Big Plans
The deep of winter is the time for dreaming.
I say that in a year when it seems like winter has not been particularly deep at any point (It’s 50° out as I write this), but it still holds true.
When the ground is covered in ice and snow, there’s not quite as much to do on the land. Especially in our case where the most labor intensive parts of the work - broilers and pigs - are seasonal endeavours.
As someone who doesn’t cope well with not having much to do, I instead focus my energy on making plans for all the things I intend to accomplish in the year ahead. The resulting project list is inevitably too much to accomplish, and things get pushed back another year, where they are subject to another winter of my making them bigger, better, and more refined.
This year’s priorities are subject to shift, but in the dream phase, the project list looks something like this.
Finish the bakery
Build a “pig tractor” to be able to move our pastured pork to fresh grass daily
Build a 20’x50’ hoop house to serve as a predator proof free range area for the layer flock.
Redesign the chicken tractors so I’m able to stand up inside them.
Finish the blacksmith shop.
Build a dedicated poultry processing area.
install a raised bed “labyrinth garden” for perennials, herbs, and a few veggies.
Work out a better rotational grazing pattern for the cows.
Fence in more pasture for the better rotational grazing pattern for the cows.
Dig 2 large ponds to address our drainage issues.
Experiment with processing ducks, raised on the 2 large ponds dug to address our drainage issues.
Finish out the wood shop.
Finish the inside of the barn.
build a tractor shelter before winter.
Mill several thousand board feet of hardwood lumber
Expand to an additional Farmers Market.
Refurbish the livestock trailer.
Try growing saffron.
Plant more trees.
Inoculate logs for mushrooms.
If I get even 25% of this done, I’ll feel pretty accomplished. I have no real hope of doing it all. Yet I already know the list will expand further before winter ends.
Because the deep of winter is the time for dreaming.
