Summer 2021 brought a radical and unexpected life change, leading me from remote reaches of Montana to the wet and warm West coast of Washington. Through many tribulations, the farm persisted and prevailed, and life continued much as usual. This winter concluded with the year’s trajectory looking quite predictable; goats, gardening, and foraging. A full plate of the familiar. I was a hair’s breadth from embarking on my falconry apprenticeship (a dream and goal 19…
Category: Tales from 2022
“Goat Kids in 2022!”
Well, a month after kids hit the ground, I’ve finally made time to sit down and post about it! Twas a warm and sunny March 18th. I let Tisl and Ruma graze the meadow freely to their hearts’ content. Tisl bred 4 days before Ruma, and theoretically today was her due date. The girls hadn’t been out of the barn long before I heard Ruma nickering with concern. She wandered around the barnyard and towards…
“Today, Life is Good”
Yet another sunny, warm, perfect day idled by today. As I have been prone to doing lately, I took the goats on a pastoral hike in the cedar grove this morning. The boys wore their saddles and packs. The girls wore their ever-growing pregnant bellies. We meandered in a new direction today. I brought the saddle bags along in anticipation of a good foraging trip. If nothing else, I would fill the pack with swathes…
“Tattling on the Freedom Goat”
It was after dark. I was sitting down to dinner in my tiny house. Toli the Dog was on guard duty outside, the barnyard had been put to bed, and as far as I was concerned, my day outside had come to a close. But then I heard a turkey hen chirp. It wasn’t a red-flag alarm. She called out in singular chirps. “PIP!” ….. “PIP!” …… “PIP!” Something she didn’t like was entering her…
“A Post About Today, January 11th”
After a very white Christmas, the weather has turned again to rain and the earth to mud. Strong green blades of grass are erupting all around me. It’s surreal! In between bouts of rain I get to stake the goaters out for a refreshing munch of fresh green grass. In January, no less! The first blades of green grass are coloring the meadow I bet they’re grateful not to be weathering another 6-month winter with…