Ranch Newsletter | March 2024

Originally sent to subscribers on April 1st, 2024

It seems like the snow melted a little earlier than normal this year, but we've continued to have frequent wet weather. I am grateful for lack of snow, but I find myself wanting to get out into the garden and start planting things, which I know very well is a bad idea. But the no snow thing is like a trigger for my brain to start being outside. So, I'm having to rein myself in pretty much daily and that's been a little frustrating. It really is amazing how I can go from being exhausting and wanting nothing to do with the garden in the fall, and then as soon as spring shows itself just a little bit, I'm eager to get back out there and do it all over again!

In March, I held my first workshop of the year - a kombucha brewing and tasting class. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and I'm thinking about doing this workshop quarterly, which means the next one will be in June. I haven't figured out a date yet, but if you're interested in attending a kombucha class let me know and when I do have a date, I'll reach out to you.

In other workshop news, I've been working hard at creating some classes for kids, which I've just recently finished planning. The theme for these workshops is "Where Does Food Come From?" There are 9 classes in total and these classes will be every Tuesday morning in June and July from 9:30am - 12:00pm. Each class will be $35 per child and you can sign up for one or all. The classes are meant for kids ages 5-12, however some of the cooking classes may not hold the interest of younger children. They do build on each other, but your child won't miss any learning opportunities or feel left behind if they don't attend all of the workshops.

I love teaching kids, and making learning fun, and hands on has been important to be for forever. I've taught preschool Sunday school classes for almost 20 years, I taught junior high and high school English in a homeschool co-op for three years, and I've done tutoring in English on occasion. When Craig and I started thinking about things we could do with our ranch, teaching kids was always on the horizon, but until the last year or so, I wasn't sure what to teach. But now I feel like we have the infrastructure in place, and I have the experience to teach what I want to teach.

I have more information about these workshops for kids below.

April is going to be a very busy month. As the ground dries out (hopefully) we will be repairing garden fences, cleaning up gardens, tilling a couple areas, getting ready to plant gardens, and finishing our irrigation system. In addition, I will be busy trying to get as many of my 40 volunteer hours finished before the summer and our crazy busy season.

In CSA news... We are sold out! If you are one of our members this year, thank you! I learned a lot last year, and I'm learning a lot through the USU Master Gardener program as well. I am excited to be able to provide you with fresh, organically grown produce all summer long! Also, mark your calendars for September 14th. That will be the day of our CSA member dinner on the farm. I will be sending out more details about this dinner as the season gets underway.

In goat news... If you follow us on social media, you already know we brought home another goat. (pictures below) We've named him Caspian, and he will be our herd sire. He was born March 19th and we brought him home as a bottle baby, so he's keeping me busy with four feedings a day and growing like a weed.

Honey is looking very round, but is doing well and later this month I'll be giving her a CDT shot, which protects her and her babies from a couple of nasty diseases they can get from open wounds or injuries. Since that is something that can be out of my control, I like to take the precaution and vaccinate.

In soap news: I have decided that any markets I participate in this year are going to be local markets only. I have applied, and been accepted to the monthly Sunday market that takes place at Eden Coffee & Cocoa. Those dates are on the website if want to see them now, but I will also be posting them on social media as those days approach.

I will also be at the Huntsville 4th of July festival with Mountain Arts & Music. They hold a market in the square behind the shops in Huntsville town and have live music all day. It's a lot of fun and I'm excited to be apart of it again this year.

I've applied for the Historic Monastery Farmer's Market as well, but won't hear back on that for a little while yet. I will also probably partake in the Huntsville 4th of July events, and other one-off markets local to Ogden Valley this year.

In book news: I've written a children's picture book about goats! It's available for pre-order now! I'm in the final stages of getting it printed and I expect to be shipping out pre-orders by mid-April! It's called If You Give A Goat A Flower and the goat in the book is based on our very own Finnick!

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