Winterberry Farm

7 March 2006

We’re enjoying the return of the light and occasional glimpses of spring. Spring birthing is beginning- our first litter of baby angora rabbits was born last week. This year the ducks started laying on 4 February and the geese on the 23^rd (a little late- their traditional start date is Valentine’s Day). Lambs will begin to drop about 1 April- but not until the ewes have been shorn (on the 18^th- less than two weeks away).

The winter was a challenge- too much warmth, rain- and mud! For ten days in February we fenced in a big section of our lower driveway for the ewes- it was the closest thing we had to a concrete slab! But things are back to normal now- the rams in their winter pen and the ewes out in the field. We’re hoping the new holly bushes survived the recent cold- and some of the over- wintering bugs did not.

We had a wonderful and productive time during our late fall and winter break. The program and farm sections of the cellar are all organized, the chicken and guinea house is rebuilt, and a few rabbit hutches were built or remodeled. Jim added a small storage room to the main shed, the re-roofing of that shed is 2/3 complete, and we’ve done a lot of clearing and fencing. It all went so well that we’re going to resume offering programs only slowly…we’ll start with some single day offerings and then in July resume week long programs. We want to finish three fencing projects, organize the rest of the cellar, reorganize the office and set up the big weaving studio…this project work is wonderful when there’s time enough to get it done!

We have two events coming right up- Leverett Library is holding a Farm Day on Saturday 11 March (10:00 – 3:00). We’ll be there with poultry and rabbits, spinning and weaving. Then the following Saturday 18 March is our annual Shearing Day (see on the website for details). Jill’s dye pots have been steaming away- glorious colors emerging once again.

Roy the Border Collie’s training has been slow…we’ve learned that we really need a large and sturdy training corral for sheep practice. This corral’s now almost done- just a few more trees to cut down. He did quite well this winter with the ducks and geese, but that work stopped when egg laying began. He and Jill are counting on resuming work right after Shearing Day.

Maggie the Milking Devon cow has moved to Teawaddle Hill Farm down the road. She’s now part of a herd, just as she was during her first six months. So she’s much happier. And the cow shed is being remade into a goat shed. We anticipate having a kid and a doe later this spring. We’ll again have our own milk for drinking and cheese making. And we think we’ve learned enough to cope with goat curiosity!

The pigs are on order and will come in mid May. Jill has their rototilling assignments all staked out! Chicks and turkeys have been ordered, but we’ve decided to hold off on the Sebastapol geese for at least another year. Our Buff-Emden-Toulouse crosses will work just fine this year!

The farmers have made some changes, too. Jill’s only job now is the farm and farm programs. So she’s doing most of the daily chores. And learning some carpentry. In a month or so she’s going to learn to back the trailer so she can do most of the sheep moving this summer- we’re going to be grazing some additional fields here in town. Which leaves Jim with the skilled carpentry- and a lot of lugging. And sheep flipping, and….

So we’re having a grand time here at Winterberry Farm. We hope you’re enjoying the later sunsets, beginning to plan your garden, and taking time for a walk with a friend. And we hope to see you soon here at the farm.

In peace,

Jim and Jill