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Showing posts with label grass. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grass. Show all posts
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
In Northern New Mexico Rain Makes Everyone Happy
Around here no one complains of rain, even if it sometimes adds a little destruction to folks' lives. Last September the flooding was described as one of the 100 year variety, yet when people mentioned what was damaged at their places, they almost always prefaced what they were about to say with "I'm not complaining, but...." There is a lot of thanking God for the rain, which is good because everyone should be thankful for a gift.
And that's what rain in Northern New Mexico is: a gift, especially after the 3 years or so of vicious drought ranchers and farmers have endured. With that drought came skinny cattle, no grass, having to buy hay from other states, sending cattle to other regions of the U.S., blowing dust, water restrictions, and lack of income. Now the drought maps have reclassified our area as moderately drought-stricken, because the drought isn't over until we see a big old snow pack this winter in our mountains.
But that doesn't mean that we can't be happy, even if it is a conditional happiness.
At the Nickel and Dime Ranch the rain means swollen creeks and lots of grass.
An overflowing beaver dam.
A new flower garden kicking into high gear.
Wild pollinators doing their thing. I miss my bees.
And Ms. Pearl, taking a sunbath after a swim in the creek.
It's been a fun family-and-friend-filled summer, but I have to say that the rain has made it truly wonderful. Thanks, thanks, and more thanks.
And that's what rain in Northern New Mexico is: a gift, especially after the 3 years or so of vicious drought ranchers and farmers have endured. With that drought came skinny cattle, no grass, having to buy hay from other states, sending cattle to other regions of the U.S., blowing dust, water restrictions, and lack of income. Now the drought maps have reclassified our area as moderately drought-stricken, because the drought isn't over until we see a big old snow pack this winter in our mountains.
But that doesn't mean that we can't be happy, even if it is a conditional happiness.
At the Nickel and Dime Ranch the rain means swollen creeks and lots of grass.
An overflowing beaver dam.
A new flower garden kicking into high gear.
Wild pollinators doing their thing. I miss my bees.
And Ms. Pearl, taking a sunbath after a swim in the creek.
It's been a fun family-and-friend-filled summer, but I have to say that the rain has made it truly wonderful. Thanks, thanks, and more thanks.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Maybe the Drought is Over?
We've been having snow for the past four days, with daytime temperatures in the 20's. Last night there was enough snow to cover the grass, so the L'il Guyz are eating hay. It helps them stay warm and conserve calories.
They were waiting just outside the garage this morning, saying, "We would like some of that hay!" So, until the snow melts, that's what they will have.
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| Yum! |
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Meet the New Guys!
A little over a week ago we bought two new Black Angus steers to wander around the ranch and eat grass. They were born a little over six months ago on a ranch just eight miles away. By purchasing our stock locally, the babies won't have any altitude or weather adjustment issues.
First, though, they had a week's stay in a corral since they had just left their mommas. We wouldn't want these little guys wandering down the road, looking for their moms.
When I went to their home ranch to choose, the babies were with their mommas, ambling about, eating grass and drinking milk. Little did they know it was time to be weaned.
So for the first couple of days they were sad, mooing for their mommas. A friend who learned about this said it made her boobs leak!
And then she said that was TMI.
But the other day we opened the corral gate.
It didn't take much for them to realize there was a whole other world out there.
One with real grass, not hay. Yummers.
These guys are a little under 350 pounds right now, but in a year they will be close to 1200-1400 pounds after almost nonstop eating of grass, oak, and whatever else looks tasty.If it snows and covers up the grass, or gets really cold, they will get some hay, too.
How will their lives be different from factory farmed steers?
1. They will never see a feedlot, where thousands of cattle spend six to twelve months of their lives eating mostly corn, which they are not evolved to eat.
2. Because they will never see a feedlot, they will have happy tummies and never need antibiotics. The grain that factory farmed beef eat causes digestive upset and liver damage and they are often ill, so they need medicine.
3. They will breathe easily and see clearly. No gigantic pens full of beef cattle, kicking up manure contaminated dust which can get into lungs and eyes.
4. Stress will be minimal. Treats are served almost every day so the steers will not be afraid of their caretakers.
5. They will have a calm death. Some slaughterhouses process 300-400 cattle an hour. It can be chaotic. Our steers will either die right here at the ranch, not knowing what hit them, or will travel 30 miles to a processor who kills one beef at a time in a quiet room.
One thing I have learned in the three years we have raised beef cattle is that it's important to put a face on what you eat and on who is raising it.
When we eat an animal we are complicit in that animal's welfare whether we want to be or not. I have a hard time eating meat from animals and farmers I don't know because who knows what kind of life that animal had?
May I suggest a book? Read The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan where he follows each of four meals from source to final product.
That's when I really began thinking about how my food is produced.
