Farming in the shade

I was walking around the farm Sunday with a friend. As we walked, I pointed out the tree line to the west of the sheep barn. It includes highbush cranberries, button bushes and assorted spruce trees. Nice cover for wildlife, including the robin which had built her nest in one of the trees. She flew off and we were able to see one perfect, lovely egg. We talked about how our farm straddles two watersheds. Half the farm drains into a watershed to the south, the other half drains to the north. While we believe it's important for everyone to be good land stewards, we realize that we need to be especially careful. I showed her how we've planted filter strips (they look like grass pathways) along the ditches on our property. She asked why, and I told her the grass catches any runoff--fertilizer runoff, pesticide runoff and soil runoff. Keeps the waterways clean. Then I laughed and said since we are transitioning to organic, it might not be as necessary to have the filter strips. ...

The spring rains have come. Days like today remind us why we lamb in the barn--so much more comfortable for The Farmer as he works with the sheep. Cold rain is also hard on newborn lambs, who struggle to get up and get the hang of nursing. That first hour or two are critical. Our dog has a tendency to go on walkabout during extended lambing chores. Today she seems content to watch the rain from a comfortable, dry place.

Lambing officially began last Tuesday, March 31st, with a yearling that had twins. Everything was manageable until Easter Sunday, when we had 10 ewes give birth in 24 hours. Here are some of our "jugs" (a.k.a. bonding pens). The Farmer has 14 jugs set up and they were all full this morning. He has had to move some out to the mingling pens to make room for more. Not sure how you all feel about birthing photos, but here we go. This ewe already had one lamb on the ground and was working on number two. You can see two front legs... In a textbook birth, the two front legs and head come together. The body easily follows after the head and shoulders are through. The hind legs are back for birthing. Unless the whole business is not textbook, of course. Typically a laboring ewe will stand for a while, and lay down for a while and repeat as needed. Usually the lamb is delivered while the ewe is laying down. At this moment, we have 27 lambs from 15 ewes, which puts us und...

We've been composting at Shady Side Farm for about 15 years. We were composting before compost was cool. Though, to be honest, compost has always been cool. If you'd like increased soil fertility, biology and organic matter levels in your flower beds, your veggie gardens, or on your farm fields, please consider using our compost. This manure-based compost has been aged a year and is ready to use right now. The Farmer will be available for two Saturdays in April to load your compost and explain how to use it, including application rates. Tomorrow is the first Saturday, April 4, from 9 - 3. We will also host a Compost Day on April 18, from 9 - 3. Compost is available in (your own) 5-gallon buckets or by the loader scoop in your truck or trailer. Email us at shadysidefarmmichigan@gmail.com for directions to the farm or answers to other questions.