Filed under: November 2016 | Tags: draft horses, firewood, little sister, visiting, warm smile, wood burner, wood splitting
November 27, 2016
It was a beautiful day, especially for late November in northeast Ohio. I worked with my little sister, cutting and splitting her some wood for winter. Her primary heat source is coal. She uses the wood on the coldest winter days in a basement wood burner to warm her cellar and the floors of her big house.
We had a good day of laughing and visiting. We managed to split a good amount of wood too. We will do another load one day soon, but for now she has half of what she needs. I enjoy working on wood, so this day and those that will follow make me smile.
I have worked up most of the wood the horses and I have dragged out of the woods. We will now work on bringing more up to the drive where splitting is done. The easy access makes for easy splitting all winter long. The dead and fallen trees in our woods provide for many. I am glad that I can help others. I am feeling good because all the farm work has been done for the year. So, I get to work on firewood and making warm smiles.
Filed under: November 2016 | Tags: animal welfare, bedding, comfort, organization, peace of mind, Stable, stalls, straw
November 19, 2016
After a cold rainy day, the snow is starting to swirl on the wind. The icy pellets stung my cheeks as I did chores tonight. It was nice to be in the warm barns feeding and caring for the animals. The pigs were all nestling down into their straw beds as I shut the doors and turned out the lights. The horses quietly munched on their hay as they stood knee deep in fresh bedding.
The cats were licking their paws and our dog laid in the hay watching me as I finished chores. I swept the aisle and hung up the broom. I sat down next to the dog and petted him on the head. I sat in silence, reflecting upon the last several days.
All of our farm equipment has been cleaned, lubricated and put away. Even the equipment that we will be using in the coming months has been given a space indoors for winter. I managed to store my horse drawn farm tools all together in my shop close to the horse barn. I can easily get out the pieces that I want to use and put them away when done.
The cows and sheep have been moved to their winter pastures. The horses have now started their rotation where they are inside at night and outside during the day. These cold nasty nights, when the winds and snows buffet the buildings , it is very peaceful to watch the animals enjoy the warmth of stall and stable. I listen to them chew, pet the dog and take comfort in knowing they are all bedded and shedded.
Filed under: November 2016 | Tags: cover crops, grass based farming, Grazing, Oats, season extenders, Small Farming
November 18, 2016
Today, I turned the cows into the oats and buckwheat that we planted in early August. The oats are just headed out, in the “dough” stage. They are lush and green. They are waist high. The buckwheat has bloomed and has reached maturity. The plants are succulent, big and leafy. This is a little field that was simply disced, two or three times. The seed was broadcasted and then rolled. The rain did most of the work after that.
My pastures around the farm have all been grazed off. The fields are now resting, feeding themselves before going dormant for the year. The weather has been unseasonable, but this is about the time that we are done grazing every year. This year however, this little field will feed the cow herd for another two or three weeks. I will offer hay and baleage free choice in a few days to ensure the cows have plenty of feed.
Here in the snow belt of northeast Ohio, grazing extenders like these oats and buckwheat, help to keep inputs down. Low input means more profitability. More profitability keeps us sustainable, ensuring and securing this farm’s future. The oats were straight out of our feed bin. They need to be oats that were not heat treated so that they germinate. I am not after a grain crop. I just want to stockpile feed for when the grazing is over for the year.
I also have some fourth cutting clover in another field. I plan to graze that field off once the ground freezes. I don’t want the cattle punching holes in the new field of clover. If the ground doesn’t freeze, at a minimum, I will graze the sheep flock there. They will not hurt the soil. They will harvest their own feed and spread their own manure.The other dynamic is their little hooves will press the clover seed heads into the soft soil, thereby reseeding the field as they eat.
Increasing the amount of grazing on a small farm is easy if you think outside the box a little bit. Small plots of summer annuals planted and grazed can rest the regular pastures while keeping the cattle in top condition. Cover crops can be lightly grazed before incorporating them into the soil. Corn fodder, after harvest, can be grazed along with the field edges in that field. I even let the animals graze on the field while I am plowing it. Plowing takes me a few days when using the horses. The grazing keeps the grass short so it turns over easier. I get my plowing done while the animals get their grazing extended.
