Lea McEvilly, November 25th, 2013
During the winter, I had ordered 50 young Red Twig Dogwood trees to add an inner row to the windbreak, and also 25 new perennials for the flower beds, so I had plenty to keep me busy through early spring. If I had known what was to transpire later in the year, I might have thought twice about the perennials! Read more: Voices From the Farm: How NOT to Move a Tree!
Lea McEvilly, November 15th, 2013
I was extremely proud of an exceptionally big, handsome ram out of my best 4-year old Texel-cross ewe and already anticipated the nice progeny he would produce when paired with the crop of ewe lambs. On a mild day in early November, I set about getting the big ram out. Read more: Voices From the Farm: Dealing With Rams
Lea McEvilly, November 1st, 2013
Despite all the carefully laid plans made previously, events conspired to change them. Fortunately, the changes were mostly to my benefit! Read more: Voices From the Farm: Best Laid Plans of Mice and (Wo)men
Lea McEvilly, October 9th, 2013
That was the plan, but as we all know, “There’s many a slip twixt the cup and the lip!” My mind went back to an earlier lambing in 1993, when things didn’t go so well. Read more: Voices From the Farm: Valhalla for Another Old Warrior and Planning and Plotting
Lea McEvilly, September 30th, 2013
Lambing of the mature ewes began in early April, and they were just finishing up when the young ewes started, so it was an intense six weeks. By the end of lambing I was thankful to be done climbing in and out of lambing jugs doing tags, tails, testicles, and tattoos… Yes, tattoos! Read more: Voices From the Farm: Double Dip Lambing
Lea McEvilly, September 17th, 2013
Frisco’s guarding surpassed my fondest hopes! One day the flock of 160 sheep and the llama were grazing the farthest pasture, next to the highway, when a passing dump truck suddenly backfired. Frisco instantly rounded up the entire flock, brought them in on the double, and herded them into a corner near the buildings where they would be safe. Read more: Voices From the Farm: Llama Antics
Lea McEvilly, September 10th, 2013
As the time to sell the feeder lambs neared, Sean and his friend Dennis approached me with the idea that they might buy the feeders this year. I really tried to dissuade them, as feeder prices were high at the time, and I feared that prices could drop by the time the lambs were ready for market. However, they wanted to try it. Dennis’ uncle had a nice lot near Eitzen with a covered shed for feeding and Sean could build a Hi-Tensile fence around the lot, so they bought the lambs and moved them down to the lot. Read more: Voices From the Farm: A New Venture – Feeder Lambs
Lea McEvilly, August 25th, 2013
Following the capture and return of Frisco, the llama, I was currently working daily on my plan to reconcile Frisco and Sheba to a working relationship. It took nearly a month, but it worked! Read more: Voices From the Farm: the Llama Drama’s Happy Ending
Lea McEvilly, August 15th, 2013
Since Frisco could cross sheep guards with gay abandon, climb hog panel gates, jump high fences, and probably leap tall buildings with a singe bound, he left the premises repeatedly! When he went I usually found him in my neighbor’s pasture with the cattle. Read more: Voices From the Farm: the Great Llama Drama
Lea McEvilly, August 6th, 2013
I had an excellent group of feeder lambs, and planned to sell them at the end of the month. They were on a lush fenced pasture next to the highway with plenty of forage to last through the month. I did not intend to bring them in until just before the sale. An early morning phone call from a neighbor caused me to change my plans! He was on his way to feed cattle on his parents’ farm, and as he passed our driveway he saw a female coyote, along with one pup, sitting just outside our sheep guard, waiting for the chance to grab a lamb. Read more: Voices From the Farm: Coyote Attack!
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Book of the Month
Food From the Radical Center: Healing Our Land and Communities
By Gary Paul Nabhan
America has never felt more divided. But in the midst of all the acrimony comes one of the most promising movements in our country’s history. People of all races, faiths, and political persuasions are coming together to restore America’s natural wealth: its ability to produce healthy foods.
In Food from the Radical Center, Gary Nabhan tells the stories of diverse communities who are getting their hands dirty and bringing back North America’s unique fare. Read on...
 The Voice of Eco-Agriculture
North America’s premier publisher on production-scale organic and sustainable farming. Learn more here.
A Video You Don't Want to Miss!
Clara Coleman, daughter of renowned farming pioneer Eliot Coleman, has a clear plan for a new collaborative farming model called the ARC Farming Project—Agrarian Resource Collaborative Farming.
It is in response to today's particular agricultural challenges and embraces farmer entrepreneurial diversification. Watch the video here.
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