Print FriendlyMy next blog post is supposed to be about Rotational Grazing since that is the next step in our steers’ lives here at Brun Ko Farm. However, I just can’t bring myself to write about grazing without current pictures of green grass and sunshine here at our new farm. SO, I’m going to go a different direction for a while. Today, I think I shall write about winter chores. Because we are in the thick of it right now.
Cold
Snow
Ice
Dark
Frozen everything.
That’s winter chores.
BUT it’s also warmth, playfulness, and ingenuity. It’s appreciation & beauty.
Cold
Snow
Ice
Dark
Frozen everything.
That’s winter chores.
BUT it’s also warmth, playfulness, and ingenuity. It’s appreciation & beauty.
In the winter everything is frozen. The hydrant, the hose, the milk that hits the sides of the bucket, the feed in the bulk bin, the water that I spilled on the stairs, the steers’ bedding, the stock tanks, my ears.
It’s gloves that stick to metal bulk bins and bucket handles. It’s seeing your breath in the air. It’s undeniably fresh air in your lungs. It’s the heat of exertion and the cold of the wind, felt in the exact same moment.
Milking is the most time consuming and cold making part of winter chores. Can you say bare hands in -20F? The thought will send a shiver right through ya! It’s bearable only because the barn door breaks the wind and Abby’s teats are a cozy 98ish degrees. Slip those gloves back on quickly though when milking time is done! And keep them dry!
Next comes feeding and watering the hutch calves. Don’t let the full bucket of water slosh around! Nobody wants wet pants in the cold! Arrived at the hutches dry. Doing good!! But hold your breath because the door snaps are frozen. Pull off that warm glove and wrap your hand around the cold metal clip! The few seconds that it takes to thaw the clip feel like minutes. Now do it 4 more times!
It’s gloves that stick to metal bulk bins and bucket handles. It’s seeing your breath in the air. It’s undeniably fresh air in your lungs. It’s the heat of exertion and the cold of the wind, felt in the exact same moment.
Milking is the most time consuming and cold making part of winter chores. Can you say bare hands in -20F? The thought will send a shiver right through ya! It’s bearable only because the barn door breaks the wind and Abby’s teats are a cozy 98ish degrees. Slip those gloves back on quickly though when milking time is done! And keep them dry!
Next comes feeding and watering the hutch calves. Don’t let the full bucket of water slosh around! Nobody wants wet pants in the cold! Arrived at the hutches dry. Doing good!! But hold your breath because the door snaps are frozen. Pull off that warm glove and wrap your hand around the cold metal clip! The few seconds that it takes to thaw the clip feel like minutes. Now do it 4 more times!
Layers are critical in winter! Although we milked Abby through the deep cold we experienced earlier this winter (negative temps for days!), we are happy that she is dry now and that the calves are weaned!
With Abby dry & calves weaned, chores are mostly filled with carrying buckets of feed, moving hay, & filling/breaking open/thawing water tanks.
Winter chores generally happen in the dark. Headlamps are a MUST! Make sure your batteries are charged ‘cause you’re gonna need them! This is also where Piper dog tends to earn her keep. Having company and something to blame for all those noises you here when tromping around in the dark is oh so comforting.
Winter chores requires dressing in layers. And customizing the layers for the particular temperature and weather conditions of the day. Too many layers and you’ll be a sweaty mess. Too few layers and you’ll be cold & sorry! The weight of the layers adds to the work out!
With Abby dry & calves weaned, chores are mostly filled with carrying buckets of feed, moving hay, & filling/breaking open/thawing water tanks.
Winter chores generally happen in the dark. Headlamps are a MUST! Make sure your batteries are charged ‘cause you’re gonna need them! This is also where Piper dog tends to earn her keep. Having company and something to blame for all those noises you here when tromping around in the dark is oh so comforting.
Winter chores requires dressing in layers. And customizing the layers for the particular temperature and weather conditions of the day. Too many layers and you’ll be a sweaty mess. Too few layers and you’ll be cold & sorry! The weight of the layers adds to the work out!
A lot of winter chores revolves around water. And that’s where the warmth comes in. Winter chores is the warmth of exertion. The exertion that comes with carrying buckets of feed, hay bales, and buckets of water through snow while wearing many clothes. It’s the appreciation of a warm house waiting for you when chores are done. And it strengthens our appreciation of the warm summer days to come!
There’s ingenuity in devising new ways to keep waterers thawed and full and in keeping the tractor running, in staying warm and in managing snow.
There’s beauty in the snow covered hills and trees. And in the dusting of snow on calves’ backs. There’s beauty in icicles hanging from roof lines and in the stark contrast of animals against a snowy white background.
There’s joy in kicking up snow during a tug of war battle with the dog and in seeing the winter through the eyes of a small child.
While winter chores will probably never be our favorite, there is value in the challenge and beauty in the contrast.
Enjoy!
Emily & Nathan
There’s ingenuity in devising new ways to keep waterers thawed and full and in keeping the tractor running, in staying warm and in managing snow.
There’s beauty in the snow covered hills and trees. And in the dusting of snow on calves’ backs. There’s beauty in icicles hanging from roof lines and in the stark contrast of animals against a snowy white background.
There’s joy in kicking up snow during a tug of war battle with the dog and in seeing the winter through the eyes of a small child.
While winter chores will probably never be our favorite, there is value in the challenge and beauty in the contrast.
Enjoy!
Emily & Nathan
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