Filed under: November 2016 | Tags: Bull, calving, fall calving, heifer, manageable, Murray Grey, Murry Gray, Small Farming, sustainable
November 12, 2016
We are in our calving season. I share a Murry Gray bull with another guy. I get him for six months and my buddy keeps the bull the rest of the time. I calve in autumn because it works out for us. We have plenty of feed and a good winter home for the cows. This part of our farm operation does not compete with other jobs, so this works out perfect for us.
This little heifer calf was born Wednesday. She had a little half brother born yesterday. The weather is great. Even the sunbeam, caught in the photo above, seems to agree! The cows will soon move to their winter pasture. The babies get to run and play. They and their mommas can choose to sleep under the soft pine trees or in the three-sided shed. Most nights they stay in the pines, but when freezing rain comes, they all prefer the protection of the walls and roof.
I enjoy babies at this time of year. Spring has me hopping with maple syrup season, followed by the planting season. It is often while making hay that I would finally get to look after the calves. Now that we have switched to fall calving, I have more time to watch over them. I get to enjoy their antics as they jump and play. I can give the whole herd more attention and all of us are better off for it.
This is just one more part of our operation that we had to sort out. We need our small farm to produce in order to be sustainable. It also needs to be manageable. I think we have finally found our “groove” and Oh Baby …it’s worth it!
Filed under: November 2016 | Tags: life lessons, make a list, saying no, Small Farming
November 7, 2016
As I work on getting the farm ready for winter, I have been much more relaxed than usual. I guess it’s because the weather has been wonderful on my days off from my off farm job. It may also be because I have great friends and family, who have helped me along the way this year. I also think it is because I finally realized that no matter what, winter is coming ready or not.
There is no sense in fretting, worrying or hand wringing. I just make a list and work hard to accomplish what I have written down. I am making great progress, because I have direction. I am doing well because I don’t give a darn if I get it all done or not! I’ve taken time out for visits, hayrides and helping others and I’m further ahead than ever. Life is short, taking time to have one is really paying off!
Lastly, there may be two other things that have helped. I said, “no” when asked to do a couple of projects for other people. I’m not good at that, but in both cases it worked out for all involved. I didn’t get bogged down and the other people got their projects completed on their own timeline. The other thing is … gasp…that I asked for help…and many folks stepped right up.
One thing is for sure, I have learned a few valuable lessons. Saying “no” is not the end of the world and time spent with family and friends gets more precious every single day. I will continue to put equipment away and tie up loose ends, heck, I might even remember to bring the water hoses in!
Filed under: November 2016 | Tags: draft horses, honey, honeycomb, memories, Small Farming, topbar bee hives
November 7, 2016
This is my view when driving my team. I never get tired of it. Knight and Hoss have been awesome partners these last several days. They are well broke, making working them a true pleasure. I snapped this photo as we were taking a quick hayride around the farm. My youngest son, his family and a few new friends, all accompanied me as we drove. My grandson held the end of the lines. It was a great time.
It is fun to mix a little family time in with the work. I was just going to move the wagon, when my son suggested a hayride. It was a great idea. I did get the wagon moved too! Tomorrow, my oldest son and his family will be here to help me finish re-baling a few large round bales into small squares. It will be lots of fun and just a little work. I need a few more bales up in the loft. He needs some for his goats for winter. It is a win-win for both of us.
Tonight, my wife and I are working up the fall honey. I took the last of it off a few days ago. I was very careful, taking just a little more for the year. I needed to make sure my bees have enough to get through the winter.
A little bit of “topbar” honeycomb. The bees do this all themselves. No foundation, no wire, no plastic, just pure bees wax, filled with honey and capped.
This is the mashed honeycomb in the top jar. It is gravity filtered into the bottom jar. Just pure, raw honey. The bees produce it from the blossoms all around the farm. It is tasty, wholesome and a sweet reward for taking care of them. Everywhere that I look around this farm, I enjoy the view…even the memories are sweet!
