January. The month of the infamous "Polar Vortex" and the weird, and rare "Snow Rollers", dotting the fields and frozen lakes all around the farm. January was a month spent dealing with weeks of temperatures dipping below zero (as low as -23degrees), chucking ice from frozen water buckets, collecting frozen chicken eggs that would crack the second they were brought into the house, and stringing heat lamps throughout the barn and praying the goat didn't give birth before the weather changed to "tolerable."
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| "Snow Rollers" |
Cold, cold, and more freezing cold.
March
The first of the baby chicks and bunnies were being born and growing lovely! Planted four new fruit trees - two apple, a cherry and a pear.
April
Still a lot of cold and crummy weather, it seems like nothing will start sprouting green this year and the cold will never go away! Baby chicks are growing well, with no losses so far.
May
May brought on the long awaited arrival of Chiba's baby, only to have it "still born." But the good side of it all is now there was a fresh supply of goat milk!
June
The garden was planted and ready to grow. We had our own hay field cut and baled for the first time. The first cutting produced 208 bales. This saved the farm a ton of money, and was satisfying knowing it came from the farm.
July
The garden is in full swing and we were eagerly awaiting tomatoes. Chickens are laying a good supply of eggs and we are selling them like crazy at the race track. We can't keep up with demand!
August
Chugging along in the summer heat, canning, canning and canning some more. The tomatoes are ripening like mad and its a little hard to keep up with everything. The racehorses are winning races and doing great.
September
The first "fall farm party" was held on the farm in honor of my niece's 21st birthday. The weather was perfect the entire weekend and everyone enjoyed themselves.
October
Butchering chickens and rabbits and enjoying the fall. The garden is still going strong with tomatoes, pumpkins, cilantro, parsley, radish and onions.
November
Butchered out first farm-raised turkey for Thanksgiving. He was lovely, weighing in at 16.2 lbs dressed out. Planted garlic for the summer 2015 harvest.
December
Hard to believe that December is already here. Another end to another year. And also the end of the pig's life at Mon Abri Farm. It will be a sad, but exciting day when he goes to the butcher on January 2nd. I will miss giving him his daily back scratches and belly rubs, but it will also be rewarding to have a freezer full of pork that I raised myself from a pig that ate well and enjoyed a pampered life on the farm up until the end.
And now, as we journey into the New Year, let's be hopeful the months to come will be rewarding.
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