Living and working on a farm is not for everyone. It is commonly believed that farming runs in one’s blood- you either love it, or you don’t. Farming is not just an occupation or a job. It is a lifestyle. A 24-hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year lifestyle. It will take over…
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Tail 21: Milk Year Round
Traditionally, and in many parts of the world still, milk production is and has always been seasonal. Camels, which are one of the alternative species used for milk in the middle east, can get pregnant any time of the year, but they can only become pregnant every two years, which can lead to a gap…
Tail 20: Colder Days and Colder Nights.
As we move through the month of October, we say farewell to the warm summer nights and the even warmer summer days. With the sun setting earlier in the evening, night time temperatures have dropped and we are greeted the next day with chilly mornings, and light frost. During this time of year, we…
Tail 19: Handling the Heat
Cows are big animals. Weighing in at around 1000 lb’s, with 4 stomach compartments digesting food at all hours of the day, cows naturally run a little bit warmer than humans. The normal body temperature of a cow is around 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Now this may not sound much different from the average human temperature…
Tail 18: A Bovine Beauty Contest
If you happened to stop by the farm on Wednesday March 23rd, you may have noticed the barn, and therefore the parking lot, were more abuzz than usual for a Wednesday afternoon. This unusual activity is the result of a visit by a special guest, called a classifier, who had driven out all the way…
Tail 17: Our Cows Daily Routine
We always brag that our cows live a good life. Today we thought it would be a bit fun to take you through the day to day lives of our favorite ladies. During the winter, the day begins around 5 AM when we turn the lights on in the barn and it’s breakfast time. Our…
Tail 16: Caring for Calves
As everyone who has walked into our barn knows- and what many people assume anyway- Jersey calves are adorable! They are small- usually weighing around 50 lbs. when they are born- very friendly, excited to play and make new friends. Especially if those friends come bearing gifts of hay or milk at feeding time. What…
Tail 15- A Year in Farming
As we make our way into a new year on the calendar, and we begin to feel the chill of winter, let’s take some time to reflect on what the new year has in store for us here on the farm. While many look at the new year as a fresh start and a chance…
Tail 14- Our Covered Barnyard
If you are a regular customer here at the farm you may have noticed that there’s a bit more noise, a bit more traffic, and oh yeah a new building being built out behind the barn. In spring of 2021 we received a grant to build a covered barnyard- which we were very excited about….
Tail 13- The Farmers 12 Days of Christmas
(Sing to the tune of the 12 days of Christmas) On the 1st day of Christmas my father gave to me a hot cup of fresh coff-ee! On the 2nd day of Christmas my father gave to me 2 tractors, and a hot cup of fresh coff-ee! On the 3rd day of Christmas my father gave…
Tail 12: Fast Cow Facts
The first cows in the US arrived by boat in Jamestown colony in 1611 There are 6 main breeds of dairy cows in the world Cows are considered holy in India Cows can smell up to 6 miles away Brown Swiss cows have blue tongues Cows drink 30-50 gallons of water a day- that’s a…
Tail 11- Cows; Natural Recyclers
Cows are amazing animals, the more we learn about them the more interesting they are. One of the most wondrous things about cows is their natural ability and biology which helps them act as one of the most efficient recycling machines in the world! Cows have the ability to turn somewhat useless products into one…
Tail 10- The Farmers Prayer
Lord, bless this land you’ve given me and may I always know, as I tend each crop and critter, You’re the one who helps them grow. Please protect me from all harm, and thank you Lord for your gracious gift… the blessings of my Farm -Author unknown
Tail 9: The Lifecycle of a Cow
Understanding life on a dairy farm comes down to understanding cows, and one of the most important parts of understanding cows is recognizing their lifecycle. It all starts with the birth of a calf. When a calf is born, it is similar to humans in the fact that it is at its most vulnerable. A…
Tail 8: Buttermilk, Yogurt, and Kefir oh my!
Aside from raw milk, you can find a few other products made with our milk at the farm, and at the supermarket (depending on where you shop). So what’s the difference between yogurt, buttermilk and kefir anyway? All three products are cultured milk products, but different cultures and temperatures lead to different end products with…