Still Waters Farm

April 27, 2022 BACK ON THE PASTURE AT LAST! Boy, the sheep sure were happy to be back on the pasture and eating lush veggies! They were very patient while we were waiting for the grass to really get a good stand going. We had them mow the yard twice and had them work over about 5 acres of wooded area. They also had two large bales of very nice hay. But none of it was as good as spring pasture. Their bellies were quite full this evening. 😂 Except for Wilbur’s injury, it was an excellent day and very enjoyable to see them back in business.

April 24, 2022 Coverage of Saturday’s Barn Briefing for April 24. Topics include: — Good news on the pasture! — Upgraded fencing — Kudos to Duchess and Wilbur — The hay roof “incident” (And Gordo decides to be the class clown…)

March 1, 2022 FINAL UPDATE ON THE LAMB: I am very sad to say that our little buddy did not make it. Though he had a pretty good day on Sunday, he took a turn that evening and never recovered. He was a fighter, so we fought with him and for him every step of the way. He was going to be a permanent resident and become our farm mascot. We so wanted him to make it. Life is precious. All life. We can too often take it for granted or be dismissive. None of us can give life. We can only take it. Even with these sheep, I cannot make lambs. I can make arrangements and bring all the players to the table, but I cannot make them give me lambs. Even they themselves cannot give life. The Lord does that. I spared him. Not gladly, but dutifully. I did what had to be done when mercy demanded it. And I don’t mind telling you, I cried. Little buddy was only with us for one week. And though his brief life was a constant struggle requiring almost every spare moment we could afford and long nights of interrupted sleep, he brought us joy. The joy of seeing a new life and the creation of priceless precious moments, unscripted. Like the time he peed on my foot while I was making his bottle. Or when he would wake up at night as he slept next to the bed and make me reach down with my hand to comfort him before going back to sleep. Or just laying on my lap while I worked. Or, on his good days, when he would follow Debbie and I around the house like a puppy. Or, when he and our grandson were just as curious about the other. I can only imagine how fun, and funny, he would have been later. Because of that, our efforts were not wasted; they were rewarded with memories we will cherish for years to come. And his life was not a waste. We will be better farmers because of him. Thank you all who said a prayer for him. Good night, little buddy.

February 26, 2022 Coverage of tonight’s barn briefing.

February 28, 2022 Today was the first day for the flock in a paddock fully bordered by electric netting. Half the flock is broke to just one wire of electric fence, but the other half is not. Plus, I have a couple of troublemakers who go out of their way to break out. That’s bad enough, but just like with people, they always take a few with them that would otherwise stay where they belong. So, we had to temporarily abandon our plan to use only 1-2 hot wires as mobile paddock fencing and move to more expensive and more difficult to maneuver, electric netting. The upside is that it will also work to keep predators out. Hopefully, the troublemakers will eventually break to the fencing. If not, we will eventually have to cull them. But, day 1 was a success! Something to build on. And, as I promised them Saturday, they went home today to a barn with fresh sawdust bedding. They’ll feel like they’re at “Sandals, Barn Edition”. 😝🐑 (I threw in a few seconds of the creek, just cuz. Love a creek.)

February 21, 2022 Right after dawn this morning I led the two new ewes we had purchased last week out into the field to join the rest of the flock in the paddocks for the first time. I don’t think these girls had the pleasure of so much elbow room at their prior home. I do think they are going to love it here. Here in the video, you can tell they are little unsure, but by the end of the day, they were mixing in quite nicely. Boy, they are some beautiful sheep.