Author: Rose

  • Checking the Hay

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    We went out to check on the hay at Juniper Gulch today. It’s ready to bale, so it’s a good thing we took a look. It should be done and baled by this evening. We’re taking bets on how many big round bales there will be. Last year, our first cutting resulted in 24 bales.… Continue reading

  • We’re Back With a New Shop! Plus Conservation

    We’re Back With a New Shop! Plus Conservation

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    Did you know that our farm property is in a conservation easement? Our land is preserved for farming for the future. In Colorado, the land trust puts out a resource that shows where all of the conserved farms and ranches are. It also lists the goods you can buy from them. Now is the perfect… Continue reading

  • Art and Ag Tour, 2018

    Art and Ag Tour, 2018

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    We’re getting excited for the first Art and Ag Tour in the North Fork Valley next weekend. This event showcases our many art studios and galleries, plus our wonderful agricultural products. Here at our farm, the community has been invited to help weave a special wall hanging for display. We’ll have the loom warped and… Continue reading

  • Ram Evaluations are Done!

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    One of the tasks we conduct every year is evaluating all of the sheep and deciding their fate. We try to provide top-quality sheep as breeding stock, and that only happens because we cull heavily. Today, we evaluated all of the adult rams. We currently have 28 rams on the property, and we want to… Continue reading

  • 98 Degrees, <10% Humidity... What to Cook?

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    It’s hot, hot, hot! We’ve had no rain, and our temperatures are soaring with low humidity. I don’t want to cook anything inside and heat up the house, but we have severe fire restrictions. No open flames are allowed, so outdoor BBQ isn’t an option, either. Luckily, I’ve just discovered the Instant Pot. I know… Continue reading

  • Hay Is Arriving

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    Our first batch of hay for the season has arrived. We were expecting to get about seven tons, but the cutting was smaller than expected, so we only got 3.5 tons. At least it’s in the barn now, and the sheep will be fed over winter. Continue reading

  • More Wide Loads

    More Wide Loads

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    Warning: wide loads ahead! One of the Wide Load sheep still hasn’t lambed yet. We’re both anxiously waiting! I’m sure she’ll be more comfortable once those lambs are on the outside. Continue reading

  • Wide Loads

    Wide Loads

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    Our expected start of lambing is April 22nd. Normally, we’re out on pasture by now, but the grass hasn’t grown enough yet, so I’m holding the sheep on hay for longer. These two sisters are some of our top-producing sheep, with great EBVs. They and their other relatives always carry their lambs like this. I… Continue reading

  • Shearing Time

    Shearing Time

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    We got all the sheep shorn over the last two days. Continue reading

  • Ram Semen Collection

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    I’m behind in posting here, as per usual. We spent a week in October working with the USDA NAGP to collect and freeze semen from our rams. Some will be used later this year in our flock as part of their AI experiment. We’ll be using it to fine-tune the insemination timing of synchronized ewes… Continue reading