Gelion, Gia, Gonzo, and Glory all enjoy the new grass!

Spring Fever

The sheep and I seem to be engaged in the same activity lately......watching and waiting for the grass to grow.  I love this time of year. After six months of seeing nothing but gray, brown, and white; the color green almost hurts your eyes as it creeps in from all directions. Every day I head out into the field across the road hoping the grass will cover my boots so I can turn the sheep out. If I turn the sheep out too soon, they stunt the growth of the tender grass as they nibble it down quicker than it can grow back. This weekend we began setting up our semi-permanent fencing across the road so that we would be ready. I figured that within about 5 days, the pasture would be ready. Ina, seeing our fencing activities, decided she was tired of the waiting game.  She found a weak spot in our gate and barreled right through to the lush green grass growing on the other side. Next, a string of lambs went through the opening, followed by all the other ewes.  With yesterday's outbreak, there was no more holding back.




We regrouped everyone and then lead them all across the road to pasture for the first time this spring, leaving behind their winter quarters. The lambs kicked up their heels, racing around the open field. Tere expressed a bit of spring fever himself. He enjoyed pronging along the entire fence line! Soon all the lambs settled down into nibbling the fresh grass and all that could be heard was the occasional lamb calling for its mom and the ewe responding in a mumbled baa as her mouth was stuffed with grass.

Clover grazes alongside her two ewe lambs, Gretel and Grace.

Who's Your Farmer?

Exciting News

Last week, Becky Herrick, the knitwear designer who is working with us to design patterns using our yarn, came out to the farm for a photo shoot with the lambs. She wore the sweater she designed and knit using our gray Romney yarn! The most cooperative lamb was "Gaia". She spent some time hanging out with Becky so we could take some photos.  

Becky and Gaia

After our photo session ended, Becky and I began brainstorming. I just love Becky! I can tell that if we put our ideas together, we could possible get into trouble! Her new sweater pattern is absolutely awesome! As with all of her designs, it is unique and offers lovely features. I told her that I would love for her to come to the farm and offer a tutorial workshop on knitting our sweater! She was very open to the idea. We decided that first, this summer or early fall, we would offer a "Knitting Retreat" with her for a weekend at the farm. Then, perhaps this winter, we will offer a Knitting Workshop Weekend where Becky will actually teach the different techniques she used in knitting our sweater. The first Knitting Retreat would include accommodations, meals, and time to knit with Becky and ask her questions. I can not tell you the number of times I have wished I had an expert knitter sitting next to me while I was working on a project! So stayed tuned, as we have two exciting things happening: a new pattern coming available and a Knitting Retreat in the works!

Seed Packets

Catching Up

Laying the Irrigation

Now that lambing is over, I am trying to play catch-up with other spring chores. I should have planted seeds in the greenhouse about three or four weeks ago. Our greenhouse is warmed strictly by the sun, and usually by mid March, the temperatures inside are plenty warm enough to begin planting. I like to begin by planting lots of lettuce and spinach seeds. This provides our family with early green salads. If I plan well, we can have fresh greens by the end of April or first of May. Though I did not get my seeds in early this year, I did winter over some spinach and so have been harvesting fresh spinach for several weeks now. This weekend, I finally got into the greenhouse to do some cleaning up and planting.

Planting Lettuce

We also have a cold frame inside the greenhouse. This double layer of protection provides the perfect place for me to start our warm weather crops. I will start summer squash, herbs, winter squash, and cucumbers in the cold frame. Once they are a couple inches high, I transplant them either out into the outside garden or to a spot in the greenhouse. I have found that I prefer planting most of my warm weather crops right in the hoop house. They love the intense heat and I do not have to worry about cool weather and rain which so often come in June. 


With the unusually warm temperatures, I also decided to go ahead and plant two of my raised beds outside of the hoop house. I put in peas, chard, spinach, and scallions. The dirt felt quite warm and these seeds should thrive with the cool night temperatures and warm days. 

