Sand Holler Farm has experienced plenty of growing pains in the last year. Our family plays the role of financial backer and part time help so we need full time caretakers staying on the land. We've now gone through three different groups of people and are looking for the fourth. It's hard to find folks that truly want to work hard for a living and can be flexible enough to endure the chaotic nature that sometimes pervades farming life.
Last fall we started off with a bang. We quickly fenced a third of an acre for the vegetable garden and got to planting for the CSA. We purchased 5 yearling French Alpine goats to provide us with plenty of milk. A guard donkey was acquired to keep the goats safe. And the farmhouse (aka the double wide) was remodeled and entirely furnished.
The winter proved a bit difficult. The weather in Dale is surprisingly different than in Austin. The temperature dipped to 15F! Cold hardy plants that normally don't need protection froze and turned into little mush balls. We settled in and struggled through the cold spells and the warm spells that followed. Plants got confused and figured it was spring again...only to be frozen solid the next week. But the spring, the real spring, finally came.
In the spring we continued to acquire critters for the farm. A batch of chicks to help with bug control and provide delicious eggs. Next came a flock of 5 sheep - both dairy and fiber breeds. Along came four, yup FOUR, cats. A momma and her two babies and a stray male that still lives under the house. Did you know that a group of house cats is called a Nuisance? Now you do! And of course, the goats provided their additions - 2 doelings and FIVE bucklings (arg!).
The end of spring brought the first change of caretakers. Mom and I took over the farm for almost 2 months during the transition. I don't think I've worked so hard in my life! I kept my "city job" and managed it all fairly well I think.By summer, we were on a roll with the garden, finally had it cleaned up after the first caretakers left after spring. The new caretakers (two groups this time) moved in and training began. Things were looking great...and then the summer heat took over. Sigh. Drip irrigation was quickly installed, but it wasn't enough. Many summer vegetables won't set in the high temperatures. So the summer was full of squash, squash and more squash! The CSA did manage to expand though and cheese was added to the share options.
By the fall, everyone was worn out - the animals, the plants, the people! The cool weather provided a relief but we were already taxed. One group of caretakers left to pursue their own homesteading goals and the other caretaker is in the process of finding another position. The fall garden suffered terribly during the transition of people and weather. The much needed rains were a bit too much and the garden stood under water for many days. Things are slowly getting back on track but we don't have the needed head start on the winter weather.So here we are, a year after starting this adventure. We have made huge progress during that time but we still aren't sure what the future of the farm looks like. The CSA has been put on hold until we can get the garden reestablished. We are looking for another caretaker as well. But I can honestly say that our enthusiasm for the farm hasn't waned at all! Stay tuned for the adventures for plenty of years to come!
