Clean-up and Fencing

As I said in the last post, during the flood, we lost all our perimeter fencing in our main pasture. We anticipated that it would take a lot of time to put it all back up...a lot of time that we didn't have because of all the garden work that had to be done. Our CSA season was just beginning. We even thought we might have to sell the cows because we didn't have a place to put them.

But, as always, the Lord provided. We had people come from Illinois, Alabama, and all over Tennessee to help us! Some of them we'd known a long time, and others we'd never met! They cleared all the brush and debris out of the fence-line and helped Jacob put up a whole new barbed wire fence! There were also ladies who prepared meals for us and all the workers; and people who helped in the garden while Jacob and Daddy worked on the fencing. It was a lot of work, but I think everybody had fun. I know I did.

Thank you to all the folks who helped us out...we'll never be able to thank you enough! May the Lord bless you for serving Him through serving us. We are so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful friends.

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

I don't have pictures of everyone that helped, but here are the ones I do have:

Per advice from local farmers, Jacob decided to attach the barbed wire to the trees this time. Hopefully that will hold up better in floods than fence posts have.

The guys rigged up a clever barbed wire reel.

Here's a section of knocked down fence with mangled high-tensile wire.

We used a lot of staples.

We also used a lot of red cups. :)

-Tricia Ann

Flood 2010

Apologies to all our readers for keeping you so long in the dark. We are just fine, but very busy with farming. Also, our internet has been pretty haywire lately. For now, we'll bring you up to speed with a few posts about the happenings of the past couple of months.

On May 2nd, there was an epic flood, not only here, but in a lot of middle Tennessee. Beaverdam Creek, which is the border of our big pasture, rose and covered the entire pasture. Water flowed through like a river. It knocked down all Jacob's high-tensile fencing again, took out our whole potato crop, washed up all sorts of debris, and dumped large amounts of sand and gravel in our lower garden spot. Thankfully, we got all the animals, and equipment up to higher ground, out of the reach of the water. We were very blessed to make it through with so little damage. Many people around us lost their cows, farm equipment, cars, and their houses.

The power was out for about 5 days, but we were able to use our generator to keep our freezers going and to pump water from our well.

Dad and Jacob walking across the road

Here's our lake...I mean, pasture.

It was a perfect time for Superman to show up. He's standing in a hole that the water made in our driveway.

Here's the fence by the entrance to our driveway.

During and after the flood, we got to meet a lot of our neighbors. Everybody was making sure everybody else was okay. It was really neat to see the community coming together to help each other. Also, lots of people came to help us clean up and repair damage. Stay tuned to see pictures of our clean-up and fencing crews.

-Tricia Ann

Isn't it pretty?

Look at our new tool rack! Isn't it clever?!?

The inspiration came from a picture in Eliot Coleman's new book, The Winter Harvest Handbook. It's made out of cedar boards, which Daddy milled. Jacob and Pop pop put it together. I just love it. Now all our tools are dry, organized, and easy to put away.

You can see the whole thing here. The other side is full of tools too.

-Tricia Ann

New CSA Delivery Location!

We're excited to add a new delivery location
for folks on the north side of Nashville.

Windy Acres Farm - Saturdays from 3:00 - 4:00 pm
5376 East Robertson Rd. Orlinda, TN 37141
615-654-FARM (3276)

At Windy Acres, our shareholders will also be able to purchase many other products including pastured chicken, grass-fed beef and lamb, cage-free eggs, raw milk cheeses, cultured vegetables, and sourdough cultures at the Windy Acres Farm Shop. Windy Acres even offers a Cow Boarding Program for those who want access to farm fresh raw milk!

~Trish

The Meatrix

Here is a really neat video about the rise of factory-farming and the downfall of the family farm.

Produced by Sustainable Table and Free Range Studios, the animated movie The Meatrix spoofs The Matrix while illustrating the problems with industrial agriculture and today’s meat supply. The Meatrix uses pop culture and entertainment to educate viewers about the food they eat and where it comes from. The film features three superhero farm animals including Leo, the young pig who wonders if he is “the One,” Chickity, the feathered family farm defender, and Moopheus, the trench-coat-clad cow with a passion for green pastures. Join the group as they delve into the reality of animal cruelty, antibiotic overuse, massive pollution and destroyed communities.

Check out The Meatrix website to learn more.

Maple Sugaring (or Syrup-ing)

Tapping maple trees for maple syrup has been a big project of late. Dad, Jacob, and some of our neighbors have spent many hours boiling down sap. It takes 5 gallons of sap to make one pint syrup! But it's definitely worth it...It's the most delicious syrup EVER!!!

First, you drill a hole in the tree. Then you hammer some 1/2 inch conduit into the hole. You drill a hole in the top of the bucket, slide the bucket onto the conduit, and hang the handle over a nail to secure the bucket.

After collecting the sap, you pour it into pots and boil it over a fire for a long time. When it has boiled down to a certain point, you transfer it to a pot on the stove and continue boiling it until it reaches about 218 degrees. Then it is ready to be put into jars.

Finally, you make pancakes and enjoy the fruit of your labor.

-Tricia Ann

Greenhouse Pictures

Milking Shed

Yes. We are still alive, in case any of you were wondering. However, from the lack of comments, I'm beginning to question whether we have any readers. Our wireless router died, and I have heretofore been unable to pry the cord away from the other internet users in the family. :)

Since our milk cow (Daphne or Blackie or whatever you want to call her) is due to calve soon, Jacob has been anxious to build a shed for milking her. He and Dad began construction on Friday. Dad had to go to the Farmer's Market on Saturday, so some of Jacob's buddies came over to help him. They got as far as they could with the materials they had, then ran to Lowe's to get some more boards. They were done in no time at all. Great job, guys!

Gotta love the expression.

This one too

-Tricia Ann

Snow Again!

And this time, A LOT!

I think we got about 6 inches, which is rare here in the Sweet Sunny South. The first day it was very dry and powdery, but the second day it iced over some...perfect for sledding!

Redneck Four-Wheeler

"Snow. I dig it!"

Uhhh...not sure what this one's about

Tally Ho!

Gimli refuses to ride on the sleds; instead, he chases them.

Mary Jane at a distance

Me with a funny expression in front of the yaks.

Sledding down the hill was apparently too slow for these two.

Nice shades.

"Put your feet on the knots, lean back, and hang on!"

Whooooo-Hooooo!

This is what sledding all day will do to you. :)

-Tricia Ann