Spring is here!

So happy Spring is here.  Our temperatures are still somewhat cool, but thankfully much warmer than they had been.  The grass and clover are greening up.  The bees have been bringing in bright yellow and dark orange pollen, which means the hives are gearing up and splits are about to happen. 

Yesterday I completed the expansion of the bee yard/garden area.  We are still several weeks away from our average last frost date, so I started some seeds inside on the kitchen counter and planted some spinach, lettuce, and other cool weather crops in the cold frame.  Love gardening! 

Baby count is still at two calves and seven goat kids.  We are expecting a couple more calves and approximately 15 more baby goats. 

Brrrr! Caring for the farm animals in single digit weather

This morning we had our second day in a row of fresh snow covering the ground with single digit temperatures and wind chills below zero - BRRRR! In preparation for the extreme cold, I put up some additional wind breaks for the goat barn entrances, wrapped the beehives in insulated foam boards and made sure the cows had plenty of hay as well as a new protein tub.
Our Saanen doe twins are now four days old and are doing great!    I do have them and their mother confined inside the barn.  They have a Premier 1 heat lamp (one of the best inventions ever) and lots of clean fresh shavings.  At this age they have found their "bounciness" - I could spend hours watching them. 

Baby goats are arriving!

Our kidding season has started, a little later than I thought it would, but nonetheless....So far we have had three babies and all are girls!!!  The twins pictured above are out of Sasha, one of our oldest but best producing Saanens.  I will be keeping both of these girls.  Still have around fifteen yet to kid, and I will be posting them on the "Goats for Sale" page as they become available.