Janet Clark's blog

Well, winter is here but the hay is good.

The barn keeps us sheltered from the wind and rain, but we love snow as long as there is plentiful good hay and water. Ice is a problem. We are not graceful on ice in spite of having four legs and a rather suspicious approach.

When the sun shines we like to lay down in the barn and chew our cuds. Our miraculous stomachs can in this way digest the cellulose. Our farmers Janet and Nort put in fresh bedding every week. Mixed with our manure, this will make a rich contribution to spread for growing more good hay.Read more

We are now well-stocked with grass-fed ground beef, steaks and other cuts. I will have a great selection for our booth at the Ashfield Farmers Market this Saturday, June 20.

Also, we will have Paddyflat Farm strawberries! And free mint herb to chew on.

See you there!

Janet

This past weekend Nort and I made fence, a simple task that always takes longer than expected. You drive metal posts in with a cylindrical "sledge" and string wire which is hung on insulators. Then you push smaller, fiberglass posts in to ensure support, and hook it up to the electric fencer. The height has to be right, the insulators are stubborn, the wire spool is heavy, and I pinched my fingers so they bled. But, oh wow! What beautiful pastures and vital backdrop of forested hills and expectant cattle who know just what I am doing. When done, I know what I have accomplished.Read more