A Present for Ramsey

After reading about the harness that I bought for Emma (that I haven't had time to do much with yet), the Crazysheeplady sent Ramsey a present so he won't feel left out....

It may have resembled a pile of rather unappetizing spaghetti, but after a good cleaning....

Its true colors start to reveal themselves....

"Uh Ma, are you sure this is a present?"

"Hey kid, looks like a good fit.  Maybe we'll get some work out of you yet."

"Hmmmm, so how's this thing work Ma?  I don't see how it's gonna drive me around.  Are there magic words or something?"

"Oh wait, maybe this will work....Is this what pulling means?"

"Hey look Ma, I've got the downtrodden-beast-of-burden look down pat!  What more could I need?"

"You know Ma, something tells me that this head gear was designed for someone with serious ear deficiencies.  Too bad for them..."

"....but if it means you'll open up this darned gate, then I'm game!"

"Thanks Crazysheeplady, I'm sure I'll have fun teaching Ma how to use this thing!"

"Say Ma, what are sheep anyway?  Are they really crazy?"

Natural Borders Farm

From Farm Buddy to answer some of the questions people have about the farm......

Hello,

Hopefully I can answer some of the questions asked pertaining to my farm.  The turkeys I purchased are heritage breeds.  There are three Bourbon Reds, which are indeed the light colored ones, three Narragansett, and three Standard Bronze.  The last two breeds are somewhat similar, but the Narragansett turkeys are lighter than the Bronze, even at this young age.  They are all very beautiful, and I love them. 

About the conservation program for wildlife….I have enrolled a large portion of my farm in the Grassland Reserve Program.  A farmer can enroll in this program for a period of time, like say ten years, or they can do it forever.  I believe I am the first person in New York State to enroll my farm forever.  This means that the land in this program will always be in either pasture or used as hay land.  I take a first cutting off my entire hayfield and then save about half for second-and-third cuttings.  I rotationally graze the other half.  I always move my cattle once a day to a new section of grass.  I am currently grazing eighteen head of cattle.  On the area I consider pasture, I set aside about six or seven acres in what I call the reserve area.  This is where I eventually make hay for Kris and her equine family.  I do not graze this at all until about thirty days after the hay is cut.  I start grazing in the field that the reserve area is in on about May 1^st.  This year was later due to the longstanding winter, about May 11^th.  

Many, many grassland birds nest in the pasture, especially in the reserve area.  I am not great at bird identification, but I know that they are many Bob-O-Links and also Savannah Sparrows.  This year, the reserve area was mowed on July 24^th.  I am happy with this date.  I believe July 4^th is too early.  I also do not clip the rest of the area that the cattle have been grazing until August.  Right now, the cattle are grazing in the hayfield.  On Monday, August 4^th, they will return to the pasture, where they are also moved daily.  Then every day when they move to a new section of grass, I will clip the old section to get rid of thistles and other tall weeds.  I do not clip it very short, as this is better for birds and other little creatures and also better for the grass, in my opinion.  I use one strand of polywire to fence my cattle, along with 3/8-fiberglass fence posts.  The cattle are easy to fence because they are very content.  My border collies move the cattle for me.  

Someone asked about how to get into a program such as the Grassland Reserve Program.  The thing to do is contact your local Natural Resource Conservation Service agency (NRCS).  They are usually very helpful.  The thing about grassland birds, though, is that they need a somewhat significant amount of land to nest on.  I do not believe that one-or-two acres will cut it.  However, there are many, many things that you can do to acreage like that to encourage other types of birds and wildlife.  For example, you can plant flowers, shrubs, and trees that attract birds, beneficial insects, and other wildlife.  You can also provide water for these creatures.  Of course, birdhouses will also greatly encourage birds to nest in your area.  Once again, the NRCS can be very helpful in providing information about this.  If they do not have the information, they will tell you were you can locate it.  Hope this information helps.  This winter, from January until the end of March, I plan to build one birdhouse every week.  I want to attract lots and lots of tree swallows, as I love the way the look swooping around the sky. 

Q @ A

There have been some questions from different folks recently that I haven't had time to answer.  I always read and appreciate everyone's comments, but my computer time has been really limited lately.  I know the blog has suffered for it and I'm sorry.  There is no one specific reason for it, but 2014 has been a rough year.  There is a lot going on on many levels that I can't really blog about and there's this jinx that has been following me around.  Maybe it's because I had the rediculous temerity to actually write down a list of goals for the year.

Please dear Universe, I take it back!  I rescind all thoughts of plans or goals and bow to your whims.  I will try to never again to be so foolish.

Anyways, all attempts at breaking the jinx aside, I thought I'd try to answer some of your recent questions.....

