One of the hardest things about farming with animals is the death you encounter on a regular basis. I have been sheltered from death really. Most of us don’t experience it regularly, if you are my age perhaps your grandparents, pets every once in awhile, the person at church or friend. But on a farm it is constant. There are the relatively easy loses, the cats that disappear overnight, or the chickens that get carried away by a fox or hawk.

But there are more difficult ones. The pony that miscarried in a cold spell, the goat buckling that we weren’t able to keep hydrated after a bout of illness.

Then there are the animals that we depend on for income, for the ability to make this farm sustainable. In some ways those loses are the hardest, not only is it the animal you lost but precious time and money also. I try to focus on the positive in this blog and don’t often talk about death. There were are jerseys. We bought 5 in September 2014 thinking we would have plenty of time before the cold weather came. But even though they were in our existing barn 3 of the 5 died before the end of the winter.

Welcome Jerseys

There was also our Berkshire hogs. We bought the parents that same summer as the cows. They were babies back then. So after waiting for them to become an adult and give us the first babies we were so excited for that first batch. But they were born a bit early and during a thunderstorm. We had built a specially designed house for the mothers and had them in separate pens. But while the mother was inside she didn’t enter the house all the way and birthed her babies into a storm. We lost 80% of the babies. That was a tough pill.

We have been wracking our brain to try and come up with a solution to our baby animal problems. We want to raise the babies from birth because in order to be organic you have to ensure their feed and treatment from birth. But at this rate waiting for the animals to pay for themselves is like running in quick sand while we are dealing with this kind of loss. Plus we have the start up loan for the farm and a tractor loan–all necessary equipment but really tying our hands.

Then we found out about this amazing organization called barnraiser. They have backing from some amazing organizations and help organizing crowdfunding campaigns for companies and organizations that promote “good food and healthy living.” Through them we have launched a campaign to help us build a birth barn for our animals.

Here is our information from their website. If you would like to support us go to birth barn.

We are a diverse, family run farm. All our animals have names and we love giving them hands on care and attention. We really want to be able to give our pigs, goats, and cows a warm, dry, safe and comfortable place to give birth. In Rush City, Minnesota the weather can get pretty intense at all times of the year and we really want to be able to protect our mamas and babies from the elements.

We grow all our own hay and have vegetables and fruit from our CSA. The animals love to get the scraps. We discovered our hogs love the left over watermelon and pumpkins are great natural dewormers for the chickens and goats.

We never planned on being farmers but love the connection it gives us to the land. Even more fun is caring for the animals. Before moving to our permanent home we rented crop land and couldn’t wait to find the property that would allow us to add animals. However winter cold and summer storms have been really hard on our animals.

Our dream is to be able to offer them an insulated building, one with heat and electricity and running water. A barn where they is no mud, all the food and water dishes are clean and they can just worry about caring for their babies and the babies can just enjoy life, mama’s attention and growing.

Our initial goal of $5000 would allow us to purchase a pole building kit. If we reach this goal we would like to stretch to

$7000–we could put a heated concrete floor in. It would be easy to clean and WARM.
$9000–we would be able to put a water pump, and septic in.
$11000–we could insulate the building and purchase a heater
$15000–we would be birth ready with adjustable stalls, bedding, lamps, vents to control condensation and so much more.

This project would greatly increase the health and productivity of our animals and decrease our mortality rate. Our animals would be much more vigorous and much less stressed.

Raising animals that are happy, safe and comfortable is one of the best way to encourage a healthy food system. Food from these animals is much more nutritious the waste is managed much more effectively and there is much less negative impact on the environment.

Small scale farms that produce much of their own feed, care for their own animals and strive to grow their food in the most humane way possible bring farming to another level. Instead of focusing on top dollar it is about what is best for the people, animals and environment involved.

The children had so much fun last week at the 4H project day. Really the county has gotten so good at throwing these, Mavis said, “I wish we could do this every week.” The day is designed to introduce young people to a variety of topics and 4H projects.

Mavis makes her own placemat and napkin while learning about food presentation and home environment.

Effie learns about livestock basics with a fun and educational game.

Avril learns about lego robotics.

And photography.

Effie’s favorite project was this pillow she made herself. She has been carrying it around ever since, even insisting on taking it to church!

Other topics were rabbits, finances (Avril learned how to budget, she picked the topic), making log furniture, or stomp rockets, and much more. It was a great day.

There is an ongoing joke in Minnesota that our 4 seasons are winter, winter, winter, road construction. Here on Crazy Boy Farm there are also 4 seasons, farming, farming, farming, basketball (and still farming). We are in the heart of basketball season. Our 3 oldest children are in local basketball traveling teams and Proeun and I coach the girls (mostly Proeun, I handle communication).

Basketball was never my thing, actually competitive sports really aren’t my thing. I was that girl that was always picked last and the team would complain if I was on their team. So I have had alot of growing to do to prepare myself for children in competitive sports. But I still watch closely to make sure everyone is having fun and no one is feeling left out. Anyway.

I have mentioned before my fondness for The Yummy Mummy. In her book she writes

“To raise physically and emotionally healthy kids, require them to play sports. My grandmother competed in field hockey and swim meets and believes sports are key in building character. My parents followed suit and made sports compulsory in my life and I’m so glad they did. Sports are very important not only to ingrain a healthy active lifestyle, but to teach life lessons about how to interact with others, work as a team, and even deal with losing. Participating in after school sports means that kids are busy with healthy activities instead of getting into trouble.” ~ Marina Delio (The Yummy Mummy)

As a team we had our share of losing but when I was ready to quite, Proeun reminded me that the children need some adversity and the victory will be sweeter after a struggle.

The did come in 2nd on their 2nd tournament. And last night the girls got to go to Junior Tiger Night at the high school and hang out with the varsity team before, during and after the game. They had their names announced with the starting line up, got to sit on the bench and go to the locker room with the girls. They are very excited to be Tigers.

Warming up.

During the National Anthem.

The girls both agreed that when they announced their names that was the best part and they got to run through the “tunnel” giving and getting high fives.

The Rush City Tigers.

We have been so spoiled around here. We have had such a mild winter. But now we are in the mild of a deep freeze. Yesterday when we went out to do chores it was a balmly -10. Yes that was the actual temperature. By the time we finished chores it was up to -5. But still not fun.

Luckily the animals all have nice full coats. They actually do better when the temperature is consistent. So huge swings are harder on them then deep cold. But still we are all looking forward to Thursday when the temperatures begin climbing above zero.

In the mean time we have been sticking very close to home and checking the animals often. Many we can see from the windows of our house. They all have a really nice layer of dry bedding to lie down in and are getting extra feed to make sure they have the energy they need to maintain body temperature.

And it has been a great lesson for all of us. When we would rather stay inside we have to force ourselves out there to care for the animals that depend on us. I think the children are finally figuring out that feed=heat and when it has been a long cold night the animals need feed to get heated up and they need it right away even if you don’t feel like it.

The first sign of trouble–frost on the window.

2nd sign of trouble.

I have frost on my hair too!

The pigs coming out of their burrow in the hay. I would say I can’t wait till spring but then mud season begins. I guess there is no pleasing me.