Springing in to the spring work
With the snow all gone, its time to start the field work. The first thing that has to be done in the spring is fixing the fences. That’s top priority.
The fences have to be fixed before the cows realize they can go anywhere they want. (remember, up until the snow melted, they were confined to the area where we fed, away from the fences) Once they realize this, the first thing they do is walk the fences. And they will always find were it’s broke. Guaranteed. This winter was really hard on the fences. When there is a lot of snow on the fences, especially if it crusts over at some point like this year, the snow will actually pull the wires down with it as it settles, breaking the wire. I remember one year the snow was so heavy that it actually pushed the posts into the ground. That was crazy! One wonderful thing we do when fixing fence is push the needed new posts in with the tractor loader. It makes putting in new posts so fast. It’s amazing how many posts we can push in in a day. We do have to do it early in the spring, when the ground is still soft. Once it dries up, we can not push in posts.
This year the guys went around and pushed all the posts in and spliced the wire, so all I had to do was hammer staples. Easy enough for me. I can hammer staples way easier than I can splice wire. Until I hit my thumb with the hammer, or scratch my arm with a barb. Then I have to take a break and feel sorry for myself. And if there is an ant hill at the post, I don’t hammer those staples. I hate ants. Honestly, who can stand in an ant pile and hammer staples! Not me.
The next thing on the spring work agenda is harrowing the fields. We start in the pastures. It’s kind of like raking your yard in the spring. Only on a larger scale. Here is a picture of our harrow.
My Farmer built it. It does an amazing job! It is built out of a couple railroad rails. The harrow sections, the part that is like the tines on a yard rake, are made from digger links (these are the links from the chain on our old potato diggers). As my son says, this implement is 80 percent land leveler and 20 percent harrow. It sure does work great for our fields. It’s a little to harsh for our newly established hay fields, so we have a different harrow we use for that.
The one draw back about this harrow is its size and weight. It is extremely heavy and it does not fold up. It does not fit through our gates. When we move from field to field we have to pick it up with our forklift and put it sideways on a wagon or our semi-trailer, to haul to the next field. It’s a pain, but it’s sooo worth it.
I like harrowing. The hardest part is being able to see where you have been, so you don’t waste time going over a spot you’ve already done. Look at this picture below. This is my view from my tractor seat. I am supposed to go back right along side where I just harrowed. Can you tell where I have harrowed and where I haven’t?
Ya, me neither. If you look real close, you probably can see it. Some times, its pretty hard to see. Here’s another view. You can see the harrowed part in this field easier.
But the line that you can easily see is not the line I need to follow. There is one more done swath in there. I mess up and follow the wrong line a lot. I’m learning that the secret is to look out ahead and not right beside. You can see the line way out ahead better. So it’s keep looking way, out straight ahead, but yet keep on eye on where you’re at. Hey, isn’t there a life lesson in that? Live in the minute but always keep your eye on the future. Dang, that’s pretty good, huh. Haha! And that’s how I am……….Livin’ the Life, the Farm Life that is……
57 Comments
angela
Interesting process. Love the ending and the words of wisdom back to life… eye on the future!
admin
Thanks Angela. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and read my blog.
Ramae Hamrin
Your place is beautiful! Both my dog and I would love to live and roam in scenery like that. That harrow looks really, really heavy!
admin
You would be welcome to come roam around!! Yes the harrow is VERY heavy!! kind of scary heavy. lol Thanks for taking the time to read my blog Ramae.
Brittany
It looks like some hard work but well worth it in the end. Great pictures!
admin
It is hard work, but as my Farmer says, “better then having a real job”. only it doesn’t pay as well. LOL Thanks for stopping in Brittany!!
Suzan
Spring here on our small organic homestead is always so busy, often times feeling overwhelming. What a beautiful spread you have there with such a gorgeous view!
admin
Yes Suzan, spring time can for sure be a bit overwhelming! But as you know, we do what we can do and just keep on truckin’! Thanks for stopping by!!
Anna
Back in my country when we were kids, we were helping our grandparents with farming. And it is a lot of work in spring. But such a rewarding thing to do. And you have amazing views there with gorgeous mountains. Enjoy!
admin
Thanks for stopping in Anna. I love my views, and it’s a short distance when we want to take a break and drive to the mountains.
Julia Kelahan
This was very cool to read – it’s a life that is so foreign to me!
admin
Thanks for taking the time to read a bit of a glimpse into my life on the farm. It was pretty foreign to me when I married into this family!
Leigh Ann
I’m a farm gal too and this is a very familiar sight at our place this time of year. Looks like you totally getting the hang of that tractor. That’s awesome!
admin
Thanks Leigh Ann. I do pretty good with the tractors, and actually enjoy driving them. Thanks for stopping by!!
Maureen Cardenas
Loved reading this. Such hard work, but very thankful for all our farmers!
admin
Thanks Maureen! I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and check out a glimpse into my life!!
Heather
The mountains in the background are GORGEOUS! What a beautiful place to live and work.
admin
I’m very blessed to live here, that I know. Thanks for stopping by!!
