We are a third of the way through April........you'd never guess. It feels more like late February. Cold.

In case you want to go back to really cold winter, we were here in January..........

The thread "January 2018" in Farming forum

We had snow again over the weekend. Mind you, it wasn't much, but did cover the ground. It melted on the roads and didn't accumulate. Guess we should be thankful for that, no matter how small a victory.

Nobody has even thought of field work yet; not even the guys that want to put oats in on top of the snow. The grass is looking like it is thinking of maybe greening up, then Ma Nature turns around and kicks us in the arse yet again. I wouldn't even mind mowing yard; at least it would show that warm weather might be showing up.

Still salt on the roads which limits the SU taking the RV to Camping World in Madison to get the awnings installed over the RV living room window. Last year we went RVing the end of April. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Not really related to farming, but I took my written tests for my CDL and HAZMAT endorsement to my driver's license. Still have to do the driving test, pre-trip inspection, and fingerprinting. Homeland security wants that; I can't be a threat since I would be transporting explosives in the manner of display fireworks. Fingerprinting appointment is Thursday.

I'm assuming as soon as it warms up some the renter will be bringing us some cattle. The SU walked the electric fence this afternoon, replacing broken post fasteners. It's been nice not having any animals over winter; the SU has decided he does not want cattle here during the winter any more. I don't blame him.

What is everyone doing???

Busy! Thanks for starting a new thread; I'll add something when I get a moment.

Just too cold all around for spring this year.

We've mowed twice, and I'm in the thick of spring garden cleanup, between rain spells that is. I let my young chicks (about 4 weeks old) out into the world (chicken yard) but so far they have not figured out about coming in to the coop at night so I have to net them. Sounds like a chicken massacre every night, who knew they could be so noisy.

Silly chickens!! Don't they know the coop is the safe place to spend the night.

When I had chicks/chickens, I would always feed in the chicken pen right before closing the pen in the evening. They were willing to be shut up for the night then.

I had a customer tell me he used a automatic deer feeder to spread the hen scratch and had the timer set for a certain time so all he had to do was close the pen door.

Chickens are fun but I think the saying "no forehead, no brains" applies.

I can say that I have NEVER had the desire for poultry.

Anna, I'm the same about sheep. I think we've had just about every other farm animal. Thinking back, though, chickens might be my favorite - easy keepers.

I sure would have chickens if it were allowed here.

Well, I didn't really think that there were any animals that were stupider than pigs, but I think poultry might be. God had one brain left when he was done and divided it up between the swine and poultry.

Ha ha, Anna. I've never been a proponent of how smart or personable pigs are. Although I have to say cows don't really show much potential either. Animals are animals, they just go about their business as best they can near as I can tell.

We have had about 25 cow-calf pairs grazing in our pasture for the past couple of weeks. They belong to a neighbor who has adjoining property. He has leased grass from us for about 3 years now. In about another 3 weeks he will move them to another place and the grass will regrow enough for him to put cattle in again this fall. Irrigation water is in the ditch now so everybody up here on the hill is making use of it while it lasts. We get snow melt water from a stream until mid July, then no more until next April because the Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife monitors the stream and we have to leave enough for the fish to migrate upstream to spawn.

Last week I set about 3 dozen cabbage and broccoli plants out into the garden. They look good. I picked a cloudy day to do it and two more cloudy days followed. Half a dozen of the new June bearing strawberries are showing signs of life. We planted 20 two weeks ago, they came in a bundle in a bag and I wondered if it was money down the drain when they were unpacked. I planted, watered and prayed for them to grow! In about 3 more weeks we will be past the probable last frost date so I can set out tomatoes and squash. Before that I can plant beans and corn because it will take about 7-10 days for them to have growth above ground.

Weeds in the flower beds are way ahead of me already.

Is there a May thread? I just realized it isn't April anymore!

I started us a new thread, if anyone still reads these.

The thread "Farming September , 2018 till................" in Farming forum

I always read them with interest, Anna. I just don't have a farm, but my grandparents on both sides farmed and I loved helping them when I was a child. I would have loved farming. We had horses and chickens, but never got any other animals. I'd love to have some goats. I certainly have enough for them to eat around here!