Another spring, another seeding! The last few weeks have brought sub-zero temps, nearly two feet of snow, followed by gale force chinook winds, temps in the mid-forties, rain…and tens of hundreds of gallons of melt-off. Then, the last couple days brought glorious sun and sixty degree temps. So. Much. Water. Though, as our friends atContinue reading “Early Seeding”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
No Airbags
It’s been a long time since our last post. You would think, it having been winter and all, that there would be more time for posting…or at least that updating the farmstead blog would be a higher priority. Neither turned-out to be the case. I saw a bumper-sticker the other day. Generally obnoxious substitutes forContinue reading “No Airbags”
A Horticultural Update
The garden has been coming along nicely this year. Granted, the growing season has been odd this year, with things off to a slow start, followed by blistering heat, followed by unseasonably cool wet. But, all griping aside, things are much improved from previous years. We actually have a great turnout of lettuce this year.Continue reading “A Horticultural Update”
More ‘Ode to Pig’
Our pigs’ time with us is drawing to a close. Both are just over a year old. They’ve had a good life…as good as their stewards could manage. Perna and Offa, our two Kunekune sows, will be culled soon. It will be a bitter-sweet moment: the bitter goodbye offset by the sweet…succulent, premium pork inContinue reading “More ‘Ode to Pig’”
Of Pigs and Weeds
In a previous post, we alluded to the specialists deployed against the onset of Hare Barley and Ventenata. This one goes out to Kunekune pigs! You might be wondering how pigs could alleviate a weed problem. Sure, they eat and trample weeds…but if said weeds have already seeded, there’s already an addition to the seed-bank,Continue reading “Of Pigs and Weeds”
The Joys of ‘Turnout’…Every Other Day
An understated benefit of intensively managed regenerative grazing: every few days the stockman gets to experience ‘turnout’. Of course, the most epic ‘turnout’ is in the spring. The pastures are not quite fully awake…not quite…almost…READY! The animals have been restless in winter quarters, tired of dry hay. They’ve been pushing fences, stretching and reaching forContinue reading “The Joys of ‘Turnout’…Every Other Day”
Summer Pastures
While we have a decent handle on managing pastures in rapid vegetative growth stage (a.k.a. spring and early summer), we are still working on striking the right balance for summer dormancy. There are a number of challenges we face. Our pastures are heavy in cool season growers, light on warm season. It being the inlandContinue reading “Summer Pastures”
Finn Sheep for Sale
Three ewe lambs, two adult ewes, and three ram lambs. Self weaned…ready to go! Two of the rams will likely be becoming wethers soon, so don’t delay in contacting us should you be interested in purchasing young breeding rams. Our registered Finns are family friendly, small, low-maintenance and homestead ready. Regeneratively raised, grazed and finishedContinue reading “Finn Sheep for Sale”
Pasture Rotation
The key to regenerative management is movement. Just as in nature, herds of ruminants graze and move on, so too here at the ranch. Electric fence helps us subdivide our paddocks. Subdivision size, time to remain in each…highly variable. Its pasture dependent. How much regrowth? How much species diversity? Which species? What do we wantContinue reading “Pasture Rotation”
Official = Common
A friend told us that if one managed to grow ‘true comfrey’ from seed, then one would know: “We have arrived.” Where we had arrived wasn’t specified…presumably some gardening nirvana of some sort. It took us a season or two… and a comical mix-up in seed packets that saw us nurturing ‘comfrey’ starts from seedlingContinue reading “Official = Common”
Castricum Ranch 