Kendra
Sounds like an adventure of fun, satisfaction, and hard work!
admin
Pretty much. All rolled into one!! Thanks Kendra for stopping in!!
Dawnmarie @ EnjoyingtheDays
Farm life is definitely not a lazy life. I did not realize that the fences has to be repaired every single year. Of course, there is probably a a long list of things that need to be done to maintain a farm about which I am not even aware as a suburbanite. Thank you for sharing this glimpse into your world.
admin
Just like maintaining a household, there is always something that needs done, over and over. Thanks for taking to time to stop in and read my story.
Kyndall Bennett
I think my fiance would like to have a home where he can have a small farm since he grew up helping to raise goats with his mom and chickens with his neighbors. I think I would get a bit nervous trying to take care of bigger animals though.
admin
It has taken me a while to get use to the big animals, but I love working with them now. Thanks for stopping in Kyndall!!
Laura Lee
Farm life must be incredible hard work, but I imagine it’s incredibly rewarding as well.
admin
Yes Laura Lee, it is hard work, time consuming, but very rewarding. Thanks for stopping by!!
Karla
I grew up in farm country in Southern Illinois. My folks were teachers, but most of my friends were farm people. I LOVED going to their farms and helping with chores. Of course, my friends weren’t thrilled with constant chores, and I saw how much work a farm is, but it was novel to me. If I actually had to farm, I’m sure it would be a comedy of errors.
admin
Oh, if this farm relied on me, it would for sure be a comedy of errors!! LOL I’m like you, I visited my cousins farms growing up, not ever imagining that I would marry a farmer. Thanks for stopping by!!
Sheila
Such a beautiful place you live! I have three acres in FL and I have farm chores too. Just not as much as you! Be strong and keep giving this great info.
admin
Thanks Sheila. I am trying to plan a vacation to Florida this year!! That is if I can pull my Farmer away. lol Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read.
Jennifer Morrison
What beautiful views!!! I can’t even imagine getting to see that every day. And, I can’t imagine how much work goes into running a farm. But, I always love a view into it.
admin
Thanks Jennifer. I am very thankful for my everyday view. Thanks for stopping by!!
Kelley
I love the view on your property. The farm life is so cool to me since I live in the city. It looks like you have a great farm life and manage the seasons well.
admin
That’s for those words. I feel very blessed to be here. Thanks for stopping in!!
Michele
Whoa that’s a lot of work. Gives me a much greater appreciation of where my food comes from!
admin
It is a lot of work, but it’s our job and it’s what we do. Thanks for stopping by!!
Malia
I have read about ranchers riding the fences to find the downed parts of the fence, but never actually knew why the fences were always breaking. Definitely never knew about harrowing (and my goodness that is hard to see where you’ve been!). Thanks for this window into farm life!
admin
Our fences are always in worse shape because of the snow. Places without snow or less snow have breaks but not as bad. Thanks for stopping by and readying!
Kymberly Irwin
Wow! I’ve actually never been on a farm … ever! I would probably run away with all your chickens! 🙂
admin
Haha Kymberely, the foxes already run away with all my chickens!! lol
Lina
Your farm looks amazing! I have only been to one farm (sister in law’s) and it is so much much hard work. Never knew why the fences are always needing fix.
admin
Thanks for stopping by Lina! Yes, it is hard work, but its just what we do. My Farmer says it better than having a real job. LOL
Angela Greven | Mean Green Chef
Wow, you have such a beautiful spread there, nice that the loader makes pushing in posts easier, especially when you have that many to check and fix! I’ve used an auger in the past it’s fast but cumbersome. I look forward to reading more about your beautiful farm and adventures. Thanks for sharing 🙂
admin
Angela, I love the use of the loader. The auger implement always scared me. Thank for stopping by!!
Tricia Snow
That is so funny and true about finding the broken fence. Cows are good that way!
admin
Yes they are!! Thanks for stopping by Tricia!
Eileen Thorsen
Oh my word, what a beautiful place! Can I come visit?! Ha! My dream is to have a tiny little farm one day with some goats, chickens, miniature horses and cows, etc. Hoping the kids will love animals as much as I do as well as that country living!
admin
Absolutely Eileen! Come visit!! We LOVE to have visitors. I wont even put you to work! lol
Cindy
Such a beautiful property! I’d be no good working the land. I’d be standing there, surrounded by beauty, and lost in my own thoughts!
admin
Oh YA…..that happens a lot with me. I figure I have to do that so I never take it for granted. 😉 Thanks for stopping by Cindy!
Amber Dunn
Way cool! Thank you for sharing this process.
admin
Thank you for stopping by Amber!
Pauline
The High Line is on my bucket list. I’ve never been out that far east in Montana. Farm work is hard and I bet you’ve been scrambling.
Michele
My grandfather has been a farmer all of his life so I can really appreciate this! Thanks for sharing!
admin
Glad you can relate. Thanks for stopping by!!
T.M. Brown
Man, I miss open spaces like that. I mean, I love where we are now and all that we can do here, but I do miss the quiet, serene, gorgeous open land. You do quite a bit of work, though ~ kudos to you!!
admin
Thanks T.M. I so love the open space. Thanks for stopping by!