Summer is nearly here!
Spring for us was long, with very little rain and lots of temperature fluctuation, both of which slowed our pasture growth significantly. Fortunately we were able to buy a load of organic hay from Kings Crown Organics to hold over the cows until the irrigation started and the grass could grow and catch up. But now the pastures are looking really good. I love it when cows are belly deep in fresh pasture!
We had our fourth ever C-section in the history of our farm last week. Small mama cow, and a big baby boy. Claire was watching her through Saturday evening and brought in Mama and Jonathan to help assist with the birth, and then made the call at 11pm to bring in the vet. Dr Dan from the Animal Medical Center here in Emmett does a phenomenal job. It was a long night with a lot of work! But both mama and baby are alive and well.
Dr Dan did the last C-section here four years ago on our cow Holly, and two weeks ago she delivered her third healthy calf since then.
We’re planning a book signing here on the farm for our friend Grace Olmsted who just wrote “Uprooted,” a book about farming in the Emmett Valley. Her grandparents and great grandparents farmed here, and this is their story along with the stories of many other farming families in our area. She met with us several times and our family and farm feature prominently in several chapters. I particularly enjoy her description of our farm “A group of Brown Swiss cattle stand together in a sprawling pasture, feasting on grass…..The sound of their satisfied munching and crunching fills the air, while swallows dance overhead in a dizzying profusion……these cattle are a symbol of full scale agricultural revolt.”
Come see us on Wednesday, June 16th at 6:30pm to get your copy signed! Here’s the facebook event page. Book Signing
Aaron’s book “Share the Gift” will also be available. It’s a collection of notes and stories from his adventures and training over the last 10 years, along with the philosophy of health and farming we hold here. He wrote and illustrated by hand.
We’ve been moving chicken and cow manure into a compost pile, it should be garden gold in short order. It’s amazing how quickly it heats up and starts breaking down the nutrients into a form that is usable to plants. We piled it up and mixed it together, while sprinkling water in to make sure the compost had enough moisture. By the next day it was too hot to put your hand into the pile. So we used the tractor to turn it and add some wood chips to increase the airflow. It may be available by the five gallon bucket to spice up your garden, stay tuned…..
The raw milk coop idea continues to move forward. Please go to our survey page for more information and let us know if you are interested!
Aaron and Heather and Jonathan ran a Murph workout on Memorial Day with several of our friends, followed by a cold plunge in the Payette River and brunch together. Then as soon as the cows were fed for the day it was time for long naps. We hope you had a lovely time with family, and could take a minute to reflect on the sacrifices of those who went before us to protect and preserve the liberties we enjoy today.
Cheers,
Aaron