Summer's end newsletter

it’s officially fall but summer hasn’t left the premises

Our Q3 was bookended by baby goats

In mid-July during a harsh early summer drought Clarice gave birth to a romper lil’ buck.

Then we had drought-ending rains, then another intense dry spell, then more rain, on-and-off in a weather whipsaw.

And on the first day of fall Clarice became a grandma when her daughter Ramona gave birth to a doeling that is definitely in the running for cutest critter born in our pasture so far.

Mama and baby are doing fantastic.

Ramona has been a champ with her first baby. We didn’t intend for her to get pregnant but it seems a sneaky Possum must have got to her at some point.

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We just wrapped up our second summer farmers’ market season in Hickory, NC. Our lamb sales increased by 44% compared with last year.

Our rabbit sales also increased by 44%, and our goat sales increased by 60%.

Our pork sales were about half what they were last year, but that was intentional. We kept fewer pigs this year, and just focused on offering a few varieties of sausage since our breed (kune kune) make the most fantastic sausage!

Regenerative rotational grazing for the win

The numbers affirm our hypothesis that regenerative grazing of sheep and goats (and rabbits!), with silvopasture pork as a secondary product, is a wise strategy for our farm from an ecological and economic standpoint. Going forward we will continue to refine the plan.

Despite the challenging drought conditions through parts of the summer we have maintained an excellent forage base. We give a little corn as a reward to keep the landscaping crew happy and accustomed to daily interaction with humans. But they grow on a diet of grass as nature intended!

Given encouraging market results we’re expanding production. In August we brought on several more Jacobs lambs from a nearby farm to raise out.

Our rabbits have done that characteristic thing of “breeding like rabbits,” and grow up on a rich diet of grass and leavings in our backyard kitchen garden.

Backyard kitchen garden and rabbit zone with stationary and mobile hutches.

The rabbit pee and poo has really improved the weathered clay and rocky soil of our kitchen garden. During summer we grew a good crop of potatoes, sweet potatoes, acorn squash, and okra.

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We have lots to offer so check out our Farm Products for Sale page.

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And of course you-know-who is growin like a weed and gettin into all sorts of mischief.

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Now we’re shifting from warm season production to cool season expansion and infrastructure projects. Priorities this winter include building a farm workshop, repairing fences and gates, and giving particular focus to breeding and growing our flock. Stay tuned, and thanks for your support…

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