Turnbow CREP Project Near Completion

-3 years planning
-6 acres
-1200 trees
-7000 feet of fenceline
-12000 feet of pipeline
-5000 gallons water storage capacity

This project will protect 3500' of Turnbow Creek (a tributary to the Long Tom River) from grazing animals, provide wildlife habitat, enable us to better graze our animals, and provide a foundation for our nutrient management program. Thanks to the Farm Service Agency, Long Tom Watershed Counsel, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Also, this happened because of the intrepid efforts of Mike Mahn, Josh Tokich, Stacy Thompson, Shaun Plowman, Allie Maggio, and the Deck Kids. Unfortunately we don't have pictures of the tractor stuck in the mud (twice), a black eye by a wayward wire (Stacy), post pounding in a flood (Josh), stringing wire in another flood (Stacy), and agonizing over government bureaucracy (John).

BEFORE:


AFTER:

Cow Snow-Day

Wet, sticky snow lands on our polywire fences, and drags them to the ground. Last week we received 6" of snow and the cows had freedom to break out of their pasture! Stacy, Mike, and Chris spent several hours getting them back in. Shown below is Stacy enticing the cows with a bale of hay.

How to Eat Steak

I grew up in a family with 5 children. Dinners always seemed to contain just enough extra food for the kids to fight over when they were finished with first helpings. This taught me to eat fast--- the faster the eating, the better the chance I could get some more.

Its taken alot of training for me to slow down when i eat. This, it turns out, is the secret to really enjoying the flavor of steak. Not until I slowed down, and practiced patience could i really appreciate the quality of grass finished beef. Since this does in fact represent the life of an animal, its only fair to take some time and notice the flavors, the texture, and the nutrients.