It's FEBRUARY: time to order your CSA Share for 2015

Ellie, growing her bellie! Soon to kid.

Time has travelled as fast as it usually does. Here we are into the second month of 2015. It has been a good winter, although a bit more snow would have made for some nice cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. The nice weather has made it possible to go walking with our dog Marly, a few times a week.

Our animals have enjoyed this weather, much more than last year at this time. The goats are growing big bellies in anticipation of "kidding" (having their babies) about the first week in March.  Soon after that, the production of our cheese will start. At the end of April, the Dreamfarm CSA Farmstead Cheese Share deliveries will begin. We would love to have you join us for the season. Please check our website: www.dreamfarm.biz for more information and sign up.


Last October we completed the installation of solar electric for Dreamfarm. With the help of a Federal REAP Grant, a Focus on Energy Grant, and great assistance from H & H Solar Energy Services in Madison, we are harvesting the energy from the sun to run the electrical equipment on our farm and in our cheeserie.

Forty panels were placed on the south-facing roof of our old, majestic barn. As you can guess, we wake up each morning hoping the sun will shine! We will let you know our satisfaction with the solar as the months pass and the days get longer. H & H Solar Energy Services is offering some nice incentives for anyone interested in purchasing solar for their homes. And if you purchase a system from H & H, they will donate some of the profit to FairShare CSA Coaltion. You can reach them at 608-273-4464.

February and March days are filling up fast. The milking room (where the goats are milked) will get a complete wash down (ceiling and walls) by hand. Warmer weather would make this job more enjoyable, the barn has no heat. The milk house (where milking equipment is stored and the bulk milk cooler cools the milk) needs to get scraped and painted. Milk house paint is very thick and glossy, hard to work with. But it gives the walls a nice coat to protect from all the water that is used for keeping equipment clean. That task is done every other year. The walls, all equipment and utensils in the cheeserie will get thoroughly cleaned. Bookwork, conferences, meetings, webinars and house cleaning will fill the remainder of the days. There is the daily feeding and care of the animals, along with the weekly removal of their manure! It is fun to watch the daily changes in the animals as they prepare for birth.

Enjoy these days of late winter. As you relax and gaze out at the barren trees and wintry landscape, think about the pleasures of spring and summer and the bounty they provide for us. Please take some time to look over our website and join us for the season.
Diana
Dreamfarm