Myk, protecting my greenhouse

Barn Cats

Ever since our barn cat, Myk, disappeared a year and a half ago, I have become more and more aware of all the work he did for us on our farm. When Myk lived with us, I never went into the greenhouse to pull a red beet to find only the beet greens with a half eaten beet on the end. I seldom found carrots uprooted and eaten or lettuce plants wilting because their roots had been chewed on. I hardly ever went to the compost bin to dump more compost in only to find that the compost I had put in the day before had been half eaten. I also never heard the scurry of little feet in my ceiling. I have decided that every farm must own a barn cat and our farm has been without for too long. I want to actually EAT my beets and carrots this growing season and not just watch as someone else feasts on them!


Warning! Before you read any further, you must swear to secrecy! My husband must NOT hear one word of what you are about to read!!





My friend has two barn cats who just happened to have kittens! Both of her female cats had kittens within days of each other and are "co-parenting". They take turns tending to the kittens and nurse each others babies when they are on duty. These cats claim to come from a long line of barn cats and my friend says they catch moles and mice every day. It sounds like a perfect match to me. So my daughter and I went over to take a peek at them even though it will be a few more weeks before they can leave their moms. We had our hearts set on an orange one...so what do you think? 

Will this little kitty make a nice barn cat for Grand View Farm?? Of course my daughter thinks that barn cats should only come in pairs and so she also wants this gray tiger stripped one....

Thank you to all those concerned about the over population of cats. All of our cats are spayed and neutered. My friend is going to have the moms fixed as soon as she can. These were not intentional liters of kittens but a case of the cats beating her to the punch, so to speak. 

A Clever Hen

Ever since the weasel attack 2 weeks ago, the hens have decided that it is safer to nest in locations that way up high. They have all spent the past two weeks finding the most unusual spots off the ground to lay their eggs. This one hen eyed the llama hay rack and was determined to use it for her nesting spot. She tried countless times to fly up to the rack, but each time fell back to the ground bringing down hay with her. She then decided to use Daisy's back as a launching pad. Standing on Daisy, she was able to get just high enough to make her jump successfully. 

Daisy is such a good sport in letting the hen stand on her.

Unfortunately, in all of her efforts to get into the hay rack, she had pulled down most of the hay. Only a small handful remained for her to settle down into to lay her egg. This did not stop her though as she went on to sit all afternoon on that small mound of hay and lay her egg. 

Success at last!

This little hen has now perfected her method of getting into the hay rack. Everyday, I find an egg nestled down in the hay left in the rack. She seems quite pleased with herself thinking what a clever little hen she is. The only difficulty comes when the llamas are trying to eat while she is trying to make her flight. Then, there is much squawking and flapping.

Look who spent the day at our farm!

Twenty Four Hours to Learn our Story

For twenty four hours, we opened our farm, home, and lives up to a camera crew and videographer who work for Vermont Public Television. About two months ago, I received a phone call from VT Public Television. They are piecing together a special series called "The Vermont Guide". They were looking for a farm to feature that raised lambs. After a brief phone interview, they became excited not just about the sheep that we raise but also about everything else that our farm is involved in. After a couple months of planning and juggling schedules, we arranged to have them spend one day with us this past week. 


The videographer, Wendy Erikson, would spend 24 hours at our farm filming and interviewing in order to put together a six minute video that captures our farm and all the activities that go on here. She arrived in the evening just in time to help me finish up some of my evening chores. She and I walked the property giving her a feel for our farm. With camera in hand, she and I visited the animals, fiber studio, and took a walk up the hill so she could see why our farm is named, "Grand View Farm". The next day would be a busy one, and Wendy wanted to film a few things before our day began. 


We arose early the next morning to begin our morning chores with Wendy and her camera. She wanted to get everything we did on film so she followed my daughter and I around as we filled hay feeders, shoveled manure, hauled water, and cleaned bunny cages. Sometimes, she would ask us to repeat what we had just done so she could adjust her position. 

Dropping hay down from the hayloft.

Filling the hay feeder.

Before the camera crew arrived, she spent some time interviewing members of our family and learning about drop spindling from every angle and using the spinning wheel. Once she learned that we had a fiddle player in the household, she convinced him to allow her to film him while he played. She would like to use his fiddle music as the background music for our piece.