First, though, they had a week's stay in a corral since they had just left their mommas. We wouldn't want these little guys wandering down the road, looking for their moms.
When I went to their home ranch to choose, the babies were with their mommas, ambling about, eating grass and drinking milk. Little did they know it was time to be weaned.
So for the first couple of days they were sad, mooing for their mommas. A friend who learned about this said it made her boobs leak!
And then she said that was TMI.
But the other day we opened the corral gate.
It didn't take much for them to realize there was a whole other world out there.
One with real grass, not hay. Yummers.
These guys are a little under 350 pounds right now, but in a year they will be close to 1200-1400 pounds after almost nonstop eating of grass, oak, and whatever else looks tasty.If it snows and covers up the grass, or gets really cold, they will get some hay, too.
How will their lives be different from factory farmed steers?
1. They will never see a feedlot, where thousands of cattle spend six to twelve months of their lives eating mostly corn, which they are not evolved to eat.
2. Because they will never see a feedlot, they will have happy tummies and never need antibiotics. The grain that factory farmed beef eat causes digestive upset and liver damage and they are often ill, so they need medicine.
3. They will breathe easily and see clearly. No gigantic pens full of beef cattle, kicking up manure contaminated dust which can get into lungs and eyes.
4. Stress will be minimal. Treats are served almost every day so the steers will not be afraid of their caretakers.
5. They will have a calm death. Some slaughterhouses process 300-400 cattle an hour. It can be chaotic. Our steers will either die right here at the ranch, not knowing what hit them, or will travel 30 miles to a processor who kills one beef at a time in a quiet room.
One thing I have learned in the three years we have raised beef cattle is that it's important to put a face on what you eat and on who is raising it.
When we eat an animal we are complicit in that animal's welfare whether we want to be or not. I have a hard time eating meat from animals and farmers I don't know because who knows what kind of life that animal had?
May I suggest a book? Read The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan where he follows each of four meals from source to final product.
That's when I really began thinking about how my food is produced.
Friday, July 12, 2013
A Summer Walk to the Beaver Pond
It's trying to be monsoon season here at the Nickel and Dime, and in areas nearby they've even had some flash flooding with puddles, actual puddles (!) alongside the roads. Since most of the yearly moisture comes during this July and August rainy season, everyone has been hoping and praying that the rain will keep falling, but not so much that we get flooded out.
There was rain last week here at the ranch, so the grass is growing a bit and the steers think it's candy. Sadly, our creek isn't running, though, so bring on more rain!
Yesterday Ms. Pearl and I took a walk through The Enchanted Forest to see how the beavers are doing.
Here's our empty creek bed.
If you look closely at the photo below, you might be able to see Ms. Pearl exploring an area just above what Tom calls "Bridget's Bottom."
Yeah, there she is! C'mon, you goofball!
Sometimes when we're walking around I can't find her. So I'm calling, a little worried, and she just appears, usually right behind me, looking like, "Didn't you know I was here the whole time?"
You've seen the pine trees all around here, but watch where you're going because these grow here and there on the forest floor:
You can see that even though I have been providing fresh water in a civilized water trough for the steers, their hoof marks are visible in the mud. Don't drink that stuff, you guys!
So we have green grass, pine trees, pretty cacti, rain, an empty creek bed, missing beavers, and a chance to experience both the beauty and the sadness of nature right in our back yard.
There was rain last week here at the ranch, so the grass is growing a bit and the steers think it's candy. Sadly, our creek isn't running, though, so bring on more rain!
Yesterday Ms. Pearl and I took a walk through The Enchanted Forest to see how the beavers are doing.
Here's our empty creek bed.
If you look closely at the photo below, you might be able to see Ms. Pearl exploring an area just above what Tom calls "Bridget's Bottom."
Yeah, there she is! C'mon, you goofball!
Sometimes when we're walking around I can't find her. So I'm calling, a little worried, and she just appears, usually right behind me, looking like, "Didn't you know I was here the whole time?"
You've seen the pine trees all around here, but watch where you're going because these grow here and there on the forest floor:
 |
| Prickly Pear Cactus |
 | ||
| Nylon Hedgehog Cactus |
Don't the spines on this Nylon Hedgehog cactus look like embroidery?
So here we are at the beaver dam. Not much water left, so I wonder what happens to the beavers? Do they pack up their bags and find a better place? Research is necessary.
Come on and rain some more. We want the beavers back!
What is cool, though, is a chance to see how they built the dam. That's a lot of earth moved, don't you think?
You can see that even though I have been providing fresh water in a civilized water trough for the steers, their hoof marks are visible in the mud. Don't drink that stuff, you guys!
So we have green grass, pine trees, pretty cacti, rain, an empty creek bed, missing beavers, and a chance to experience both the beauty and the sadness of nature right in our back yard.
