Godfrey Family Farms

Behold, the farm cats, highly trained assassins who keep down the population of gophers, ground squirrels and mice. Look pretty menacing, don’t they?

For eighteen years, we lived on land that was very sandy. In some spots, it was pure sand. It did not hold water well, needed near-constant irrigation in the summer, and needed a lot of attention to get it to grow anything.

Then we moved.

The new farm has Class I soil. The farmers we talk to know all about it. It is great soil, very fertile. We do have to irrigate, but every week or two (as opposed to every other day) in the summer. So that is good. Gardens and trees and grasses just burst forth all over the place. Also good (except weeds, but we feed those to the animals too).

And then it rained, and we discovered mud like we have never experienced.

At the old place, when it rained, we’d get covered in soggy sand. On the way in, I’d stomp my boots, and the sand would fall off. I’d slide my feet over the grass and the bottoms of my boots would get cleaned up pretty well. If I slide my boots over the grass here, I’m liable to pull up the grass and add more mud to the bottom of my boots. If I stomp my feet, I just sink deeper.

Mud is a challenge. 

I’d like a break from the rain now, please.

Last evening, we were in town, driving homeward in the rain. Farm chores and darkness awaited us, and my daughter said, “People who don’t live on a farm are lucky.”

I thought it was probably a comment on the current situation, so I asked, and she confirmed. She didn’t want to go out in the cold and dark to feed ducks and rabbits. Fair enough.

“What about the other days?” I asked. The girls all piped up with what they liked about farm life. And the final comment: “Bacon. We get the best bacon.”

Very true.

And then we came home and those great kids bundled up and went out into the rain and the dark. They fed and watered and cared for the animals. And yes, feeding and watering are different than caring. They cared, too.

When it was done, they came in and had some dinner, and then the girls and I put on twirly skirts, cranked up some loud music and we danced and cleaned up the house.

It was a great night. Just lucky, I guess.

 Ice on the fence line.

This was the scene a year ago after an intense storm. We have some awesome friends who found out that our hoop houses were damaged and came out–with the wind and rain still raging–and helped Brian get things back together so the chickens could have a warm and dry shelter.

I am so grateful for a community that supports our farm and for friends who helped us at many stages in this journey.