Last Weeks of Spring

As we enter our last couple weeks of spring, the farm is humming along with the season. We have some new chicken coups coming that will help with overcrowding in our old heavier coups. The weather is already warming up, and hot chickens lay less eggs, these new coups will provide better air flow and make it easier to move through the pastures. It pays to have an amazing builder with the skills, knowledge, and imagination to construct all the infrastructure on our farm.

Now that spring is leaving us and summer approaches the heat and dry season are right around the corner. Drought and heat can be a disaster for grazing livestock. Pasture improvement is always on my mind. Greg Judy, from Green Pasture Farm, has amazing resources for pasture health and growth. We have implemented a rotational grazing system that runs from May through November. As I mentioned in a previous blog, we sold our sheep herd to give our pastures a much-needed rest. Sheep will eat the grass down to the ground and it was getting challenging to rotate the cattle and sheep in two separate paddocks, our grass was being run through without much rest. Now that we are down to one small herd of cattle we can manage our 3 acres of pasture much more efficiently. The pastures still have the benefits of manure and tromping allowing the soil to build promoting the growth of new grass and less weeds. Another wonderful resource I utilize is Hamilton Native Outpost, they have amazing videos on YouTube, teaching the benefits of a healthy ecosystem and plant growth. I will add both links to Greg Judy and Hamilton Native Outpost below. Learning and practicing the skills needed to grow your own food has been humbling. The connection it has given me to the land and the food that nourishes my body is both labor intensive and satisfying. When convenience is so readily at my fingertips I make the conscience decision to plant, make from scratch, and be patient.  Always make time to stop and smell the roses.

https://www.youtube.com/@gregjudyregenerativerancher Greg Judy Regenerative Rancher

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=hamilton+native+outpost Hamilton Native Outpost

New chicken coup frame