Life of a Farm Blog

All is well here in Kentucky. Wow the skies have finally opened up! I am glad to see it even if it does mean the contractors will be delayed in the building of the poultry houses. We need about 2 weeks of this steady rain, but I’ll settle for the 5 days that are forecasted. I had almost forgotten the sound of the rain on the metal roof. Sure is some good sleeping weather. If only I had time to sleep!

I decided to sell a few of the horses so we could concentrate on our best horses and keeping them ridden. It’s sad to see them go, but I just don’t have the time for them all. I really would like to turn away from horses and more toward cattle or goats. I really enjoy the goats. I have some great places for them too! On the other hand cattle are a lot easier to deal with and it’s hard not to like calves. I geuss we’ll try to get more of both!

The leaves are gradually falling from the trees and the nights are beginning to have a chill. Highs aren’t getting into the 80′s much now and the 90′s are gone. Soon it will be time to light a fire and have cocoa with the kids by the stove. I have a basement full of projects that will need my attention this winter. I’m unsure of whether to sew grass seed in the clearings this fall or wait for spring.

The rain has kept the 6000 on the sidelines, but my mind has been racing about buying that 7010 cab I’ve been kicking around for over a year now. I’m in a better position to buy now and may just do that if the deal is right. Sure would make winter feeding a lot more fun inside that comfy heated cab.

Really not a whole lot happening on the farm this week. I’ve been trying to put more of an emphasis on my fatherly duties for the moment. Having the weekends to spend with the kids was great. Now we are back on regular shifts at work and I am dreading not being able to get out with them this weekend. This Sunday we finally took our hike we’d been planing to the “horse cliffs”. It was a good walk and produced some tired children by the end of the afternoon. It also provided me with some great photos of the kids and the opportuity to teach them a few things. I think it’s important to learn about nature and it’s signs so we spent a good bit of time learning tree names and studying animal tracks. I even got to teach a bit of a history lesson as these rock shelters were used by confederate soldiers to hide their horses as they scouted for sign of union soldiers. I feel very fortunate to have them on our property.

The farm still requires the daily watering and feeding duties. I have got to find time to work with our horses more. They are getting a little out of hand since they haven’t been ridden much lately. I saddled up and rode around the farm for a couple hours one night last week and it is obvious to me if I don’t do something I’m going to be breaking them all over again. Still no rain to speak of here and the dust is terrible. The pad is done for the poultry houses and the building should begin this week.

I have been experiencing a little trouble with both our computers this week, so I bought a new one. Our previous computers had all been Dell for the last several years, but with having to replace the monitor and the modem on the last one at less than 3 months old I went with a Gateway this time. Just seems Dells quality went down lately.

We’ve been selling the topsoil that came from the area the poultry houses will go by the dump truck load. That means the 6000 has seen a pretty steady workout. Dave Rose has been hauling it for us. He couldn’t believe the loader on the 6000 would reach high enough to get over the sides of his big dump truck. He has a Kubota M4900 and the loader will not reach high enough to get over the side. Sometimes I just don’t know how I got by all this time without the 6000 and it’s loader.

Well I think I hear the school bus so I will go for now. As always be sure to check the site for pics I’ve added and check back soon. Thanks for reading!

What a difference this week has made in the landscape of the farm. We continue to clear more land every day. It should wrap up this week. The decision was made not to take a chance on the poultry house site. We moved it to the front of the farm. It will be a little closer to the log house, but the excavation costs will be much less. They began work on the pad for the houses 3 days ago and have already removed all the topsoil and begun getting it on grade. They expect to be ready for the builder by the end of next week. That’s moving on. We will need to move the double-wide and have cleared a place on the back of the property to move it to. It will be at the end of a county road with only one neighbor near it. An older couple. Should be very peaceful. I am amazed at the transformation of the land as it is cleared. I can almost see cows, goats, and horses grazing. It will be a real job to get it all fenced, but worth the effort.

All is well with the kids. Madison and Kaylee stay busy cheering, while Garett is busy with after school programs that help with his reading and homework. He’s going to be a little bookworm. All the children went to the McCreary County Public Library this week and got library cards. Earlier in the week they all had been sick. Everyone had a stomach bug.

We finished up the hay this week. What little there was. I made a deal with our neighbors the Phillips’ to get it square baled and put in our barn instead of rolling it. That will give me a few hundred squares and about 40 rolls to get through the winter on. Hopefully I can get some fencing done and won’t need so much hay. I’d like to buy some cattle this winter if they get cheap enough. I thought I had found a square baler that would suit me, but waited around and let it get sold. I did pick up a New Holland 258 hay rake though. With folks going to V rakes with their rollers there are some deals out there on rolla bar rakes. Since I want to do more squares the rolla bar rake fits me. I will go next week and look at a New Holland 311 square baler. Don’t know much about the New Holland knotters as opposed to what I know about the other designs. I just know I need a square baler that the 6000 won’t be waiting on.

