A Finished Barn!

Lunch break for some of our employees while they finish the interior of the barn.

Looking down the ally where the cows will be notice the fans and the overhead garage door to keep the cows cool in the summer and shelter from the wind in the winter.

Well after nearly six months of building, from start to finish, the barn is complete.  We are happy to say that the cows took to it like it was the Grand Hotel.  They love the openess and act very pleased with their new surroundings.  How do we know this?  Well, we look at the contentment of them, they walk slow and steady and are not hesitant or jumpy.  They eat well, drink lots of water and chew their cud showing us signs of satisfaction!  All in all, it is mission accomplished.  Having healthy, happy cows only strenghtens our commitment to agriculture.

This shows where the cows will lay down to rest.  They are bedded with a smooth soft sand, it's like having a day at the beach for them.  It is comfortable and cool.

Notice the outside wall of the barn.  There really isn't one.  To keep the cows cool in the summer the sides are left open for air flow.  In the winter we have material "curtains" that roll down to keep out the wind and snow. 

The cows are in!  They are happy and eating a well balanced diet.  Water is available 24 hours a day.

Until next time, 
Drink milk and have a healthy diet.

Progress....

In July I can usually be found at my blueberry patch down the road.  I had a usually busy season and just didn't find the time to go to the buidling site to take photos.  I have one from my patch around the corner:

AUGUST 2010

Let's take a look at what progress is:







Things are looking great, but we still have a lot of work to do.

 

When the roof of the barn gets on, we still have plenty to do inside to make a comfortable home for the cows.  With the latest in building technology to provide a safe and secure environment for the cows, come back to see whats goin on inside...

Until next time...

A Delay or Two Won't Stop Progress!

JUNE 2010:

Here it is, the posts are going up!  We have had some delays because the weather has not been very cooperative.  Rain kept filling in the holes for the posts and then the dirt would fall in and we basically had to start over, at least twice. But finally everything fell into place and here we go...

The barn begins....




See the puddle on the right side?  That's why we are behind...







This is an exciting time and also a scary time.  We are anxious to watch this barn go up, to see the progress however slow each and every day.  But we are also mindful of the cost involved.  As I have discussed previously, this was not an easy decision, but one we feel we had to make.  We are mooving forward...

"The Barn" Begins...

Well, I have not been very good at keeping up with this blog.  I have to apologize-writing is essentially more difficult than I ever imagined! I have to admit that talking is so much easier!!  I can carry on a conversation with the best of them, but sitting down at the computer and trying to turn my thoughts into a meaningful array of words, well, has me second guessing what I am really trying to say!!  Holy Cow!  But let's move forward and I will attempt to make some sense of my thoughts and please feel free to comment on anything that I may not make very clear.  Okay, moooving forward...

The Barn.  Since the last time I posted here, we have made the decision to moove forward and build, basically for the next generation.  As my husband and I are in our mid-40's, we are already thinking of ways to help the next generation transition, easier, into owning their own, and continuing our, family-business.  Our oldest son is back at the farm and working full time.  Our youngest son is contemplating Vet School, which his parents are thrilled about, but may decide to work with his older brother in the family business.  That's up in the air right now, but at any rate, we have made the decision.  The Barn.

So let's take a look at where it all started...

The new barn will have a walkway for the cows to enter the old barn.

This is the base for the new barn.

These heifers heading down their "new lane" to go to pasture.

This is the "old lane" the heifers used before.  The new barn will sit over this lane.

Keep checking back as I will have updated pics for you to look at.  This whole process started in May 2010.  We hope to be complete by October 2010.  That sounds like a long time, trust me, it is!!

Until next time...