It will sort itself out eventually. It always does.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
The Lazy Boyz Want Rain!
The other day T and I were picking up wood in The Enchanted Forest and our usually shy Lazy Boyz came to watch us work.
Actually, they were looking for a handout. We've only fed them hay when the temps have been low or there was too much snow, but they remembered.
The only green and growing grass on the ranch is along the creek, but because we haven't had enough rain (yet), the rest of the place just has last year's leftovers. It's food and they aren't getting skinny, but it's dry and crunchy, not green and juicy.
And dry grass is boring! "Hey, bro!" say the Lazy Boyz. "Give us some hay!"
Seriously, ranchers with big herds of cattle are selling them early because there's not enough grass. We are lucky to have grass left over from last year and to only have a "herd" of two cattle. To feed hay to a large herd would cost way too much.
That's why the price of your steaks is going up and will continue to go up during this drought. It costs more to feed cattle when there isn't enough grass or hay. Supply and demand and all that.
The typical conversation around here always starts with, "We need rain." And yes, we do, not only to feed the livestock and keep the rivers and creeks flowing, but also to help the firefighters who are working their hearts out to protect people, animals and property in the path of wild fires.
Pray, do a rain dance, or just send up your watery thoughts. The southwest needs rain!
Actually, they were looking for a handout. We've only fed them hay when the temps have been low or there was too much snow, but they remembered.
The only green and growing grass on the ranch is along the creek, but because we haven't had enough rain (yet), the rest of the place just has last year's leftovers. It's food and they aren't getting skinny, but it's dry and crunchy, not green and juicy.
And dry grass is boring! "Hey, bro!" say the Lazy Boyz. "Give us some hay!"
Seriously, ranchers with big herds of cattle are selling them early because there's not enough grass. We are lucky to have grass left over from last year and to only have a "herd" of two cattle. To feed hay to a large herd would cost way too much.
That's why the price of your steaks is going up and will continue to go up during this drought. It costs more to feed cattle when there isn't enough grass or hay. Supply and demand and all that.
The typical conversation around here always starts with, "We need rain." And yes, we do, not only to feed the livestock and keep the rivers and creeks flowing, but also to help the firefighters who are working their hearts out to protect people, animals and property in the path of wild fires.
Pray, do a rain dance, or just send up your watery thoughts. The southwest needs rain!
Thursday, April 25, 2013
The Lazy Boys: George and Ringo
Meet George and Ringo who have been content to wander around the ranch, eating for a while and then lying down. Then they rest after their hard work, which consists of eating and lying down. There is plenty of grass so they don't need to range far and wide to find food. It's all around them.
Lately, though, they've been steers with a purpose: find grass that is green. It's starting to green up, especially along the creek bank, and they are on the job finding all the best morsels.
It's like when we say, "I think I want a salad!" after all those carbs.
Possible rain is forecast for a couple of days and that's just fine. We all want salads in spring.
But this dried grass is boring! It's like eating shredded wheat cereal!
Lately, though, they've been steers with a purpose: find grass that is green. It's starting to green up, especially along the creek bank, and they are on the job finding all the best morsels.
It's like when we say, "I think I want a salad!" after all those carbs.
Possible rain is forecast for a couple of days and that's just fine. We all want salads in spring.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Brrr....It's Cold!
It's been cold in many places of the United States, even cold in Southern California. Gotta put away the crop tops and shorts for a while, you guys. Get tough, SoCal people!
Here in Northern New Mexico, temps haven't gone as low as MINUS 33, like what happened a couple February's ago, but this morning was -12F when doggie visitor Reggie went out for a little constitutional. Ms. Pearl wanted to stay "turned in," snug under our bed's down comforter. Smart doggie.
It snowed all day yesterday, a light powdery 3 or 4 inches of blessed moisture. That's our upper pasture with plenty of grass. Our two beef steers are methodically eating, one bite at a time. A USDA fellow dropped by for a cattle survey and complimented us on our grass and said we were managing it well. Well, yeah, we only have two cattle on it!
Our two steers, George and Ringo (why, oh why, do I name these cattle?) are still getting used to Ms. P and her officious behavior. "Stay together! Get in line!" are what half Australian shepherds say to both their livestock and their people.
So here are George and Ringo. They are Limousin-Angus cross breeds.
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| George |
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| Ringo |
Usually, though, all they do is eat or lie down in the sunshine. What a life.
Looking north toward The Enchanted Forest are
The creek is almost completely frozen (this photo is from December) The steers found an open space to drink, but Tom made the opening bigger.
I think if there wasn't sun most days I might not like the cold weather, but it's amazing what a little sunlight can do for my mental health. Heck, I even consider 40 degree weather warm now, and that's what we are supposed to have starting tomorrow. Yippee!
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