Putting seeds in good soil and watching them grow is deeply satisfying to me. Any day when I have soil under my nails and earth stains on the knees of my pants is a good day. Our part of Amherst Island is primarily limestone and rock-hard clay soil, requiring a great deal of organic matter […]

The ewes are getting feisty and the rams are banging foreheads – sure signs of increased hormones. In the spring, the females are “anoestrus”, i.e. they do not ovulate. About 6 to 8 weeks after the summer solstice as the days get shorter, the cycles start again. They cycle every 16 to 18 days, and […]

Ian is able to transport 29 round bales of hay at a time from the fields to where they are to be stored. He puts 28 on the wagons, two abreast and two high, and one on the rear tractor tines. He locates the wagons in a field on high ground (as we’ve had a […]

The lambs have been weaned from the ewes. They no longer need the milk and they can be rough on the mamas. The ewes need a break. They need to have some peaceful grazing, to rebuild their strength before starting the cycle again. This way we ensure we can maintain a healthy happy flock, producing […]

Large rear tractor tires are really expensive, especially when it involves hiring a truck to come to the Island to repair or replace. Over $2000 just isn’t in the budget for items that aren’t crucial. We decided to switch the tires on two tractors. The “Straight Pipe”, had reasonably good tires but it is not […]

Our friend and Island neighbour invested in a set of solar power panels, then had urgent need for a paige wire fence.  The panels were erected in the midst of a field used for cattle grazing. Cows are curious creatures who like to rub, and who seek shade. It was vital to get a protective […]

Cedar Waxwing beauties love elderberries, but so do we. Lunch bags protect our share of the elderberries as they ripen. It works – first picking of elderberries. We share these with a medicine woman on the nearby reserve, who makes traditional medicines from elderberries.

The carrots have grown wonderfully with the abundant rains – my grandsons are preparing to chomp.

A misty morning in the garden, helping us see that our asparagus fern and even our spiders make beautiful creations.

Enough sun and rain and good sheep byproduct gives us an abundant squash mountain with great promise.