Preparing for Winter
The glistening morning frost spreading across the pastures leaves little doubt winter is coming. It’s time to put on our sweaters, cozy up with a cup of tea and find a warm place to do our work. Winter has always been a time of reflection for me. This will likely be even more true this year as the normal hustle and bustle of the holidays is quieted in the face of the virus.
On the farm as in life, every season has its own natural rhythm and the work of each prepares for the next. I find this both comforting and empowering. It’s an affirmation that we are all moving together in the interconnected cycle of life. It is in our power to labor purposefully in a direction that fosters positive change – for the planet as well as each other.
In winter the land is still, allowing us to turn our attention to all the little projects on the farm we could never find time for in other seasons. A new loft in the barn, a cozy new pig nursery, fencing repairs, the list goes on and on.
There is much work to be done to keep our animals dry, warm and happy during the cold wet winter.
The work of the fall has prepared us for the daily winter task of keeping our grass-fed cows healthy and happy. Like people, cows like variety in their diet. We harvested thousands of bales of dry hay from alfalfa and meadow grass and twenty tons of sorghum sudangrass to create our own fermented hay product called hayledge. The fermentation process breaks down the nutrients into a more bioavailable form. It has a delightful sweet smell and a taste the cows just love. It also leaves a cute little sorghum sudan mustache behind.
For health and comfort, we practice what is called deep bedding. Layer upon layer of hay provides the livestock with a fluffy dry barn and healthy alternative to standing outside in deep mud. When weather permits, we open the barn doors and let our friends enjoy their outside time. The best of both worlds.
Like many winter activities, purposeful deep bedding is foundational to a strong rebirth in the spring. First, it protects the pastures from becoming so muddy that grass growth is stunted in the spring. Second, as layer upon layer of hay is added to the cows’ barn throughout the winter, we intersperse corn. In the spring, we will invite the pigs into the barn and let them do their favorite thing – rooting. As they root through the compressed hay to get at the corn kernels, they loosen what has become a nutrient-rich, pliable mulch we will spread on the fields to further nourish the land this spring.
As the rhythms of the winter season take hold, our farm team is ready for the purposeful work that will lead to an abundant spring. We are so grateful for the wonderful farmers who joined us this year. Their love for the mission inspires and strengthens our work.
As I walk the farm and see all of the water retention ponds we built this fall soaking up the winter rain, I’m reminded that each turning point can strengthen whatever comes next.
We all know, the virus is leading us into what our healthcare professionals call a dark winter but with hope and resolve, I pray the purposeful actions of like-hearted Americans in this time will lessen that darkness and lead us to a better spring.
Preparing for Winter
The glistening morning frost spreading across the pastures leaves little doubt winter is coming. It’s time to put on our sweaters, cozy up with a cup of tea and find a warm place to do our work. Winter has always been a time of reflection for me. This will likely be even more true this year as the normal hustle and bustle of the holidays is quieted in the face of the virus.
On the farm as in life, every season has its own natural rhythm and the work of each prepares for the next. I find this both comforting and empowering. It’s an affirmation that we are all moving together in the interconnected cycle of life. It is in our power to labor purposefully in a direction that fosters positive change – for the planet as well as each other.
In winter the land is still, allowing us to turn our attention to all the little projects on the farm we could never find time for in other seasons. A new loft in the barn, a cozy new pig nursery, fencing repairs, the list goes on and on.
There is much work to be done to keep our animals dry, warm and happy during the cold wet winter.
The work of the fall has prepared us for the daily winter task of keeping our grass-fed cows healthy and happy. Like people, cows like variety in their diet. We harvested thousands of bales of dry hay from alfalfa and meadow grass and twenty tons of sorghum sudangrass to create our own fermented hay product called hayledge. The fermentation process breaks down the nutrients into a more bioavailable form. It has a delightful sweet smell and a taste the cows just love. It also leaves a cute little sorghum sudan mustache behind.
For health and comfort, we practice what is called deep bedding. Layer upon layer of hay provides the livestock with a fluffy dry barn and healthy alternative to standing outside in deep mud. When weather permits, we open the barn doors and let our friends enjoy their outside time. The best of both worlds.
Like many winter activities, purposeful deep bedding is foundational to a strong rebirth in the spring. First, it protects the pastures from becoming so muddy that grass growth is stunted in the spring. Second, as layer upon layer of hay is added to the cows’ barn throughout the winter, we intersperse corn. In the spring, we will invite the pigs into the barn and let them do their favorite thing – rooting. As they root through the compressed hay to get at the corn kernels, they loosen what has become a nutrient-rich, pliable mulch we will spread on the fields to further nourish the land this spring.
As the rhythms of the winter season take hold, our farm team is ready for the purposeful work that will lead to an abundant spring. We are so grateful for the wonderful farmers who joined us this year. Their love for the mission inspires and strengthens our work.
As I walk the farm and see all of the water retention ponds we built this fall soaking up the winter rain, I’m reminded that each turning point can strengthen whatever comes next.
We all know, the virus is leading us into what our healthcare professionals call a dark winter but with hope and resolve, I pray the purposeful actions of like-hearted Americans in this time will lessen that darkness and lead us to a better spring.
