March is Here!

Monday, March 1, 2021

Hello friends,

              Yes, March.  February seemed rather surreal.  Enduring the weather and waiting.  Now I turn around and it’s time to plant tomato seeds inside.  My seeds arrived Saturday, just in time.  Whoo hoo!  The birds are singing, the squirrels are chasing each other, and the daffodils are poking their little blades up.  It won’t be long now.

              The cows are spending more time searching for little green sprouts in the pasture.  I wish they would wait and let them grow a little first, but they LOVE the green grass.  The air is a bit smoky as some farmers start their annual pasture burn.  Hopefully they keep everything under control, but you know what they say.  It’s not a good burn unless you accidently burn something you shouldn’t have.  Yikes!  I have heard stories.  The fire department hates this time of year.  But the ranchers swear that removing all the annual residue stimulates the perennial grass growth, so they continue to burn.  We tried a section one year and we ended up melting some of the water line that delivers pond water to the paddocks.  No, we won’t be burning…..

The Big Thaw!

Monday, February 22, 2021

Hello friends,

               A whole lot of melting going on today!  The ground is still frozen underneath so the water just kind of puddles on top or runs off.  Maybe tomorrow it will begin soaking in.  Then we will have some mud to deal with, argh!  I’m just very thankful that the temperatures are trending UP!

              The cows are still enjoying their hay and producing lots of milk.  They really don’t like walking on the refrozen ice patches, but they won’t like the mud either.  It’s just something we have to deal with.  Our indoor cat has finally decided that it’s okay to venture outside.  That’s big.  The chickens have been able to get outside the last couple of days too, and today they had more ground without snow to explore.  I’ve been getting more eggs as more of them have begun laying.  Even a huge double yolker here and there, poor chicken.  It happens with pullets sometimes that they lay an egg with two yolks.  Winner for us!….

Cold Blast is Here!

Monday, February 15, 2021
Hello friends,
Last week I spent a considerable amount of space in the newsletter on preparing for the cold. It is now upon us! Currently the unofficial thermometer says -2 and the moon is visible so that means it has cleared off and the insulating clouds are gone. We are bracing ourselves for presumably the coldest night of the winter. At least I hope this is the worst of it. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but we are hoping the light is not headlights on a train!
Lots of snow today with blowing and drifting. The cows have snow on their backs and frost on their whiskers. That snow is actually a good sign that they are not losing a lot of body heat. With the threat of rolling blackouts, we are hoping they skip over us. I know we have to use more electricity to keep the stock tank heaters running, but it’s too dangerous to risk them falling through the ice on the pond. I did see some of them licking the snow, but for a producing dairy cow, it would be difficult to get enough water that way to stay healthy.
Last week we procured a big round bale of straw and put it right in the middle of the loafing shed. Very convenient…..

It’s Cold Outside!

Monday, February 8, 2021
Hello friends,
We thought that January was the coldest month, but not this year! Every time I check my hippy dippy weather app on my phone, it gets worse and worse, then better, then worse again. And it’s still snowing! It has accumulated to about 2 inches so far and probably not done. I wear my layers upon layers of outdoor gear for chores. It takes about 5 minutes to layer up, but then I’m not cold, except maybe toes and fingers if I stand still too long. No, this is the coldest month of the year.
The cows are enjoying the fresh straw and loafing shed. We are not letting them drink from the pond right now for safety reasons, so they get the easy water from the stock tank beside the creamery. It collects the water from the sump pump at the bottom of the cheese cave. Since we recently had a good amount of rain, it has been full to overflowing which keeps the water moving and not frozen. The other calves have a heater in their water. A necessary but unfortunate energy sucker. Someday we’ll get a more efficient system. The chickens are staying close to their egg mobile but have been coming out and scratching around under their house. I suppose they may want to stay in when the temps get below zero, if it actually happens. I have been making extra trips out to collect eggs, but I still had three of them frozen and cracked today…..

Super Bowl Cheese Sale!

Monday, February 1, 2021
Hello friends,

…….In case you didn’t realize it, the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl this Sunday. You are going to need cheese. Therefore, in honor of the event, we are running a sale: three cheeses, any variety, 20% off. Quarter rounds are already 20% off, but you can take an additional 10% off that. Yogurts are not included…..

