Category: farm house

The old black walnut tree

We had a half alive black walnut tree that has been on the farmstead probably since its inception in the early 1900s. It still produced walnuts, but it’s bark was starting to fall off and each year, less green leaves would develop. We think it was at its end plus it was very close to the house. With a strong wind or storm, it could get dangerous. So we decided to cut it down….a piece of history…..a tree who saw it all, from different families to house building to changes in farming.

We found someone who was interested in the log for furniture. We helped him load it on his trailer, but it took two loader tractors and some physics. It was sad to see it go.

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It’s springtime already!

We just returned from a fabulous visit to Costa Rica and found that it is springtime in northern Iowa already! With the chirps and songs of the Orioles, red-wing black birds and robins, it is a sure sign that spring is here. There is no snow, the smell of the ground defrosting, and early morning fog are also tell-tale signs. What does this mean? It means we have to jump into action!

The lambs are due starting April 1st! So it means it’s shearing time! Vaccinations and hoof trims for the ewes, too!

We need to haul corn and soybeans that were sold for March delivery. The mucky and wet yards of the farms are not good environments for semi trucks. The give and takes of farming….

We have a lot of fences to fix, gardens to plan and plant, grain to sell, and a list of other things now that the weather is warmer. We are trying to stay on top of it all while quickly adjusting back to the busy farm life that warm weather brings.