Where We are With the Farming—Sunday, April 7, 2024

Posted on April 7, 2024 by Dayphoto

The plowing is all done!

All the plowed ground is now rolled—you have to smash all the plowed earth flat, the roller does that

The plowed and rolled ground is leveled—meaning fixing the ground so there are no humps, lumps or bumps in it so the water can go through from the top of the field all the way to the bottom of the field

All the grass fields and the alfalfa fields have been marked out ready for the water to start

Equines (not cows) are very hard on gated pipe—-we now have all the gated pipe repaired.

Getting closer to starting water on the farm. Soon now.

Very soon!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm

Linda

In the Growing Warmth of Late Winter and Early Spring—Monday, March 18, 2018

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Dayphoto

We still have spits and spurts of winter’s blasts. This Sunday was one of those days, it snowed, it rained and we had sleet. Today’s morning was very chill not really burning off —just as if we were still in February.

Still the works goes on…we didn’t receive enough moisture to muddy up the ground.

Since Lady can no longer have the total run of the farm, we also spent a couple of hours fixing her a spring pasture the other afternoon

Thankfully the day was warm, Red winged Blackbirds sang happily in the old trees as we worked

The hawks and ravens haunted the clouds way above us.

Lady followed us with picked up ears and her face full of interest in the glittering light on this lovely spring day.

Our oldest granddaughter played her last game of the year…

And always, always everything we do [now] revolves around the opening of the land.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Something Larger Than Yourself—Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Dayphoto

The work goes on…first light –until way past last light– arriving back in the yard in a flurry of falling stars in the velvet night.

Yesterday Terry worked in the alfalfa field and I finished up raking the whole yard, all the flower beds, around all the outbuildings, and

(This is an old photo, but it gives you an idea of what I did yesterday)

worked on getting the canal bank ready for the water to come. A huge job.

The fertilizer truck arrived around 7 this morning. So now Terry is

rolling the fertilizer on the corn fields.

Water is supposed to be in the canal any day now. We took a short drive around 5 yesterday afternoon, checking the canals above us to see where the water was…our lives revolve around water.

It’s a busy time of year, but a good time. It gives me a sense of reaching out to something ever so much larger than myself. Our farm, a small, vibrant island of life.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm

Linda

One Field Finished with the Second Step — Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Dayphoto

Terry has finished rolling one field…there are many more field to work , but this one is finished with the plowing and the rolling.

This is what plowed ground looks like —all lumpy and bumpy

And here is what it looks like after being rolled. There are several more steps to go before we can start water and then plant. (Terry wet plants…the seeds come up faster and they come up all at once, that way.)

It’s always a good feeling to get one step done and ready for the next step!

Always!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Farm Waking to Spring—-Sunday, March 12, 2017

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Dayphoto

I finished cleaning and prepping my gardens by the the corrals, which led me to figure out I had better get the corrals back into order, fences and gates in repair, take down the metal fences and store them until next year (for when the cows come). Clean out the loafing shed and move some things around.

A little squirrel chattered at me, from one of the corral posts; the call of a Robin sitting high in the Willow tree made a sweet song as I worked.

Terry finished plowing one field and started rolling it. The soil is just right for plowing, but drying fast.

so the rolling had to occur as soon as he could hook up the roller or the earth would turn into clods.

In the fresh extra edge, of cool air and rising sunshine Saturday morning we finished the last load of the wood. A slight breeze moved restlessly caressing our work heated skin.

It was a lovely feeling.

Friday and Saturday we kept a steady pace.

Then as the day came to a close, cool mist of the evening rose up to wrap the world in drifting peace…the Red Winged Blackbirds came to feast; filling up their tummies for the long night of rest.

https://youtu.be/iX2yDd1gVk0

Their songs high and sweet— and full of joy!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

Weather and Moon Lore—Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Dayphoto

(This is an old photo, but I love the fox and the corn and the full moon, so decided to use it for today’s post.)

Today is March’s Full Moon beginning phase…I love the full moon! Anyway, this is called the Worm Moon in the Northern Hemisphere. The earth is beginning to warm, the ground to thaw and the earthworm casts to appear. Once this happens the Robins return to brighten our days. (Although I’ve seen robins for a bit now.)

In the far north this moon is called the Crow Moon–the cawing signals the end of winter and in the eastern part of the north is the Sap Moon marking the time of tapping maple trees.

There is also old farm lore that says if the 21st of the start of the four-seasons…(yesterday was the 21st of Spring) will tell what the next three months will bring; hot, dry, windy or cold. We had beautiful weather yesterday…the morning was clear and bright and warm, by the afternoon the wind came up…a warm wind. Then the clouds started flinging themselves over us.

The wind blew off and on all night (although it was a warm wind) and is still gusting heavily; although it’s still warm it is cooling down.

Terry is rolling the plowed fields (still) it takes many acres of rolling before he can start leveling.

Maybe you know some more interesting rural (country) lore. If you do, would you please share. I rather enjoy collecting them.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Cow Check—-Thursday, March 10, 2016

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Dayphoto

The cows are ever so calm. Terry started working the alfalfa field (he is ripping here) and they didn’t even move. (Shows how much we and Davis’ are with them. :0 )

The Mom’s loved hanging in the field eating the turned up roots.

The little ones didn’t even run from the big loud noisy machine. (Probably because the Mom’s didn’t run or holler at the kids to RUN! :0 ) (Here Terry is rolling)

So Terry had to either get out and make them move or work around them.

Calm, calm calm.

That evening Terry, Boomer and I rode through the cows on our evening check…There was a BRAND NEW little one just eating lunch.

Now THIS mom decided she didn’t want to have her little one subjected to two noisy four-wheelers…she took off at a run. The little one had to struggle to keep up, but it did.

At the Upper End we ran into one of the ‘babysitter’ cows…she had 8 little ones she was watching.

It won’t be long now before Mr. Davis comes and gets his cows and moves them onto his ranch, just below our farm…about a mile away.

Until he comes…I’m going to enjoy every minute of the time we have left with them.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Getting Closer to Starting Water

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Dayphoto

Terry finished rolling late Monday evening

(Rolling is where you smash the plowed clumps down into soft manageable soil)

After the fertilizer was spread he covered it up by marking out the water furrows

(That’s the combine herd…and a couple of old cars which really needs to be hauled away…. Someday, I’m told, we will get to it.)

Straight rows are a must. Other farmers drive by and always (I do mean always) make a comment on if your rows are straight or not.

With today’s tractors the GPS does all the work, therefore the rows are perfect. We have no such tractor…Terry relies on scribes (marker bars), getting started right, and driving straight. Otherwise, he has to take a ‘ribbing’ until the rows grow shut.

Today we (this is where I start helping him with the farming) work on setting up the gated pipe, making transmission ditches and waste ditches, it won’t be long now until we start water. In fact any day now.

Getting closer—–

Linda

Third Step in Spring Work

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Dayphoto

rolling-the-field

Rolling the fields, after they have been disked and plowed, and before the fourth step-leveling.

roller

What the roller does is smash and break up the clods of plowed earth, leaving a mellow loam, perfect for placing little seeds to grow.

broken-teeth

Of course, everything had been going along pretty smooth, so it was time for a mishap. Two teeth broke off the roller. These are expensive little items; last year’s prices had them around $200 a piece.

One thing about it, life is never dull!