Filed under: November 2016 | Tags: cattle grazing, dairy steers, environmental stewardship, field clean up, land stewardship, multi specie grazing, water quality
November 6, 2016
After I finish picking the ear corn, I turn the cows into the field. I also turn the sows in there too. The animals eat the fodder and corn husks. They glean the field for any ears that I might have missed. They also eat the grass and clover on the field edges. There is a lot of feed in my finished field. I like to make use of every corner of my farm. The animals are also spreading their own manure, saving me some work and expending no fossil fuel in the process.
The animals walk up and down the rows eating whatever strikes their fancy. I don’t force them to clean up every dry stick. I just let them forage until the grass has been grazed off. They will then be moved off this field. They will however return many times this winter as will the draft horses. The field will be used as a sacrificial lot over winter for the animals to get exercise. They will graze the standing stalks, but mostly they will jump and play without poking holes in our meadows. This five acre plot will be plowed next spring.
There are grassy areas on both ends and both sides of the field to catch any muddy water or manure run off before it gets into the road ditches or small streams. This keep the nutrients where we want them…in the fields, not in someone’s drinking water! So, eat up gang, clean up in any aisle!
Filed under: November 2016 | Tags: firewood, logs, logsplitter, neighbor helping neighbor
November 5, 2016
The corn has been picked, so I moved on to another project that has been bugging me. These big maple trunks and a few still left from the old white oak tree needed to be split. They are too large for me to man handle anymore. Some pieces of the white oak were over five feet in diameter. This tree is sizable as well. I traded labor for the use of my neighbor’s skidsteer mounted logsplitter. He sent his son and the machine.
The splitter hangs upside down. The machine grabs a piece and slices through it in seconds. I just needed the large chunks to be small enough so that I can finish processing them. He did a great job. I sawed a few more large logs while he worked. He caught up to me on the last log. In just three hours we reduced big hulking logs to manageable firewood pieces.
Chop chop, what a great day. I can have this all cleaned up by the end of the week. What another beautiful fall day.
Filed under: November 2016 | Tags: corn, corn crib, draft horses, friends, Small Farming
November 4, 2016
It’s done. The 2016 corn harvest here is complete. I have to say a big thank you to friends Ron and Leah. They helped me every day. I worked from dawn to dark so that we could get three loads each day. Tonight we finished up just after five pm. I did chores, fed horses and harnessed them so we were in the field mid-morning each day. It’s nice to have the dew off the husks when you are picking by hand.
My little weedy, spotty field yielded pretty good. In fact, it was much like the story from the bible about the boy with his loaves and fishes. The corn seemed to keep filling the wagon even though it looked sparse. The big ears were easy to pick. In fact, they were almost fun!
The main thing is that I am done. The best thing is that I will have enough.
My crib is a little over half full. I will continue to smile knowing the harvest is complete. The woodshed is full, the speltz are up and doing good and it looks like I may even get some time to fall plow before the snow hits….all because the corn harvest for this year is history!
Filed under: November 2016 | Tags: fencing, Small Farming, woodland stewardship, woodlands
November 2, 2016
Last week and this past Monday, my fencing contractor was here. We changed a couple things in our fence. We added a gate in a spot that I had thought I’d never need. I was wrong. It’s all fixed now. He also replaced the section of fence that got crushed by the big tree. In his equipment line up, he has a brush hog that mounts to the front of his skidsteer.
His machine is a tracked machine, so his footprint is very light. I had him mow a few problem spots that had gotten away from me. They were wet areas that seem to never dry out. The marshy areas make perfect growing conditions for red brush and brambles. The next thing you know it is an impassable pain in the neck! Ed made short work of those areas. I will work to add drainage in the future, but having the vegetation cleared out will help them dry out on their own.
I continue to pick corn. It is going very well. I expect to finish by the weekend. The horses get better with every load. My helpers continue to show up and lend a hand and I am very grateful. We picked 24 rows today. The crib is filling fast and I am finding all sorts of aches and pains….but the fall clean up continues as we clean up the harvest and few problem spots as well.
RicelandMeadows 