CSA News March 3rd, 2010

Its been about a month since I let you all know what's coming in the new season for the CSA Program and here is the latest:

"SO" has completed cleaning up and preparing the garden and I have the roto tiller ready to go. Just about every window sill is loaded with potted plants. She trying to talk me into building a new greenhouse just for starting plants. I hope I can find time and funds to do it for her as I am already having trouble keeping her away from seed displays at the stores. Also, we made an application for a special program of the USDA for organic farmers to get a large 30 x 70 ft Hoop House.

Announcement:

On the afternoon of March 20th, from 12:30 - 4:30, there will be a CSA - Open House again at the Community Building lobby, 35 W. Main. That's right across from the new Main Market Coop Store. If you know anyone who wants to check out the 'ins' and 'outs' of CSA programs please let them know. If you have any questions or comments for the coming season please come by to visit us. We plan to open up for more new members at this event and the details of the 'Meat CSA' will also be in print and on the web site by this time. We will also have a display of an actual sample Meat CSA delivery.

So far we have been holding spaces open for last year's members and 17 have asked to join up with us again this year. Twelve have already sent in the Membership Form and sign up fee. We hope to get confirmation from the rest by March 20th! We're really grateful and thrilled with this support.

If you wish to sign up please visit our site at http://www.rockyridgeranchspokane.com/contact_order.php and download the CSA order form. Also please mark on the form that you were referred by the blog.

We look forward to seeing you all!!!!

Gary

Farm News 24 Feb

INTRODUCTION:

Spring is here for sure and we love it. It has been nice hearing from many of our customers from last year asking about CSA and spring farm visits. You can visit our farm anytime we are here. Unlike some factory farms we have nothing to hide.

LOCAL FARMER'S MARKETS:

In past years we sold farm products at five different farmer's markets. We've had a lot of good experiences and made good friends, as well as profitable sales. However, for the last two years table sales at the Farmer's Markets have been falling off drastically. In my view the continued financial viability of the markets is in doubt. We are very thankful to the CSA program and our other loyal repeat customers from past years. Otherwise we would not have been able to continue being a vendor at local markets!

In my view there are numerous reasons for the downturn:

• The economy has forced many consumers to be thriftier and preferences to buy healthier, fresher, and local food products have been compromised by many to save funds.

• The National Organic Program has made it possible for the giant corporate factory farms to produce so called ‘organic certified’ products in mass production, often at overseas locations, and ship them in vast quantities all over the country.

• More folks are opting to grow their own gardens; as was done in the past, and if they have the knowledge, time, and space, I feel it is a good thing. The same for Community Gardens which are also on the upswing. Soon, all but the most avid gardeners will appreciate the local small farmers a lot more for what they do.

• The physical sites for the markets have been threatened. For the past two years the Washington Department of Revenue has decided to put a special real estate tax on community farmer's markets located on church properties. Others have been displaced by construction and traffic problems. For some reason local government support of farmer’s markets is minimal in this area. In many other communities around the world market facilities are sponsored as a public service by local governments.

• A vast array of special permit and insurance fees has also added to the burdens of the market vendors.

• Sponsorship of the Farmer's Market WIC and Senior Nutrition Program funding has substantially declined from their levels a few years ago.

Much more could be said about all these issues but my point is if small farms are to survive in the present economy your support of Farmer's Markets is needed now more than ever! We plan to continue being a vendor at Farmer's Markets again this year for social reasons more than financial.

CSA NEWS:

So far we are thankful that nearly half the Membership spaces have been filled. One very nice person heard about us and signed up from Hamburg, Germany! He paid in advance for a whole season for both the Produce and the Meat CSA programs and his family will be moving to Spokane this Spring. "SO" has already planted three of the hoop houses, cleared all the old vegetation from half the garden, and started planting potted plants. We have been encouraged to apply for a new 30 x 70 ft High Tunnel Hoophouse under a grant program sponsored by USDA. It is our belief that this program was influenced by the First Lady's White House Garden's example of Hoop House Uses. If this happens, we plan to add more CSA Members in the future. Next month we will be opening up CSA Membership to new customers.

