lambing on the farm

cjunrau

Well-known Member
Post below of someone wanting to quit farming ,got me to thinking of the other side of the picture.
I own 160 acres, rent 130. Mine is pasture for sheep and milk cows. rented is for hay and a little organic grain for resale. We have 150+ sheep and 3 mil cows, usually a few chickens and pigs. I do custom bale hauling on the side. Hauling is a 3 month thing at best, not steady, about 35 days total.
We have lambed out 50 ewes in the last 2 weeks.
30 in the last 3 days.
We have 9 children, oldest 21, youngest 5. If I ever even talk about I just can't make enough money and it's time to quit, my children all start saying, NO we don't need this or that as long as we can stay on the farm with the little we have.
They even said if we couldn't afford Christmas presents they didn't care, they were happy without.
Sometimes a life style is more rewarding than making just a living.
We love what we do ,and I had a boss tell me once "if you don't enjoy your job ,get out and find a different one. Life is to short not to enjoy it". This I have found to be very true. I am much happier with all this debt and family than I ever was working in a place for 11 years at good money. WE went fishing almost every Saturday this last year and that is something you can't always do when you are to busy making money.

Anyway I'm just rambling as I have to keep going to check sheep. I normally don't get out of bed before 7, but already have 2 sets of triplets since 3 and have to go back out and check soon.


PS lambing is going good so far. We are at 170% lambing so far. 5 sets triples and 1 set quads.
 
I sold my sheep about 4 years ago. Lambing was a bit stressful, but having lambs around was so entertaining. I only kept 4-5 ewes and a ram and they were more pets than livestock.

I was happy if I could sell the lambs for enough to cover my input costs and put one in my freezer for "free".

I worked at various jobs but I agree: Slaving at something you hate so you can buy toys is a losing proposition in the long run. I quit 3 different jobs because the money wasn't worth the aggravation. I always found a way to get by on less money.
sheep1.jpg
 
18 years ago at age 48 I quit a good job I'd worked at for 25 years to go back to full time farming and related things its been a good move for me overall.Being able to do what I want pretty much when I want is worth a lot to me.Farming isn't for everyone just like me heating with wood,I get a lot of satisfaction being able to heat my house with wood off my property.My wife loves to can and freeze food out of the garden so we have a big garden too.I piped the water from a spring up in the mountain down to the back of the house use it mostly to water the garden but can use
it for a water supply when the electricity goes off because its gravity flow.The value of those things to me goes way beyond the Dollar$ value.
 
Same lifestyle here. We all find value and contentment in different ways. Enjoy having an outdoor office.
 
It would be a short visit,just to say hello,,,,I read your posts over the years,you have done what I always thought about,,just that I never completely did it.I remember when you described the small building you have for canning vegetable,,and cutting meat ,,etc.I had the exact same thought for years,,except you and your wife did it,I did not.I even thought a woodstove would be nice in that building,so in winter it could be a hideout to get out of the house now and then,,lol I did have lots of thoughts and dreams,,they kind of are fading away now.
 
I guess we all have lots of things we'd like to do we never get around to,I have tractor projects,wanted to build a house up on the mountain but that will probably not happen but as
a sort of compromise I'm thinking of a 12 X 20 Amish built storage shed and turn it into a hunting stand/cabin of sorts just a place to go, sit and enjoy the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.Like I said I'd be glad to have you any time as I rarely go far with the animals and my 94 year old mom go tend to.
 
Larry, We have been to TF's farm. He and his wife are mighty fine folks. You would really enjoy a tour of his place. His mother's house is a beautiful example of an old southern home.
Richard
 
Thanks. You and anyone else are always welcome at my place. Only -27 C here right now so this time of year you would have to have some extra close. Lol.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top