Photo taken by Valerie Mazzarella

Interviewing Anna and...

learning about spindling from all angles

                                                                                                     


 
Wendy wanted to learn as much as she could about the fiber classes that we teach here on the farm. I had arranged to teach a needle felting class in the morning so that her camera crew could film that aspect of our business. A couple of my fiber friends agreed to come over and help me out. (Thank you Nancy and Valerie!) The camera crew filmed our busy hands from almost every position possible.

Wendy ended her time with us by interviewing me. We talked about how we began farming in Vermont so many years ago,  homeschooling and the role our children have played in the farm, the rewards and challenges of farming and shepherding, the our bed and breakfast and the many people we have met by opening our home up to them, and about our yarn CSA shareholders and how they support our farming endeavor in a very tangible way. Wendy now goes back to her home and takes the many hours of filming, edits it so that she can tell our story in just six minutes time. The piece will air on television sometime in November of 2012. 

One Day in the Life of a Shepherd

Day Break~

When I woke up Thursday morning, I had no idea what lay ahead for me, in one day I would experience the heights and depths of shepherding, as well as the challenge of farming. When I went out to the barn for morning chores, Ina was in labor. She was ready to push and two little hooves presented themselves. Within minutes of entering the barn, she had delivered a beautiful little ewe lamb. I continued with my chores allowing Ina and her new little one time to settle in. Once all chores were done, I waited for the second lamb to come. 

Finally, Ina began pawing the ground and getting down to pushing out her second lamb. This time, one hoof shot out instead of two. I waited for a second hoof, but one never came. After some investigating, I found the second hoof and helped bring it and the nose forward so Ina could continue pushing her lamb. Once it was out, I cleaned its nose off and waited for that first breath. Those few seconds seemed like an eternity. When the lamb did not begin to breathe, I began my routine of trying to get it to take its first breath. I tickled its nose with straw, I picked it up by its four legs and swung it in an arc to try to force the diaphragm to move, I rubbed it vigorously talking to it, encouraging it to live. In all my efforts, I began to realize that this little lamb was dead before she was born, and she was not going to take that first breath. She was perfectly formed, but for some reason, in the birth canal, she had lost her life. I stood over her asking God for a miracle as I refused to give up my efforts and hoping that she would suddenly begin to gasp for air.

The only sound in the barn, was Ina's first little lamb baaing to her mom. I suddenly realized that God had given me a miracle-it was that little lamb standing next to me calling out. As I watched Ina clean up her dead little ewe lamb, I was reminded of why we celebrate the Easter season. Christ was that lamb, the lamb of God, who died on the cross for me and my sins so that I may live. I was so struck by the vivid illustration of this which lay before me in the barn. Here was the one dead lamb and its twin who was so full of life-calling out to her mom. Had that little ewe lamb died so that the other could live as she entered into this world just as Christ had died for me so that I may one day live with him for all eternity? 

John 1:29 "Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" 

I Corinthians 5:7 "...For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."

Before my eyes, I was understanding God's glory, the gift of His son, from a new perspective, and I knelt in awe of it all as I wrapped this little dead ewe lamb up in a towel and removed her from the pen. 

Glory.....Ina's little ewe lamb will be named Glory so that I may never forget.

Mid Morning~

I came in from the barn to find the light on my answering machine blinking indicating a new message. The postmaster had phoned 2 1/2 hours ago to say that I had a shipment of chicks waiting for me to pick them up. I could hear them peeping in the background. They were a day early and I was not ready for them! I quick called the post office to assure them that I was coming and then headed out to run to the feed store to buy grain and then to pick them up in town. Apparently, the chicks had been the hit of the morning as every customer who came to the window got to peek inside the box. 

Once home, I rigged up our brooder box with the heat lamp, water, and grain pan. It took me another hour or so to get them all settled, eating and drinking water. It was around 11:30 and I headed inside to at last eat some breakfast.

