Here we have a comparison of grass that was grazed once in the winter 2021 with an un-grazed residual of about 4-6" that was left on top of the soil. Now the same area in Mid-April 2021, waiting to be grazed. Probably going to start opening it up in a week or two max. The old saying goes "It takes grass, to make grass"
Listening to the Working Cows pod-cast, Episode 100, Clay was talking with Burke Teichert and they were talking about ranching, Burke was asked "what's the one thing that you wish you would have known all along, when it comes to ranching and/or life?"
He answered: "That's a tough question to answer, it's been a series of building blocks for me. But the thing I wish I'd known all along is that ... we won't live long enough to become perfect at anything we do. Livestock handling and Grazing management for example, and we love to do those things as ranch managers...but every time we get a little bit better, we get rewarded. And that makes the challenge so enjoyable. We know there's always challenges ahead of us, and because of that we know there's room to get better. And when we get a little better, we are again rewarded." - Burke Teichert
Had an opportunity to greet the day as the sun was rising, one of the days this week and open up some fence for the cows. My two younger son's were along for the job! Had a great time. It was a little uncertain how it would end up working out. I worked from home that day which gave me a little more time to move a little bit of the fence. Took us about 30 minutes, and afterward I went back home and logged into my I.T. Support job... and helped some folks remotely with all of their Computer issues until 5:30 pm. Then had to do a remote zoom session for the High School Bible study class, and by the end of the day... the thought I had was, even though I was tired, the day started with doing something that I wanted to do. Something that might possibly help build my future, and my possible retirement. As opposed to just waking up in the usual way, and doing the usual thing, of leaving the house, to go directly to a job in town, in order to make a paycheck. (As much of a huge blessing that is of course) Instead, the idea of working cows, and managing them, in a way that heals the land, and makes everything, and everyone happier, and healthier.
I'm hopeful about whats next!
With two of my sons, we went out and had some fun checking the fences this afternoon. Some places didn't get any readings, but others got really good readings. More work to do, but that kinda gets me going. Stay tuned. Also we got our first really quick surprise snow of the season in the process. It didn't last long, but kinda got us thinking about the winter. Going down to 28 degrees tonight. Brrr!
When I started this "blog" back in 2014 I had every intention to keep it about Agriculture, and small scale farming by managing grass, soil, and animals. After a certain turn of events shortly after I started this blog (and I use that term lightly) I switched to mainly writing about Theology. I am still very passionate about both topics. I kept the title "grass farmer" since that passion has never left me. It's been a little dormant for the last several years since the blog began... but has recently been re-ignited, or re-germinated. I can't quite remember the moment it happened. But I found myself noodling again with the idea that I might be able to do some good locally with some cattle, and some pasture, that is not even my own.. but belongs to other people. Stay tuned. God willing, there will be more to come.
