Diamond R Family Farms

Hay Day!

Oats and Peas. Purple Blooms. Lemon colored butterflies. Sun. Spring.

 

 

Big Farmers. Little Farmers.

 

 

A sea of green transformed into ribbons of symmetry.

 

 

I never lose the sense of wonder when green growing stems are turned into bundles of nourishment for the winter ahead.

 

 

 

 

Hauling Hay

This 15 acre field produced 650 square bales. That is about 4 loads of Hay with 160 bales per load. This is hot, dusty work, but something our family enjoys doing together. 

Greg's father had the lease on this farm ground when we purchased the land last fall. So this is his hay that his grand-kids are hauling.  Yes, a grand-dog too, Kate.

                               

4 generations of haulers have stacked hay in this metal barn at the "West-Quarter". Here are 3 of them.

Not very often is the "Sister" needed to haul. But when the older brother's hay fever gets him down she has what it takes.

                                 

I rode along as their devoted fan, and was treated to a near catastrophe as we traveled North on Peebly Rd.

Shane is riding shotgun at the front of the hay wagon on the last bale loaded. We are heading West on Sorghum Mill getting ready to turn North on Peebly. Shane's dad is sitting to his left at the steering mechanism that is supposed to control this behemoth. His mother, me, is sitting right behind him enjoying the breeze. I am enthroned on  the third to last bale loaded before heading to the barn, leaning against the stack behind me. After loading someone hung a hay hook on the "dash". As we  traveled up the gravel road to the barn, the hook vibrated loose, fell down and engaged the chain driven conveyor used for the purpose of UNLOADING bales from this beast.  At the same moment as I realize that our youngest son is quickly advancing to the end of the chute, the bale I am reclining on follows it's companions and I fall to the teeth of the conveyor.  I definitely can say "I married Adventure".

HAPPY DAY, NEW HORSES

Oh, Happy Day here at our house. Very un-expectedly a cousin mentioned he had a couple horses that he would be interested in selling. Right around the very corner on the same section of land we live on. No more haunting Craig's List looking for reasonable, healthy, local, well-built horses.  These were nearly neighbors. Oh, the excitement. Doesn't matter that they aren't broke. "Together Daddy, we'll train 'em right ." Doesn't matter that a spoiled habit it has is biting your ears. "I'll just wear a HAT!"

 

    From Daddy's point-of-view, it's a priceless way to continue to connect with young people who are fast developing into adults looking for direction and spreading their wings.  The building blocks that are foundational to children's lives can be as simple as training horses.

Barn Yard Nursery

PASTURED PIGLETS

Spring has sprung here on the farm. Somehow the unexpected usually turns out the best. In the process of our move last fall, we agreed to buy 2 butcher hogs from a good friend instead of raising them ourselves. When they were delivered, he casually mentioned that one seemed to be in the family way. The long and short of it was, we became owners of a litter of 10 squealing, pink little "Wilburs" .  The mother has been an excellent care taker and they have been fortunate to be raised on good GRASS. Yes, the little porkers graze constantly on the pastures. We have run a hot wire around a wooded area. She will root a line right up the hot wire and never get shocked. The little ones have free reign to forage where they will. The communication between the mother and piglets is fascinating. Grunts, barks, squeals etc., they come running at her least command. 

                                                                              

The incubator was loaded up with 252 eggs bought from a gentleman named Mr. Charlie Biggs in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He has a gorgeous flock of Buff Orpington/ Rhode Island Red cross hens.  Out of 252 eggs, yes 21 dozen, 4 dozen weren't fertile. On hatching day, 95 chicks were looking at me when I opened the door. All told 179 chicks made it to the brooder. This flock of chicks will be raised to inhabit the egg mobile. The egg mobile will travel around the pastures behind the grazing cows. The excess Roosters from this hatch will become nutritious soup stock. 

                                                                       

                                                                FARM CHICKS !!

Like I said, the unexpected can be a good thing.  Our son Shane had 2 barn cats at the last barn. Sugar is the original Mother, Pumpkin is her beautiful calico daughter. Well, somewhere around these parts is a Tom Cat without a tail. Also known as a Manx. Sugar and Pumpkin each had 5 kitties, out of the 10, 5 have NO TAILS.  Life brings unexpected smiles. If you'd like to own your own barn cat, these are for sale, along with 5 others. 

                                                                      

                                                                  MANX MOUSERS

                                                        DIAMOND R FAMILY FARMS BEEF

 We primarily run a herd of black cows. Using an Black  Angus bull, generally we get black calves. Now Daisy belongs to Chelsea and she is a red cow. Cody has a black cow that was summered on an Uncle's farm a few miles away. This uncle runs red Angus cows. Last winter we brought the cows all back to the home place and we ended up with an interesting pattern of Black and Red. Regardless of their color, they are all  grazed on GREEN GRASS. Lots and lots of grass.  

In memory of "Annie"

    We lost a member of our farm last week. Chelsea's horse "Annie"  died on Tuesday, March 24th. This photo is our last of a lot of good memories. She had been with us for 6 years and was a wonderful friend for Chelsea.  Annie and Chelsea traveled many miles over the dirt roads and back pastures around here. When Chelsea was 11, Annie provided just the right sort of reality to the childhood games of Cowboy-and-Indians, "Forts" and pioneers.  As a teen, Annie gave the needed outlet for energy and the time to sort out the complexities of Life.  She left a hole here, and one sad young lady.  Many thanks to Dr. Sparks for the excellent care given to Annie.                  

Farm Life

                                      

Hello !

   I'm glad you found your way here. This is truly a new experience for our family and we hope you find out what you need to know about all of us. As many of you know,  2009 is a year of transition for many in our family. As we graduate our two oldest children, we at last have the time to devote to building  a  CSA. We also  acquired a farm in 2008 that we for years had admired. As we settle in, the reality of having land that will support our family, daily blesses us. Bottom ground for growing the grains and crops so necessary to sustainable farming, running water year around, pecans and fruit trees. Pasture with the perfect amount of woods and brush. And Grass. Lots of Grass. A garden site sitting fallow for many years, waiting for the next generation to take up the care of it. We are daily preparing for the year ahead of us, so please stop in often to view the farm unfolding.