with Kate Sowiak
There is a lot of new life in springtime on Glenora Farm. For lambing this year we had 2 sets of triplets, 9 sets of twins, and one single, 25 all together. A few coworkers got to witness a late night lambing and learn some animal husbandry. Lale would like to be a widwife, so it was a really good experience.
At first only one lonely chick hatched from our chicken flock (Gertie, riding on Kristi’s shoulder in the picture.) The next week Andrew found a stealthy chicken hiding in the loft with 11 chicks. A day later there was another hatch of 7. Two hens shared the work of sitting on those eggs and being mother hens together. One hen could ward off Tess (the dog), and the other would call her chicks to safety. Many of them got names from the children on the farm. Thunder and Dave among them.
Our first calf was born on Whitsun. She is a beautiful and wise looking calf, but she has been too fast for us to get close to her. Her mother aids her in evading us by giving a warning sound when anyone approaches, and then Whitsy leaps out of the tall grass and starts running swiftly across the field. We will have fun chasing her when we move them to another field!
On ascension day we dug up our cow horn manure and the whole community stirred it in a large barrel at the barn, taking turns whilst singing and drumming. The farm crew, the herb crew, and the children have been gathering plants for the biodynamic compost preparations. We have picked the dandelions and nettles, and will soon gather the chamomile and yarrow. This year we ordered the compost preparations which is not as exciting as making them. They will be used to enhance our great many compost piles.
On a daily basis the farm crew has been busy clearing thistle and broom from the fields, spreading our compost, picking rocks, moving fences, tending to the sheep, cows, and chickens, and much more. It has been a great spring for grass to grow, but we haven’t made hay yet due to the rain. We are excited for some good weather so we can get out and heave some hay bales together.
