Woodshop Year in Review 2014

Projects from the woodshop in 2014:
pasture doors
custom TV console for client

saw horses

restored barn windows after storm
catering display for client
tomato stakes and garden markers
plumbing box for winter protection of barn water supply
cut out PVC forms for client
bamboo holders
cut rafters for client
started bowl on lathe 

the fantastic woodshop invites creativity, but Gene remarks "it is difficult to get the time needed for creative projects when making hay, mucking, repairs and maintenance, and other farm chores are constantly calling his name. "  To add to his workload, we had a storm that downed at least 50 trees on the farm and cleanup is ongoing.  A few downed maple and locust trees may be used in the woodshop, someday...

Pens

Gene built a pen gate for neighboring pig pen.

This is the gate he built for our goat pen in the dairy barn.

Storm Damage Recovery

The storm that happened in UpState NY the summer of 2014, July 3rd, was called a straight line wind - not a tornado.

According to the NWS: "A SERIES OF DOWNBURSTS PRODUCED STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE ... in CENTRAL NEW YORK DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS ON JULY 3 2014. THE DAMAGE FROM THESE DOWNBURSTS WAS DISCONTINUOUS...BUT SPANNED A TOTAL PATH LENGTH OF 30 MILES FROM WEST TO EAST. WHILE THE DAMAGE PATH WAS SPORADIC...THERE WERE POCKETS OF INTENSE DAMAGE. THE DAMAGE WAS MOSTLY FROM SNAPPED AND UPROOTED TREES ALONG THE DURATION OF THE PATH." We have upwards, or should I say sideways, of over 50 trees like this on the farm. Here are some photos - after the snowfall - we still have not recovered all the downed trees.   It took out a bridge, pasture fencing, and destroyed an outdoor shower used for our agritourism campsite. Recovery is slow... Gene is in the process of gathering the trees, and the stumps  - use of a chainsaw and Heavy Equipment requires skill.  I give loggers alot of credit for the dangerous work they do.  We know someone who had a tree fall on them during logging.  Luckily he survived. There were no injuries reported during this storm.

Restoration Projects

Pig Pen

our neighbors pig - the first month...

Assisi

Here are some more photos of Assisi which Gene really helped take care of greatly - now she is back in the wild - and hopefully well - unfortunately we do not know.

Gene believes he spotted her with a doe up on the pasture behind the house where we last saw her...

She even played basketball with me - well the bouncing ball did not bother her - she was last seen on Sept 15th...be well little beauty!

Hay Season in Review

It was very touch and go this season with record consecutive weeks of rain.  Last year, it rained non stop.  This year it rained one day a week - that one day is enough to ruin the hay.  It was pretty STRESSFUL  to think of the animals (horses and goats) this winter without hay.

This is the equipment to make square bales - the best quality hay, especially for horses.

It takes lots of capital, fuel, land taxes, and time - for only $2- $4 a bale - it is a wonder anyone does it... but that just shows our love of animals.

As Gene bales - the hay is sent into this wagon which is than dumped by the hay elevator behind the barn.

This was taken on Sept 20th - Gene loading a dumpster for a customer who got hay right off the field - for the lowest price - we are having a hard time getting paid from him.  So it goes - farming -  nobody does it for the money!!!!!

above is a cute picture of Assisi with the hay - just hanging out with us as we loaded the elevator to put hay into the Barn!  It was such a nice experience for us.  Being around young animals and young humans reinforces the gift of life...they are uplifting due to their playfulness and joie de vivre!!!