March 2012

This March is looking much different than last March. It's been relatively wet and there is green everywhere! We know it may still be a dry summer (that's what all the long term forecasts look like) but it's so nice to see vegetation growing. However, the wind has been blowing just a bit - a gentle 20-50 mph.

At Kurt's recommendation, I've been reading The Worst Hard Times by Timothy Egan. I'm only about a third of the way through the book but it's fascinating - I could quote entire paragraphs here but you'd enjoy it more if you read it. It's about the area where we live as well as the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles and into Colorado and New Mexico. Egan writes about the Dust Bowl of the 1930's and the events and farming practices that led to the dust storms. Adding to the history lesson is Kurt's folks. They were born in 1930 and remember the drought and dust storms. Kurt's mom grew up in Stanton County which he describes as "Ground Zero" when it comes to the dust storms. It just dawned on me as I was typing that Kurt's folks would have been just a little older than Natalie before they experienced a green, growing spring. Everything in their first 7-9 years was drought and dust. While conservation practices have changed over the last 80 years, it's not hard to imagine that this land is much better suited to buffalo/cattle than wide-spread tillage.

I'd like to report that the garden is all in except for the warm season plants but alas, it's not to be. . . .there are several rows of onions but that's about it. Kurt assures me that there are still 3 weeks until our last frost date and we don't want to rush thing. Potatoes are sitting in the dining room trying to sprout - next step is to cut them up and plant them. Lettuce and carrots are ready to go just need time to get them in the ground. We've scaled back just a bit this year but are hoping to have great success with what we do plant.

Lots of changes are showing up on the farm. Last fall, Kurt and his dad had an old pond cleaned out - droughts are perfect times to do this work since the water all dries up. This pond is spring fed and is slowly filling up again. In another part of the pasture, we had another well dug so cattle could water in more than one place. Kurt purchased a solar pump that is pretty cool. Right now, he has it mounted on a post and can move it to one of the other wells in the pasture as needed. It's finally starting to sink in that the less time and money we spend on permanent infrastructure, the more flexible we can be. When things can be altered, move or transformed, we are freed from the mindset that "we've spent so much on _____, we've got to use it" - even when it might not work for us in 5 years.

Kurt's corrals are just about done and will be ready if/when he needs them to work cattle this spring. I think the only thing he's purchased new for the corrals is wire. When proofreading, Kurt corrected me and said he's also bought old oil field pipe - key word being "old." Posts have been constructed from an old irrigation system and gates were made from more scrap. Sometimes, it really does pay to let "stuff" lie around until you can use it.

This isn't really quite farm related but Kurt and the "big girls" set the fire pit he got for Christmas. Kurt was in charge of the glue and the girls carried the stones to their daddy. That night, we roasted our hot dogs and marshmallows over a fire. It wasn't quite as idyllic as it sounds. Allison accepted an invite to supper with a friend, Yeller stole at least one hot dog right out of my hand and we had trouble getting the marshmallows just right. Anna decided a raw marshmallow was better than a black one. We're looking forward to several evenings out there this year and plan to incorporate it somehow this year at our customer appreciation dinner in September.

We're about to look like a "real farm" again - well mostly, Natalie claims we don't have a real farm because we don't own horses, and probably never will because of her momma's allergies! Allison bought and brought home two 4-H goats last weekend. She's already plotting and planning. For the first time, she bough does instead of wethers and is trying to figure out how to get them bred so she will have kids here that SHE can sell! We'll get our first batch of chicks next week with another shipment of chicks and a batch of turkeys to follow shortly after. Bred sows will be here in a week or two and cows will begin calving very soon. Hmmmm . . . what else? Oh yes, bunnies! Natalie wanted to do an animal project this year in 4-H - a HUGE shocker! And. . . . since horses are out of the question we opted for rabbits. Thankfully, there is a great 4-H project leader in the area 'cause we're pretty much shootin' in the dark here. I wasn't at the meeting but somehow, we'll be getting a male and a female rabbit. Allison AND Natalie are doing the rabbit project. With a 31-day gestation period, how many bunnies do you think we'll have if we're not careful?

Kurt and I are looking forward to our delivery trip on Monday (today). We've got stops in Greensburg, Pratt, Wichita, Olathe and Topeka. It will be a good time for us to sit and visit since we haven't had much time to sit and plan lately.

It's time to start thinking about reserving chickens for the summer. Fresh chickens will be available on May 25, June 15 and 29, July 13, September 21, and October 5. Even though it seems way too early to reserve turkeys for this fall, it's NOT. I had to turn down about a dozen customers the two weeks before Thanksgiving. We're also taking reservations for Spring beef. Kurt will be taking animals to the processor in mid-May and the beef will be ready the first of second week of June. Let me know if you have questions about ordering a quarter, half, or whole beef.

The 5th grade is headed to the farm in a few weeks. Farm Bureau arranged the field day so that kids can see where their food comes from. The irony is that Farm Bureau won't insure parts of Dale Family Farms and we probably don't use farming practices that they often lobby for. That said, we are really looking forward to our day with the kids. We'll have lots to show them by then and I'm sure they'll have great questions.

Oh, I wanted to mention a couple new products that are sure to be a hit. The first is zesty breakfast sausage in a one ounce link. They come 12 to a package are are great in the morning. The other product we're really pleased with is sirloin cut and ready for k-bobs - amazing!

The second half of this week will be full of soap and candle making. I'll let you know how my beeswax/tallow container candle turns out.

Quick family updates:

The girls: They have been spending more and more time outside this month. Natalie is less afraid of our black lab. Everyone seems to get a long better outside. I think it's because there's more space to spread out and Mom can't hear what's going on. With the daylight lasting longer, it gets harder and harder to get supper on the table at 6 and in bed by 7:30-8:00!

Kurt's been busy tending cattle, working on corrals and picking up my slack.

I've been swamped with high school forensics. We've had several meets this month and a One Act Play to pull together. We're about done for the season except for the state tourney in May.

May this March be full of April showers to bring the May flowers.