Growth and Expansion

The homestead is changing.  There are a lot of plans in the works, but the first it so expand our pasture spaces. 

This means thinning the trees, clearing shrubs, and opening up the back in order to implement my idea to put the cows in the back.  

So Al has been super busy cutting down trees, hauling away branches to the local dump site, and chipping other branches for our garden.  

Large trunks are being set aside for firewood, and he chips the branches into several piles all over the place.  These piles will be relocated when he is finished. 

This is the view from the creek toward the house and shop.  The wooded sheep area is to the right.  

This is the view to the left. The creek is behind me. 

One of the reasons I felt this was a good spot for the cows was because there is a barn.  Did you know we had an old barn?  Yep.  So far it has been used to store farm equipment and hay.  This barn is not a good option for small livestock and chickens, but it is perfect for cows.  We only need to remove the loose door to make it a run in.  When it rains, water flows around the barn, so we will make sure the pathways are clear for water to flow around and down to the creek.  

So the point to cutting all these trees is to open up the area so grass and forage will grow.  It is there, but just needs more space to grow.  With fewer trees, this will be possible.  We will attach the sheep fence to the buck pasture fence line, thus creating a series of paddocks and pastures that connect. 

As for growth...

We have gained several goat kids and lambs over the last few months.  

Maizie had two little bucklings: Cap'n Crunch and Frosted Mini Wheats

Then Amber had a little doe: Honey Bunches of Oats.

Mocha gave us one huge buckling: Crispix.

Kahlua kidded twin doelings, which are the sweetest and friendliest little things! Their names are Cocoa Pebbles and Corn Pops.

And just the other day, Jersey gave us triplets: two does and one buck, named Apple Jacks (gray doe), Trix (black doe), and Chex (black buck with white ears).

For our sheep, we have a total of 7 remaining lambs after loosing little Bing-Oh. Just this morning, Thyme gave birth to the last two lambs of the season: Backgammon and Parcheesi. 

Before that, we had Rosemary lamb with Anise and Bing-Oh.

Then Basil birthed twin ewe lambs, Angelica and Chicory.

Sage gave us a ram and ewe, Skip-bo and Lovage.

We have decided not to sell any lambs this year, but raise all the rams for me at (including the two remaining from last year that were stunted in growth). The ewes will be used for breeding more lambs, so we can make it profitable next year.  Our mistake last years was selling all of our lambs, leaving us with nothing for meat. 

Next up, our cow Lilly, which we have not seen bred, but can't really know.  I guess only time will tell on that one!