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Sand Hill Thicket

Tales of stunning sunsets, happy sheep, and peace and quiet on a 10-acre farm in Northeastern Kansas.

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Spring

We’ve Started Shearing Our Flock

We are neck-deep in fleece again! Shearing is in full swing. Beautiful fleeces are dropping daily. Here are a few for your viewing pleasure. Feta Sheep Tzatziki Delphis

Flowers On Our Farm

https://youtube.com/shorts/V13301dyVv0?si=lNM5KxjBInbZYE4Q

Starting Seeds Indoors: A Spring Garden

We've lived here in Northeast Kansas for more than five years now. I've come to the conclusion that most of the gardening success that I've had stems from starting seeds inside under grow lights. I do not currently have a... Continue Reading →

Beginning Again

I haven't written a blog post here since November of last year; the posts on this site aren't widely read anyways. Regardless, I'm endeavoring to pick up my keyboard again and post more frequently to this journal/blog. In the interim... Continue Reading →

Shearing Has Begun

We started shearing, but it has been really dreary, cold, and rainy. We took a couple of days off to let the sheep dry and now it's sprinkling again... The weather just doesn't want to cooperate this year. Sunday was... Continue Reading →

The Crocuses Are Up!

Spring is on its way! I'm so excited! Even though we are in between a couple of snowstorms from the stretching of the #PolarVortex, I can finally see the end of the tunnel. It's time to plant seeds for vegetable... Continue Reading →

Attempting A No-Till/No-Dig Garden

Yesterday we placed a large silage tarp over the grass and weeds in this area to attempt to start a new no-till/no-dig garden site. We tried super hard to find enough items to keep the tarp down, but in the... Continue Reading →

Salad, Salad, & More Salad

So, I layered on new compost and planted a garden in early December to overwinter under the low tunnel. When I went to check on the garden after the #PolarVortex in February, I was pretty sure everything was probably dead... Continue Reading →

Shearing is Done!

Oh my, I never thought we'd shear that last sheep, but we've finally finished! This is the most sheep we've ever sheared in a season. We've got a pretty good system down now: we team shear, trim hooves, vaccinate, and... Continue Reading →

Late April Snowstorm: Lambs’ First Snow

April 20: Our last frost date was about two days before this... Don't worry, it all melted by 2pm that afternoon!

All Your Lamb Are Belong to Me! (Video)

Lambing has commenced! https://youtu.be/VqXm0cbdjsI Orange is in love with Clove, our bottle lamb from a set of mismatched twins. Notice Orange is bigger than Clove at 12 days old! Gardenia, a first time mum, gave birth to a set of... Continue Reading →

Cleaning Out a Dead Hive

Since the bees froze to death due to the #PolarVortex, we decided we better clean out the hive before critters and mold got to it. There was quite a bit of honey to harvest, but that's another post! We had... Continue Reading →

There’s Hope

Even though we are in the throes of winter now, the days are already getting longer. Yes, it's cold. The stock ponds are frozen over. It can be very dreary and monochromatic this time of the year. No, we haven't had any good ice storms or blizzards, yet. However, I've already seen the light at the end of the tunnel!

Chinese Cabbage Harvest

It's chinese cabbage harvest time!

Spring Showers

We've been getting lots of rain, which is a good thing because I'm a grass farmer; sheep gotta eat. Makes for long days when you're a chicken though. The front deck is the new hangout and I don't have the heart to chase them off like I normally do.

Peace for 30 Seconds

Group session on how to chew bubblegum.

The Great Canning Contest: Dilled Asparagus Pickles

What's that?  Coronavirus possibly causing food shortages, you say?  Well, we have a plan for that...

Three Intact Ram Lambs

We have left three ram lambs intact this year. So, round about mid-July we will have to pull them from their dams and run them in their own mob until they come up to weight. They need to basically reach close to market weight (140 lbs.) before they go in with the mature rams.

An Evening Romp in Clover

https://youtu.be/9h6z6QAsl1E

Shearing is Done! Time to Plant!

The shearing is done, the ewes and lambs have been turned out onto spring and summer pasture, and I don't have to feed hay anymore! Yay! If you are interested in fleece, let me know!

Bok Choy Harvest & Kadun Kadu Katne (Chamorro Beef Soup)

We lived on Guam for 3 years before we got out of the U.S. Navy; it was the Husband's second tour on Guam. One of the recipes I instantly loved was Kadun Kadu and everytime I can get my hands on bok choy, I'm almost sure to make it.

Spring Flowers

Just wanted to share some beautiful spring flowers to brighten your day. I soooooo hope we get a few peaches this year! Crossing fingers!

Orange & His Sheep

Well, Orange is getting over his aversion to sheep and the sheep have become intensely curious about Orange. He is a lot more comfortable in his barn now. Recently Orange has been playing more and more with the ewes and... Continue Reading →

Low Tunnel Update 2

Bok choy is almost ready for harvest!

Lamb Races

https://youtube.com/shorts/sYY3lb4260g?feature=share

A Raven Takes Flight & The Year of the Black Lambs

2020 is the year of the black ewe-lambs! We've been waiting and wanting black lambs, always wondering if the next lamb would be that elusive black lamb!

Frolicking Lambs!

https://youtu.be/12C8AqOaD0E

Low Tunnel Update

Well, you've been asking for an update, so here it is! The low tunnel AKA "COVID-19 victory" garden has been planted. I think that's what I will call my gardens from now on - my COVID-19 (coronavirus) victory gardens. Oh, the suspense (to see if the tunnel yields any produce)!

Spring Has Sprung & Lambs!

Well, Spring has finally arrived. I'm glad it's a wee bit early! The crocus are up and the first lambs have arrived!

Starting Veggies & Herbs Indoors – Update!

I deduced that I started with the lights too high up and lowered them within the first or second week. Unfortunately, some of the seedlings ended up a bit leggy. I think they will work out in the end. Anyways, these pics are from February 11.

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