Catching Up

 I am taking advantage of this very cold 17 degree morning to build a fire and stay indoors as much as possible.  After a short walk to break the ice in the sheep's water tank and to check the temperature in the well house, I made it back to the comfort of the fire.  The little Jotel stove is keeping my house very cozy on such a cold day and now that it's almost 10 am the sun is streaming in through the southern windows. 

Three and a half sheep (the Ewe is pregnant)  have been introduced to the farm recently. They are Gulf Coast Native breed which was introduced to the Gulf Coast by the Spaniards in the 1700's.  They are an endangered breed so I am happy to try to help them prosper.   I was told that sheep do not need shelter, that they have their shelter on their backs.  The wool sheds water and keeps them warm but I found it hard to believe that any animal would not want to duck in out of the weather on such a cold and windy day.  I built them a little shelter to get in out of the rain and snow and to block the wind.  It also keeps their hay dry.  They took full advantage of it and were huddled inside when I approached them this morning.

Leah had her horses, Rabia and Kira, here for the summer.  It was nice to see these majestic animals out grazing and occasionally running through the pasture.  They are now back in Weaverville where Leah can better winter them.


In other news, my sister Lisa and her husband Everette came out this fall for a visit.  It was great to have them here for some family time.  Here is a photo of them levitating at the end of their visit.  We did get to see the Blue Ghost Fireflys that are only in this area near Dupont State Forest.

My buddy Jerry held his annual hog killing on one cold day this winter and I was lucky enough to be invited.  It was done in the traditional mountain way involving the elders as well as the younger members of the family.  In exchange for my scant participation ( I did get to cut the head off of one of the carcases) I received some sugar cured bacon and two packs of homemade sausage.  Leah made some really good New Year's Day Hoppin' John peas and some Collard greens with some of Jerry's bacon to go along with a garlic and lemon pork roast.  The meal was topped off with Key Lime pie.  That's how a new year should begin.

Other projects in the works are fencing in the back pasture for the sheep to graze and setting it up for the intensive rotational grazing method.  I am also getting very interested and have been reading about the possibility of growing vegetables and greens year round with the the use of an unheated hoop house as outlined by Elliot Coleman.  Chickens are still in the plan for Spring.

All in all, I am having a great time on my little farm and am really enjoying my new house.  If you are in the area please stop by for a visit.