Cheese Making Class

….There was a good response to the cheese making class idea so I will set the date for February 27th (Saturday) from 11 to 1:00 or there about. My plan is to go over some basics, offer some resources, and then make a couple of cheeses, probably mozzarella and something else. Mozzarella is the one that beginners are most likely to actually do since it requires less equipment than some other types. I’m not saying that it’s the easiest though. But I’ll save all this for the class. $30 non-refundable saves your space, unless I cancel because of bad weather. You never know. Bring something to take notes. You are welcome to take a tour afterward, and of course pick out some cheese!
I’m planning on making a trip to the city on Saturday (the 30th) and I would be happy to bring any pre-ordered items (except raw milk, which would be illegal) if you let me know by Friday noon. It will be cold, as a January day should be, so I plan on being in the Matt Ross Community Center parking lot from 11 to 11:30……

Plans for 2021

Monday, January 18, 2021
Hello friends,

……Actually, 2020 wasn’t too bad here. There were quite a few new visitors after the post on the Shop Kansas Farms page, and we had local people come who didn’t even know we were here. We made a LOT of cheese from the abundance of milk our 12 cows produced on the lush spring grass. It aged all summer and quite a bit of it was sold to our new distributor Paris Brothers. That means you can find our cheese in stores and restaurants now. We are not planning on doing the farmer’s market next year. It’s a lot of work and there are quite a few uncertainties at the OP market right now. Instead, we are planning a few improvements to the on-farm store and hope to draw more customers here. Bill will be taking Social Security so some of the pressure for income will be eased. Selling raw milk will still be a priority, but we hope to add other items in the store as well. I still plan on making trips to the city and will still bring pre-orders to a future location.
I am thinking about teaching a cheesemaking class some time in February. We could comfortably have about 8 people in my kitchen. I could probably do about 2 hours give or take, and it would cost about $30 per person. Let me know if you are interested and when would be a good time.
I’m planning on making a trip to the city NEXT Saturday, January 30. Not this week, but next. Be thinking about what you might want….

The Days are Getting Longer

Monday, January 11, 2021
Hello friends,
Believe it or not, the days are getting longer! Any day in January that is above zero is a good day. Sunshine always warms my spirit, even when it’s chilly. The Christmas decorations came down today and I dusted (thankless job) and we put the furniture back where it was. Something comforting about back to normal…..
Milk production is limited right now. The cows are eating mostly hay, and a little grain when we milk them, but the green grass is now dormant and that is what really helps them produce more milk. We have enough fresh milk for everyone if we just spread pick up days through the week. We’ve had some shortages when there were too many needing milk on Saturday. If you can pick up Monday through Thursday, we are more likely to have plenty. Also, it’s always a good idea to call or text before you come to make sure. If we have more milk than orders, we’ll make cheese. Thank you for your patience. Two cows are due on February 1, so it should only be a temporary issue….

Wintery Mix

Monday, January 4, 2021
Hello friends,
Whew, what a week! I can’t say they didn’t warn us about the ice and “wintery mix”. That sounds more like a snack than a weather event! We had quite a bit of ice on the trees and lost several significant branches off a couple of trees. The snow melted off the ground yesterday, then all of a sudden, the sun came out this morning and the ice was falling off of the trees like hail, piling up underneath. Now all the ice and snow has pretty much gone….

Open on New Year’s Day

Monday, December 28, 2020
Hello friends,
I hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas!….

This week is another holiday, but we will be home, so I guess there is no need to close the farm store. If you need milk or cheese, we will have our regular hours. Also, Saturday, Jan. 2, I will be making another trip to the city to take in pre-orders. Remember, pre-orders only and let me know by Friday at noon so we can get things together. I will be in the Community Center parking lot this week instead of under the pavilion, per market manager’s instructions. You may meet me between 10:30 and 11:30. Anything on the list below is available, except milk. ……

Closed on Christmas Day

Monday, December 21, 2020
Hello friends,
‘Twas the Monday before Christmas and all through the house, it’s a mess, and a rush, and we hurry about. Our family is getting together tomorrow so I have to be ready early. That also means the farm store will close early Tuesday (4:00) and Thursday (4:00) and closed altogether on Christmas, as you would expect. So, if you need milk or cheese, now is the time to speak up. One of our Christmas Eve traditions is oyster stew, so we’ll need milk for that. Just saying, plan ahead……

