Sage and Sky Farm

05/06/2022

Today was one of those days when things go up and down all together. One ewe lost a lamb this morning and I had to pull the second and revive it for what seemed like forever. But, the little guy started breathing and came through. Success, and a huge sigh of relief mixed with sadness for the lost first born. Then after over an inch of rain today and a broken tractor, in the middle of scraping manure, I set off to feed the sheep in the barn because the fields are too wet. When I arrived in the barn I found three gorgeous healthy triplets and a vety attentive mama.

The day suddenly seems right! Yet, my own mother is in critical condition in a hospital tonight in Idaho. My thoughts go out to mamas today. May you all be as wonderful and caring as my own. I love you dearly mom! And, sleep tight new little ones in the barn. You’re safe from the rain and wet.

04/24/2022

The power of spring is the visualization of possibility. The rigors of summer heat and winter cold are on the horizon, but today there are buds on the cherry and starts in the germ house. This golden moment of new growth is truly inspiring.

11/21/2021

The 1953 Chevy 3100 1/2 ton farm truck —

So I worked until after 12 last night and here's the list:

1. The fan hits the block and needs replacing
2. The oil gauge leaks and won't seal at the gauge cluster
3. The gas pedal/throttle sticks down and over revs the engine
4. The doors won't shut because the new rubber is too fat
5. The front clip is off quite a bit on the side where the dent was and I need to pull it back off and do more metal bumping ( which also helps me change the fan)
6. The new disc brakes grind in their revolutions and need some metal taken off the outside casting
7. It definitely smokes a lot (from everywhere), but that could just be burning off new engine block paint, dripped brake fluid from brake line change, and engine braking in after so long
8. The distributor cap rotates wildly (I think because the new one is quite loose). Maybe go back to the one one I had on there.

There are a lot of positives:
1. It starts
2. It steers
3. It stops
4. It shifts
5. No leaking of brake fluid, fuel, oil, or coolant
6 AND - it looks like a truck again with so much of the sheet metal back on

04/28/2021

This is the tale of a rose, 18 roses actually. I’ve been growing hybrid teas for twenty years now and this winter they all almost died.

If you don’t see climate change happening in your own space, then please go outside and observe. But those of us on the front lines who live outside and make a living from working with the natural world see this occurring every day. You see, we had a wet period in late winter that flooded my fields more than I have ever seen. Which wouldn’t be decidedly disastrous except, the daffodils came up three weeks early, and my roses began to come out of hibernation early as well. In the end this combination of wet feet for a prolonged period and starting early spring growth too early tipped them over the edge.

This dire combination of extreme heat and wet coupled with plants coming out of dormancy too early is a clear indication of the shifting nature of our environment that is readily observable in the backyard. I have since replanted them in new raised beds to get them up out of the wet, and I had to cut them back to the only healthy cane left on some bushes. I hope that does the trick! But, I know that the shifting environment will only throw me more curve balls. Let’s pray that small scale sustainable farmers can keep up!

04/27/2021

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01/31/2021

So yesterday we had a harrowing experience. I had a ewe go down with pregnancy toxemia, ketosis. Now I know that once a sheep goes down like this they rarely get up, but we had to try. After manually moving her around and giving her 2 oz of glucose, she was still unresponsive.

So, we had to make a choice. Do you do a c-section and try to save the lambs or do you just let her quietly pass. Her udders were not full and we knew she had not let down her milk yet. Therefore, her lambs were going to be premature if we could get them out alive.

We went ahead with the c-section as the mom was expiring rapidly. It went quite smoothly, as Ollie and I have done this before. We did get all three lambs out alive. But they were too premature and died shortly after cutting the umbilical. In the end all four animals died and we had to bury them. It was a rough day to be a farmer. Ollie and I did soldier through, and both of us are confidant now that we could perform this again. The anatomy lesson was priceless, but the checks and balances of this lifestyle is the enduring lesson for us all.

May this ewe’s genetics live on in my flock as she was a great mom with multiple healthy lambs over many years.

01/15/2021

The first lambs of 2021 coming in. They even waited until 2020 was over! This is going to be a great year on the farm.

12/30/2019

The lambs are coming! The lambs are coming.

05/22/2019

The sheep on to second pasture of the season. A healthy flock on green grass!

05/22/2019

The sheep on to the second pasture of the season. A healthy flock on green grass!

12/10/2018

The first lambs of 2019! Doc Pol is the sire and the 12 # ram lamb and 9 # ewe lamb are a welcome beginning to the season (even if they’re a bit early).

11/12/2018

Beautiful sunrise this morning. Cold temps, frosty, and clear, but the farm is put to bed for winter.