The Toughest People - Farmers

I just don't know how we did it.

Working in this weather. Outdoors. All hours.

We were one of those tough ones, in our own small way. Our animals were guided in and out of the barn every day, even with temperatures in the teens and ridiculous wind chills.  If the snow was too deep, we had to first make a path with our own bodies to get them out there.

Manure would be chipped away into the wheelbarrow and slogged out through two feet of snow and ice.

Just about every goat was pregnant or lactating, so keeping their condition up took plenty of feed. Twice as much hay and grain would be distributed to keep the animals calories ahead of the cold.

This was kidding season. Singles, twins and triplets were birthed in this weather, dried and cleaned and cuddled in that big ole 1800's, drafty, Pennsylvania bank barn. There was always that dumb twin that had to be held under its mamma's udder till he caught on to suck that teet - for hours! Meanwhile our fingers are splitting from the milk and the cold. Or a nanny with mastitis would have to be milked, usually with a fight, sending us on our cold but well padded behinds on to frozen manure, all in this weather. And we just did it every day, no matter what. And when I was down and out with a blown knee, or we had to be away for a day or a week, our fantastic neighbors Karen or Allison did it. It had to be done everyday, no matter the weather.

You and others have asked if we miss the farm. Of course we do. It was a fantastic ten years. The lessons learned with the goats just make me shake my head to myself. A lot of you that followed the blog back then, know the stories. Stories I couldn't have imagined ten years before and truthfully, did my best to avoid by buying the easiest, mellow goat breed I could find. Nice try!


Who could imagine our "first born" dying in this weather and stupid me trying to use the loader to bury Uno when the ground was frozen solid. I did it though, even though the grave was a bit shallow after two hours of scraping and digging.

Who can forget all those wonderful births and the kids(human) and friends and neighbors that came to share the experience.

But do I miss going out on a day like today where the weather was so cold and windy that Jock doesn't even want to go out to do his business? Heck no! But Jock also is a dog in his fourteenth year and living his retirement as a house pet. He has an excuse. And he hates dog clothes! Me. I'm back to being "soft".

Remember this? So cold the eggs split.

At the same time I find it difficult to complain about the cold as most people seem to be in the Northeast. Sure, all this snow has become tedious, if not a nuisance. However, most of us get to be indoors for our daily lives and just run to a car that usually warms up on our way to the next warm place we are running into to. We don't live in the cold or work in the cold and if we have to be out in the cold, we just have to do what the farmer does - dress for it appropriately.

Last month the power company scheduled some maintenance work which turned out to be a pretty darned cold day, and the sight of all that tan Car-hart fabric brought back so many memories of the Farm Fashion blogs. Memories of those ridiculously cold days where dressing and undressing was a chore of its own. And we did it every winter day because there were animals to care for. No days off or going home early. And at the time, I really think we loved the challenge.


Today I just want to thank all the tough working farmers out there for doing the job they do in this weather, and every day, for you and me.

Is Arctic Cold Warmer Than Frigid?

No news to anyone watching the telly or reading the news - our part of the country is days into an "Arctic Freeze". Well tonight's forecast has a blue thermometer and the word "frigid" next to it. Are we to surmise that means its getting worse? Or have they run out of ways to express the cold we are suffering through.

I will tell you that the goats have had mostly indoor recess, with a short outdoor stint where they spend most of their time standing together in the shed, watching my kitchen door.  I can hear them cursing my name! When the sun is out I want them to get a little fresh air and solar heat, even if that is tough to feel when the wind kicks back up.  Yesterday I even went into the shed with them to show it really wasn't that bad out there. I was met with blank stares.

Little Brianna followed and waited for something exciting to happen like heat blowers to start up. Kids! They are so eager and gullible.

I had my camera in my pocket. That's where it was when I tromped back into the house. Taking off my gloves for anything is quick and painful. My rubber boots feel like rocks on my feet as I walk over the frozen ground.

Normally this would be kidding season here, and I am sure it is on other farms. I'm betting the electric bills are going to be high to keep everyone warm for those that survive being born during this freeze. As it is, I have cracked skin. Imagine kidding and maybe milking to get the slow starters going.

God bless the farmers working out there this month!

April (Snow) Showers Kill May Flowers

 Schools were cancelled far and wide in Southwestern PA yesterday.

The heavy, wet snow continued for about 12 hours, leaving broken limbs and downed trees, as well as power outages.

 Britches was not in the mood to come out into the snow at all. My high school pal Terry helped me get him out.

About 25% of one electronet fence was down, while about 75% of the other net fence was flattened by the snow.

 I forgot my gloves in the barn, so the rough hands I now posses are the result of getting cold and wet straightening them out.

Things looked like winter again. After the winter we've had, it probably looks worse than January.

Bring Me Your Poor, Tired Trees

OK! Not all of you are going to hop in a truck, train or plane to bring me your tree. However, there most likely is a good place nearby to give your tree another purpose. 

Over at Brooklyn Feed , Martha blogs about Mulch Your Christmas Tree! (On the Pond Farm is mentioned. Yay!!) and has the link for the NY Mulchfest this week-end.  We have the same thing locally through our Loyalhanna Watershed Association (drop them off in the designated area at the Country Market field), so don't let those old trees blow around and rot when they can have one more purpose.

Here, of course, we use them for goat entertainment.  Speckles is very happy!

First they are eaten and then they become hay racks. 

 We are already well into our second or third tree per field. 

I just had to haul this nice big one over this morning, and the girls were most pleased. Do you see Twee's nice udder(on the right)? We are watching for her to kid in the next few days.  Her belly is down to her knees!

As you can see, we have a bit of snow on the ground. Even more of an issue is the wind chill although the sun has taken turns coming in and out. See the ripples on the pond?

I will admit to being blown around in the alley this morning, and I am no feather!! But Jock loves this weather and he needs his walks. Yes. Even when its 19 degrees out side and feels like -2. 

"A tired dog is a good dog."

Well It IS February

Yep! Another good snow storm Monday made Jock a happy boy.

What it meant to me is a long slog in heavy snow... ...to get to the tractor, to plow out the lane.

The wind worked the snow everywhere. Even inside the barn.

The good thing about plowing early is that the sun quickly worked its magic to melt the rest.

The goat kids also had to adjust to the snow in their new field.

Spring is really coming though.

Getting Out

Since you last saw him, Aidan has passed his week birthday,
and gone from 6 1/2 pounds to ten.

Has started drinking with the big boys,
(see the difference in three weeks - 10 lbs vs. 28) and been sleeping with older women!
Oh! How they grow up! We started the week with more indoor recess, and family style dining, but it was time to take all that energy outdoors.

Last week-end's thaw made it possible to see some grass and open some gates to get the youngsters outside. The mom's led by example and taught terrible eating habits. How embarrassing. Abi learned how tasty tree recycling is. Ali worked on cleaning her plate. After a couple of days, everyone learned that it was each goat for himself when the grain came out.
Even the little guy. The kids are already good little lawnmowers, and are really putting on some size. Even Aidan gets right in there, but mom is still tops!

Don't be fooled by the sun glasses. Its just to keep the snow glare down. We are in a single digit cold spell, and have Saba due in the next couple of days. I hope she can hold on until we reach something above freezing - please!