Cheese for the Holidays

Monday, December 14, 2020
Hello friends,
It’s beginning to look and feel a little bit like Christmas. We saw some snow flurries briefly today, there is a nice warm fire in the wood stove, and the house has decorations in place. Shopping has begun, plans are in the works for family get-togethers, and Christmas music is playing on the stereo. No eggnog yet, no presents wrapped, and no cookies baked, but those will be coming up.
This Saturday I will be coming up to the city for pre-order pick-up under the downtown OP market pavilion from 10:30 to 11:30. If you would like for me to bring something for you, I will meet you there. Anything on the list below, except milk, I am able to bring for you. We are having two sale offers. The first one is the Party Pack: 3 wedges of aged cheese and a tub of Fromage Blanc, $20. Or buy any 4 wedges (or more, actually) and get 20% off. Can’t figure out what to get your in-laws, boss, or special friend? How about CHEESE! Or having a cozy Christmas Eve celebration with special appetizers? Add some local cheese! I need your pre-order by noon on Friday!
The chickens are almost all trained to go in their egg mobile at night. Just two stubborn hold-outs insist on huddling next to Benard, our scare-varmit. (We don’t usually have a problem with crows, so it’s not a scarecrow, but I noticed a wary coyote the other day, and hawks are our main problematic daytime predator.) They don’t understand the danger of sleeping on the ground outside! Every evening we pick them up, put them on the step, the tire in front of the little door, and then try to walk their feet in the door. Then we shut the little door, go in the big door, and make sure they get up on the roosts. Only then are they safe from predators! They are 13 weeks old and have come a long way, but still have at least a month before I expect to find little pullet eggs…..

Good Day at the Holiday Market

Monday, December 7, 2020
Hello friends,
What a foggy morning! It took until about 9:30 for the sun to finally pierce through the fog. The trees were dripping. I guess that was frozen fog on them. At about 8:00, we went out to get the cows and all we could see was fog and a few dark forms. As we called, they began moving toward our voices and we made a count before we closed the gate behind them. Yep, 14, all there.
Saturday ended up being a good day for the holiday market. I was very busy, so that’s a good thing. When I can load up the car, set up my tables, arrange full coolers around me, and spend all day talking cheese, that’s a good day. Coming home with almost empty coolers makes it a great day. Thank you to all the visitors to the market this year. It has been a challenge to come to some normalcy, but I think we did it. After a late start, then the drive through market at the convention center, to the community center parking lot, we finally got into a groove and people began to know what to expect from week to week. I’m not sure what next year will bring, but we made it through this season, and I’m thankful!….

The Chickens are out on Pasture

Monday, November 30, 2020
Hello friends,
I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful. We had a great time with the family and the weather held out for outdoor activities as well. Of course, my grandsons are just the best! Xavier is such a smiley baby, and Carl is talking more and more, which can be a hoot. They even went out to the pond on Friday and caught some fish. I was amazed that they would be biting but they were. Tonight is the turkey frame soup, and the aroma is filling the house once again!
The chickens are out on the pasture! We put them in the egg mobile on Saturday night, then moved them out into lane 5, and today we opened their little door. I wasn’t sure if any of them would be brave enough to venture out today, so we left their food and water inside. Sure enough, as dusk approached, we counted about a dozen of them were outside the house, not sure how to get back in. Because of the huge full moon, we could easily find them under the grain bin and on the axles, and we tucked them back inside. It usually takes a few days before they get the hang of going in and out of that little door, but it is a safe way of keeping chickens….

Closed on Thanksgiving Day

Monday, November 23, 2020
Hello friends,
              Happy birthday to my mom!  😊  Sometimes birthdays this time of year get swallowed up or combined with the other holidays.  This year we took her out to dinner, picked up some ice cream and enjoyed a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  Love you, Mom!
              Thanksgiving is Thursday, and as you may expect, we will be closed.  We will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, normal hours.  I was hoping to have some extra cream available, for whipping etc., but it doesn’t look like it’s going to work out this week.  However, every gallon of milk has about a pint of cream rising to the top.  If you want cream, just take out your gravy ladle and skim off what you need, then shake in what’s left.  I figure about an inch of cream left on top is somewhere between 2% and whole milk…..

Looking Forward to Thanksgiving

Monday, November 16, 2020
Hello friends,
              It’s getting ever closer to Thanksgiving and we are making plans for the family dinner.  Of course,  turkey is on the menu with my great grandfather’s dressing recipe stuffed inside.  It is a tradition that we all gather around the kitchen table armed with cutting boards and our favorite knives to chop, dice, and slice the ingredients.  Meanwhile, we snack on cheese and crackers!  Then we stuff the bird, put it in the oven, and then if weather permits, we take a walk around the farm.  Some years we have beautiful weather, other years we gather around the cozy wood stove.  As the turkey begins to fill the house with its rich aroma, we all get back into gear to finish up the meal.  Then, as the sun sets, Bill and I go out to milk the cows, while the dishwasher puts a dent in the pile of dishes.  Finally, the pumpkin and pecan pies with our own whipped cream.  I am looking forward to it!….

