Let’s keep those parasites in check this summer! Next to moving fencing, parasite management probably takes up more time than anything else on my farm during the summer. I am always trying to figure out the best way to monitor, test, and record stats on each sheep. Parasite management is one of my greatest concerns as a shepherd during the … Read More
Several years ago, I wrote a blog post about the challenges small farming operations face. I wrote about how the lack of equipment, proper infrastructure, and funds are not sustainable and require much more muscle to get chores done. Since writing that post, we have added a hay elevator and a small tractor to our farm. These two pieces of … Read More
As a shepherd, lambing season can be one of the most stressful times of the year, but it doesn’t have to be. Understanding the natural process of labor and delivery, and learning how to recognize the different stages of labor, takes much of the stress out of lambing. Understanding the Natural Processes of Labor & Delivery I taught natural childbirth … Read More
Through the years I have seen countless birth stories played out from both two legged moms and four legged laboring ewes. Each labor has its own unique story, place, and people. Believe it or not, animals have similar labor needs as women, and they seek out ways to have these needs met. Sometimes it is their instincts that take over, … Read More
This family of three checked in for a farmstay experience at 4:00 this morning. I woke at 2:00 am, hearing the mom hard at work over the lamb cam. I laid in bed trying to half sleep and half be attentive to her noises. I struggled to stay awake. There was no need to go out to the barn until … Read More
