Neighbor's Hay Field in April
We are nowhere near set up to make our own hay yet - we are not growing much in the way of mowable grass, we have no hay-making equipment, and the horses (and I) are not trained or … Continue Reading ››
We have been doing a lot of work and research on sustainability. There are so many levels to it, but one basic thing that must be dealt with in a very careful and thoughtful manner is human waste. Particularly at this … Continue Reading ››
Over the weekend all the horses finally moved in together. They are not yet on the property, but they are several steps closer. They moved to the field behind Mary's house (about 6 miles from our ranch), where she can keep an eye … Continue Reading ››
Vetch
Now that we have a ranch, I am itching to buy a flock of sheep and a couple of cows to graze the open spaces and provide us with nutritious food. However, I have to make sure that what is growing on and … Continue Reading ››
It's always a learning process, isn't it? When we first heard the bullfrogs croaking, we were thrilled! What a fun animal to find in the ponds. They're big, they make distinct sounds, and there's the possibility of catching them and eating them, too!
And there … Continue Reading ››
What is a soon-to-be rancher (me) to do while we get the needed infrastructure in place? In addition to spending time on the land, getting to know what's growing and planning what to do once we have water and a barn, I have been preparing Lucy so … Continue Reading ››
I see this ranch as an opportunity to try out different land management techniques that will improve or promote the well-being of our natural resources as well as produce high-quality food. Soil and water health are at the top of the list, and what … Continue Reading ››
Recently, through a series of clicks and searches, I stumbled upon an interesting student project done in the Capay Valley. A group of Landscape Architectural students from UC Davis were assigned the project of … Continue Reading ››
One of the aspects of this project that we are all excited about is reducing the use of fossil fuels on the ranch. We are lucky that Mary has the skills (and inclination!) to make a big part of that reduction happen through the use of … Continue Reading ››
A new phase begins: in mid-April we officially purchased the 218 acres of land in Capay Valley, ending years of discussion about this project, and months of searching for suitable land. We are now moving on to the next phase, which involves putting everything in place … Continue Reading ››
We have been doing a lot of work and research on sustainability. There are so many levels to it, but one basic thing that must be dealt with in a very careful and thoughtful manner is human waste. Particularly at this … Continue Reading ›› 
Over the weekend all the horses finally moved in together. They are not yet on the property, but they are several steps closer. They moved to the field behind Mary's house (about 6 miles from our ranch), where she can keep an eye … Continue Reading ›› 
It's always a learning process, isn't it? When we first heard the bullfrogs croaking, we were thrilled! What a fun animal to find in the ponds. They're big, they make distinct sounds, and there's the possibility of catching them and eating them, too!
And there … Continue Reading ›› 
What is a soon-to-be rancher (me) to do while we get the needed infrastructure in place? In addition to spending time on the land, getting to know what's growing and planning what to do once we have water and a barn, I have been preparing Lucy so … Continue Reading ›› 
I see this ranch as an opportunity to try out different land management techniques that will improve or promote the well-being of our natural resources as well as produce high-quality food. Soil and water health are at the top of the list, and what … Continue Reading ›› 
Recently, through a series of clicks and searches, I stumbled upon an interesting student project done in the Capay Valley. A group of Landscape Architectural students from UC Davis were assigned the project of … Continue Reading ›› 
One of the aspects of this project that we are all excited about is reducing the use of fossil fuels on the ranch. We are lucky that Mary has the skills (and inclination!) to make a big part of that reduction happen through the use of … Continue Reading ›› 
A new phase begins: in mid-April we officially purchased the 218 acres of land in Capay Valley, ending years of discussion about this project, and months of searching for suitable land. We are now moving on to the next phase, which involves putting everything in place … Continue Reading ››