We are heading into fall shutdown at work so I get some much needed time off. We all will be working day shift with weekends off. I can use the time since I’ve been working seven days a week for too long to remember.

Hope all is well for you and remember to check out the pics I’ve added! Better get working on something with this time I have.

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.

The garden vegetables have finally reached their peak here on the farm. Madison, Garett, and Nana (my mom) have been busy stewing tomatoes, making spaghetti sauce, freezing peppers, and processing corn. It’s become a daily ritual to gather the ripe produce from the garden and deposit it on the log house porch for Nana and her little helpers. I stay so busy I haven’t been much help with the preserving this year. At least I’ve been able to help pick and dispose of the scraps to the goats. It’s pretty neat to watch them fight over corn shucks and watermelon rinds. They really will eat anything. I’ve had the brush hog on the 6000 the past couple days clipping the pastures and getting the hay field edges. We’re planning to do a bunch of re-seeding this fall so the grasses will all have to be short. I’ve moved the goats, calves, and a few horses to a different pasture to keep it short. We’ve been working with Thumper a little this week to get him broken to lead. He’s now out in the pasture with other horses and he is much happier. My friend and neighbor Wade borrowed the Mahindra and the Vermeer roller to put up some hay this week. It will soon be time to start cutting mine. My dad picked up a used disc a few days ago. I haven’t seen it yet, he is supposed to bring it down to the farm in a week or two. Madison is having a terrible time with her thumb sucking device. One side has come loose and she is slobbering like a rabid dog. The dentist doesn’t have an emergency number so we will have to hold on until Monday. I feel so sorry for her. I suppose I will leave work early and take her to have it glued back in. Kaylee hurt her wrist at cheerleading practice Wednesday night. Luckily it’s not broken. It is sprained though and very sore. She has been keeping it wrapped with an ace bandage. Someone told her vinegar takes the swelling out so she has been stinking like vinegar a lot. The children started school this week. Garett and Kaylee wanted to ride the bus, but Madison wanted me to take her. Needless to say I took her and spent a little while getting her accustomed to her new teacher. We made sure to go check on Garett. I got a cute picture of her giving him a hug that morning. They seem to be fine with school. The heat is hard on them though. My heart has been very heavy this week. I am so very sorry for the Utah coal miners and their families. My prayers include them. I have lots of memories of coal mining. My dad worked in the mines for many years in SE KY. Actually he even owned a mine at one time. I myself have my mining card and still consider going to work in the mines from time to time. It is terribly sad that miners put there lives on the line every day. I cannot help but think mining would be a much safer occupation if more miners were represented by the United Mine Workers of America. I know that here in McCreary county there was a horrible strike over safety. It started shortly after the Scotia mining disaster in Oven Fork Ky.. Both mines were owned by Blue Diamond Coal Company and the miners here felt unsafe enough they organized with the UMWA asking for a safety committee with authority to shut down parts of the mine. The miners were already making close to union scale all they wanted was a safer working environment, but the company didn’t want them to have that. The strike was bad for everybody and eventually the Justus mine closed. Well there is lots to do so I better get at it……………….Be sure to check out the pics I’ve added to the site and check back soon!

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This week has been one of the most trying times I can remember. We were rolling right along with the excavation on the chickenhouses until I noticed something in the siting requirements that has us stopped until we can figure out who’s right. According to the siting regulations given to me by the company, we were within spec, however according to another siting guide we are too close to a house on the county road adjacent to the house site. My contacts at Cobb tell me that the siting requirements are merely recommendations and that a lot of their houses are not the recommended distance listed in the siting guide. The siting guide does list them as recommended distances, however the Ky Poultry Federation and an Extension Professor in Poultry at the University of Kentucky both say they are legal distances required by law. I am waiting on a written legal opinion from Cobb’s attorney and someone higher up at UK before proceeding. It has us in a holding pattern so to speak. I don’t know how long I can expect the excavator to sit idle while we sort this out, but I certainly don’t want to build $700,000 buildings that are not in compliance with the law.

We got a chance to attend another rodeo this weekend at the Southeast Ky Horseman’s Arena in Strunk, Ky. This one was much better than the one we attended earlier this year. The kids enjoyed all the bull riding, barrel racing, calf roping, and bronco busting. They participated in a boot race too. It was neat all the kids took off one shoe and the clown scattered them all over the arena. Then the kids had to race to find their shoe, put it on and run back to the clown.

Madison and Garett both went to the dentist this week. Garett to get a cavity filled and Madison to be fitted for a device that will keep her from sucking her thumb. I have felt sorry for Madison ever since. She says the device is hurting her mouth and it has affected her speech. I am afraid with school starting Monday the kids will make fun of her. Hopefully in a month or so she will be able to have it removed.

I’ve used the 6000 to haul crossties to my friend James and moved a bunch of topsoil with the bucket this week. I’ve got to find the time to do some more cleanup at the rental trailer and spread several loads of topsoil for neighbors that want to buy it.

