No we don’t have a new specialty winter cheese (yet). On Thursday night we picked up 2-3″ of snow. It was pretty much gone by the afternoon, but the forecast is for another 12″ tonight.

Despite the snow, there is still grass to eat. The dairy cows are eating in the barn at night, but are making one last pass through the pastures during the day. The beef herd moved down Sloan Road onto one of our hay fields that we did not cut after early July. The field is in need of fertility, and has not been producing much forage.

By letting it sit we stockpiled the grass, and there is lots for the beef cows to eat. By keeping them on the field for an extended period, they will add fertility through their manure.

Once the grass is gone, they will start getting baleage out in the field- though we will have the option of jumping them to another hay field in the same area.

The beef herd on Sloan 1.

There was enough snow for skiing.

Sloan 1

Sloan 4

Solar charger running the fence for the beef

The beef happily grazing.

Looking up at Sloan 4.

The beef are straight ahead, down on Sloan 1.

The dairy cows finding plenty to eat.

Big bad Buddy PJ - the alpha cow in the herd. Don't mess.

Whimsey - one of our Jerseys and pretty much the opposite of PJ - though she does fine holding her own with the big Swiss.

Today we’re making the largest cheese make we have ever made here!  We are using over 260 gallons of milk – well over 2,000 lbs.  We usually use about half of this, so this is a big day for us.  The raw milk cheese we’re making today will be ready in 60 days – just in time for the Holidays!  The idea is to have plenty of cheese around for holiday gatherings and gift giving!  Put it on your wish list.  Give it to your friends and family.

After a several year hiatus, Cricket Creek Farm once again has a blog! We be posting updates (new calves, special events, etc) and use it as a way to communicate important info to our customers and CSA members.