Let's Get Acquainted

Yesterday,  Glenn put the cattle herd in with the sheep flock - our flerd!

There was a lot of cow talk and sheep talk, and a bit of horse talk and llama talk.  And, there was a tremendous amount of running around  by all.  We could not figure out if the sheep were more frightened of the cows, or the cows more frightened of the sheep.  Eventually, they all settled down and got down to the serious business - eating.

This morning, it was time to move the flerd from the first barn paddock into the second.  We were certain the cows would move, but not so confident with the sheep.  Glenn opened the gate and started to call, "Ca'boss!"  The cattle quickly began moving into the new field.  The sheep just watched.  Glenn changed to, "Sheep, sheep, sheep!" 

  

Miraculously, for us, the sheep began to move, too!  Glenn stayed with the sheep call as both cows and sheep responded.  Within what seemed like a short minute, every animal had moved.  That is, except for the llama.  She just sat comfortably under a tree at the far end of the first paddock and stayed put.  She was not about to answer to either "ca'boss" or "sheep, sheep".  We guess she will wander over, to join the others, on her own sweet time.

The FLERD busy eating breakfast.

Regardless, we are thrilled with the result.  Now, if the flerd will replicate that move day after day after day; we will be sittin' pretty.

Informal Birding

I was sitting in the living room when a bird, perched on the nearby fence outside, grabbed my attention.

What is that bird?  I could not identify it.  So, I ran to get the bird book,  the binoculars, and the camera. Usually during similar drills, by the time I return, the bird is gone.  Not this time. 

I took a few photos first, just in case the bird flew off before actual identification.  Then, I got an up-close view through the binoculars as best as I could. I wanted to gather specific, identifying  details.  For some reason, my eyes and binoculars do not work really well together; better than my unaided eye, but not quite the clarity which I seek.

The bird flew from the fence, down onto the lawn, then back on the fence a bit further away. I quickly and quietly changed window views. Then, the bird flew off.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Minutes later,  I went out the back door and noticed this same bird sitting on a different fence.  Within seconds, it flew down to the blueberry bush.  While in flight, the bird grabbed a residual berry leftover from spring in its beak, flew back to the fence, and ate the shriveled blueberry before departing.  I did not have my camera.  If I did, I would not only have missed the shot while I adjusted the camera settings (this happens quite frequently), but I would have missed the moment while my concentration was on the camera. So, no physical photo of the berry grab, only the one captured in my mind.

Searching through the bird book, Birds of Virginia Field Guide (2002) by Stan Tekiela, I concluded, via picture and description provided, that my unknown bird must be an Eastern Phoebe. I think. The book also indicates that this bird summers in our area of Virginia. 

This is actually my second educated (?) guess for this particular bird, so I could be wrong.  If correct, the sighting of an Eastern Phoebe was the first for me. 

Studying additional field guides, I am totally confused.  Any bird experts out there?  Help!

The Sheep Have Arrived

Yep, 'Ewes' got it - we bought our sheep.

I thought ten would be a good starting number for complete shepherd novices like us, after all; we never raised sheep.  But no, why start with ten when your can purchase an entire flock of 72, plus three bucks. Oh, I must not forget the llama that was included in the mix.  The llama is for protection; not mine, the sheep's.  Sheep need protection from dogs, coyotes and perhaps our neighborhood mama bear. (We have not seen her yet, but our neighbor saw her hanging out with her two cubs in the woods between the two farms.)  The llama will be the point guard against such predators - she might be successful, she might not be. We will find out in time.

Glenn and Becky unloading our sheep

So, last night the first load of sheep were unloaded just after 8:00 P.M.   When the first ewe exited, Buddy's instinct as a herding dog kicked into high gear. Since Buddy is not formally trained as a sheep dog, he had to be subdued. The sheep unloaded without incident. Ember and two steers were in the adjacent pasture. At first, they ran to the far side of the pasture when they saw the sheep. But, within minutes,  they crept back with interest, almost inquiring,  'What are those odd creatures?'  The last ewe, from the second load, walked off the trailer at 11:30 P.M.  A little late, even for me, but why do such chores during the light of day when they can be done during the darkness of night?  Simple. It is cooler at night and sheep dislike heat about as much as I do.

