April 2013

Where did the winter go?  I was about to sit down and write an update in February and then life got interesting - more so than the day-to-day excitement I've grown used to on the farm.  On February 19th, Kurt and Anna hauled hogs to McPherson.  On the way home, they were in a car accident just west of Pratt.  Kurt was getting ready to turn left off of Highway 54 when they were t-boned by a semi going around 45 mph.  You can read about it here. Amazingly, Anna did not have a scratch on her.  She was asleep when they were hit and is doing very well 6 weeks later.  Kurt didn't fare quite as well but was remarkably fortunate.  The semi hit on his side of the pickup and all Kurt suffered were a few small cuts and bruises and a concussion.  I'm not quite sure how/why the ER physician released Kurt that evening but it was probably a good thing he did.  The next day, snow (lots of snow) moved in.  Kurt would not have handled being stranded in Pratt well at all.  Unfortunately, there were several small jobs Kurt had planned for that afternoon of the accident to prepare for the impending weather and none of them got done.  That said, we have AMAZING neighbors and customers.  During the next week, during two strong winter storms, we had people helped with cattle chores (often helping care for our cattle before they cared for their own), cut firewood, plow out our yard/drive, and the list goes on and on.  I'm sure most of you know it's much easier to be on the helper side of the equation than the helpee side. 

The snow was an inconvenience - especially since I had to be out in it several times a day.  Kurt had strict orders to rest and stay in dark places.  I was reminded yet again that I am a much better farmer's wife than I am a farmer.  I'm not sure how you can sweat in 20 degree weather with 15 inches of snow on the ground but I did!  Even though we spent several days snowed in during which included  a carbon monoxide scare (I told you they were an exciting few days!), the moisture from the snow was WONDERFUL!!  We could always use more rain but both snows were wet and took several days to melt and soak in.  

The snows and the accident slowed Kurt's early spring project down a little bit but the greenhouse is almost operational!  The frame is mostly finished and ready to be covered.  This is a good thing since the tomato plants are about to take over Helen's sewing room.  Our plan is to grow tomatoes, salad greens and other vegetables and have them available for sale also.  We'll keep you posted as produce becomes available.

Our first chicks should be arriving next Wednesday - it doesn't seem like it's that time of year yet!  We have increased the number of broilers that we are doing this year since we ran out of whole chickens in December.  Our scheduled dates for processing in 2013 are May 30 & 31, June 20 & 21, September 13, September 20 and October 4.  If you would like to know that you will get the number of chickens you want, we are asking that you reserve them as soon as possible.  We are fairly confident that we will be able to deliver chickens this year.  We need to reread the exemption policy one more time before the season begins to make sure that we are covered.

Also, even though this seems slightly ridiculous, it's not too soon to reserve your turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  We had to turn several people away last year.  Because we are a small producer, our supply is not seemingly unlimited like the grocery store.  Also, we don't have freezer space to store turkeys fore extended periods of time.

Kurt is working on finding feeder pigs (pigs that are about 50-60 pounds) to buy this spring so that we will have hogs available again in October.  We have several pork products back in stock - ham, pork chops, sausage, pork roasts.  However, one of the casualties of the accident was our bacon supply - scattered allll over the highway. 

We have a date set with the processor for early June for beeves.  If you would like to reserve a quarter, half or whole beef, please let me know.  We are charging $1.50/pound liveweight plus $25/quarter freight to the processor.  The customer pays the processing.    This works out to about $500/quarter for around 90 pounds of meat.  Ribeyes for $5.55/pound - you can't beat that!

Yesterday, Kurt and I had some time to think and plan while it was cold and rainy and we've got a question for you - what kind of interest is there for lamb out there?  We don't know much about lamb meat but are willing to learn.  We have several areas in the pasture that Kurt thinks would be better utilized by sheep or goats than cattle.  Let us know what you think or if you just want to shoot us an email and share anything you know about lamb, we'd appreciate it. 

Oh, and also coming out of that conversation was discussion about doing something here on the farm during the summer and fall - tours, demos, etc.  Opening our doors to local people so they can learn more about what we're doing here and also doing something for others to come out enjoy what the farm has to offer.  Any thoughts?  Suggestions?

Upcoming delivery runs:

*Dodge City - April 9
*Pratt, Greensburg - April 11
*Wichita - April 26 - tentative

Family updates:

Anna - I didn't say much at the beginning about Anna but she was sooooo big after the accident.  I had nurses tell me what a big girl Anna was when they put her on the back board and took her in the ambulance.  My baby, who rarely talks to strangers, struck up conversations with all kinds of people that afternoon.  The accident did not slow Anna down a bit.  In the week after the accident, when we were all snowed in, Anna learned how to play gin rummy with Grandma Billie.  We played lots of cards during that week.  Anna wanted to learn to play like the big girls.  We thought she was just drawing cards and putting them down until Mom won - she checked Anna's hand and she was one card from having gin rummy!  What a smart little girl.  (Side note for those of you that know my Mom lives 4 hours from the farm - she came between the two storms to help out and then got snowed in after the second storm.  Crisis are always easier to face with your momma around.)  Oh, and Anna finally has a joke that is funny!!  Finally!

Kurt has been reading (and commenting) over my shoulder -it's always good to have help, right?  Because he's been so "helpful,"  Kurt has just volunteered to start writing the Cattle Rattle - oh he thinks I'm joking but we'll see what May brings.  His response:  "Don't be surprised if they are shorter.  I'm not quite the wordsmith Andi is."

Natalie - This little girl is gymnasticating fool.  She tumbles at home, at recess, whenever she can.  She loves it and has gotten so much stronger this year.  She can almost go from a bridge to kick over - translation - she can start in a back bend and almost kick her legs over!  How?!  I have no earthly idea.  Do you ever look at your kids do something and think how do they know how to do that?  Do they amaze you?  Natalie does on a daily basis.

Allison - Basketball season has come to a close and I'm pretty sure she knows how long until it starts again.  I'm thankful that late practices are over for the year.  Even with b-ball over, she's not been short on things to do.  Track season has started - she's high jumping - another one of those "how does she know how to do that?"  Allison's also been on the quiz bowl team this year.  We got to watch her compete at a home meet - pretty proud of her holding her own with the big kids.

Kurt - He's still recovering some from the accident but is so much better than those first few days after the accident.  He keeps telling people that every day is better than the last.  Right now his energy is spent checking cattle (baby calves any day now!!) and working on the greenhouse. 

Me - The next few weeks will be full of forensics as the season comes to a close.  It's been a good season but I'm ready to have my afternoons at home again.  I almost forget in the craziness post-accident, I accepted a part-time teaching position at the high school next year.  I'll be teaching Algebra I and Tech Math.  I oscillate between being thrilled and being terrified.  Anna will start school in the fall and will be be done at the school by noon.  It could be a good fit. 

Here's hoping for some more May showers!