Ranch Raised

As I said yesterday, we are in the middle of weaning fall calves, so I thought I would explain a little further. We have two herds of cattle that calve at opposite times of year.

Balancing that parent and ranch life this time of year can be challenging. Yesterday was a perfect example. My husband and I were back and forth and all-over weaning fall calves. The girls were on their own to get their own projects done and keep themselves occupied and out of trouble.

Do any other parents of school age children get to this time of year and feel like you are a hamster just trying to stay on the spinning wheel?!?

Many gardeners in the Midwest will hold true to folklore and plant their potatoes today. But in the bigger picture, America’s potato farmers have a big job ahead of them because Americans love their potatoes!

If you are a gardener, especially in the Midwest, I’m sure you have your seed potatoes ready to go , to put in the ground, tomorrow, on Good Friday! The Farmer’s Almanac has great information on the Good Friday potato lore. Generations have used Good Friday as the right time to plant crops like potatoes and cool season veggies.

You know that one of the most untapped resources is inside of our local greenhouses and seed stores? THE PEOPLE! The thing about dirt loving, seed starting, flower growing people, it they are an open book and would love to share with you whatever you don’t know. You just have to ask.

I am lucky to live in an area, albeit rural, where I have multiple greenhouses within my county and pretty awesome ones at that. I have come to value these greenhouses as much as the community grocery store or gas station. Infact, I believe they are vital to our communities.

This weekend my two youngest and I got to do something that we love, going to our local greenhouse and getting our hands in some dirt! We are blessed to have a greenhouse that offers different classes and we take full advantage.

Everything you pick up at that grocery store is somehow connected back to a farmer or rancher. It is my goal to help you become more aware of where your food comes from and to empower you to use your dollar to support the American ag industry.

We are starring in to a busy weekend with lots of activities right here in our little community. It looks like there are a lot of community Easter Egg hunts all around us this weekend, and our little town is no different.