#Action4theLand

As a farming family that grows animals our job is to look after the animals the best we can.

Our other job is look after the land we live on the best we can.

This week Mum and I have been planting trees on the farm. 

Like everything in the world, trees get old and they eventually die. 

Or sometimes they just fall down.

Over the last 10 years Mum and Dad have fenced off areas in paddocks and planted young trees. My big sister KT and Mum and Dad planted these trees 5 years ago and now I am filling in the gaps.

The trees pictured below were planted 10 years ago, they have grown tall. 

The trees provide a home for birds and lots of other little critters.

It is important we look after the land, so it looks after us, 

it is another one of our jobs as farmers.

The Rains are Here!

The rains are here and our faces are smiling!

It is a little later than we would have liked it, BUT some things are better late than never!

Whilst our farm has received fantastic rain not everyone has been as lucky. 

So we cross our fingers and say our prayers that everyone gets some soon!

Rain means good things, the grass will grow to feed cows and sheep, 

the crops can be sown to grow grain, the dams are filled with water,

and the rainwater tanks are topped up for our baths!

 The paddocks are very short of feed so we are feeding all the cows and most of the sheep.

The steers are very impatient. They want the grass to grow faster.

Plants need water followed by sunshine.

A few days of sunshine and maybe the crop will be ready?

With the change in the weather, the animals get hungrier!.

Every morning we check the ewes that are lambing.

Today Mum and I found a ewe cast on her side she was lambing twins.

We helped her get the first lamb out, made sure she was able to get up and left her to do the last one, I hope she can do it on her own!

The lamb is a merino, it is strong and healthy and very cute. I do love baby lambs!

Waddling Wombats!

As I was going to preschool today I saw a wombat on my way!

What a very exciting way to start the day. 

We have never seen a wombat on the farm before. He was in a really big hurry!

I thought wombats only waddled ever so slowly but they can run REALLY fast!

I go to preschool two days a week Tuesday and Friday. I catch the bus with my big sister.

We must drive to the bus stop it is 6 kilometres from our house.

I LOVE going on the bus and I have the 'BESTEST' bus driver in the world, Ken.

When I am not going to preschool I help Mum and Dad on the farm. 

The sheep are lambing now and the weather is dry. The paddocks need rain to make the grass grow so that the ewes can make milk for their babies.

Dad has sown lots of oats for the sheep and cattle but it really needs a drink!

Today I found a little lamb lost, far away from all the other sheep.

 I ran really fast to catch him and we returned him to the mob, ...

hopefully his mother will find him.

All Creatures Great and Spikey!

Look who we found yesterday.......a ball of spikes, an echidna!

He was busy trying to burrow into the hayshed.

He is one really spikey dude, a funny looking fellow and really not that friendly.
All he wanted to do was hide and he really did not want to be found.

Another discovery whilst Dad, KT and I were checking the ewes and lambs,

a family of bearded dragons.

The weather is changing, winter is just around the corner. 

I wonder if these animals are out soaking up the last of the sunny, warm days?

Make it RAIN...pretty please...

The seasons have changed and it is now autumn on the farm. 

The days are warm and sunny and the nights are cool.  

Whilst it is still warm the grass will grow BUT first the dirt needs a really big drink!

We need RAIN!

The dams on the farm all still have plenty of water for the animals, but the feed in the paddocks is disappearing. When winter comes it will be TOO cold for the grass to grow.

  

Gibson, Mum and I have moved the last of the pregnant ewes to their lambing paddocks.

We have to take them really slowly as they are carrying baby lambs in their tummies.

 

The ewes love their new paddocks there is a little more grass there for them.
After moving the sheep one of my favourite things to do is climb on rocks! 
We have lots of rocks on the farm, I am up really high can I am king of the castle! 

I WANT my MUMMY!

It happens to us all eventually....we grow up!

The calves have all grown up so big, it is time to separate them from their Mums.

The cows are all expecting new babies in July, so it it time for the big calves to move on.

All of the cows were scanned in January and those that are not growing a baby calf inside are going to the saleyards. 

All the cattle that leave the farm must have a special ear tag, this tag tells the buyer who and where the animal came from. It is my job to load the ear tagging gun, it takes lots of concentration! 

 

The calves will stay in the yards for a few days until they settle down.

We will feed them twice a day.

They love the hay it makes them very quiet...for a little while!

Short Back and Front PLEASE!

In three weeks time the ewes will start having baby lambs.

Before that happens there are a few jobs that must be carried out. 

It is time for all the ewes to visit the sheep barber, at the shearing shed.

The shearers work hard, they must drag every ewe out onto the shearing board and trim the wool from their eyes, udder and bottom!
 

They do the trimming with a hand piece it holds a comb and a cutter and is very sharp. 

  

Dad gives all the ewes a needle. The needle helps protect both the ewe and the baby lamb growing inside from nasty diseases.

 
 The ewes are now prepared to have their baby lambs. They are put back in their paddocks. Now the waiting game begins.

My big sister KT and I have been exploring in the timber whilst Mum and Dad have been working.We cannot wait for the baby lambs to arrive.....we LOVE baby lambs!