'Hey you guys, say CHEESE!'

So, how was our initiation?  Well, we were expecting a lot of 'baaing' through the night since the lambs had just been weaned from these ewes.  There was complete silence.  It was so quiet that I was beginning to worry.  When morning dawned, around 6:15, I wandered out to find the critters just standing around, inside the barn lot,  munching on a few weeds.  Some of them were smiling, yes, smiling.  Sheep have both upper and lower sets of teeth, unlike cows who only have bottom teeth.  So, when  sheep crack open their lips, their teeth show; making them look as if they are wearing dentures - how funny!  As I stood still, they inched towards me.  They also desired an up-close look.  Soon they were eating again; stretching their heads through the gate to get that grass on the other side. 

Luckily, I noticed a few holes in the fence that were large enough for a small animal, like a sheep to get through.  We never had to worry about the cattle and those small gaps.  So, before Glenn got to the task, I went about blocking up those breaches the best I could using green vinyl garden fencing, an old rug, a chaise lounge, fallen tree branches and a ladder  - whatever I had at hand to protect my gardens. The fence does not look pretty, but if it works, great. I do not want sheep grazing my perennials!

We are learning fast that we need to sheep proof our cattle proof fences.  All of our fences will need to be modified for these shorter and more agile animals, sooner than later.

Our first real sheep task was to separate the three males out from the flock.  Sheep are small.  This will be easy, we thought.  Yeah right, think again.  Every time we got the bucks to the other side of the fence, they would just crawl back under and join the females.  OK...fence boards, nails, woven wire fencing...the wide opening at the bottom of the barn lot's fencing was immediately narrowed,  holes in the fence repaired.  We are secure, and I use the term lightly, for the very current moment.

'This IS my best side!'

These sheep are going to join the cattle herd in a few days.  They will become a significant part our farm's pasture management plan.  The sheep's job is to eat the woody vegetation and weeds that cattle find too unpalatable; thus, improving the overall quality of the forages for both.  We are committed to improving both plants and animals on our farm; utilizing less mechanics and fuels along the way.  The goal is providing healthy feed to produce healthy animals and healthy meats, which results in an overall healthy environment.

Our first lambing will occur early March through April of 2012.  Lamb meat will be available October 2012. 

Now is the time to officially announce, we have a 'flerd'!

Hay Delivery

Due to our new (I will be calling our management 'new' for the rest of the year) pasture management, we no longer 'make hay.'  Our cattle graze 12 months out of the year.

But, just in case we have an abnormally severe winter; and we have had a few since establishing Mountain Glen Farm, we are purchasing some hay to store as a fall back supply.

The large, round bales, 61 in total,  were delivered, but our barn was not ready to receive them; so Glenn unloaded the trailers full into the yard. 

We have not used this particular barn for hay storage for years, not since we built a larger 4-bay pole-type one specifically for our hay storage needs.  Farm-related paraphernalia and other 'junk' soon filled the void.

I feel that putting this barn back into use for hay storage was just the excuse we needed to finally start cleaning out and organizing this outbuilding.  I had been hinting about such for years.

Glenn, Becky and I cleared the back right section, about 1/6th of the barn, for the hay bales.  The junk included at least 15 boxes of paperwork that I removed from the house.  Paperwork that was deemed 'no longer important'.  These boxes were moved out into the barn where they have been awaiting our next bonfire.  I am not quite a hoarder, but I am a self-proclaimed pack rat.  Moving those boxes from the house (and yes - I perused every single piece of paper before it was proclaimed for the burn pile and I removed every paper clip for reuse) was a giant leap for me. But I digress, back to the barn...also in that back corner was an old, gas barbecue that has since been replaced by a newer model sitting on our back deck; our onion drying rack which needs to be reset soon as the onions in the garden are ready for harvest; a gas-powered pruning saw which actually has a home on a hook in another location of the barn; an old,wall kitchen cabinet to be used in the basement hobby room which is currently under construction; three old, but still usable tires which were moved to a different storage building; a tank sprayer which was moved to a new storage location; and some miscellaneous trash that was actually  thrown into the trash container.  One-sixth is done, the easiest sixth, and the hay is stacked.  We only have 5/6ths of the barn left to clean.  I see this as a step in the right direction, don't you?

