Suffice it to say, the seven made it through the thunderstorm unscathed. The other two are fine as well. Marc and I, on the other hand, have altered our expectations of what it means to have sheep grazing at Four Cedars Farms.
27 June 2008
Pre-dawn challenges of sheep herding...
At 4:00 a.m. and with lightning brightening the western skies, Marc and I attempted to move the flock into shelter. It took us 30 minutes to move two sheep. What happened next will go to our graves, unspoken.
Suffice it to say, the seven made it through the thunderstorm unscathed. The other two are fine as well. Marc and I, on the other hand, have altered our expectations of what it means to have sheep grazing at Four Cedars Farms.
Suffice it to say, the seven made it through the thunderstorm unscathed. The other two are fine as well. Marc and I, on the other hand, have altered our expectations of what it means to have sheep grazing at Four Cedars Farms.
26 June 2008
On the lamb...
As a writer, I'm always fascinated to learn the origin of those catchy phrases that have become part of our venacular. I'm even more excited when I find common, some-all-too-common-borderline-cliches are rooted in agriculture.
Like "pecking order" for instance. I watched that work itself out in the chicken coop out back.
Or "don't count your chickens before their hatched," another lesson from the coop.
Out in the vineyard, I get first-hand experience with "grow like a weed."
And "if it's not one thing; it's another," pretty much sums up farming "in a nutshell."
Our friend Brad and his son-in-law Charlie, both fellow viticulturists and farmers, pulled into the drive right at dusk tonight with ten Targhee yearling ewes. (That's sheep, in case you were wondering.) The gals were stuffed into the back of Brad's pickup for the 25 mile drive in from St. Peter. The gals didn't appreciate the ride.
Brad offered to have the gals summer with us so we wouldn't have to mow the back pasture anymore. The deal works well for Brad too. He's only got about 2 acres of pasture for his flock of forty-plus sheep, and feed is as costly as fuel these days.
Marc had been working hard to string up barbed-wire around the pasture to keep our guests safe. But Brad knows his sheep well and thought they might be too skittish in their new surroundings to be held in place by strings of wire. We had another area enclosed with woven wire, which was a garden last summer, so Brad and Charlie and Marc attempted to herd the gals into that area for safe keeping overnight.
Well, the herding wasn't exactly "a piece of cake," and one frightened ewe broke through the barbed wire and bolted. At nightfall, she was last spotted three properties north, heading toward the lake. We hope she rests well, stays safe, and emerges with the sun so Marc can locate her tomorrow. All we could do tonight was tell the neighbors that if they see a white sheep with a green ear tag, that's our girl. She's on the lamb...
P.S. Pictures coming tomorrow.
Like "pecking order" for instance. I watched that work itself out in the chicken coop out back.
Or "don't count your chickens before their hatched," another lesson from the coop.
Out in the vineyard, I get first-hand experience with "grow like a weed."
And "if it's not one thing; it's another," pretty much sums up farming "in a nutshell."
Our friend Brad and his son-in-law Charlie, both fellow viticulturists and farmers, pulled into the drive right at dusk tonight with ten Targhee yearling ewes. (That's sheep, in case you were wondering.) The gals were stuffed into the back of Brad's pickup for the 25 mile drive in from St. Peter. The gals didn't appreciate the ride.
Brad offered to have the gals summer with us so we wouldn't have to mow the back pasture anymore. The deal works well for Brad too. He's only got about 2 acres of pasture for his flock of forty-plus sheep, and feed is as costly as fuel these days.
Marc had been working hard to string up barbed-wire around the pasture to keep our guests safe. But Brad knows his sheep well and thought they might be too skittish in their new surroundings to be held in place by strings of wire. We had another area enclosed with woven wire, which was a garden last summer, so Brad and Charlie and Marc attempted to herd the gals into that area for safe keeping overnight.
Well, the herding wasn't exactly "a piece of cake," and one frightened ewe broke through the barbed wire and bolted. At nightfall, she was last spotted three properties north, heading toward the lake. We hope she rests well, stays safe, and emerges with the sun so Marc can locate her tomorrow. All we could do tonight was tell the neighbors that if they see a white sheep with a green ear tag, that's our girl. She's on the lamb...
P.S. Pictures coming tomorrow.
24 June 2008
The mundane aspects of farm life
We've been through a warm, dry spell, which means the vines are growing well. And so are the weeds. Today, I'm torn between weeding and watering -- two activities of equal importance to the success of the vineyard. Alas, there's only one of me so I must choose. I will start with the weeding and make the switch to watering later, as the temperature rises.
Last evening, Marc and I battled swarms of mosquitos in an attempt to finish another project here on the farm. The mosquitos won, Marc became badly bloodied, and we gave up and went inside about 6 p.m. That just means we have our work cut out for us preparing for our summertime guests, who arrive on Thursday. Curious? Stay tuned!
Last evening, Marc and I battled swarms of mosquitos in an attempt to finish another project here on the farm. The mosquitos won, Marc became badly bloodied, and we gave up and went inside about 6 p.m. That just means we have our work cut out for us preparing for our summertime guests, who arrive on Thursday. Curious? Stay tuned!
23 June 2008
A little 'free press'
I consider the pitches I make to the Mankato press on behalf of the farmers' market, akin to picking red apples right there at the bottom of the tree. You know, going after that low hanging fruit! I mean seriously. It's Mankato.
Nonetheless, it's still gratifying to have young reporters take the bait and it's even more gratifying to this "seasoned" hack when they lift my "pitch" word for word as they develop their stories. It could only be better for them if I'd added gift wrapping.
On opening day in May, my pitch garnered the market coverage on the front page of the Sunday A section, above the fold, with four color photos. This past weekend, newspaper reporters were back and joined by the lovely Kira Klapper from the local CBS affiliate, KEYC television. I steered the TV reporter to one of my favorite vendors in an effort to stay off screen. (They say the camera adds 20 pounds!) I wasn't lucky enough to avoid the paper photographer though. At least the angle was good.
Find the newspaper story here.
Find the TV piece here.
It's says a lot about this south central Minnesota community that when children of color come to town, it's news.
Nonetheless, it's still gratifying to have young reporters take the bait and it's even more gratifying to this "seasoned" hack when they lift my "pitch" word for word as they develop their stories. It could only be better for them if I'd added gift wrapping.
On opening day in May, my pitch garnered the market coverage on the front page of the Sunday A section, above the fold, with four color photos. This past weekend, newspaper reporters were back and joined by the lovely Kira Klapper from the local CBS affiliate, KEYC television. I steered the TV reporter to one of my favorite vendors in an effort to stay off screen. (They say the camera adds 20 pounds!) I wasn't lucky enough to avoid the paper photographer though. At least the angle was good.
Find the newspaper story here.
Find the TV piece here.
It's says a lot about this south central Minnesota community that when children of color come to town, it's news.
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