Summer 2009

So its July already. We had a farm visitor from Alaska who mentioned this blog and said I hadn't updated it since April. By golly, he was right. No one ever comments so its exciting to note that we have actual blog-stalkers out there that are reading this. I just feel bad, he had to travel all this way to tell me things were getting stale!

It has been so cool here that it is very hard to believe that summer is half way over - it doesn't even feel as if it started. We had a very busy calving season. It was a big heifer year, last year mostly bulls.

We did end up with a set of Angus heifer twins in June. The mama tried very hard to get her second baby up and going but it just wouldn't. Late in the afternoon, I carried her 85 lb. body from the field (popping over the electric wire was a little dicey), and the Garvey farm provided colostrum. She is big and strong and living by the house. She has attached herself to "Baby Girl". Her name is Twosday - get it second twin born on Tuesday. I guess she will be the "ambassador bovine" for the farm. Chauntel wants her to wear a bell like our milk cows.

Just when I was feeling smug. . . We are having predator problems. They were doing "the great circle of life" across the river but the coyotes are now pulling down poultry at 10 am in plain sight of people without a care. The foxes have been a tinch more subtle. The raccoons and skunks are just out at night. This can add up to serious losses in short order. So far this year, our cattle are safe but area farmers have not been so lucky.

On another farm the coyotes are pulling down cows (this is usually a gruesome discovery - when it has happened to us it was a few bits and pieces & a leg left) just a few miles down river from us. Trying to be neighborly, they informed the local folk on their plans to curb the predator problem. This has just turned into a public relations nightmare for the farmers. They have received lots of unasked for expert advice from everyone (stakeholders to bystander). These local experts are not burying what remains of their dead the livestock nor are they willing to make up for the loss of income these hardworking farmers have to suffer. I think all these helpful folks need to walk in the farmers boots.

We did have piglets born last week out in the pasture. This was after a thunderstorm - as soon as the barometric pressure dropped, it occurred to me to check her condition. Sure enough they were being delivered. Very cute. Mama Grettle is quite protective. If a wild thing looking for dinner, got near her babies - put your money on the hog!

My small patch of strawberries look nice even though I planted them late. The Extension Ladies were planting a variety call Seascape and I swore I wasn't going to plant any this year but I got caught up in the frenzy and there you have it.

My other vegetables are there. . . nothing to write about. Too cool, too wet, etc. I only planted some raised beds with basics. The weather has been great for peas, greens, and what not. Farmers Almanac said warm fall is predicted so I'm counting on it.

I've decided to concentrate on being the Protein Queen, you know beef, pork, chicken, eggs, honey and leave those vine ripened tomatoes and sweet corn to others who do such a fantastic job.

I have started the jam season. The first batch was currant followed by mulberry. Neighbor Mary picked and juiced the berries for me and braved the bears that are lingering about. Not to worry she had her guard dog, Lily, a West Highland White Terrier with her to serve and protect. The dog is a fashionista, lots of Rhinestones. I do believe she would blind a bear by her dazzle.