LIVESTOCK:

One more sweet little baby calf was born a few days ago, but unfortunately we also lost another to a coyote attack during the night. Coyotes seem to have really been on the increase this spring. We think it’s because of all the field mice left over from the last two years that were protected by the snow cover and the mild weather this year giving the coyotes an advantage. We will be moving the cows with the spring calves onto new fresh spring native green pastures this week. I'm in the market for a guard Lama as they’re great at protecting little calves from predators.

The Gilt that "SO" saved from the butcher last Fall now has a nice litter of 8 great little Berkshire piglets. Now she's officially a Sow! Chalk it up to a woman's intuition! I’ll be taking some fully grown feeder pigs for processing this week and that leaves all the pigs sold through June. We will then have many more available. All of this goes back to when the Boar broke down the gate between him and the Sows I was holding for later. Now we'll have a little overproduction for June and July, and I just fixed that gate a few days ago. The Pigs are all enjoying fresh spring grass.

Our early season grass is considered a noxious weed by our neighboring wheat farmers. It's commonly called cheat grass and grows in first and then last during years of cold conditions. If it is not grazed later the seed has little stickers that cause problems. If you've lived around here for awhile I’m sure you have had the joy of picking it out of your socks after a summer hike. Soon another native weed grass called bulbes blue grass joins the cheat grass. By the way, they are both very nutritious.

Starting another batch of pullets, ‘baby hens’ my wife calls them. She's almost as bad as a mother hen while taking care of them. Our egg production and shell quality have improved since the laying hens have been able to enjoy this great weather. They’re gleefully running around fighting over every worm they can find but, sorry, there are still not enough eggs to supply everyone who wants them. However, we have another 100 or so pullets that should start laying next month. More pee wee and small eggs for awhile soon.

During a trip to CostCo today I saw a seasoned and rotisserie cooked chicken for a price less than we charge for a pound for our meat chickens. Also the cost was for less than the feed costs me to grow a chicken. I can only imagine what they feed them! No wonder a guy called me the other day and insulted me with negative words about my integrity when I told him our price. They call them "Kirkland" chickens but used to call them "Tyson" chickens. We call ours "Lobster Chickens" because of how good we think they taste. But I'm sorry to say that because of slow sales we will only grow meat birds for those who pre-order from now on. May have a few left over now and then but market sales are to slow to grow them without pre-orders.

FIELD WORK:

I started servicing cultivation and seeding equipment this week. Ever wonder how machinery can quit working or break when just sitting for a year? Every Spring I plant what I call a ‘Salad Bar’ forage mix. Typically it is comprised of Oats, Peas, Sunflowers, Flax, Turnips, Canola, and a few other annuals. It’s great for maintaining cattle condition through the summer after the range grasses get dry and brittle. The first time I did this other farmers said your cattle will bloat up and die if they eat something like that. It has never happened, but it produces some awfully good beef! Pigs get to eat some too.

Well as usual things a little busy around here so I better get ready for another day.

Gary

Spring 2010 - Farm News

Introduction:

If you have been wondering why there hasn't been an update since last Christmas its because we've sort of been hibernating. But we can't stand it any longer. The beautiful early Spring has ended our Cabin Fever and pulled us outside to do some early Spring chores to start getting ready for the new season.

I figure this year we're going to have to do spring work at least a month early to take advantage of the moisture while its here. I expect a hot dry Summer but one thing I've learned farming here for the past three decades is that the weather is always unpredictable.

Garden News:

"SO" plans to plant the first hoop house with cool weather veggies next week and after that she'll start on the indoor potted plant starts. The seed catalogs have started to arrive along with the poultry catalogs for baby chicks. Somebody else must be thinking the same as me. "SO" has been enjoying watching her Korean TV programs all Winter.

