October 2024 vol. 1
We’re very excited about the forthcoming fall weather. The little taste we’ve had so far is quite refreshing. However, the cool winds are stirring up a significant amount of dust, serving as a stark reminder of the prolonged dry spell we’ve been enduring. It’s been several months since the last rainfall, and our fine, sandy soil is quick to become airborne in such arid conditions. There is a cloud of dust trailing behind the animals as they make their way across the pasture, and the piglets in the training pen remind me of the old Peanuts cartoons – perhaps that’s how Pig Pen got his nickname.
Of course, without any rain, the pastures are bereft of their usual vibrancy. The grass that remains is withered under the autumn sun and the cows bellow at me every time I step onto the back porch – announcing that they too are longing for a good hard rain and winter grasses. I had plans to sow some winter annuals while the days are still long, but without rain, I’d only be providing a feast for the birds. I feel bad praying for rain when others are dealing with extreme flooding. Nature’s funny that way.
One advantage of this arid autumn is that I’ve been able to make progress on one of my long-term projects. We have an intermittent stream between the house and the road, and last summer I was able to dam a section of it off, so we’d be able to retain some of the water for times like this. It seems to have paid off as we’ve still have a good bit of water despite the drought. Taking advantage of the extended dry spell, I was able to get some work done on the creek bed behind the dam.
The plan is to replicate what I did last year with a series of cascading ponds spanning several hundred yards. I try to assure Molly that one day it will be a beautiful oasis – but for now it’s just a lot of mud. I have a feeling she’s just indulging me, knowing that it’s every boy’s dream to take his bulldozer and play in the mud.
As we eagerly await the full arrival of fall and the potential relief it may bring, we remain grateful for our land, the good health of our family and livestock. The dry spell, while challenging, has allowed us to make significant progress on our pond project and has given us a renewed appreciation for the precious resource that is water. We continue to pray for rain, but are taking advantage of the hand we’re dealt. Until then, we will continue to adapt and innovate, stockpiling water for times like this. Here’s to hoping that the next time we write, it will be to the sound of raindrops on our rooftops.
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