Every so often, farm life hands you a story in a five-gallon bucket.
This week, our bucket mousetrap caught something that was very much not a mouse. Down inside sat a young opossum, crouched low with the solemn expression of someone who had made several questionable decisions after dark.
Thankfully, he looked alive, unharmed, and old enough to release.
So there I stood, holding a tiny possum in a bucket situation I had not planned for.
Read MoreMy husband is clearing a small area of the mountain for a new coop for the flock.
We are not cutting back much. Instead, we are opening only what we need. The goal is to preserve the woods around us. At the same time, we need enough room to protect the chickens well.
The new coop area will be easier to surround with electric fencing. That matters on a mountain farm. Predators do not need much encouragement around here.
This move will also help us use our current space better. The shed the chickens live in now will become goat space. One side will be a stall for Sage. The other will stay open for kids when needed.
A small separate fenced area will go with it. That gives us flexibility during kidding season. It also gives young goats a safe place when they need one.
Another benefit is better ranging space for the chickens. They will have more forest floor to scratch through and explore. Fallen leaves, bugs, and woodland edges are very much their department.
As with most projects here, one change solves several problems. This new chicken coop for the flock gives the birds a better home. The goats gain more useful shelter. And the woods stay mostly wild, which is exactly how I like them.
The four healthy mini bucks born this year are fully moved to the Buck Hut enclosure here on The Tart Farm now. We were able to expand this area by almost double over the last few days. A ramp and wooden lounge is also being relocated into that area to help keep the youngsters entertained.
Nessa’s kids have adjusted quickly to being in with their sire, Manny Moon. They are calmer tempered like both their parents and while energetic, not overly excitable. To my untrained eye, their form looks good, their first freshening mothers are proving to be impressive producers and they are growing well. They also have a good amount of moon spots and long pendulous ears.
Ellie’s kids, on the other hand, have had a difficult time adjusting. Despite Mama Ellie being completely over them, the boys missed their mama terribly and screamed to tell us every night. This and their ability to get into and onto anything in their paths has truly reflected their dam’s strong willed personality. Just like their mother, they are also sweet and curious.
It is going to be hard to choose which one out of these four mini bucks will be staying. They all take turns being the most annoying or lovable.
Spring never arrives in just one grand entrance on a small farm. It shows up in layers: new chores, shifting routines, seedlings asking for more room, and the constant glance toward the sky hoping for rain. The month has brought plenty to do here at The Tart Farm, along with the reminder that every season has its own pace. Now we are finally falling into step with the rhythm of late April.
The hens have been laying well, but they have also made their feelings clear about the new nesting boxes. Lately, more eggs have been appearing on the ground instead of in the boxes, which usually means the accommodations need a little improvement. In this case, the boxes need deeper nesting material to make them more inviting.
That will be one of the next small but important fixes. Chickens are wonderfully productive, but they are also creatures of habit and comfort. Sometimes the smallest adjustments make all the difference.
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Spring at the farm is full of small changes that add up quickly.
Right now, trays of tomato and pepper starts are growing strong and getting ready for the garden season ahead. There is always a certain kind of optimism in seedlings, tiny plants with a lot of promise packed into them. Although not our primary focus, veggies planted in the spring help fill our table all year.
In the goat yard, the buck kids have reached an important milestone and have moved into the buck area with their sire. Growing up comes fast on the farm, and each new stage brings its own routines, personalities, and plans for the future.
These are the kinds of steady, everyday moments that shape life on the farm this time of year. The time spent preparing gardens and watching animals grow lets us start building toward the abundance of the months ahead.
We’re glad you’re here and look forward to sharing spring at the farm as it unfolds.