They have a small farms documentary everyday that is one of her favorites. She's been getting all kinds of ideas to keep me busy helping her in the garden setting up new things. I've watched some of the programs and hoop houses are real hi-tech over there.

The project I like best is a set up to grow strawberries out of holes in vertical tubes set up in the hoop house. Promises to deliver more berries for a longer season. If it works for us I won't have to feel so guilty when I eat the Lion's share of our berries every week.

CSA Information:

We sent out a CSA Newsletter earlier this week to alert folks to sign up early to make sure they have a subscription share available again this season. We already have ten Members signed up. This year we also plan to offer a CSA for a variety of beef, pork, poultry, and misc meat portions. It will offer the advantage of fresh local healthy meat for a price more economical than retail. It'll be delivered in portions weekly so storage space in most refrigerators should be able to handle it. Both programs will offer a half-share for those with small families. If you haven't been a member before just send me an e-mail requesting to go on the Standby List.

Poultry News:

Demand for our eggs has exceeded our supply all Winter. Good thing we started new Layer Pullets last Fall that will be laying soon. Plan to start more chicks for pullets next month and we have actually had some folks drive out here in the muddy conditions to make sure they get some of our eggs.

Because of demand last Fall we plan to raise twice as many Turkey's, more Geese, and some Meat Ducks for the Holidays. Some of the turkeys will be ordered early for those who want really big ones. We still have a small flock of egg laying ducks and we will still grow some Broiler/Fryers for those who pre-order but plan to minimize those we sell at market. Unfortunately we've had to raise the prices to keep up with feed costs.

Beef Happenings:

Had the first Spring calf born three days ago. One of the young heifers we saved last year was the mother and she did a very good job of mothering with no help. The new calf is a nice big girl, got on her feet in minutes and down to business to get that milk. Hope the rest goes as well.

Because of the drought and high hay prices last Fall I had to retire most of my older cows so we kept all the young heifers for Spring calves. We also kept all the steers for Fall sales but have less to sell this year. I noticed in the classifieds that a lot of local growers are trying to sell direct now and also and for rock bottom prices. I can only say, "Buyer Beware!"

I will not be lowering my prices because I want to try to weather this economy and stay in business growing quality and healthy beef for my loyal customers. Besides, the day I have to stop growing cows is when my wanta-be dreams of being a Cowboy will be dashed. If that happens, I'll be kicking off my boots and retiring.

Berkshire Pigs:

They have been eating me out of house and home. Hope sales go well because our budget has been maxed out feeding all the new piglets. Just finished selling and processing 12 hogs last month. Some of the orders we're from the West Coast so my wife got to go visit the Korean Mall at Federal Way where I made the pork deliveries over there.

Also visited two of our boys and grand daughters. Then "SO" made a pig out of herself buying a truck load of Korean ethnic food stuffs. She said I could consider it her Anniversary gift . We just had our 32nd anniversary!

Most of the feeder pigs are sold until June so things seem to be going well. Did two hogs for retail at the market and over half the cuts are already gone. The pork quality has just been fantastic and we have received a lot of great comments. Have enough other feeder pigs to fill orders till Fall. I'm doing my best to keep "Rex" and his buddy away from the sows till I get more orders for the rest of the Summer.

At two years old his back is 44 inches high. Could weigh over 800 Lbs. He still chases after me when he sees me in the pasture. Its a little intimidating! But he just still wants his ears scratched.

Went to the WA State Annual Pig Growers Conference Yesterday. It is sponsored by WSU. I must say it is strongly biased in favor of industrial growing methods . There was a local group of 4-h and FFA kids brought in for a class on raising Project Pigs. The Instructor spent half the class telling the kids how to use a hormone on the pigs to speed up growth. This same hormone has been banned in Europe and many other states. I just go to see what the other side is up to and shake my head in disappointment.

