Manure Madness

Manure is everywhere. Horse, pony, sheep, cow, chickens and rabbits. Lincoln County compost facility has removed our manure FOR FREE for the past 8 years. Lincoln County drops off a dumpster, and we hire our neighbor with a tractor to load the dumpster and they haul it away. This was great until our neighbor had a knee replacement and cannot do the clutch with his tractor for now. Solution? I have started another manure pile where our garden was placed. I will regret it in the spring I am sure, but for now it works. This cow produces more manure than the horse and pony combined. The sheep eat and poop. Luckily, we acquired a medium manure spreader last spring, and much of the lighter shavings and shitloads have been spread on the fields. The fields are showing about 30% grass which is a big improvement over the weeds, like wild strawberries, that took over the field.

For fencing, Bruce just finished the wire paddock which we intended for the cow that we sent back. Jersey Mike is still here, but he is a lazy cow. He plays with Charlie Brown butting heads. If I do the wheelbarrow in the paddock to pick up poops, he butts his head at the wheelbarrow. I think he is bored. Ever hug a cow? Jersy Mike loves a good neck and face scratch.

The 5 sheep are in one barn now, for the winter. All 5 have perfect fleece right now, about 2 inches, and so soft to run my hands through. One beam in the sheep barn floor broke about a year ago, but it has not gotten much worse.

Finnegan is just the best horse. Last evening I rode him bareback, well, really just hopped on him on his orange coat. It was sunset when Finn and I went out for a walk around the property. He is so special for me. Charlie seems to have recovered from his laminitis, but he has a high insulin level, so he has not been worked much, but his mane and tail are so pretty .

Our VRBO has slowed to a halt, with just one visitor before Thanksgiving, and one near Christmas. The cold has set in, and the wood stove is always on now. The holidays will bring peace to this old farm once again. We are grateful to have the chance to live on this farm, and I think of all the people who had holidays here before us.