August 10, 2005

Haying done--time to go to the beach!

Putting up this much hay....
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...requires the entire family. Below, a brother and two nieces join Jonathan Gates' boys as they strive to cut and store the season's hay.

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We finished putting in the second cut square bales today. The bulk of it we put in yesterday, but because of mechanical problems we unloaded the last two loads today. Altogether we put in 1900 35-pound bales. The quality was excellent, and we are done a month earlier than we were last year. It has been just a great summer here in northwest Vermont for the grass to grow. With all this heat and sun the nutritional value of the feed should be great. As usual, mowing away the hay was a family affair. Karen, Ben, my brother, Steve, and his wife, Jill, our nephew, Jason, and even the kids were up in the hay mow working hard in the sweltering heat.

With that job done, we are taking a couple of days off to go to the beach in Maine. We have all the livestock on fresh pasture so that they will be happy until we get back. Ben even towed out a bigger house for the turkeys so that no one will have to move them while we are gone. You could say its the turkey's vacation house.

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Mom and Dad will take care of the milkings, and move the fences for the milk cows after every milking.

We are so thankful and so lucky to be working with our parents so that we can take off for a couple of days with the boys. From putting in hay, to taking care of the farm when some of us are taking a few days off, this is truly a family farm.

--Jonathan, Howmars Farm
Franklin, Vermont


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Posted by Blogger Chris at August 10, 2005 06:12 PM
Comments

I was reading about your 1900 kick bales and I thought to myself... "I'm glad they use square bales. I don't like the new-fangled round bales. I mean, you look at those round bales and you have to ask -- How's a cow going to get a square meal?"

Posted by: Frank Paynter at August 24, 2005 04:29 PM

Hi all on the farm . I am a childminder in the beautiful westcountry of England at a place called Ilfracombe . I work as a childminder in my own home . All the kids love to hear about life on your organic farm. I try to promote healthy eating and a love of our local countyside and nature.
I too am off to the Tunnels beach today for some rock pool rambles looking for shore crabs, prawns and various sea-life and a paddle tidal pool . Have a great time.

Posted by: Sharron Blackmore at August 11, 2005 09:18 AM