Terri wanted to know where the path in the pasture led to and why Tessa would opt to leave it.  All hooved animals that I know of make paths like this in their familiar territories.  I think it is so that they always know where safe footing is even if they can't see it.  Their hooves leave scent trails behind them  as well so even if completely blinded they know where they can put their feet.  As for where it goes....I am using a track system to limit the amount of pasture my fatties have access to while maximizing exercise.  The track goes around the perimeter of the field and the path follows that track.   I guess it works, although Tessa and Emma are still far, FAR too heavy.  As to why Tessa left the path, that's easy: she had to pee:). She always goes off into the tall grass for that.  Actually, they all do.  They don't like getting splashed.  Who does?

Mary Ann wanted to know who owns all the turkeys, sheep, pigs, etc that I post sometimes.  They are all over at Farm Buddy's place, Natural Borders Farm.  She and I have been friends and worked on farming stuff together for nearly twenty years.  FB owns a small farm where she raises grass fed beef, lamb, pork and poultry.  The whole farm is centered around the concepts of raising happy healthy animals as naturally and humanely as possible along with sustainability, land conservation and diversity.  The animals live like kings, FB lives like a slave to them.  The farm produces extremely high quality, humanely raised meats and very little income.  The plight of small farms these days.   I keep trying to get FB to write some blog posts, but she keeps balking.  Maybe if you all nag her....

The farm is where we make hay and Val was interested in that.  We generally make first, second and third cutting, but it varies in how we do that.  This year, the first cutting on the main hay field was all made into balage which will feed the cattle.  We contract with a local dairy farm for that, which is expensive but ensures that the animals get the highest possible nutrition despite impossible weather conditions.  The second cutting was already made, (as small square bales) but with very poor yields.  The third cutting is yet to happen.  Last year, it was made into balage and fed to the sheep who do extremely well on it.

The hay we made last weekend is on a separate field that is enrolled in a wildlife conservation project for ground nesting birds so we never mow the hay there until after July 4th.  The birds are done nesting by then and have moved out.  Some of this hay goes to feed my crew, anything left is used on the farm.  Unfortunatly, there is not a lot left this year.  Hopefully, there will be enough.  As for how much I use....I am still struggling with that.  I am hoping that this hay, cut very late, will be low enough in calories that I can feed it free choice out of small mesh hay nets.  It looks awfully green and fine and yummy for that though so I am not sure.  I am having it tested and will know more in a week or two.  The bales weigh about 25 pounds each and I am figuring a bale a day.  We'll see, they all need to lose weight.  

Did I miss anything?  I really do appreciate hearing from all of you.  If anyone else has any questions or something you'd like to hear more about, let me know and I'll try.  It might take me a while, but I'll try.

Velociraptors

The little velociraptors over at Farm Buddy's have stated venturing out into the big world.

Turkeys are interesting creatures.

These have definitely imprinted on humans and they follow people about, making inquisitive, little chirping noises, always searching...

"Where's mom?"

"Are YOU my mom?"

Done

The hay is done.  It's nice hay, it's in the barns and it didn't get rained on.  That's about all I have to say about it.  This year's crop ended up being very expensive, difficult and stressful in the extreme with yields almost half what they were last year.

But, it's nice hay...

and it's in the barns.

That means it was a success I guess, despite the mechanical problems, anxiety, disappointment, expense and frustrations.  It's nice hay, tucked safely away in the barns.  It's nice hay, tucked safely away in the barns. It's nice hay, tucked safely away in the barns....Keep repeating that.  That's the part that counts.

Time to make the hay

All the hay in our little world got mowed today.

We're doing things a bit differently this year.  I made a deal with the local dairy farm to bale and transport my portion of hay using his modern kicker baler, which throws the bales onto a wagon pulled behind the baler rather than relying on human hands to pick them up.  We were trying to make things easier.  I guess it's a good thing since it looks like none of our hay-help is going to make it this year and the jinx is still alive and kicking.  God does seem to enjoy a good laugh come hay time.

We're committed now, the hay is mowed. Here's hoping the weather will hold and no more equipment breaks.

Clear Speaking

Things get so complicated sometimes.  All the tangled webs of human wants, needs and interactions get to be too much.   Even the webs of our own making get swept away in the noise.

The clarity of speech that animals always carry with them in the world is so much easier to deal with.   All I have to do with them is step back, let my mind clear and listen to what they have to say.  As soon as I can stop projecting my own thoughts, emotions and preconceptions onto them, they tell me loud and clear what they want, think and feel.  Once they have what they need, they are equally clear and generous in sharing their contentment and satisfaction.  If only we humans could ever learn to communicate half as well as our "dumb" beasts.