I noticed a used 7010 cab Mahindra on the local Deere dealer’s lot. It has 700 hours and has obviously been used kind of rough. Depending on the price though it might be a good buy. I’m going to try to talk to the previous owner. Who knows I may end up with another Mahindra. Its just tough to justify buying used with financing rates as low as they are and the warranty you get with new.

Well there’s tons to do so I better get at it………..Check back soon and thanks for reading!

Spent most of the week away from the farm this week. The kids and I spent some time in the Great Smoky Mountains. We took in the great veiws from all the way at the top of Clingmans Dome and visited a very old farmstead on the North Carolina side of the park. The old farm is very neat, with it’s split rail fences, molasses processing pans, lye soap making, apple house, chicken coop, heirloom garden, smokehouse, barn, blacksmith shop, springhouse, and pig pen. It was great for the children to see just how the old timers made it. The farmstead leaves me longing for simpler times and wondering if someday I might find some remote peice of land and give it a try the old way myself. The children learned all about games kids used to play and even made some toys and played some of the games like buzz buttons and corn cob tipped feathers for darts. I enjoyed the park the most, but the children enjoyed the shows and rides. Madison said her favorite part of the trip was our dinner show at Dixie Stampede. She especially enjoyed the trick riding. My little girl is quite the equine enthusiast. Kaylee and Garetts favorite part of the trip was Dollywood and it’s roller coasters. They like the rides. We rode all the roller coasters even the new Mystery Mine. I think later this fall I will try to take them to Kings Island. We all played miniature golf at Ripley’s Old McDonalds Farm Golf. The animated farm animals were cool. The kids all posed for pictures with them. While there we visited a dinosaur museum that had an old half track out front. Half tracks were used in WWII. My grandfather drove one through most of the war. It was great to be able to show the kids one and relay all the stories about my grandpa. He was 15 when he lied about his age and joined the army to go off and fight. It’s hard to grasp just how rough things must have been here to see a war as an improvement. I have always said the WWII generation truly is our greatest generation and I take my hat off to them all. Back on the farm. We have decided to go ahead with the poultry houses. After much discussion we have decided that it is an opportunity. It will allow me to get out of the factory and be on the farm. It will also pay for the farm and allow us to grow if we so choose. I geuss bottom line it was going to be very hard to justify passing up a steady income. In farming there aren’t very many ways that you can make it anymore and this seems to be one. Cobb has a very good reputation in this area. I’ll keep you all posted as to how it progresses. I better go for now, I have promised to use the 6000 to move some topsoil and fill some holes in the yard of both the log house and the double-wide. Be sure to check out the pics I have added and check back soon!

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Much of our spare time this week was spent staining the hemlock that we had added to the log house and the barn. We found a new use for the 6000, it makes a pretty good scaffold. I would lift B.J. up to where she needed to stain and then I would climb up into the bucket with her. The stain made the house and barn look tons better and I know it will help preserve it. I don’t really know how I talked B.J. into helping out but she was a big help.

Madison learned how to ride her bicycle without her training wheels this week. She also had her first big bike wreck with a little help from me – I was chasing her and she got spooked. She ended up with a scratched and bruised belly. I felt terrible that I was the cause of her first bike wreck.

The kids head back to school on August 8th so we had to go to Garett & Madison’s open house to find out who their teachers would be for the upcoming school year. Garett got the teacher that he wanted, Gwen Bryant, a family friend. Madison on the other hand did not get my aunt, Susan Parsons, as her first grade teacher. She has said that she will not be going to first grade this year and she will just stay home and go to second grade next year. So I will have to take the day off work to make sure that she does go to school.

Monday all of the kids had to go to the dentist, so we spent the day in Somerset. Kaylee and Madison did not have any cavities. Garett had a couple of beginners. Madison also got fitted for a mouth guard that will break her from sucking her thumb. We had breakfast at Hardee’s and then headed to Lowe’s to get things needed for the home improvement projects. As we left, Kaylee & Madison found a slug in the parking lot and would not have it any other way than to take it somewhere that it wouldn’t get hurt. It makes me proud that I have raised good stewards of the environment.

I finally finished putting in the water spickets to the barn, corall, and pasture. I also got the electric wire and conduit to the log house barn. It pleased my mother immensely to get the ditches covered back over. We noticed that we had little water pressure at the log house, it was due to a main line water leak. On the positive side it did fill up our little pond across the road.

Precious, Kaylee’s mare is still taking the antibiotics and now I am applying a gel daily to her leg. It’s getting better but it will be a little time before she is back to normal. I have spent a small fortune in vet wrap and gauze. The chickens, calves, rabbits, & other horses are doing well.

We are down to decision time of what we are going to do with the chicken houses. A decision has to be made this week. The children are now voicing their objections to “all those chickens”.

Well tons of things to do and little time to get them done in so I better go for now. Check out the new pics and check back soon!