Animals
- A Hayfield, A Visitor, And A Cake
It's once again time to cut and bale the hayfield... The weather, however, is not cooperating!One thing I have learned is that there is no controlling Mother Nature.Just when you think you are getting good at this farming thing,she sends weather,...
- Integrated Pest Management And Integrated Turkey Management
Yep, that's me...standing in the middle of our hayfield.Which, by the way, is way overdue for harvesting. Again...Mother Nature has a way of making these decisions for us.With the weather being the deciding factor,and the schizophrenic weather patterns...
- Green, Green Everywhere
Well, Mother's Day weekend was not all I had hoped it would be.Yes, little man spent the weekend with us.No...no pictures were taken.Our animals visits were from the shelter of the gator as it rained almost the entire time Tyler was here. And...
- First Frost
Mother Nature has a way of bringing us up short.Just when we think we have a handle on her shenanigans,she surprises us... catches us off guard.And that is just what she did this weekend. She dropped by the farm on Saturday morning wearing a heavy frost.Sadly,...
- Happy Birthday To Me And Another Cute Goat Video
Yesterday was my birthday.Yes... Another year has crept up on me. My birth certificate claims that I am 54 this year. (I am sure it is wrong!)There has to be a mistake. Surely, a clerical error of some sort! In my heart, I am still 20-something.(My bones,...
Animals
On Farming
It's hay time again.
Oh, the dreaded "bringing in the hay"!!!
It's not that I mind the work. I don't.
What gets me is how much we are at the mercy of Mother Nature.
She's a crafty one, that Mother...
and not one to be messed with!
No, she cannot be swayed or cajoled.
Mother Nature is pure.
She cannot be bought or bribed or bargained with.
She will act as she wants...
whatever her whim.
All we want (need) are 4 sunny, warm and dry days...
in a row.
It's a lot to ask from the fickle fräulein, "fo sho!!"
We are lucky ones, though.
Our "farming" is not our source of income.
(Actually, it is where a lot of our income goes!)
No, we do not count on our hay or our produce as our livelihood.
All of this reminds me of just how lucky we are....
to be able to do this for "fun".
There are many who make a living from farming,
and Mother Nature can make or break them.
Weather, pests, and other natural mayhem determines the success
of any given year of farming for most.
And of course, then there is the "market" and the agribusinesses who set the prices and control
the farmers' profits....
It seems the only people getting rich off of farming are those who never get their hands dirty.
Sad, but true.
And wrong.
We have friends who are dairy farmers.
And they are talking of giving it up.
As the cost of feed rises, the reimbursement for their milk decreases.
Each year it gets harder and harder to make ends meet.
And then there is the Mother Nature factor on top of all of that.
Every day I count my lucky stars that I enjoy the life I have.
Mother Nature might not always be cooperative,
but that's ok.... I won't complain.
There are so many who truly need to complain,
and need to be heard....
before it's too late.
We cannot live without farmers, folks!
It's time we all stood up and helped them fight!
Of course we cannot fight Mother Nature.
But we can refuse to buy food that is marketed by a big corporation.
We CAN buy local.
We CAN buy fair trade products.
We CAN buy direct from the farmers.
We CAN buy at farmers markets and through CSA's.
It's time we all did our part.
- A Hayfield, A Visitor, And A Cake
It's once again time to cut and bale the hayfield... The weather, however, is not cooperating!One thing I have learned is that there is no controlling Mother Nature.Just when you think you are getting good at this farming thing,she sends weather,...
- Integrated Pest Management And Integrated Turkey Management
Yep, that's me...standing in the middle of our hayfield.Which, by the way, is way overdue for harvesting. Again...Mother Nature has a way of making these decisions for us.With the weather being the deciding factor,and the schizophrenic weather patterns...
- Green, Green Everywhere
Well, Mother's Day weekend was not all I had hoped it would be.Yes, little man spent the weekend with us.No...no pictures were taken.Our animals visits were from the shelter of the gator as it rained almost the entire time Tyler was here. And...
- First Frost
Mother Nature has a way of bringing us up short.Just when we think we have a handle on her shenanigans,she surprises us... catches us off guard.And that is just what she did this weekend. She dropped by the farm on Saturday morning wearing a heavy frost.Sadly,...
- Happy Birthday To Me And Another Cute Goat Video
Yesterday was my birthday.Yes... Another year has crept up on me. My birth certificate claims that I am 54 this year. (I am sure it is wrong!)There has to be a mistake. Surely, a clerical error of some sort! In my heart, I am still 20-something.(My bones,...