Sitting in the hay loft window

Two weeks ago today we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of 5 high school aged home schoolers and 3 moms. All five students have become friends with my daughter through an online school which we have been a part of for the past 7 years. We decided to invite them all to our farm for a Spring Break farm field trip. Most of these students had never been around farm life, mud boots, or farm animals. While they were here we scheduled workdays and  tours of farms in our area to give them a broad picture of what farming in Vermont entailed.
Through the course of the week they had delved into an assortment of farming experiences-

Greenhouse repairs

maple sugaring
greenhouse maintenance
caring for baby goats
putting hay up in the barn
getting sugar wood for next year's season
feeding animals and mucking the barn

They quickly found out what mud boots were and why they do not have shoe laces on them. They learned that pumpkin can actually be edible or at least easily disguised, and that baby goats really are cute. The moms left with hopes of garden boxes in their yards and new recipes to try.

A Lesson in Weeding at Fat Rooster Farm

Capturing the moment on camera

Visiting the goats at Fat Toad Farm

Learning about cheese making at Neighborly Farms

Cleaning Sap Buckets

By the end of their visit with us, we were all exhausted from late nights and busy days. We had taken hundreds of photographs, eaten tons of food, laughed much, and played hard. Friendship bonds were strengthened, lives were connected, and we were quite sad to see them all have to go back home at the end of the week.


Many thanks to Fat Toad Farm, Fat Rooster Farm, Neighborly Farm, and Hampton Fiber Mill for their time and enthusiasm as they shared their lives and farms with us during our week and many thanks to the families who sacrificed much in order for their child to visit with us. 

Is that a goat in the house??

Well....yes...but please do not tell my husband. Meet Figaro-one of our newest little bucklings. He had a rough start in life and we had to tube feed him to get him going. After two feedings, he was ready to nurse mom but by that time, mom had decided that perhaps he really wasn't her little kid after all. So I have adopted Figaro and have been caring for him round the clock to be sure he thrives. This afternoon-I just couldn't resist bringing him into the house to meet our border collie, Tess and to have his bottle.

If you want to know why the house is a mess, the laundry is not folded, dishes not washed, school work half done, dinner is not cooked, and the phone messages unanswered...just visit our farm and you will see that with lambs in the barn.....

Double Trouble-Fiona and Frito

Ina stays right by Faith's side.

Morning Hugs for Faith

An Exhausted Lamb-Faith

nothing else gets accomplished?

Nightly Barn Checks

During lambing season, my internal clock wakes me up between 2am and 3am. I crawl out from under the warm covers- put on my barn coat, hat, and mittens-grab the flashlight, and head to the barn. I always pause and listen before opening the door to see if I can hear a new voice calling out in the night. Then, I open the door. After my eyes adjust to the dark, I begin to scan the crowd looking for any signs of labor.

Many years ago, we took a lambing class and I remember the teacher saying, "if they are chewing their cud, they are not in labor," and "if they are eating hay, they are not in labor." I have learned that this is not true in my flock. Chewing their cud seems to have a calming affect during their labor. I have watched time and time again, my ewes chewing in between contractions. I have also learned to have apples and hay ready for the mom who needs a little boost in energy as they readily eat it.

Pronounced hips -a sign of approaching labor

I watch the ewes closely as they approach their due dates. I know whose hips seem hollow and whose bag is just a tad larger. All day yesterday I watched Chloe, the next ewe on the calendar. Her hips seemed more pronounced and her udder seemed a bit larger. As I entered the barn last night, Chloe was standing chewing her cud with gusto. She then moved to a corner where she laid down and continued to chew.  I stood a few minutes but she seemed fine. Then as I turned to leave the barn I heard a grunt. I know what that sound means! I turned back around, shined the flashlight on Chloe and sure enough she began pushing. Within one push, two lamb feet appeared. 

I put some hay in the run in so the other ewes would give Chloe space and privacy. I watched as she brought two healthy lambs into the world. Once again, my ewes have proven that laboring ewes can actually chew their cud! 

Fiona-ewe lamb

Fiona-ewe lamb

Frito-ram lamb

Frito-ram lamb