What a year it's been! (Since last September)

 A big year, and a big summer! 

Highs and lows. Starting with a low... which has probably been one of the main reasons I have sort of lost some momentum in the fence work, and pasture care sadly. ...We had to put mom in a home. After long conversations, meetings, and doctor visits, and hospital stays, and ER visits... she's officially been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. 

It was pretty close there in the early days of her condition just last year around this time. We (my three siblings and I) were contemplating having to take shifts staying with her in her apartment. But as it went, we were able to get her approved for all of the needed support and found a place for her to stay with the (24hr) care she needs. Thanks be to God! And thanks to my siblings who were able to make it happen! My Mom is only in her early eighties, so... relatively young for that kind of place, but with the condition, it's not a surprise we had to put her there. She is very well cared for, and I visit her weekly. 

My youngest son is a Senior this year, I can't believe it. one more year of school and the whole family will be done with any kind of school for the foreseeable future. Also, another hug highlight, and something that absolutely made my summer of 2025... 

My younger brother called me out of the blue to ask me if I was sitting down. That he had something he wanted to tell me. ...You can imagine my worried pause when I said ..."sure man, what is it?" His answer:

"Uncle Jack and Aunt Robin are coming out to visit us and see Mom." 

My Uncle Jack was a hero of mine when I was a child. He was the father figure that was closest to me while I was growing up in Montana until I was about 17 yrs old. I hadn't seen him since 1999. I WAS COMPLETLEY GOING NUTS at the idea, that HE was coming out, and that he would be a visitor in my home!! My Uncle Jack, the one and ONLY!!! A good way to describe him might be as a computer savvy, Grizzly Adams if that makes any sense. LOL He worked with computers way back in the day, and was a big time, big game hunter in his near and dear Rocky Mountains. When we visited, he would tell us stories about his tracking Big Horn sheep through the mountains, Bears, and Elk. He would track them for days. Those days with his visit and reconnecting with him were truly the highlight of my year AT LEAST.

For his privacy I am adding this photo which is similar to an actual photo of him while he was in the mountains. I'll ask him for permission to post the actual picture soon. 

So it has been quite a summer for sure! 

Brrrrr!

 Been doing lots of Firewood these days, and trying to stay warm during this typical January 2+ week freeze! Thank God for son's with strong backs, trucks, and Chainsaws!! 

Also looking at attending a Conference here in the near future. We were contemplating going to the OEFFA Conference (Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association) as I've been to that one in years past. However, with potentially three of us going (maybe four) cost is an issue. So I somehow, miraculously stumbled upon this little gem today... 

OFGC Conference

The Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council (OFGC) at https://ohioforage.com/ ...and this is EXACTLY what I have been looking for, for many, many years. Well... not actively looking for but I started looking a long time ago!

 

More to come on that I hope and pray! 

Peace!

Chomping at the bit...

 We are really looking forward to being able to get out there again and install some fence posts, and some fence around the back field! I've got plans for the gates, and all kinds of good stuff.

AS it is, I'm stuck behind a wall of other responsibilities. Work, weather, caring for my elderly mother, other events that require my and my family's presence, Holiday travel ...the list goes on! 

But with all of that, I'm looking forward to the time back home, when we can make our way to the field, and hopefully get some stuff done! We got a taste of it last weekend, but we'll have to wait for after Thanksgiving (oh yeah, it will also be nice to spend some time with family as well! ;o) 

In the mean time, the only thing I seem to have time for is planning. I'm planning on brainstorming for ideas for the whole "shabang", breaking some of it down into bite size pieces. Highlighting some over-all goals, and how we might be able to make those happen, all in good time. 

So until after Thanksgiving, The tractor is ready with the post pounder that is mounted on it, and working good. 

Fall pasture clipping

 I've heard it said, that one of the most important factors regarding your spring flush in the pastures is ...how you manage them during the fall season. What you do in the fall makes a huge difference in your grass in the springtime.

I wasn't 100% certain of the wisdom of clipping down the old dead/dormant weeds that grew during the summer drought we experienced this year. But I thought by the end of it, it's better for the weeds/forbs to lay down, and feed the soil, adding to the organic matter by composting under the grass, and legumes that were trying to grow from underneath. 

All-in-all, had a blast out there myself, and with two of my son's and with the tractor. 

Fence planning

 A very good thing to have for a static pasture, is a solid perimeter fence.. 

Now in some instances it's not 100% required. But if you're thinking about the possibility of having more than one enterprise, it's probably a good idea. 

