Where did the last six months go?
It turns out that learning how to grow soil, building a regenerative farm, and homeschooling your kids, leaves little time for blogging. No surprise. Yet, sharing our journey, our progress, and our mistakes with you is a desire that burns bright.
As they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” — AND, who doesn’t love scrolling through images of furry critters and pretty landscape? So…. I’m excited to share the last six months on Red Rock Family Farm through some of my favorite images.
April
April was all about the winter thaw, learning how to wrangle and “flank” calves for tagging, and starting the build of our future “farmhouse” — where our farm-stand, commercial kitchen, and quaint living quarters will come alive.
May
Birth and growth summarized this May. Our first round of incubated chicken eggs hatched and grew; we attempted to move a wild hive of honey bees — a cool experience with a tasty reward; we introduced a Nubian goat mama and her baby to the barnyard; the irrigation ditches filled with water; and we participated in branding calves.
Piglets and a kid. 
“Peek-a-boo, Mom.”
June
June brought hot summer days, green pastures, beautiful skies, and our initiation into IRRIGATION.
Tiny visitors. 
Feeding the pigs. 
Learning to lasso.
July
Learning how to irrigate our pastures with a pivot, wheel lines, hand lines, and flooding techniques saturated every morning and evening this July. Repairing old equipment, patching leaks, and making constant adjustments — not the sexiest part of farming, but possibly the most important (especially in the dry, rocky west).
We also enjoyed a month with our niece, Kendal, Sunny the horse, and our Uncle Steve — many hands make lighter work.
Smokey air plagued the valley for much of July, but made clear skies more appreciated and reminded us that our vision is purposeful on so many levels.
Baby chicks. 
Tipi construction. 
Red clover.
August
August was packed with “Farmhouse” progress, only a 5-person irrigation team, and the addition of “Billy” and “Leia” — two Nigerian Dwarf goats.
September
We hired our first full-time employee this September! Sarah brings a shared vision, dedication, strong work ethic and a big heart to every aspect of the farm!
Come mid-September we were all ready to put irrigation duties to rest until next spring! It certainly marked a new season on the farm.
The boys prepped for bow – hunting season, we welcomed another litter of surprise piglets, and began the foundation for our geodesic dome greenhouse.
