WWOOFers

This Spring and Summer I had the pleasure of having WWOOFers stay at my modest farm to work [and play] with the animals and work the land. For only the price of room and board, these volunteers agree to help work the farm. This has been a huge boost to my morale and energy level - not-to-mention - getting things done!! First was Nathalie and Nate from CT [by way of Brazil for Nathalie] for 10 days, then Jasper from WI for 2 months, and then Anna from London for 3 weeks. Nathalie and Nate prepared seed beds and planted during our first blush of Spring in May [Nate also worked up a couple pastures with the tractor]. Jasper was here for the bulk of Summer and did most everything! From feeding the animals, to finding two new baby calves, to bucking bales, to planting, to building new pig fences at the Grove [cow pasture]. Anna worked with the horses for me, some much needed attention. She also learned to drive the tractor; we pulled a fence line out, doubling a pig pasture, then plowed, seeded, and dragged that pasture. And it's already 4 inches tall.

It's been a great Spring, Summer and beginning of Fall, and I couldn't have done it all without each of you. Thanks so much WWOOFers!
Anna took the pictures above: Mt. Saint Helens, view of living room from the loft, and me.

Calves

New calf born yesterday - very cute of course. Light solid red. Mom - Phoebe - did it all by herself - which is good cause I wasn't there to help like last time, when I had to pull the calf. That makes two at the house in 30 days - Casey's first and Phoebe's 3rd calf - 2nd for me.

6 total this "year" - The twins maybe 9 months old, two heifers at the pasture [about 5 months and 3 months old] and now the two boys.

The two girls are solid deep red [one getting Jersey black accents around mouth and ears] - the two boys - oldest: creamed cinnamon. One of the boys will be my next bull - probably the one born 30 days ago - he's 3/4 beef [1/2 Red Angus] 1/4 Jersey . All the calves are polled [no horns] which is a plus - especially on the vehicles coming into the grove - or sitting in the yard.

Should have 8 calves next year - assuming no twins - adding three last year's heifers into the cow pool...

Although I might sell Phoebe's heifer calf from last year - she got a significantly smaller build - but some people like what are called miniature Jerseys - just below a certain height at the shoulders - I'll have to check into it. And mostly because I'm aiming to end up with all 1/2 - 3/4 beef/angus and 1/4-1/2 Jersey stock - cows and bull. In a couple years that should be 100% of the herd.

Lacey is doing fine - at Mike's in Ridgefield [Vancouver] - we're hoping to get her bred within the month. Still milking 7 1/2 gallons per day - which is amazing since she didn't go full term - most typically they wouldn't even come into milk...

Fall 2009 and The Twins

The Twins.

Shooting Star - with a little star on her forehead
and I saw a shooting star the night they were born.
But mostly - they just get called "Hey, Kids."

Freddie Jr - the twins are out of the late
Freddie and Katie Sue - and are 3/4 Guernsey.

An afternoon on the front road pasture,
with Sweetie checking things out. They
stay up at the barn, but when I'm home they get to
roam the yard and this front pasture -
until I put the pigs back here.

Lacey at 2 years, 3 months and pregnant just about 3 months.

At the Grove pasture - most of the herd relaxing -
October 2nd.

Farm Addition

On Tues, June 9, 2009 Born Sunday 7pm - I was fortunate enough to come home from work to see Phoebe's water had broke. So I hung around and was again fortunate enough to see that things weren't happening after the feet were out about 4 inches - so I checked and found the baby's nose and tongue all hung out - very scary - so I pulled hard as I could and that managed to be enough to free the baby. I believe she was very close to suffocating, so I'm grateful for the opportunity to assist and to have a healthy little girl - One Spot. Pictures taken at 24 hours - yesterday evening.

Fall on the Farm aka Thanksgiving Future

On Thu, 11/6/08, Did I tell you I'm published? An author e-mailed regarding our {former} Romanov sheep. Since they are fairly rare in the US, she was having trouble getting pictures. So I sent her pictures, and now we're in her new farm book, Breeds of Livestock, published by Storey Books {farm books}. The pictures aren't ART quality - but show the breed well, so that's what they wanted. AND I got paid {a little } - so that counts!