We've had our calamities this Winter dealing with the snow and mud but we've been thankful because of memories of how miserable it was last year. Besides the bright Sun outside the last few days has us looking forward to another season of farming. We thank our customers that make it possible to keep doing it!

Farm News - Christmas

Wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!! Your support of the farm this year was a real Blessing both financially as well as spirit lifting with the praise and encouragement so many of you offered through the year. For many years my contracting business has subsidized the farm's cash flow needs. This year, for the first time, things were reversed and the farm took over the lead. We owe thanks to many of you for this! Maybe after this year I can finally retire and become a full time farmer.

A little Farmer Philosophy:

Most of us have been affected by the financial problems of the country and I know it has been real tough on many folks. Even if we've escaped the worst its hard to not be concerned about others and wonder if we're next. As an unwise old man I still have some words of wisdom so I'd like to say; if we didn't have it so good for so long we wouldn't know that things are bad now.

I think back to when my parents worked as migrant farm workers and drug me and my brother around from place to place. Actually we didn't know we were in tough times and just enjoyed all the different places and homeless camp outs and wild harvest treks as great adventures. The hardest part was whenever we had to go to a new school, at least two or three times a year. We always had to deal with the school bully and his pals. My Brother and I learned if we joined up as one to appose them with a rowdy counter attack it was a little easier to get them to avoid us. I guess they still have serious bully problems in schools today motivated by new social problems. When I was a kid it was just because you wore glasses or your name was weird like "Angell" or you were a new kid.

We also found out that whenever we were really in trouble and down and out someone or several folks always stepped up to help us out, wherever we went and my folks were the same to others. Maybe if things get real tough with the economy more folks will join up together to help each other out instead of relying on the government, the banks and the insurance companies. When we finally settled down on a ranch in Montana for a few seasons it was great. The local one room school house only had three kids including us so there wasn't a bully issue. Just a spoiled boss's son to deal with. I heard later that the local ranch community kept my folks on through the Winter so the school wouldn't close. The next two years there were about a dozen kids; one for each grade. The very same school house is on display as a museum today in Deer Lodge, MT.

I guess I'm trying to say we should always remember to be thankful for our Blessings. The greatest being the reason for this season, Our Lord's arrival!

CSA and Farmer's Market News:

We'll be at Millwood next Wed. 2-6pm. The word is that a new location for the Farmer's Market at Perry Street is being worked out with promising progress. After New Year's both the Winter Markets will resume the normal schedule. First week after New Years I'll be processing Berkshire Pigs and soon after we'll have retail cuts of pork at the Markets again.

Farm News:

Had a Christmas calf born this morning. Can't tell you if its a girl or boy cause when I tried to look the Momma came after me and actually butted me in the top of my head when I was bending over to take a look. Good thing a have a hard head! Actually I think she was taking it easy on me and just trying to warn me away. This a good sign showing that the Mother worries about her new baby and will defend it. All the movies and cartoons always show a Bull as the danger one in pastures to watch out for. This is actually a myth as most Bulls are very docile. The real danger is range cows with new calves especially and even older calves if your a stranger. Once I had a cow lift up my whole body with her head and toss me about 20-30 feet. Then she proceeded to pounce up and down on me with her front hooves. If my dog didn't jump in after her I probably wouldn't be here today. Good thing I have a cushion around my belly.

All the new piglets doing fine. Had a chance to catch up on mixing feed last week during the warmer weather. All the snow melted and formed ponds in the holes the pigs dug. Haven't seen any of them wallowing. Must be still to cold but it hasn't stopped them from going back to their "Turn Over Every Rock" they can find game. I'm letting some of the little ones venture outside now. Even though they have short thin hair they handle the cold real well. Its because they have a layer of fat at least an inch thick and the little guys have a warm up station that serves hot milk. The older feeder pigs all join up in the larger huts and keep each other warm in a big pile. Some how the smaller ones learn to avoid getting squashed. They can't do this very well in an industrial hog house cause their kept on concrete floors in small group pens. Right now we have 34 feeder pigs and 33 piglets. The late Gilt that my wife talked me into keeping is finally starting to show early pregnancy signs so their may be hope for her yet.

