Seasons change and our family is learning this in so many ways right now.
We arrived in Virginia in the spring, worked through the summer and have seen a beautiful fall. The animals have completed their annual tour of the pastures and are now moved elsewhere to be protected from the upcoming winter. Our contract is complete.
We began this adventure as students. We were seeking information and experience in a new field... literally. Brent assumed this responsibility, included each member of our family and has personally learned the most. Since this summer session is complete, we can now record, with thanksgiving, the season's fruitfulness.
Beef: 150 days with up to 505 head of cattle
Daily rotational grazing is more labor intensive than some other methods, but it also provides a lot of opportunities for learning. By the end of the summer, Brent has gained much more experience and confidence. Through first hand experience, he has also witnessed the many benefits of these grazing techniques.
Eggs:
our family gathered, washed, and packaged over 117,000 eggs
Diligence is a by-product of egg production. Since the hens 'insist' on laying 7 days/week, the work is never ending. Yet, this is the chore that most reflects the seasons changing. The height of the season was yeilding 85 dozen eggs/day, while the cool days of fall were only yeilding 10 dozen eggs.
Broilers: 6,200 chickens raised
Raising pastured poultry is the most physically demanding of the daily chores. Each pen had to be manually pulled forward 12 feet each morning. Large buckets full of feed and water also had to be carried to each pen, often twice each day. Brent says that these chores were the most physically demanding and also the most physically rewarding on the farm.
This is one of Brent's favorite photos from this summer. This man spent the first season of his life on a farm, memorizing every model of tractor ever made. After his family moved to Arizona, he entered a season of education and business experience in a city setting. Now, he has returned to the seat of a tractor and has his young children who desire to work alongside him.
We are praying for God's direction as we enter this next season of life!
To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven
Ecclesiastes 3:1
4 comments:
What a beautiful post!! Oh how your lives have changed in the last year and what fruit the Lord has brought to your labor!! Here is to another year filled with learning and growing in the Lord and in green pastures!!
Love,
Tiffany
Your tractor photograph is amazing! I think you could definitely be a contributing photographer for Country Living. :)
Rejoicing in your completed season...praying for you as you contemplate the next!
What a great experience your family has had. What a sweet pic of Brent on the tractor! I'm excited to know what adventure you will have next!
Miss you all!
Happy Thanksgiving! :o)
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