Long Tom Watershed Council Project Tour at Deck Family Farm

The Long Tom Watershed Council (LTWC) will be holding a tour on Tuesday, May 28th at 5:30pm at Deck Family Farm.  This tour is free and open to anybody who is interested.  Speakers will be John Deck, Pat McDowell (University of Oregon geomorphologist), and Jed Kaul (LTWC fish biologist).  Topics will include landowner goals, how improving stream habitat coexists with the goals of a working farm, how the project improves the migration for native fish, and why the Bear Creek basin is important for cutthroat trout.  

Questions should be directed to Rob at LTWC 541-338-7060 or visit the LTWC website for more information.

The LTWC has put together a great flyer on our creek restoration project.

View of bridge that replaced an under-sized culvert.

Spring Lambs

Lamb season is full upon us which means we also get to enjoy some of the "bummer" lambs-- triplets or other orphans that we care for near the house.  The crew of four you see below provide us with hours of amusement with their frolicking antics.

Baby Chicks and Attempted Thievery

Recently, we received our first batch of 480 chickens.   We revamped our brooder this year to give more room, better heat, and better ventilation.  The chicks seem to love it!  They'll live in the brooder for 4 weeks, at which time, we will put them out onto pasture.

Unloading chicks into the brooder.  

2 nights later, our wildlife cam caught our farm-cat Chaurcy, attempting entry into the brooder in the wee hours of the morning.

Lucy and Pups, Born April 9th

Lucy and her pups...   What a dedicated Mom!

Oh, so cute :)

One choice at a time

Last night Christine and I were talking about how we, as humans, in this day and age, use our time.  So much of what we do centers around the "manufactured" and "processed" - tv shows, processed food, paying mortgages on houses constructed with manufactured products, driving to work, driving to entertain ourselves.  The real tragedy here is for our children and our environment.  The environment suffers due to the by-products of consumption - exhaust, and depletion of natural resources.  Children suffer from being educated in a vacuum - learning theory in schools but, in general, minus a feeling that they are really needed by their family and community.  When people have something to care for, to live for, there comes a purpose in life.

I heard a quote a long time ago from someone who asked a teacher accusingly, "Do you think a women's place in the home?", to which he replied, "Yes, certainly! and so is a man's".  We so often forget about home-based food production, learning, and building.  However, when we talk about what really matters to us, its the simple things, and the things we find in the home that truly matter.   This is contrary to what we spend most of our time doing-- running around, driving, and working all hours.  We're a long way from where we really want to be, but in the meantime, we'll continue making choices one step at a time... do we eat out or cook a meal at home?  do we stay up watching a movie or do we get up early on a Saturday to clean the house to make it a friendlier place?  At any rate, i think these choices about where we spend our time and focus our energy is really the way to work for peace for all humans, slowly change our military-industrial society, and change the world... one person at a time, one choice at a time.

Spring photos from the farm

 Lambs have started, will continue through April.

 Rainbows are common this time of year...

Moving sows to pasture

Dog culture

Bowser takes a moment to romp while on chicken guarding duty.  

All the dogs on break