OTHER NEWS:

We were invited by the Wild Sage Restaurant (located on corner of Lincoln and 2d downtown)for a Christmas breakfast. They hosted the Red Cross and all the funds donated for the food went to them. Mark Peterson of KXLY was there doing interviews and weather news. He spotted my wife and focused in on her. It was because "SO" was wearing bright Christmas colors. So she was a TV star for awhile! Maybe some of you saw her.

Wishing You Joy and Happiness for the Holidays,

Gary

Farm News Dec 16th, 2009

Introduction:
Well a white Christmas came a little early so I guess we better enjoy it. It could be all melted by the 25th. Heard snow blowers and snow mobiles engine noise echoing in the wind all day yesterday.

CSA News:
Received the first membership Form last Friday with an advance for the whole year. Nice Christmas present to us.

Still working on a Meat CSA Proposal. Working out a plan that is legal with the government is difficult. So far it seems that a Meat CSA Share will have to include the minimum of a 1/4 Beef and 1/2 Hog with at least 20 Chickens and a turkey. If someone is also a Produce Member they would get a second turkey; one from each CSA program. Doing it this way, the meat could be processed locally under WA State Custom Processor rules.

I would store the meat and distribute it over 5 Summer months. If someone wants meat over the Winter as well I would recommend a pre-order for custom locker meat. Joint 1/2 share memberships would reduce the cost for individuals. This plan would provide about 250-300 lbs total or 50-60 lbs a month of meat for $1,250 payable at $200/mo with an initial non refundable membership deposit of $250.

This plan would allow folks with a limited freezer space to enjoy fresh local healthy meat at a reasonable price. I will need a minimum of 8 membership shares to make this plan feasible. Please let me know your interest. More details such as an example of what you get in a Monthly delivery is still to come.

Other Farm News:
Started out Monday to get a 5 ton load of feed grain to mix for for the pigs before the weather gets below freezing again. My Mixer-Grinder doesn't do to well when it's frozen. Didn't count on how slippery the melting snow was at the surface. "SO" decided she had cabin fever and wanted to come with me along with the three house dogs. Slowed to go around a corner on the gravel road about 5 mi.'s from the farm. Before I knew what happened the grain trailer slid off the road over the side onto the edge of a large ditch with about a 10 foot drop off and drug the back end of the truck off the side to the edge with it. The ditch had about a 10 foot drop. After spending about an hour trying to disconnect the trailer with out success. I was dreading the reaction I would get when I had to tell my wife we'd have to walk home in the snow.

As I looked up towards her in the truck I saw all three dogs watching me through the back window with what I would have to call a scornful hurry up look. Then a minor miracle happened! A county snow plow hooked up on the front of a giant road grader showed up and stopped in front of me. The driver jumped out and hooked up a tow cable as big around as my arm and pulled us out truck and trailer in one move. I've lived out here since 1983 and had many perils from the snow over the years and I have to tell you I've never had any complaints with our county road department. We're taken care of far better than what I've seen for city folks in Spokane. I now had earned a little wisdom or common sense and decided to go home and try again another day! Thank you Lord and the snow plow driver "Mick". I've been told God looks out for orphans and idiots. I think that includes me on Monday! And quite a few other times in the past too!

All the new piglets are doing fine. No new calves in the deep freeze. However; I went out to feed the cows this morning, in a hurry just before leaving for the Market at Millwood. I left the gate open to the pasture and raced off with the tractor to get the first bale of hay. When I turned around and looked back I was faced by a long row of cows walking through the gate down the drive way past the house in my direction. Well guess who was leading them? I think some of you will remember the pet heifer , "Curly", that my wife raised from a baby last Summer; who grew up in the front lawn.

