We will greet the new year with a review of the past and planning for the future, as well as other routine tasks. While we continue to get hay to the animals and be sure water tubs aren’t frozen the animal care slows down – unless we get extremely nasty weather. Our mild winter thus far (at least until recently) means there is still quite a bit of “standing forage” in the fields. Particularly the Fescue grass becomes more palatable after freezing. The nutritional value of the standing grasses is not as high as in the spring. Therefor some of those animals with higher nutritional needs (young, pregnant) get some grain supplements as well. As long as we don’t get wet blowing cold, ice, or deep snow, this time of year is actually less stressful on the animals than the hot summer weather. We have the pregnant ewes (and one old retiree) up where they can get in the bank barn, and we can keep a closer eye on them. They get hay and have access to a protein tub but won’t get supplemental feed until they are about 6 weeks out from lambing. Our sheep are very “easy keepers,” so it becomes a balance between making sure they have the nutrition they need but not getting them overly fat which leads to many more issues with lambing.
Winter is also a time for butchering and preserving meats – smoking bacons, curing hams, and making scrapple. This traditionally late fall / early winter project becomes quite the neighborhood gathering. Since we opened the farm mercantile this year we have been selling our beef and lamb through there. It is now time to take stock of what is left and make plans for the spring.
Repairs also continue. We have reinforced all the sheep fencing with 2×4 wire as we had several ‘escape artists’ who decided if they just went really fast through the hot wire it wouldn’t get them! And of course, the grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side of the fence. We are also looking at having to make some repairs from the recent wind damage.
Otherwise, like many folks we start preparing for tax season – balancing accounts, tidying up paperwork, and reflecting on what has worked and what hasn’t as we do so. And making plans for the future.
Stillpoint Farm Notes January 2023
