life styles.
Threats to traditional farming:
- NAIS
- globalization
- subsidies
- regulations
- corporate mega-farms
- breakup of small family farms
Till next time,
Haylady
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