02/03/2024
This weather is just crazy. Not complaining, but weird...
Usually, this time of year, we're stressing about our greenhouse heating costs from February and hoping March will be a little better than just COOOOLLLD. Instead, we're just about giddy about our low propane costs and we're warning the transplants to 'SLOW DOWN" so they don't get too big before we're ready for them! Laura keeps shuffling through her seed packets and, after that last blast of cold, finally decided it is a good time to get seeds in the ground ahead of next week's rain.
And, pregnant goats- last year we had several born into really bitter cold; the first born in 2023 was Lucky. His mom, Woo Two, kidded him first and then was occupied with kidding two more in the early morning bitter chill. When we found him, he was on the ground so cold we thought he was dead; we rushed him into the germination chamber (warmest space on the farm), wrapped him in a heating pad and rubbed him warm. (He's now big, sweet and sassy and fully worthy of his name!) We had others born into freezing conditions, the seed chamber was used a couple times to warm up brand new babies.
This year, the does are panting in the heat, blowing their coats out, and lying in the shade trying to cool off. We should start seeing kids hitting the ground in the next few days; it will be fun to see them shake their heads, get up on their long and wobbly legs, and start to nurse in a more temperate environment.
Farming is always about managing as much as you can through good planning, good practices, and long hard hours and then rolling as best you can with what nature hands you. We're hoping, as always, for a good and mild year. It is always an adventure to be a farmer and (most days) we can't imagine any other way of living.