 

I have set a deadline, a goal, to complete the cleaning and organizing by the end of August.  August 2011 to be specific.  This is quite a challenge considering all the other farm chores and household work we have to do on a daily basis.  I am confident. But,

I will keep you posted.

Rereading Gladys Taber, Again

Glenn and Becky attended a Field Day today at the Virginia Tech Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center at McCormick Farm which is located a short five minute drive from our farm. (The historic McCormick Mill will be featured in an upcoming blog.)  The Center's research focuses on sheep, cattle and pasture management.

I took the opportunity to use the alone time to read Gladys Taber.  I read Gladys Taber a lot because she is my favorite author.  I am absorbed with any and all of her writings.

Currently, I am rereading, Harvest At Stillmeadow (1940); prose as appropriate today as it was when it was written.  Gladys writes,

     It's a good thing to be content with what you are.  Which reminds me of a Virginian I know who has never been outside of Virginia.

     "Why doesn't he ever go anywhere?" I asked.

     "Why should he?  He's already there," said another Virginian.

     And, sitting on my old stone step, with the dogs tumbling around me, and the sun a dark fire behind the barn, I understand that feeling.  Where could I travel to?  What could tempt me?  I am already here, I don't have to step outside the yard.  I am here, where my heart is.

 

That is exactly how I feel.  I am content to stay on my farm.  I rarely have reason to leave.  Of course, our farm being in Virginia is only a coincidence to the above referenced quote. 

 

I am here, where my heart is.

 

Stillmeadow - the home of Gladys Taber and the subject of many of her books

I invite you all to read  a book (there are over 50) written by Gladys Taber.  I know you will find her meaningful, thoughtful, and wanting to return for more.  And, when you are hooked,  consider joining the Friends of Gladys Taber (see info in right column) to receive a quarterly newsletter packed with  information about Ms. Taber.

 

 Also, I just happen to be the current cooking editor for the newsletter which is even more fun and rewarding because I try many of the recipes found in Taber's four cook books.   And, Glenn is happy because he gets to eat meals he does not have to prepare.

Another one of those win-win situations.

Cow Pies 101 - Energy

You read that right...Cow Pies 101.

Glenn and I recently attended a field day addressing the issues of grass feeding cattle.

Our herd has always been grass-fed, but we learned several tips to improve and expand our management.

And how do we know if the management is working on a day to day basis...we check the cow pies.  Yep, we look at the poop.

The gist of cow pie observation is that you want to verify that the cow is eating the right part of the grass.  The growing tips contain the energy, the desirable food.  Further down the grass blades, protein is the main food source, not as desirable.

'too much protein' cow pie

 

A poor cow pie is spread out and liquid.  This indicates too much protein in that particular cow's diet. 

 

'perfect' cow pie

A firm, nicely rounded cow pie with a dimple in the center indicates that the cow was eating the best part of the grass - the energy. 

The way to keep the herd eating the high energy is to move them onto fresh pasture often, at least daily.  This frequent moving is definitely working for our herd. By the looks of our cattle cow pies, most of the cows are eating the high energy grass tips. 

Summer's Day Break

Through the frames created by the quivering, leaved branches of the huge silver maple growing right next to my window; my eyes follow the lemon-yellow orb as it rises from behind the mountains of St. Mary's Wilderness in the east.  Morning has arrived.

I wake each day as if I live in a tree house - the sun's rays filtering through  the leafy canopy provides serenity, a calmness.

The distinctive morning greeting of the male cardinal, perched at the tip top of the sugar maple tree, encourages activity.

I descend and make my way to the back door. I look out and see my five furry, four-footed friends waiting.




As I walk out of the house,  I am whole-heartedly embraced. All tails are either wagging (dogs) or waving (cats) proclaiming, 'You're up, you're up!'

I so look forward to this daily A.M. routine. 

What a fabulous way to begin each day.  No improvement is necessary.