Author Archives: rancherjulie

I’ve taken hundreds of photos in 2024 and have many stories to tell. Like all farmers’ stories, they are a combination of tragedy, comedy, perserverance, and just dumb luck. And maybe a little bit of providence. I promise to post here soon.

There is a chance this winter grazing thing just might work. The sheep have been on the west side of paddocks 43, 44, and 45 now for 3 weeks and they have not broken the soil yet, even though it’s been in the 40s and raining like crazy! It’s kind of incredible. If I hadContinueContinue reading “The New Year Begins”

July 25, 2023 – Just finished week 1 of grazing the horses, chickens, and sheep together. So many lessons have been learned in that short amount of time. Wayne Knight from Holistic Management International says that across all the producers he works with, multi species grazing is what’s “killing people.” But there are so manyContinueContinue reading “Adventures in Multi Species Grazing”

We got our first snow this weekend. The pastures look beautiful covered in white. Wade’s cows are huddled together at the top of the hill just outside my kitchen window, a blanket of snow accumulating along their backs, softly chewing their cud. I wish my horses could do that. It would stave off their winterContinueContinue reading “Winter Arrives”

I just learned how to add photos and videos to the blog. Here are a few: Gabe behind the wheel of the gator for the first time. Arwen loving life as a farm dog Arwen’s new favorite spot: my front porch Gabe climbing the old ladder in the barn The ripping of the carpet beginsContinueContinue reading “Photo Essay”

Dec 16, 2021 – It sure doesn’t feel like Christmas around here. It will get to 67 degrees today. As Gabe and I stepped outside this morning to go to school he said, “This world has a serious problem.” And I said “Yep! But I am going to help solve this, in a small way,ContinueContinue reading “Week Two: Overwhelmed”

December 5, 2021 – Gabe and I just came back to Columbus from our first weekend at the farm. What a great time we had. I am so excited for the future. First let me catch you all up. My last post was on Oct 26, before I closed on the property. I was crossingContinueContinue reading “Day One: The Tranquility Ranch”

October 26, 2021 – I am maybe, just maybe, starting to think this is actually going to happen. The sellers are in contract on their new property. They have passed through the inspection and remedy period with no problem. They are waiting on their appraisal. My folks are “closing” (no pun intended) in on me.ContinueContinue reading “Cautiously Optimistic…”

October 10, 2021 – Gabe and I drove out to the property yesterday to meet a guy who does repair work on old barns. He says the bank barn is probably 140 years old, and was probably built by original settlers. Does he mean the first white people in this part of Ohio? Did theContinueContinue reading “This Old Barn”

October 4, 2021 – Today I had the inspection on my potential new property in Somerset. Happy to say that nothing major was found. I am moving ahead! Oh, there was a smattering of minor, ongoing-maintenance type things. There were 5 or so wire splices in the basement that were not closed off in aContinueContinue reading “Inspections Passed!”