Romance, Renovations, and Round Bales: Fall at Lucky Dog Farm

Well, autumn is here, the leaves are falling, and things are hopping here at Lucky Dog Farm!

You might think that once the lambs are weaned and the summer grazing season winds down, things get a little quieter around here. Ha! I wish. Fall is when I start getting serious about winter preparations, next year's lamb crop, and all those farm improvements that have been waiting patiently on the to-do list.

There's quite a bit going on this year, so here's a little update from your friendly neighborhood sheep farmer.

The ram is in with the ewes — and Dolly is keeping me waiting

Let's start with the romance department. Lucky 13 is now spending quality time with the ladies, which means breeding season is underway. The decisions we make now will determine the lamb crop come spring.

I'm always thinking about how to improve the flock: healthy lambs that grow well on grass, good mothers, and sheep that thrive in our pasture-based system. As Lucky Dog Farm grows, I want to improve the quality of the flock right along with the numbers.

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for Dolly to lamb! Dolly joined the flock from Bar-B Farm in Tennessee, and she's part of my effort to bring some new genetics into the mix. She's a proven mother, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she produces here at Lucky Dog Farm. Of course, sheep have their own ideas about schedules, and Dolly isn't taking requests from this farmer. I'll just have to keep checking on her and wait for the big event.

Between Dolly's pending arrivals and next year's breeding plans, there's always something to keep a sheep farmer guessing.

Making room for the flock

The sheep aren't the only ones getting a little more elbow room this fall. I've been working on enlarging the area around the barn, too.

As the flock grows, the ewes need more space, and I need to be able to manage them more efficiently. There's a lot of daily work involved in keeping sheep comfortable and healthy, and making that work easier is good for both the animals and the farmer.

One of the big improvements has been enlarging the stone pad around the barn. Why? So I can get the tractor right into the barn to clean it out.

That might not sound particularly exciting, but let me tell you: being able to use the right equipment for the job makes a big difference. I'm all for hard work, but I'm also a big believer in not making a job harder than it needs to be. If I'm going to keep growing this farm, I need to think about the practical details that will make caring for a larger flock sustainable in the long run.

I use hoop houses for my sheep barns, too. They're a practical way to provide covered space for the flock without the expense of building traditional barns. Like any livestock housing, they need to be managed with an eye toward ventilation, dry bedding, and the realities of a Vermont winter, including snow loads.

The key is making the facilities work for the animals and the farmer. As the flock grows, I'm continually looking at how to make the space more functional and the daily chores more efficient. Because around here, there's no shortage of chores!

More sheep means more hay

Here's another sign that Lucky Dog Farm is growing: I've purchased more luscious round bales of gorgeous grass hay for the flock.

There are two reasons for that. First, I'm growing the flock to meet demand from customers who want to buy our grass-fed lamb. I'm delighted that people want more Lucky Dog Farm lamb, and I'm working to build the flock to meet that demand.

Second, my pastures are improving. That's something I'm particularly pleased about. The goal is to grow more of the forage the sheep need right here on the farm, extending the grazing season and reducing the need for off-farm inputs by making better use of the land we've got.

Of course, even good Vermont pasture has its limits. Once winter arrives, the grass stops growing, and the sheep still need to eat! That's where the round bales come in. Getting enough hay lined up is an essential part of the annual winter-preparation routine.

There's a certain satisfaction in knowing the feed supply is in place. It feels like money in the bank. Winter in Vermont can be long, and I'd rather be prepared than scrambling when the snow starts piling up.

Building a farm for the future

All these projects are connected. More customers mean I need more lambs. More lambs mean a larger flock. A larger flock means more hay, more space, and better ways to get the daily work done. And improving the pastures helps support the whole operation.

That's the thing about running a small farm: I’m always looking ahead while keeping up with what's right in front of me. There's no big facilities department to call when something needs changing. It's a matter of figuring out what needs doing, making a plan, and getting to work.

I'm happy to be growing Lucky Dog Farm, but I want to do it thoughtfully. The goal isn't simply to have more sheep. It's to raise good lamb, take good care of the animals, improve the land, and build a farm that works well for the long haul, for the next generation of farmers here.

There's still plenty to do before winter settles in. Lucky 13 is with the ewes, Dolly is keeping me in suspense, the barn improvements are underway, and the hay supply is growing right along with the flock.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm sure there's something else on that to-do list that needs my attention!

Until next time,

Farmer Judith
Lucky Dog Farm, South Strafford VT