We've moved!

Welcome to Spring!! As of today, March 20, 2014 you can find our blog and website at at new address! Type jenningsbraebankfarm.com into your browser or just go ahead and click here!

We will continue to keep the blog going on this new site so you can keep up with all the farm shenanigans. We hope you'll update your bookmarks and/or RSS Feeds (http://www.jenningsbraebankfarm.com/feed/). This site will remain, but all the new posts will appear on the new site, as will all our old posts. We love our new site and hope you do too!!

Spring is almost here!

Next Thursday is the Vernal Equinox (for the Northern Hemisphere) which means Spring is almost here!!

To celebrate the coming of Spring after this very long winter, we are making big changes with the blog and website. It turns out, that in addition to picking beans, our Tajik Goat Herder does excellent web design. It is looking great and we are so excited to share it with you. We hope you'll like it as much as we do, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, here's a photo of a happy Farmer John:

New Hay

Weather rarely cooperates in farming. Last years hay season was no exception. Most years we are able to put up enough forage to feed the Highlands through winter, but this year we were not even close. A summer with very few hot dry days prevented the hay equipment from getting into the field. Our only option was purchasing hay to feed. 

The first batch of purchased hay I thought was a good deal. Turns out it was just cheap. I have slowly learned that with farming a good deal and cheap are two different options. Cheap hay has very little nutritional value so the calves and cows lose valuable weight over winter and don't have the extra energy needed during calving season. 

The second batch of hay I bought was more expensive, but a better deal. It looks green and smells fresh. It is hard to describe the look and smell of quality hay, but you know it when you see it. My cattle should gain weight going into spring.

When dropping off the first batch of the new hay the cattle seemed content. Content cattle stay in fences, look healthy, and have nice calves. Content cattle make for content farmers. 

Newest addition

The first calf of 2014 was born yesterday. "Miss Piggy" gave birth to a little girl (heifer). Mom is very protective of her calf and only allowed photos when I was on the other side of the fence. Once I got closer we were able to see the little one trot along right behind Mom as she walked to the other side of the herd. 

Both the calf and Miss Piggy are healthy and doing well. We are hopeful that this will be the first of several more calves this year. 

When you don't have anything nice to say...

We, along with everyone else in the country, are sick of winter. We are sick of all the headaches that come along with winter, but we are sure you have your own headaches, so don't need to hear about ours. 

We have been focused on the farm throughout these cold and snowy weeks. Although, the winter tasks don't lend themselves to photos. Farmer John placed his seed and greenhouse order. I worked on farm expenses and taxes. We painted drywall and shopped for bathroom fixtures. We spent time talking about plans for the spring. 

We also spent a week in California and have spent many evenings at our gym. Although today the farm is buried under snow, the sun is shining. Let's hope the weather breaks soon and we can start working outside once again.

Waiting for Farmer John

Fence Repairs

Recently, Clyde and a calf have been wandering outside of the fence. Farmer John and I spent a couple cold afternoons fixing the places they were getting through. 

In places where all the strands of barbed wire are intact, we put in "fence-stays", which are the metal twisty things pictured below. They are placed in between two fence posts and twist down over four strands of wire. Fence-stays hold the wires together so that when a cow tries to push through the fence they end up pushing on all four strands - this makes the fence much stronger. They are very easy to install and we hope this will help prevent so much cavorting in the front yard.

There were several stretches where someone (probably Clyde) broke the barbed wire. In those spots Farmer John ran new strands of wire. 

I would hold the wire tight with the fence pliers. 

Then he would staple the wire to the fence posts.

We picked some cold and blustery days to work on the fence, but it is almost easier to do it now while there is less underbrush to work around. So far, the cattle have been staying where they belong.

Snowdogs

Winter hay

First Visitors of 2014

The farm has always been a place for family and friends to gather, even before we lived here. This year has been no exception, we've had lots of visitors already. 

Sam, the IT guy, has now become an expert at hanging drywall. He was here for several days and helped us put up the drywall in the cabin bathroom. This job was much easier with three sets of hands. 

Tori (above) and Solomon (below) stayed with us for a while this month. They enjoyed long naps by the woodstove and chewing through all the dog toys. 

We were very excited to see K+A+IX from Little Alexander. They drove from their homestead to ours for a weekend of visiting, good food, and playtime around the coffee table. 

We love having our friends and family visit (and help) us at the farm, we are looking forward to many more visits this year. 

Lunch anyone?

Snow Rooster

He was the only one brave enough to come out of the coop during the snowstorm. He's taking advantage of the heated water tank. There is a red disc (with snow on top) that floats in the water. The disc has heated coils attached to keep the water from freezing. Although, the chickens have been known to just eat snow instead. 

Evening feeding

Visiting the herd

On New Year's Eve we went for a hike and visited the herd. We found them at the top of the hill, chewing their cud and scratching their heads on some fallen pine limbs. 

We noticed some blood spots one of the last times a few of them escaped the fence. This bull has a broken horn. Which I'm sure came from some sort of extra-curricular activities probably involving Clyde.

All the rest of them are doing just fine and look healthy. It is always a treat to just enjoy being around them without the responsibility of chores or the frustrations of herding them back to the proper side of the fence. 

Badger's Excellent Adventure

At Christmastime Badger and Coco traveled with us to Illinois. This was Badger's first big trip off the farm. 

He was not as good as Coco in the car, especially on the way out. He calmed down when he could stick his head out the window into the very cold midwest air. 

It took a few days but eventually Snowy and Badger could be in the same room, settle down, and not bark and snarl at each other. 

Badger liked all the snow and cold temperatures in Illinois, but I think his favorite part was the big bed where he could stretch out and snuggle with Farmer John. 

 This is what the entire trip back to the farm looked like. I don't think they make sunglasses for dogs. 

Finally, we were back to the farm, and he was so tired from his big trip that he slept for about two days straight. Thanks Illinois Farmhands for letting Badger come for a visit!

#Farmerselfie

You've probably heard that "Selfie" was the word of the year for 2013. Now farmers are starting to take it a step further. Here's an article about it from Farm and Dairy. See if you recognize anyone.

Plus here are two more #Felfies just for fun. 

Farm Plans For 2014

At the end of 2011 and 2012 Farmer John and I reflected on lessons learned throughout the year. This year we are more excited about moving forward than looking back. We made some personal resolutions, and we also made plans for the farm. We hope you'll keep reading along as we continue our farming adventure!

Watch out farm here comes 2014:

• Finish the high tunnel
• Expand gardens to grow more produce and varieties
• Add another farmers market
• Add more cattle
• Add more hogs
• Raise chickens for meat
• Finish cabin remodel 
• Learn more about marketing our meat and produce
• Fix buildings to make them level 
• Try not to divorce each other during bean season (I'm kidding, mostly)
• Any other ideas or suggestions for us?