Delicious Cave Aged Cheese Party Packs Available

Monday, November 9, 2020
Hello friends,
              Here it is Monday again.  So much beautiful weather.  So much outside work accomplished.  I’m actually looking forward to a rainy day so I can slow down a bit.  The dead plants are removed from the garden, and the garlic has been planted.  Bill put the bucket on the tractor and scooped up some compost from where the cows were eating hay last winter.  I know it was ready because monster weeds were growing in it.  Well fertilized weeds.  The flower beds, and asparagus bed, and all the fruit trees got a healthy layer of compost!  Now it can rain……..
              Thinking about the upcoming holidays?  We are too.  Here is an idea:  A “Party Pack” which contains a Basil Fromage Blanc, Smoked Gouda, Skyview Prairie, and Fairmount.  At least a $25 value for $20.  Or, a cheese flight with three small wedges of Skyview Prairie, Himmelsburg, and Fairmount which is about $9 depending on weight.  Or make up your own combinations!  Lots of options!

Cows are Enjoying This Beautiful Fall Weather

Monday, November 2, 2020
Hello friends,
             ……. The cows are enjoying this beautiful fall weather.  The moon is just spectacular.  I don’t know if it is a trigger, but between Sunday and today we have had 4 cows in heat!  That’s a lot of hormones!  Some of them just had their calves, so we record the cycle and wait until at least two months have gone by.  Their reproductive systems should have returned to normal by then and they will be ready to breed back.  I am ready with a full AI tank, and the weather is perfect for conceptions.  We’ll see what happens!
              The little pullets are marching down the back yard, one pen length at a time.  Every morning we use two dollies (two wheelers), to move their pen to fresh grass.  They just walk along, anxious to discover what is ahead.  Sometimes they find bugs, certainly they find grass, and it keeps them busy while we fill their feeder and waterer.  The other day I was surprised by one ambitious chicken who flew up and out while I was putting the feeder in.  I think she was as surprised as I was, and we were able to capture her rather quickly.  It won’t be too much longer, and they will have total free range when they move to the egg mobile.  Right now they need to be protected until they are a bit bigger, and then they need to be trained to go back in the egg mobile at night….,

Trixie Finally Had Her Calf

Monday, October 26, 2020
Hello friends,
              The calendar clearly says fall, but outside it is definitely winter!  We have sleet, snow, rain, freezing rain, and what else is there???  No hail.  I brought out all the warm clothes for chores:  insulated boots, long johns, wool socks, heavy gloves, coat with hood, umm, basically everything except the coveralls.  Bill put out hay for the cows, and they dug into it!  We covered the chicken tractor with a shade cloth to give them more shelter, and put some boards inside for them to climb on.  Snow/sleet is covering the cloth, making more insulation.  The compressor fan for the bulk tank froze up so Bill had to climb up on the cheese cave berm and pour hot water on it to free it from the frozen rain.  Then he put the cover on it.  Yeah, we forgot that yesterday.  Now the cows have fresh straw in the loafing shed so they have a dry place to hang out, and hay to warm their bellies.  Leftover soup for us!
              Trixie FINALLY had that calf!  Yesterday morning marked 9 days overdue, but she acted like it was right on time!  Thankfully, we didn’t have to worry about her calving out in this nasty weather.  She had no problem with her medium sized male calf.  I was worried that the calf was going to keep getting bigger and bigger, the longer past her due date she went.  Now all the calves have been born for this year.  Next up is February…..

Chilly & Windy

Monday, October 19, 2020
Hello friends,
              Brrr!  It’s not just chilly, it’s also windy which makes it worse!  In the middle of winter when we have all acclimated to below freezing temperatures today would be nice day.  But after all the warm weather, this is hard to get used to.  Bill has started a fire in the wood stove, the first fire of the year.  We were layering up all day, mainly working on making a cheese in the creamery and doing chores, but it’s really nice to relax by the warm fire tonight.  Maybe a cup of warm cider?
              The farm tour went well.  Yes, it was windy, but not as cold so the outside tour was pleasant.  We learned a few things this time, like I made a video of us milking so people could see what it looked like when the cows were actually in the milking parlor and the steps we take when milking.  Maybe next time I’ll put something together for the cheese making too……