I live in the Pacific Northwest on a derelict century-old dairy farm with my husband, that we’re slowly bringing back into production. I am a software engineer by day, and currently work as a project manager overseeing Lean Six Sigma and CMMI R&D process improvement at Philips Healthcare. I have two Border Collies (once four), which were the original motivation for the farm. They needed livestock on which to practice their skills, which I occasionally enjoyed putting to the ultimate test at local Stockdog Trials. But now that I have a farm, I find there is little time to train for trials and travel, so the dogs just do useful work these days! We also have two livestock guardian dogs; sheep, a llama, and ducks, chickens and turkeys. And more to come, I’m sure!
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June 12, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Now that I know you’re a software engineer, your technical expertise with other things… fencing, tractoring… makes great sense!
Love, Wardeh
March 19, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Your new LGD is doing her job. I had to stop and take a good look at her and she told me that the flock and pasture were hers so to move on. I thought she might be a Great Pyrenees until I came home and read about her. Your blog and your pasture happenings are fascinating. I am glad your dad forwarded the information after Dolly went surfing.
March 20, 2009 at 4:05 am
Hey Joanie, good to hear from you! She does seem to be doing a good job, though she makes me smile-I can see her from the window, that she half play-bows at visitors, she is still SO silly. A dog-savvy person would probably not feel afraid to go in there, but everyone else might! There sure have been a lot of stoppers-by looking at the lambs!
Michelle
March 5, 2011 at 6:05 pm
I just found out about your blog via the Everett Herald. I am envious as I note your postings and see the photo of your farm from a distance. I grew up on a farm in Minnesota, having moved on to other adventures. The farm is now operated by my brother and the focus has changed from extreme mixed farming of the 1950′s through the 1970′s to more specialization of what we called row crops…corn and soybeans.
I have daydreamed for years about having a few acres on which I could have a few head of hereford cattle, perhaps a few pigs, some chickens and a large garden. I continue to dream.
For now, I will live vicariously through you and your husband as you experience the varying times that encompass a farming operation. Keep it up….
Shelby M. Brustuen from Seattle Metro Area
March 5, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Hi Shelby, thanks for the comments! It sure is interesting how AG has changed, and now the pendulum seems to be swinging back the other direction a little bit, with people feeling like smaller, diverse and local farms are something we value and want to pay to keep. But everything in a balance- the big and specialized farms have definitely lowered the price of food, which is good for the welfare of humanity. From what I’ve read, groceries in the ’50s were definitely a much bigger slice of our household incomes than they are today! I think we have to find the middle ground- how to specialize enough to maintain efficiency and low costs, while not sacrificing our values for producing quality food and taking good care of the animals and the earth.
Michelle
December 26, 2011 at 9:07 pm
I am having a hard time trying to find some Katahdins (hair sheep) for sale. I live on the Oregon coast. Any idea where I can find some?
December 27, 2011 at 6:07 am
Joan, it is hard to find them right now, there is very high demand. If you start by looking at the KHSI website breeder listing, that will get you hooked up with local people:
http://www.katahdins.org/
If they don’t have any, ask them who else they know and try to just connect with a lot of people. I always find that good breeders recommend other good breeders. It would be good to try to get on people’s lists now for lambs born next spring, versus waiting until they are on the ground. If people know ahead of time that you are looking, they can plan around that easier and contact you when they have something that meets your needs.
December 29, 2011 at 7:53 am
thanks for the info. I did make contact with two gals that have some katahdins for sale.
January 9, 2012 at 11:05 pm
I can’t even remember how I stumbled upon your blog–probably something to do with Border Collies–but I enjoy it very much. I grew up in the suburbs, but I also grew up hearing my mother’s stories about farm life.
As an adult, I have lived on a farm twice, but only because I rented a room there. I was able to tend to some of the animals in exchange for rent though, so I’ve been bitten by the bug.
Maybe some day. Until then, I’ll live vicariously through your blog
January 10, 2012 at 5:01 am
Thank you terrecar- it’s funny how farming finds you sometimes!
January 11, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Yes Michelle your blog is great. I sure was happy to find it and do read it! Good luck to terrecar on getting going with back to what she really dreams about doing! jel
January 12, 2012 at 5:21 am
Thanks Joan!