Fall
Our summer-time tasks are pretty well finished around here and we are transitioning into cool-weather work.
This year, we were able to make plenty of hay. (Check out my earlier post about hay-making, if you missed it.) The final cutting of the year was in October. The quality isn’t as good as the first and second cuttings, so we are already putting that hay out for the cows to eat as a supplement to the grass that’s still there. And from now until the grass really starts growing again in the spring, this will be our daily work. In this respect, I’m glad we aren’t dairy farmers… who have to tend to the milking twice a day, every day, all year long. When I think about it that way, it gives me new appreciation for the cost of milk and cheese!
When I was in high school, when we were still making hay in the smaller square bales and Dad was still working full-time at his day job, my siblings and I were responsible for feeding the hay out each day after school. The various barns on the property had sheltered racks built onto their sides so the cows could put their heads between the slats and eat. Our job was to wrestle 30-ish-pound bales of hay along the racks by hand, while hungry cattle tried to snatch bites as we carried the hay. It was a formidable business to carry those bales along while large animals pushed at us and the food they wanted!
Now, we manage the feeding with large round hay bales and a tractor. I find it to be somewhat therapeutic to watch the animals nose-first in the hay-rings and racks where we feed them. When the bale goes in, the animal noises suddenly stop and all you hear are muffled munching sounds of hay being chewed.
This year, we have started something new: we are opening for events for the community. With all that’s going on in our world today, I think people are glad to have a peaceful and unique experience that they often can’t find anywhere else. Sure, pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and petting farms are nice, but they usually have a ton of guests and I don’t find them to be all that calm anymore! So far this fall, we have been able to host a community night for our church, a couple of bonfires for smaller groups, and a field trip for a homeschool group.
We had a few weather delays for the field trip day but, when they finally got to come to the farm, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect! Kids and parents were able to interact closely with the cows and ask lots of questions. We also did some nature crafts (leaf-rubbings, anyone?) and a scavenger hunt. My hope is that the families went away with a sense of joy and connection to the Creation outside their own four walls.
It’s such joy for us to host events where people can interact with with us, the cows, and nature. We want to serve our community by helping connect them to the land and, perhaps, to their food. If you’d like to set something up for your own family or group, feel free to get in touch!
