Our little “hobby farm” can generate a lot of busy work.
Since the weather cooperated this past week, and warmed the soil to the point of thawing out, I was able to dig post holes and cement some fence posts in the ground for a much needed fenced “alley” from the cow pasture to the barn.
I still have to hammer in some metal posts, and buy 3 gates, but once I do, I can finish up that little project rather quickly.
The reason I need to get that done before the barn addition is because our “expectant mother” cow needs to learn the routine of going to the barn for milking – and to learn that there are treats for those that perform their duties when requested to do so.
But, since she is not used to walking on a lead rope, we need to coax her into the routine, and set a gentle rhythm that she can be happy to follow. But, since she is not halter or lead rope trained, we need a fenced walkway to keep her from bolting off down the hill, which could potentially render harm to her, her baby, or to one of us.
Once I finish that project, I still need to mount her stanchion where her stall in the barn will be, mount the hay rack for her, build the stall with 2 gates, put the roof on the barn addition, put the siding on it, and then, of course, build the other stalls for the rest of the goats.
I say “the rest of the goats” because I just built a new stall for our 2 goats that are ready to kid in the next 2 – 4 weeks. The cow is due to calve in late February – early March, there are 2 more goats due in April and 1 due in May.
Add to that the blueberries that need to be cleared of late-summer weeds and rows/blueberry plants mulched, along with raised garden beds made, a goat paddock finished for the buck and wether (male and fixed male), housing moved from their current paddock to the new one, the ground for the entire goat paddock where the buck was to be rotovated (rototilled) and amenities added to the soil, more compost bins made, front garden beds made, fruit trees to be pruned, sprayed with dormant oil (for bug protection) and fertilized, asparagus fertilized, movable chicken houses made for our hens, the greenhouse soil to be turned under, more seeds to be planted, tree stumps cut out, the drive going up the hill to be bladed flat and about 3 – 4 tons of gravel put down on it, items planted in the old chicken house (where the turkeys were), beehive equipment to be made, repaired and readied for new bees, feeding of bees still alive and well, and the list goes on, and on, and on….
I am sure I forgot something, but that does seem to cover most of the late winter, early spring items.
After reviewing the list, I think I’ll go to bed – I am now thoroughly exhausted!
–Pat