Friday, December 28, 2007

Farm Update through pictures



I haven't posted much about the farm lately.

Things are still growing and Jason is still working tremendously hard. The rye and clover grasses that he planted in October are starting to come up. Our pastures are getting greener and greener as the seeds make their way up into a full blown blade of grass. In a month or so, our pastures will be picturesque.



The cows are being rotated throughout the fields in small 1-2 acres pads. They usually stay on the pads about a day and then move on to the next. The point of rotating is so that the cows focus in on one small area and eat it all down before they get moved. The manure in such a small area is pushed and shoved back into the earth which fertilizes and puts all kinds of good stuff into the dirt. We are up to 36 total cows right now with more to come in January. Jason thinks the cows will be ready in the Spring.

We've lost a lot of chickens to a hawk. But, have no fear. Jason is here! He caught that hawk and had to teach him a lesson. We haven't lost any since then to hawks. We are up to about a dozen of eggs a day.

The 2 older sows are getting more and more beautiful- if that's possible for a pig to be beautiful. We've decided to keep the two bigger ones and breed them for more piglets. They are really show quality and have taken a liking to their daily belly rubs by none other than farmer Jason. We are in the process of getting an enormous boar for breeding. Hopefully we will have Spring piglets.

We've learned a lot through this entire farming adventure. But, the biggest thing we've learned is that there is a season for everything. Things don't just happen overnight. It is a patient process that requires planning and performance and lots of prayer. I am reminded of the scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Here are some recent pictures of what is going on around here.




























8 comments:

Garratts said...

WOW! Great pictures.

All I was thinking the whole time looking at those was....

What a gift God has given you and how you use it to glorify Him.

I am so proud to call you my friend.

Love you,
Ash

Anonymous said...

SUPER!! great job...jason and you are doing a wonderful job and it shows with the pics of the remodeling of your beautiful farmhouse...with all the changes in the layout of the whole farm area, good looking baldies,sweet pigs, many chicks,and all the other animals...reading the scripture truly shows GOD is the center of your lives and all the hard work is glorifying all his beauty he has created for us here on earth...thanks so much for bringing the beauty to us all with the pics and from HIS Word...love you bunches mom

5 Chicks and a Farmer said...

Thanks Mom and Ash! You two gals are precious to me too!

Love ya!
Lyns
Daughter

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed helping Jason move them cows yesterday..... hmmmmmmm maybe there is a farmin gene or two I did not know about that I passed on.

Love you all

Jason's most proud Dad

Ryan Price said...

cool farm.

Anonymous said...

Is that a picture of a fainting goat? If so, I am coming to Brenham to try it out. I have been trying to get Mike to buy some because I think they would be great fun!

Deb

5 Chicks and a Farmer said...

Hi Debi!

Those are actually Pygmy goats. We love them!

We think that at least one is due any moment with a pygmy baby goat if you are interested! They make great pets and lawn mowers for us country folk!

Thanks for the comment.
Lyns

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

"A Season for Everything" what a wonderful reminder!

And the photos you posted are beautiful.

How blessed you and our family are.