Final prep and then waiting….. for lambs. The first possible due date is March 31. So as you are reading this we are probably checking every few hours for lambs. We only bred 3 ewes this year but all seem to be pregnant, so we are expecting 6-7 lambs. Certainly some will be colored. Watch facebook for pictures!
When first born we keep them in “jugs” or small pens for the ewes and their lambs to bond and just be sure everything is OK. We then give them a tetanus vaccine and an ear tag before turning them out. This is generally about 2 days depending on the lambs and, to some extent, the weather.
After a bit of much needed rain and some warm sunny weather the greening has begun. The hay fields are starting to grow in well and the pastures are greening up with new grass. We will soon be crowning the hops plants. This involves clearing any old growth and knocking back the ‘bull shoots” to help increase air circulation and expose the downy mildew spores. We will be planting potatoes, greens, turnip, and onions in the next week or two. Sweet corn and tomatoes will get planted once we are past our last frost date (Typically considered to be Mother’s Day around here) – look for the produce in the mercantile this summer and fall.
The maple sap run is done. Once the trees start to bloom out the sap flow really backs off. Tom has finished boiling down the sap and now has some lovely maple syrup available in the mercantile. It turned out extra dark and flavorful this year. We are thinking the sap was more concentrated due to the drought.
This is also a time of equipment preparation for busier days ahead. Mower blades need to be sharpened, tractors will get oil changes and hydraulics checked, haying equipment gone over and greased up, etc.
In the meantime we keep watch on the ewes and await more lambs.