As long as you keep a close eye (and string trimmer) on the Electric fence (if that's you're only fence), you should be fine. However it doesn't hurt anything to have a solid post and 4' high woven wire fence around your entire pasture. Albeit lot's of labor, and a very large expense. It'll serve its purpose and make your money back eventually from the product you are trying to grow/raise.

"Good Fences make good neighbors." ...especially if you're raising livestock!

This photo was taken a few years ago of our two wonderful dairy goats

Recharge

 ...I've been looking at the grass again... 

I can honestly say that this drought we're in here in the Midwest, just may have enlivened me back to the concern of 'all things grazing'. When I see the severe and even mild drought in Ohio I get concerned. 

It has rekindled I believe, my passion for soil, grass, cattle, and management!

Here I am 10 years later. Not where I hoped I would've been when I started this blog back in 2014. But non-the less... still passionate about learning, growing and maturing the land (along with myself as well). Also I'm very grateful for all of the years I've had with my sons, and seeing them grow. 10 years ago they were 6, 8, 11. Hard to believe my youngest is 6'1" now. Hah! 

I look at the land where I am, and I'm thinking about "water holding capacity" of the soil. Also about water management on a ranch as a whole. Making the most out of a rain event, and keeping/storing as much as you can, type of mindset. I'm thinking about how I might set things up to prepare for stockpiling forage (if that were possible) and how to make sure the cows have what they need. Thinking about paddock or pasture movements and all of that beautiful stuff! 

Just this weekend, I was on my neighbor's land where his and (now only one of) my cattle graze. I saw there the lack of management. He and I both have kind of lets other things get in the way of taking care of the pasture. We've been fixing and keeping our hands to the fence after a storm or such. But not really as closely as we should have. AND When we're looking at the fence, and tending it, THAT is when you see the grass, and the soil. And can make those observations that are SOOO paramount and vital to having even a chance at a successful pasture management program.

Back in 2014 I had thought I would have possibly had enough cattle, and managed enough land (notice I didn't say own) that I might be able to slow down my corporate job and do a part time contracting scenario, or just a low paying job to supplement the farm income, and for insurance. And that I might have had a large enough customer base now that would be consistently buying my grass-fed beef, and or lamb by now, that I might have been able to "retire" and "Just Ranch". 

Anyhoo, here I am... looking at the grass, and comparing pictures from May of 2021 to today Oct 2024 of the same pasture. The grass here in 2021 although it was May, and yes we were trying to manage it in coordination with the land owner, it was pretty severely overgrazed. The first picture shows how we were trying to keep the cattle off of one section to allow it to regenerate, and making a little progress. 

The second picture shows us the same day taking the cross fence down, on the overgrazed pasture. Opening up the fence for the cows to start grazing what we had allowed to rest..

Here I was this weekend (Oct 2024) glaring at the (my) lack of management, and the (again) overgrazed, and poor quality pasture. I mean I feel like I can't even call it a pasture. I could still see the soul of my boot when walking in that green stuff.

I'm glad the drought has (I think) killed off the weeds. But the poor condition, and the massive amount of weeds, the complete overgrazed condition was a little depressing to look at! 

As you can see I was able to at least cross fence the pasture in half, in hopes to allow the left side to re-grow! I'm going to talk with the land owner about possibly getting in there and cutting the field (while the grass and legumes are so low to the ground.

One positive take away, was the amount of green there was, given the drought that had just gotten a little reprieve from a few days of rain. Thank God in Heaven for that rain! 

Here is looking to the future!!

Cattle to Coding...

 It has been a very long time since I've posted here (not that it makes any difference to anyone), but I thought .. 'why not?'. 

Some of my passion for cattle and the grass, and the land has taken a detour for a while. It's still there don't get me wrong, God's creation, and our stewardship of it has not lost it's grasp on me. I still love being in the field, watching the cattle, and helping my youngest son with the fence at times. 

My latest passion is more day job related, and has involved learning and using PowerShell to automate little tasks. I started writing a few simple PowerShell scripts that helped me in my job. That was back in late 2021. I am continuing to write PowerShell scripts and modules for the team. And now starting a new journey at my work, and starting to get back into Linux Administration that I was doing about eleven years ago at a different job. In a way it feels like I'm picking up where I left off. 

I've been learning about RedHat's Ansible Automation. It's a challenge to say the least, but one I am trying to tackle. I'm hoping we might leverage that in my new role. I say that because I know that (at least in my experience a decade ago) Red Hat support is really top notch, and just amazing really. Looking forward to learning on my own, and someday back in league with RedHat support.