She has no natural fear of me, the dogs or the area around the house. Yep. She was their leader. As I drove through them to the pasture most turned and followed but when I went back Curly and some of her yearling buddies were enjoying themselves munching on things in the garden and here and there around the house. One seemed to like munching up a bowl of dog food. Guess I can't claim she is totally grass fed anymore. Well, I led Curly back through the gate and chased her a ways. Guess this was a signal to the dogs it was okay now to chase the rest of the calves and soon they came ripping past the house and green houses through the garden and back to the gate and into the pasture. Just another morning of farm antics. Its what keeps life on the farm exciting and interesting.

Hope you enjoyed the Ranch Ramblings for this week.

Gary

Farm News Nov 12th, 2009

CSA News:
Turkeys go to the processor tomorrow along with geese and ducks. Please return any coolers you may have when you pick up the bird. You have all been great, there's just a few left out there.

I'm thinking strongly about starting a CSA for meat next Spring. It will include: Angus grass fed beef, Berkshire free range-pastured pork, free range chickens, turkeys and an occasional exotic meat like goat, rabbit, or duck. All will be grown on this farm. Delivery will be monthly with a variety pack of about 50 Lbs per share. . Prices will be between wholesale custom processed meat and USDA retail quantities. Membership tentatively will be $300 to cover administration, storage, processing, delivery, etc. It will be for 6 months, renewable in the fall to continue through winter for another 6 months. Please let me know what you think of this idea.

Production This Week:
So will be at the farmer's market of Millwood, 2-6pm - Wed and Community Bldg, 11-5 pm - Thursday pm.

She'll have fresh potatoes, carrots, and beets as well as some salad mix and swiss chard. Also winter squash, chickens, beef, and a little sausage. Next week we will be delivering the turkeys in the afternoon at the Community Bldg (Unless you make other arrangements.) on Thursday the 19th. All the turkeys and geese are sold out but I can't remember who ordered one of the geese. The following week we'll have more chickens being processed so I could make special arrangements to deliver some fresh for those who don't like turkey. Also have some ducks available.

Farm News:
We have been driving the tractor that we have been working on. My Grandson and his friend who was helping did a great job under some pretty adverse conditions! I'm not just talking about the cold; can you imagine having to deal with the interruptions of some old guy with endless words of wisdom and advice?!

My granddaughter called to check on the calf that was born when she came to visit. They had quite an experience playing with it as a little fur-ball. Well the calf is just fine and the mother, a first calving heifer, has figured out it belongs to her and now they are well bonded. I call the calf Speedy . It is the only baby calf right now and seems to enjoy racing through all the other cows in a road runner lickity-split style of her own. She needs some other little ones to play with. Hope that happens soon before the weather gets too bad.

I moved the new sows out on to pasture with their liters of piglets. The pasture is shared with other feeder pigs several months older. Never fear, one of the sows has a scraggly ripped up ear from some earlier fight. I call her Scruffy. As soon as any of the other pigs came within 10 feet of her babies she was pouncing on them with all fours till they ran off for safety of life and limb. It wasn't long before the older feeder piglets learned to stay clear and all was peaceful again. This has always been my experience with pigs when they have plenty of room like ours have on pasture. After a few days their all friends and seem to thrive on being in a diverse social group. This is even true when you add other species.

Recently we had cows, pigs and goats sharing the same pasture. It's odd watching cows graze on a pile of hay (we feed 800 lb round bales) while the pigs are busy digging tunnels through the hay under their feet. It must be symbiotic because later you can see cows relaxing while the chew their cud with pigs cradled up alongside of them snoozing. The goats just seem to hang around watching and being aloof about it all.

Guess I better wrap these "Ranch Ramblings" for now.

Thanks! Gary

Farm News Oct 28th, 2009

Introduction:
This Newsletter has its origins in the CSA Newsletter from the Summer of 2009. A lot of the CSA customers asked me to continue the newsletter. It's an informal dialogue of farm life, farm production information, and a farmer's perspective on past and present events impacting daily events and life on the farm.

