What's New on the Farm

April 3rd 2005

Lambing season and flood season have commenced. We had hoped not to begin lambing until May but like the floods we can not control all that goes on. I had health checked the ewes and realized that they where further in their pregnancies than expected, so in the barn to comfortable "apartments" they went. The girls were thrilled and I was a bit disappointed that my fantasy of frolicking newborn lambs on green pasture would have to wait another year. So far we have 12 lambs on the ground and we are about a third done. I don't know how shepherds with bigger flocks manage, as every lamb is inspected given a nutri-drench (vitamins and molasses) and out fitted with a sweater for cold nights. We than see if Mom can handle her newborns and if necessary supplement the kids with a bottle of milk replacer. It is always a temptation to bring the bottle lambs into the house (who likes to trudge through mud 4 times a day with bottles?) but we always leave the lambs with their mothers. Some of the worst mothers have come around and even if they don't the lambs will eventually be part of the flock and must bond with other sheep.

So through the mud we trudge with our rewards waiting for us in the barn, the sweet hum of new mothers the meows of lambs. Spring for us is really here.

Babs with ewe lamb / Esther with twins/ Flooding Little Delaware River/ Our normally dry driveway

March 2nd 2005

As you see from the photos we are having the big storm of the season.
We have postponed our lambing time till May (we used to start in
January) so our sheep are free to be in the outdoors. Our cows as
well are not due till April so they choose between the open pastures
and the breezeway of the barn. 

This storm corresponds with the first day of heat in the greenhouse
already we are coaxing spinach and lettuce mix. So in between plowing
and making sure all the critters have shelter, water (which is always
freezing), and food we plant and plan and try to predict what our
customers in July will want, we wear a lot of hats this time of year.

Click on pictures for larger versions:

Keep checking back for updates.

© 2005 Betty Acres Organic

Home | Products | About Us | What's New | Links | Betty Speaks

    Last updated: 06/22/07