Noon~

At noon, I headed back out to the barn to check on our newest arrival and our other ewe who was looking as though she could lamb soon. As I opened the barn door, I heard a very loud and unusual squawking from one of the hens in the chicken coop. All the sheep in the barn were on alert and seemed a bit shaken by the noises coming from within the coop. When I opened the coop door I found a weasel attacking one of our hens! She was squawking in distress as the other hens all stood on their high perches fussing and flapping their wings. I began banging on the door of the coop and yelling to try to get the weasel to release his grasp. After what seemed to be several minutes, he released the hen and all the hens ran out their trap door into the barnyard followed by the weasel. I raced around to the back of the barn to see the weasel running as fast as lightening, darting here and there, chickens were flapping their wings and racing around, lambs were bouncing and running as they had been startled by the commotion, and Tere, our llama began chasing the weasel! Total mayhem and chaos broke loose.

I finally ran into the house to phone my neighbor who has a gun in hopes he could come down to help me. When I went back to the barn, the commotion had moved to inside of the barn again as this little predator made his way into the grain room where he would stick his head out as if to taunt me, then before I could attempt to hit him over the head with the shovel I had grabbed as my weapon, he would pop his head up from another location. At least an hour or more went by before he no longer showed himself and all the animals had calmed down. I then began to worry about my newest little lamb and wondered if a weasel would attack her!

Around 2:00, my neighbor came down. He is an expert trapper and hunter and is very knowledgeable about wild animals. He brought along some various traps for me to try and assured me that it probably would not harm my lambs. That night, my husband slept in the hay loft so he could hear should the weasel make another showing. We also set several traps in hopes to catch him. 

Afternoon Chore Time~

By 3:30pm, I was feeling pretty exhausted both physically and emotionally. As I went out to begin my afternoon chore time, I found our last ewe to lamb, Clover, in labor. She had settled into the llama shelter behind the barn to deliver her lambs. I suspected she had triplets as her belly was huge. I kept a close eye on her as I went about doing chores. Within an hour, her first lamb was born, a black ewe lamb. Clover attentively cleaned her new lamb. Another hour went by, and as she was still licking her first lamb, she effortlessly popped out the second lamb. This too was a beautiful black ewe! Now Clover busily cleaned them both nudging them towards her udder so that they could drink.

I could see that she began having contractions again as she would paw at the ground. The bag of waters appeared and so a lamb was soon to follow. After some time, a little foot appeared. My stomach sank as I remembered the events of the morning and how Ina's second lamb had presented itself in the same way-with that one foot popping out. Usually, the two front hooves and the nose appear all together. 

I gave her some time to work, but it seemed that her contractions were sluggish as she was not making progress and was easily distracted from her work of pushing. I decided I needed to go in and see if I could find the second hoof. I found it and a little further back was the nose. I pulled the second hoof into position and decided that I just needed to pull the lamb out. My husband had arrived home from work by this time and was there to assist. I kept thinking that I had already lost one lamb for the day and I did not want to lose another one. I was anxious to get this lamb out. It is very difficult to pull a lamb when mom is not having strong contractions, and this lamb was not coming easily. My husband had to pull it for me and when it hit the ground, I knew that this lamb too was already dead. Again, I refused to believe it and began my resuscitation efforts.  Once again, I found myself looking down upon a lifeless form. This little lamb was perfect in every way-it just could not take a breath. There was something different about this lamb though-it had been born with its placenta. I knew that the placenta must have pulled away from the uterine wall and the lamb suffocated before it ever reached day light. 

Clover's two little ewe lambs called out, wobbling on their legs as they stood while this lamb lay quiet and still. I was reminded of how we take life for granted and just how fragile the cycle of life is. God has created each of his creatures perfectly. Birth is a miracle each time it occurs and it is by God's grace and perfect creation when a healthy new baby enters this world. 

Psalm 103:8 "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."

Psalm 139:13-14 "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

Grace....Clover's first ewe lamb will be named Grace as a reminder of God's grace and mercy he shows each of us. Her second lamb will be named Gretel which means "little pearl" as she is a reminder of God's perfect creation.

Evening~

As the day drew to an end, I had experienced life and death. I had given more of myself that day to our farm than I could have ever imagined possible. I felt a tremendous weight upon my shoulders as I am responsible for the care and well being of all of our animals on our farm, and I marveled at the amazing love which God must have for all in His creation, and the weight that Christ must have felt as he bear the sins of the world as he hung on the cross.