Rainbows

working on the new goat pasture - a rainbow appeared at the end of the day!

Second Cutting

The last of this season's hay - "2nd cutting"  - softest greenest hay - used to feed cattle a burst of nutrition- also used to maintain the diet of an older horse.  Our eldest horses - first Smokey Boots into  her 30s.  Now June Royal,  is showing the later signs of aging.

The gray on her face - the thin body - she's holding her weight pretty, but the ribs are starting to show.  She gets extra senior feed.  June, susceptible to laminitis from too much grass - from pastures plush and large - can stay on pasture all the time now.  In the winter, it is the 2nd cutting that will keep her in good stead.

Restoration Project: Columns

Columns reproduced

to restore an old house.

 Gene's barn woodshop is a large open space that accomodates work on larger projects.

The Amish Way of Making Hay

Time is set back at the farm.  The setting is some time in the 1950s.  For the Amish, it may be back in the pioneer days.  Hay is a difficult undertaking, and for the Amish, horses provide "horsepower", not tractors.

they work together for many of their undertakings - "manpower"

They gather the hay and haul it like this - "horsepower"

than bring it into the barn  - but first it is baled by a stationary setup using a small gas powered motor for baling.

we use this 30 h.p. New Holland tractor just for the tedding and row making parts of the job.

This is the cutter, the initial part of the job.

SOW - Pigs not Pork

I think these faces are lovable and HOPE people consider less pork and more pigs as pets, they are cute and useful compost eaters and makers for the backyard gardener.  Enjoy the photos, taken from local farmers as they humanely raise pig for pork - raising animals in a way that makes them feel special - killing them as painlessly as possible - these are what we can hope for our animal brethren.  Here one is napping in the sun, seemingly quite content!

as you may know already, pigs like the forest floor as a home and forage spot.

Dirt Bike Derby

Having a little fun on the farm

in between chores

to Celebrate Unadilla MX National Race Weekend

Hay Time!

For us, the first hay is a Godsend - because the weather plays the ultimate role in achieving great horse hay...

First it is late, we are ready to bale today after much summer rain - since spring went without rain this year - the rain Gods sent it to us later.

It is July 12th - the timothy headed out 2 weeks ago - approximately - an is going to seed - see photo.

so what you want ideally is when that is just nice and full and green - newly formed.

however the alfalfa is in good stead.

Gene is working the tedder - which takes the hay cut the day before  - spins it outward to fluff it - to dry in a single layer - sun and wind acts to preserve it - dried to perfection.  Gene will typically ted twice the 2nd day - once the day we bale - today - and he will rake it before baling it.   The rake pulls the hay into a row for the baler to swallow easily and put out square bales.  Since the ground was wet on Day one - he also raked it afterwards to dry the ground out underneath.

Gene is dressed with a hoodie to protect himself from all the bugs that fly into him and bite in the process of messing with tall grasses.

and we do it all for these beautiful horses and customer's animals, to keep them healthy in the winter months.  Hay is the ultimate in preserved foods...