Working on our Conservation Projects...With a little help from our farm animals :)

In 2005, Rick and I began working with Hocking County Soil and Water Conservation District to design and implement a conservation plan for our farm to limit the environmental impacts from our livestock. In 2008 we became cooperators with the district and began working closely with them to develop projects that were funded by the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). For more info on EQIP check out: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/

Through the program we have cost shared a variety of projects including installing over 4,482 feet of high tensile fencing to keep livestock out of our pond and aid in rotational grazing practices. We have also developed a spring, by tapping into a seep behind our barn area and collecting it into a spring box and watering trough that can be used year-around without freezing. The overflow is directed to our pond. By developing the spring we have found an alternative to allowing the livestock access to our pond and therefore, prevent excess nutrients (in the way of manure) from entering the pond and prevented the spring seep from being contaminated by livestock manure in the barn yard prior to flowing into the pond.

We are close to completing the final project for the year. We have installed a concrete underground cistern to hold water both from the overflow from the spring-fed watering trough and eventually the run-off from the barn roof. The cistern has an overflow that is directed to the pond. As part of the project we installed two automatic watering troughs (one is heated!) with float valves and a water pump house and pump. This projects allows access to water in pastures that otherwise could not be utilized for longer periods of time without hauling water. Talking about a back saver for Rick and I!

Finishing this project entailed my father installing the electric to the pump and having Rick’s kind brother, Jerry come down with his heavy equipment. A BIG THANK YOU TO MY DAD AND JERRY!!!!

Jerry and Rick dug and buried the cistern and water lines together. In addition, they poured concrete pads for the watering troughs in the field. You know what is like to keep chickens, goats, horses, geese, pigs and a livestock guardian dogs out of curing cement? Sounds like the beginning of some strange joke.... As always around our farm, the animals thought they should get in on the action and of course I had to take pictures......

Farming....the love of a lifetime

Working with livestock is a dance. One that is never totally learned or rehearsed. One that changes over time. Farmers that have worked their harvet for years have "eureka" moments....

A storm blows into the valley. The winds pick up on the ridge as Rick and I pull the stakes from the hard ground and move the portable chicken fencing. As we tried to move the chickens toward the portable shelter, it became apparent that there where limits to the distance the chickens felt comfortable moving. I tried to herd them toward the coop, but they broke rank and scattered back towards their old coop site. Again, and again we tried to move the birds, only to have one or two rebel chickens run out of the pack causing all the chickens to second guess their directions, and fall back to their original destination. I cursed the chickens as the rain came in and the communication between my husband and I was becoming more hostile.

Why are we doing this anyway? We both have jobs? Do we need this hassle? Stupid chickens. The chickens weren’t stupid, they were just chickens. ....following genetically driven traits that have served them well for hundreds of years. We were the stupid ones. Getting all in a huff about moving these chickens. It dawned on me at that moment, we were the ones being stupid. I turned to Rick and said, “Isn’t it beautiful up here?” He paused and looked at me. The tightness in his face relaxed. At that moment I realized why I farm. It can be a love-hate relationship, but it is a true love, the love of a lifetime.

The clouds billowed above moving fast into the valley, highlighted by the setting sun. It was quite....very quite, except for the trees swaying back and forth, creating a rythme of their own. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and smelled the rain in the air.

We moved the chicken coop back 10 feet and the chickens comfort limit was met. They happily followed us to the coop and settled in for the night as we placed the electric fencing around them. The chickens and the farmers had came to a mutual agreement.

Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board

Issue 2 passed on November 3, 2009. The congressional amendment is to form an Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board in Ohio to establish and implement standards of care for livestock and poultry.

• The amendment requires the state to create the board to prescribe standards for animal care and well-being that endeavor to maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food, and protect Ohio farms and families.
• The amendment authorizes this bipartisan board of thirteen members to consider factors that include, but are not limited to, agricultural best management practices for such care and well-being, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers when establishing and implementing standards.
• The board will be comprised of thirteen Ohio residents including representatives of Ohio family farms, farming organizations, food safety experts, veterinarians, consumers, the dean of the agriculture department at an Ohio college or university and a county humane society representative.

There has been a lot of controversy over this issue.....regardless as to how you feel about the board, I urge you to apply to become apart of the board. You do not have to be an farmer to apply...notice several slots on the board are for consumers (that is you!). I applied several days ago and it is quite painless. The application includes a short questionnaire and you can attach a resume/cover letter as well. The application can be found at: http://www.governor.ohio.gov/GovernorsOffice/Appointments/BoardsCommissions/tabid/61/Default.aspx
I checked with the Governor's office just a few days ago and they are hoping to act fast on this, so hurry if you want to apply for the board!

Home Sweet Home for our Mustang

Montana, the BLM Mustang mare is adjusting well to her new home. When I first met her she seemed so sad and empty. Now, her personality is starting to come out and the sparkle is returning to her eyes. Its a beautiful thing seeing her spend a warm fall day in the pasture. Below you can see the difference between how she looked when she entered rescue in June and how she looks now. She has a way to go but is starting to look much better....

At first, the mare was very protective of her filly. As hard as our mini horse tried to play with the filly, the mare would run him off and away from her baby. Now, the mare accepts that the filly likes to spend time with the mini. They have become close buddies.....

We are building a horse barn just for them. It is currently under roof and on it's way....

Pumpkin Carving Party in the Barn

Rick's work (Hopewell Culture NHS) decided to have a jack'o latern walk at their park. The state prison grew and donated the pumpkins for the walk, but Rick was short on carvers. So............ we invited some friends (many of whom work with me at OEPA) to come over Friday and carve! We held the party in our old renovated barn since the weather was rainy. It turned out to be lots of fun. Kids got to pet the goats, see the horses, feed the pigs, hear the turkeys, and get messy! After it was all said and done, we had carved over 50 pumpkins! Thanks for the the help everyone!

On saturday, Rick loaded all the carved pumpkins and made his way to work to prepare for that evenings festivities. His staff lined the outside of the earthworks with hundreds of jack'o laterns. Our daughter, Raven had a great time helping her Ranger daddy. Though, she was right behind him blowing all the pumpkins out! Three, what a great age...... It was truly beautiful and the community loved it! I hope that the park decides to do this for years to come.

After the event, we loaded the pumpkins all up and braught them back to Sandy Rock Acres to feed the pigs and the goats. The circle of life :)