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One of the slower weeks we’ve had in some time. No chicken processing. No cows or pigs to the processor. No meat back from the processor. No hay making. No meat deliveries this week. Still plenty to do. Amy and the kids…

On Monday I hit a lick bush hogging. Tuesday was our 14th wedding anniversary. I spent a good portion of it preparing a new pig paddock: weed whacking the perimeter, running hoses, setting up the water, putting up the hot wire. Amy started a batch of beef bone broth and sharpened knives for processing…

Amy here this week. It was our turn for cousin camp in the valley. My three nephews came to the farm on Saturday and left yesterday afternoon. Altogether our kids are ages 11, almost 10, 9, 8, 6, 5, 4, and 5 months. With eight kids this week we’ve had lots of noise, lots of laughs, and a couple fights. What I enjoyed most was watching them…

Even after a relatively restful Sunday, I got up Monday morning feeling like a truck ran over me. Not sure if it was a bug, fatigue, or just age catching up with me. Amy and the kids made a meat delivery to Knoxville Monday afternoon, so we got coolers filled after chores that morning. While they were gone, I moved a couple groups of cows and…

Another busy week. Everything in its season. This is the season for running wide open. And still running behind. We know slower seasons are around the corner, but we’ll run hard til we get there. With ORVF beef and pork being delivered to the farm on Wednesday, along with more chickens going into the freezer…

A fun, laidback July 4th weekend with friends and family. Thankful for this country and prayerful about its future. Caught up on mowing and weed eating cabin yards and around the barn. Riverside rest on Sunday afternoon…

The good Lord turned the warmer on this week. Not as hot as other places, but plenty warm for this farmer. Sweating through my shirts by 9:00 a.m. Thankful for the relief of a cloud and the gift of a soft breeze. Good hay making weather though. With Wednesday chicken processings, meat deliveries, and markets, it can be hard to fit three consecutive hay making days into my schedule. Harder still is syncing my calendar with mother nature’s…

A big day of meat deliveries to Marion and the Abingdon Farmers Market on Saturday. Riverside rest Sunday afternoon. On Monday Amy had a delivery to Chilhowie and Abingdon, so we were filling orders and coolers beforehand. On Tuesday we got up our group of fall calving cows and calves. The vet came to preg check..

Another load of cows and pigs to the processor Monday morning which meant a Sunday afternoon cattle drive, sorting cows, sorting hogs, and getting hogs loaded on the trailer. I got back to the farm in time to help get Amy’s coolers packed and loaded for her monthly delivery to Knoxville that afternoon. Making the farm rounds then back out with the truck and trailer…

Thankfully no more breakdowns getting hay up last Friday. I got along good raking and baling the hay that was down. Carter helped me move cows and chickens while Amy and the rest were at the Abingdon Farmers Market on Saturday. We try to do little farm work on Sundays aside from chores, but Sunday evening…

Busy time of year. On Monday after moving cows and chickens, we filled this month’s beef herd shares. Then to the hay field to start mowing this year’s first cutting til after 9:00. We also had our first on-farm chicken harvest of the year this week, so Tuesday…

Another cookout in the books. Probably the biggest turnout yet. Somewhat stressful and overwhelming but so much fun! I feel like it took a week to set up and prepare for it and then another week to clean up and recover from it, but boy, was it worth it! Kids running around all over the place playing games. I don’t know the Guinness World record for longest wiffle ball game…

A big week of herd share deliveries. Early Saturday I loaded Amy’s coolers for the Abingdon Farmers Market. Then Carter, Wren, and Leon moved chickens and made the farming rounds with me until time for us to take herd shares to Marion. Amy and Hasten moved chickens with me Sunday morning before church…

A much more productive and enjoyable week after last week’s stomach bug. I got caught up on mowing the cabin yards and around the barn while Amy was at the Abingdon Farmers Market on Saturday. She cleaned one of the cabins after the market. Then we brought 75 cows into the barn for sorting…

Another load of firewood over the weekend. On Monday we moved our first batch of over 300 chicks out to the field, filling up 5 shelters. The daily chicken moving begins. It took a bit to set the shelters up beforehand: putting shelters in place, untangling hoses, getting out lids, feeders, and waterers. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon getting ready for Rich Valley and Saltville kindergarteners visiting the farm…

What a fun weekend! For the past few years, three of Amy’s close college friends have been bringing their families to the valley for a weekend in the spring. Currently at 15 kids between the four families. 23 heads sleeping under one roof. And honestly, it wasn’t near as chaotic as you might imagine. 4-wheeler rides, checking out the farm animals, playing in the creek, backyard games, porch sitting…

A busy Saturday filled with herd share deliveries, the Abingdon Farmers Market, and bush hogging. Our day of rest didn’t slow as much as we’d like. Ms. Desiree helped get cows in and pigs sorted and loaded for Monday’s ride to the processor. I got up at 2:00 Monday morning and was loaded and on the road by 3:00 bound for NC with 8 cows and 8 hogs…

A warm week for this time of year. We could use a few more April showers. Another batch of newly hatched chicks in the brooder. According to Hallie, we’re up 16 spring calves on the ground. Amy took all 5 kids with her the Abingdon Farmers Market on Saturday. Sunday afternoon …

Baby Leon made the farming rounds with me Saturday morning while Amy was at the Abingdon Farmers Market. She’ll be there again tomorrow 8-noon. Friends from NC came up the the valley for a fun Easter weekend. I haven’t fed a roll of hay since last Friday. With an inch of rain over the weekend, grass is coming on strong. The kids are helping me keep…

Our first baby calf of the year came this week. Hopefully many more to follow in the weeks ahead. The first batch of baby chicks comes next week. No, we’re still not ready for them. Welcoming new life on the farm is always exciting…