Newsletter 11/3/21

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

November dawns clear-skyed, cloud-speckled and blue-eyed. Swollen Brook and River remember recent heavy Rains. Lingering Aspens splash silver-brown hardwood hillsides with brilliant yellow. The smell of woodsmoke and the sound of wood-stacking drift down-valley on the drying breeze. The vet meets us in the pasture to examine sodden, sore sheep feet with practiced eyes. “Persistent foot scald,” she says. “In drier years you will likely have none of these troubles. These are sturdy ewes.” We decide, with some reluctance, to treat two limping Ewes – Bonnie and Agnes – with the long-acting antibiotic she recommends. Otherwise, they would have to be slaughtered with the ram lambs later this month. This is what we needed her help to discern – the cull list. It is the season for big decision like this when you raise livestock. In the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the upcoming Full Moon is known as the Blood Moon. Evening brings Farm Team meeting. We gather toward the page turning. It is a new season for the Farm as well. How do we describe a November Budget Request if we are no longer hosting Soup and Bread Distribution? What else would we offer, or have we offered, that might be perceived as worth community members supporting? If you care to look, you will see that the budget is pared down for this month. There will still be rents to pay. Expenses for the cows and sheep are averages for the year, which allow hay to be purchased, fencing replaced, the vet paid. Vehicle expenses – also an average for the year – will allow the old pick-up truck to be repaired, including new U-joints and a gas tank. We would be honored to answer your questions about the budget and how we spend the dollars, or how we spend our time. We look forward to seeing you this weekend:

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1. November Budget Request: The October budget was met with $12 overage, which leaves the total remaining for November at $2736.60. If you are willing to make a financial gift, you can do so HERE.

2. Walking the Cows Home: Sunday 11/7 – Reviving Ancient Traditions: a Day of Community Events.     

For many thousands of years in mountainous regions around the world, people have given thanks for the summer grasses and grazing animals that sustain their lives by honoring the seasonal movement of ruminants and their human tenders (shepherds, herdswomen and men) across the landscape. There is an old word for this semi-nomadic way of living: transhumance. Last year our dear friend Ben Sklar filmed this same cow walk, and edited it into a short film about the Farm. Many thanks to you, Ben, for this beautiful work!  

The Grateful & Obliged – A short film on the work of Brush Brook Community Farm.

Almabtrieb (cattle drive) Austria – A glimpse of contemporary appearance of these ancient traditions of honoring. 

11am: Walking(or more accurately jogging) the Cows back from their Summer Pasture. The route is about 2.5 miles. (RSVP required. Email brushbrookcommunityfarm@gmail.com for more info)

11:30 am: Greet the cowbell parade as we turn onto the Camel’s Hump Road. Park at Brewster-Pierce Middle School by 11:30 am and join your neighbors along the roadside to cheer and give thanks for these hardworking animals as they complete their walk and turn into the pasture. 

12 noon: Neighborhood Lunch Picnic(aka outdoor Gratitude Feast). We will be slow-cooking Beef shanks and ribs and roasting legs of Lamb. This is the food we have been able to raise from grass in the valley with your support. Please bring a side dish or a dessert to add to the feast, as well as a picnic setup(plate, cup napkin and utensils).

1:30 – 3:30 Work Day: Once lunch winds down we will invite you to join us as we tend to the Cows and Sheep – taking down summer fencing, re-stacking hay bales, setting up for shearing and more. Bring work gloves and boots.

3. Sheep Shearing Friday 11/12 at 9:30am. If you would like to come watch this old work, park along the side of the road near the Cow Barn, just on the South side of the Brush Brook Bridge. Not sure where this is? Email brushbrookcommunityfarm@gmail.com for directions. 

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Here is what you will find in this Letter:

1. FINANCIAL GIFT REQUEST – Detailed November 2021 Budget

With Great Care, 

Adam and the Brush Brook Community Farm Team

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BUDGET UPDATE: Thank you for considering the November Budget

Many heartfelt thanks to all who have responded to these invitations by sending in Financial Gifts. If you would like to support our work, you can mail checks made out to Brush Brook Community Farm to PO Box 202, Huntington, VT, 05462, bring gifts to the Gift Stand, or donate through the website. We are 100% financially supported by these personal financial gifts.