Several folks have been added to the original CSA Mailing List because you have been a recent customer of the farm or you have expressed an interest in the events at the farm. If you don't want to receive it just send me an e-mail and let me know.

CSA News:
Everyone has been great about returning the coolers! Thanks! Several of you have asked if we plan to continue the CSA again next year. Yes we do but we're not sure of the delivery points because the market locations could change.

Farm Products Available:
We'll be at the Millwood Indoor Market 12-5 pm and at So. Perry 3-7 pm or until we freeze out as its supposed to get below freezing by sundown. This is the last time at S. Perry St. We will be moving to the Community Building next week at 24 W. Main from 11 to 5 pm.

This week we'll have : salad mix, swiss chard, carrots, beets, squash, eggs, beef, and chickens. Sorry we only have a little sausage left from the pork. Won't be able to re-stock utill December. Will have a beef carcass available next month. If no advance orders occur we plan to package it in split half quarters, as sales have been good in this size packages. A few turkeys still available for Thanksgiving.

Farm News:
Rain, rain, rain and more rain!!! The driveway turned into a small creek; solid water 10 foot wide for about 150 ft stretch. It was so muddy going up to the barn, had to use 4 wheel drive and splattered mud all over.. The tub in my feed Grinder - Mixer is like a big pot full of water. (Didn't expect all this.) Felt like a mud hog sloshing around in the lower pasture and in the dry lots; Huh! Did I say dry lots?. Every hole the pigs have made all Summer is filled with water. Mud wallow paradise for them! All our vehicles got a free car wash but if you used them it didn't last long. Grass started growing and the cows took off and left the hay for greener pastures' so to speak. Trouble is some didn't stop till they visited the neighbors.

Could have been the fault of hunters I heard firing out near my East fence where the cows got out. I don't know what they were hunting but sometimes it sounded like a gun battle with M-16 automatic rifle fire I used to hear in Vietnam. Still bothers me after all these years! I was a little worried about what could have happened to some of the missing cows until I located them. Well had a good time Sunday morning gathering them all up and bringing them home. It wasn't really that hard; as soon as they saw me they started bellowing and came running. Had to lead them back in through the gates in the pig pasture which also now has the goats. Strangely the pigs just stood by along with the goats and just watched the spectacle of the cows following me. That was a welcome surprise to me. Soon as I got them all joined up there was a feeding frenzy as all the calves got matched up with their Moma's again. Fun to watch! Well, the fresh cool wet day was just great!!! Loved it!!! Lord please send more of the rain! This farm is classified as a dry land farm. It relies on the storage of water in the soil for next years crops. Of course any rain we get in season is also a blessing.

Still working on the tractor. Fired off the engine yesterday and that was good until the hydraulic pressure build up and it started squirting and raining oil in several spots. We had to remove all the oil lines to separate the tractor for the clutch repair. A couple more leaks and we'll give it another try tomorrow. About now I'm starting to wonder if it wasn't better back in the days when I was a kid on a ranch in Montana where we used horses for about everything. At the time I thought it was great. My version of a kid's pony ride was sleeping on the back of a 2000lb plus work horse as it wandered home at the end of the days work. It wouldn't dare break down on the way home like a tractor or truck, or it would miss its feeding of oats. I wonder if that's why they never dumped me on the way home as well.

Went for a walk checking the pig fence after the wind storm that ripped through with the hardest rain. The older pigs are winter ranging in an area with timber and its common for a tree or limb to fall and knock out the fence. Well while I was going along I heard a pig or two barking and grunting calling each other. Soon the sound was closer and as I looked around behind me there was the strange site of a single file line of all the sows following me as I walked down the fence. Didn't know what else to do but just finished walking the fence as they all kept following me. Were they keeping me company, curious or just wanting to make sure they didn't miss out on any feed I might come up with? You be the judge!

We'll see what adventures are in store for next week! One of you said they liked my "Ranch Ramblings". Might be a good name for this newsletter.