When we were building the barn I kept asking for a catch pen, but Mr Bob thought I was over doing things. After trying to catch Gimpy a few times Bob admit a catch pen might be a good idea after all. The second picture shows what we put together. The larger gate in the back can be swung shut to create an area just large enough to squash in five sheep and two people. The first time we used it I was able to set a pan of chow down and the sheep just walked in, but next attempt was not so easy. They didn't want to get stuck in there and I had to bring in the big guns - Hattie - to apply enough pressure to move them. Once in the excess sheep can be pushed out the big gate or the man gate in back. I hope it will continue to work long enough to finish Gimpy's hoof treatment.
The top picture shows Tux in a sheep halter. We used her to learn how to put it on. The sheep hate them and really struggle to get free.
I took Hattie to Fido's Farm in Olympia for a herding lesson with her breeder. It was fun and I learned a lot. The farm hosts a week long sheep camp every summer that I'd like to attend.
We bought four hundred feet of portable electric fence to make a temporary pen on the front part of the property while the main pasture rests awhile. We bring them in to the shed at night.
Here is our new electric vehicle, the Chevy Bolt. We brought it home yesterday. It's a fun little car!
We're getting the veggies started. The garlic bed is doing well and behind it is lettuce and other greens, under the cover. We put hardware cloth around the bed to keep the rats out. Last year they ate everything.
This year I'm growing tomatoes in the greenhouse in bags of soil. Last year's oregano overwintered and is growing nicely. It's the lush plant behind the bags on the right. I'll be planting more tomatoes and peppers on the left side.
Despite the cold, rainy weather things are growing. Beautiful bulbs! I enjoy the flowers, but weeding and mowing chores are a drag.
