autumn at the farm

… preparing for winter.

We bale some grass, and buy what more hay/silage we think we're gonna need to feed the animals well over the winter, with a buffer to handle whatever next spring may bring. We got plenty hay in store, so our “homemade” bales are left out in the fields for now.

Not much grass for the animals out on the pastures this time of year, but three meals a day consisting of silage/hay and concentrate keep them in good shape – not skinny and not too fat.
Extra minerals in the form of salt-blocks with trace elements, are fixed inside the feed station and available all the time.
The water post is near by the feed station, and a creek running through the far end of the pastures acts as safe backup when the water pipes freeze during winter. Relying on natural features like that creek, cost a lot less than frostfree pipes and other “modern solutions”, and they just work when all advanced technology fails.

daily routines

Following the same routines day in and day out may not sound like much to the uninitiated, but I can assure that it is quite rewarding. Much preferred over 9-5 scedules.
1) they provide us with necessary exercise for body and soul. Many pay quite a lot for hours at noisy and sweaty training centers for less useful training than we get daily.
2) they bring moments of order and sanity in a world seemingly dominated by disorder and utter stupidity. Much needed these days.
3) they are flexible. Plus or minus an hour (or even three) makes no real difference for the animals we care for, as long as they get enough food often enough.

Only motorized devices for handling feed are shown in the pictures. In reality the hayfork, buckets, and other tools are used a lot more than the crane and Gator.

quiet days…

Gray and quiet autumn day at the farm, like yesterday and the day before. The cows are slowly leaving the feed-area after the morning meal, probably going to one of their favorite places to lay down and chew cud, same as yesterday and the day before. A lazy life.

Many will find living like this all too boring. I find it peaceful and inspiring, the perfect place to live for a technocrat in retirement. Pays to be resourceful on a small farm, as there's always something to fix or improve, or leave alone.

sincerely georg; sign

Hageland 12.oct.2020
last rev: 12.oct.2020

maintenance routines on the farm

All structures, roads and pastures need a look-over before winter. Got a few things to do while it is still somewhat warm and the ground is soft, but most are routines – same as every year.

Planning far ahead in any details, makes no sense until those who want to build roads in our area present something substantial. So I'm not.
That does not keep me from doing what needs to be done to keep things in working order and according to overall plans, as, road or not, this little farm in the hills has to function for us who live here.

heavy rain damages gravel roads

When as much rain as can be expected in a week, comes down in half an hour, the steepest parts of our farmroads are subject to runoff and erosion. Once every decade or so we have to do some serious maintenance on the most exposed parts.

It is for the most part the same gravel and sand that has to be moved back up from where it has landed down the road, to where it belongs, and we have machines for that and similar “light digging and moving” projects.

A few hours work when a long enough period of dry weather to give the top layer time to be compacted and settle in place is expected, is all it takes to fix the roads for another decade, or till we get another really heavy shower.

Thereafter we have to go over and clear the trenches that are supposed to channel rainwater off and away from farm roads, to avoid having to fix the roads all over again next time it rains.

perfect…

As nothing improves by worrying about it, I will place my bets with that in mind. Wonder if I will ever cash in…