Life of a Farm Blog

Fall can only be just around the corner. The nights are beginning to cool and our streak of consecutive days above 90 degrees has finally been broken. I for one am ready. Fall is my favorite time of year. The leaves turning, cool nights, and finally the smell of wood smoke in the air. I can hardly wait. Again this year I find myself with so many things to do to prepare for winter and no time to do them. The hay must be finished, wood needs cut, potatoes are still in the ground, everything on the farm needs some sort of maintenance, and fencing would help relieve some dependence on hay. That’s just off the top of my head too. I’m sure there is tons more.

On a high note I finally got the remnants of the old trailer cleaned up and hauled away. Thanks to Dave Rose and his dump truck and the loader on the 6000 about 8 hours is all it took. Unfortunately the renter is not keeping his end of the bargain. I gave the folks 3 months free rent to clean up the small stuff and they have not done that. Seems terribly unfair that you try to help people and get taken advantage of. We made the mistake of putting the utilities in our names and now the bills are overdue. Such is life I guess.

I took a trip to my local Mahindra dealer and finally got the parts to fix my mowing machine and brush hog wheel. It’s nice to go look at all the pretty red tractors and dream that if I had one of each model what I could do. I was disappointed that they did not have a 7010 Cab on the lot. I’m ready to make a deal on one, but know the best deal is on what is on a dealers lot. I did see Mahindra implements on the lot though. I must say they seem to be very well made. I’m not sure about the prices, but the quality seems to be good.

After all we have been through with the poultry houses it seems as though the universe is talking to us about them. First off we have already spent quite a bit of money preparing a site and beginning on the pad only to find out definitively we would not be in compliance on that site. I’m disappointed to say that Cobb led us astray in that aspect. They still say there would be no problem, but who in their right mind would take such a risk. We will either change the site or eat the loss. Either way I have lots more productive land now. To me it seems that it’s not meant to be, but maybe I am just too easy to give up. I have always held tight to the notion that the old folks here speak to us. Maybe not in words, but through their past. I can’t tell you how many times I have asked myself what would papaw do, or what would uncle Pete do?

Kingsford will be unveiling a new product soon. We will begin making Kingsford charcoal with real Hickory. Hickory has long been a favored grilling wood and now we are going to put it in and on charcoal briquets. Our first scheduled run is in November, but I believe it is already being made and sold in test markets.

Well lots to do so until next time stay safe and as we say at Kingsford………………………Slow Down and Grill!

My have we all been busy here the last week or so. Last week was fair week here in the county. BJ took the children to enjoy all the rides and exhibits. I stayed home and took a nap. Of course with fairs come beauty pageants and I just happen to have some contestants. Madison won 2nd runner up in her division. Unfortunately Kaylee was grouped together with much older participants and didn’t place.

I have finally finished clipping all the pastures except one. We decided to go ahead and start the second cutting of hay. There will be less than a third of what we usually get. The weather is perfect for square baling. Too bad I haven’t fixed the square baler. I’m ashamed to admit I haven’t even ordered the part yet. I have become quite the procrastinator. Seems I’m always working on something, but seldom get done with anything. I did get a clothesine finished and put in at the new double-wide. Now BJ can hang sheets and towels on the line to dry.

I borrowed a dump truck from the excavator working on the poultry house pad and have slowly been cleaning up the rubble around the rental trailer.The weather remains hot and dry here. There are piles of brush everywhere that need to be burned. I’m afraid to burn anymore after Sunday. I started several piles that the wind was favorable for burning only to have the wind change and one jump into the woods. It’s a good thing I’ve got the 6000. I had to use it to cut a fire line to keep the fire from getting too far out of control.

The kids have accumulated more rabbits. Our friend and neighbor John Bryant brought 3 by to give to the kids. It seems our place ends up home to animals that nobody wants anymore. They are cute rabbits and a whole bunch more tame than the ones we had. Garett and Madison stuck them in the dog kennel on grass until we can get those cages I have been planning to build done.

My dad finally delivered the disc he had picked up cheap. I can tell why it was cheap now. It needs a lot of work. It’s a monster too. Looks to be 10 ft wide. I’m trying to decide what it’s worth most as. We could just cut it up for scrap, we could make 2 or 4 smaller discs, or I could refurbish it. Refurbishing it would probably not be the best use for it. It would take a lot of work and money. I can probably buy one as cheap as I can fix this one.

The garden is done except for a fewer smaller tomatoes. Just right for sandwiches. Nana says she is glad the preserving is over. I don’t think the goats feel the same way. They were still gobbling down every scrap of cull produce. We are trying to decide what to plant for our fall garden. Well I have lots to do so I better go for now…………..Be sure to check out the pics I’ve added.