2021 Year in Review- 12/31/21

2021 was a year of growth and change here on the ranch.

We started off the New Year with a full barn and full hearts. Late in 2020 we added the last of five cows to the herd with the additions of Karmel and Klara Bell. We thought surely five cows would be all we’d need to satisfy the demand for raw milk in the central UP?

In late January we started working with The Raw Milk Institute with the goal of becoming a ‘LISTED’ raw milk dairy with their organization. This honor is reserved for a select few raw milk dairies that are able to meet or exceed their stringent standards for the production of clean, safe raw milk for human consumption.

After a few months of process creation and revision, milk testing and learning we were finally LISTED in late April! We recently added our own on-farm lab so that we can test our milk whenever we want to. This greatly sped up the turn-around time for results, and helps with troubleshooting if there ever is an issue.

Just before we were listed, some other joyful events occurred with the births of two Brown Swiss calves in early April- Kali (from Kookie) and Kash (from Karmel). The kids sure enjoyed bottle feeding these sweet babies twice a day and playing with them. They did eventually go to their new home in the Keweenaw, but we spent hours loving on them while they were here.

Spring also brought with it the usual- rain, mud and planting season! My herb garden sprouted through the mulch, I optimistically planted a vegetable garden. Best laid plans… Speaking of my herb garden, I was able to create balms, cleansers and salves from what I harvested. I hope to share more of those processes and products in 2022.

We got out to enjoy the warm sunshine, taking day trips to local attractions between morning and evening milkings, sitting out on the deck for coffee with friends, watching thunderstorms roll in and feeling the warm rain on our faces. Soaking up natural vitamin D is one of my favorite past-times.

Here are Brianna, Nathan and Bishop at Sugarloaf Mountain in Marquette.

We mulched and mowed, fenced and planted all spring and summer long, creating larger pastures for the ever-growing dairy herd, making room for the hair sheep that were coming, and making sure that older fence-lines stayed operational. We put into practice our new rotational grazing system for the dairy herd- the girls would get so excited each time we opened up a fresh pasture to them. They would kick and run and frolic in the fresh grass. It was so fun to watch them.

We also tackled a huge Jimson Weed infestation in the sheep pasture before they arrived.. Five dump truck loads worth! We decided in the fall to re-home the sheep with some friends of ours, because they were not working out here, but we did keep our two favorite ones- Karen and Karlos….

My dad and his friend Tommy came for a visit from South Carolina in June, and were a big help with some projects around here. They built a shelter for the sheep, helped in the garden, with fencing and yardwork. They also did some cleaning up around the barnyard, and we also had fun visiting, cooking out on the grill and bumming around. Faith and Jared came to visit too, and were able to stay through the fourth of July.

August came and we started getting ready to camp at the UP State Fair for a week. Our kids are involved in our local 4H and raise hogs to show there. It was so nice to be able to attend the fair again after it was cancelled in 2020.

We thoroughly enjoyed summer and soaked up as much fun in the sun together as we could get. Here are some snapshots-

Later in the summer we added two new raw milk pick-up locations in Escanaba (at Healthway) and in Gladstone (at Yooper Designz). These locations are still growing, and we are considering adding another down towards Menominee at the moment!

We welcomed two new members to our herdshare family in the late summer as well with Kierra and Amberly joining the milking crew. They milk for us one weekend a month, and at other times when needed so we can have a little bit of time off as a family. Everyone needs a break once in a while, right? We are so thankful for them and the time off they provide for us. They love our cows (and their milk) as much as we do and we sure appreciate them.

In September the three youngest headed back to school. After homeschooling the youngest two through 2020, after much deliberation, we decided to send them to a small Christian school nearby. The Wilson Junior Academy has been a blessing to our family for sure and all three kids are doing great! This gives me time during the day to catch up on farm and house work so they can have my undivided attention after school. I’m looking forward to getting back into the school routine next week!

Fall brought harvest and while the kids were in school, I put in some tractor seat time having harvest day dates with Andy in the field. Even though harvest can be a stressful time, it does have its perks.

Other fall fun included a weekend away for our anniversary, trips to the pumpkin patch and Halloween weekend watching movies, eating pumpkin soup and roasted pumpkin seeds. I started working in the kitchen more, after the gardening slowed down too! Here are some fall snapshots-

After Thanksgiving with family and friends, I took a quick trip to Washington (see this post) to help Faith move home, and when I got back we added two new cows to the ever-growing herdshare herd. Kandy and Kupcake are fitting in very well, and another cow, Karla, will be joining us in the next week or two. I daresay this will round out the herd and we should be set for calving in the spring and growth in Escanaba/Gladstone and Menominee (if we decide to expand).

Which brings us to today- New Years Eve. We have a lot planned in 2022, a high-tunnel greenhouse, herdshare growth, dairy pasture growth, work with the USDA on reconfiguring our current beef pasture to allow rotational grazing and possibly even Bison! Continued improvements to our current infrastructure are also in the plans, as we learn more and more about regenerative farming practices from folks like Joel Salatin and Allan Savory.

We are so thankful for all of our blessings, and that you are following along. We hope you continue to do so as we learn and grow! And….

Happy New Year!!!!!

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18