December's snow storm notwithstanding, the winter thus far has been a disappointment (at least in terms of precipitation). If the forecasters are to be believed (and their track record isn't great), that will change next week - we may get as much as 6 to 12 inches of rain in the next 10 days, with 10 feet of snow possible in the high country.
This weather will present some short term challenges for us. The ground will be so saturated that we won't be able to drive out to the sheep and goats (to haul water, replace batteries, etc.). The sheep are well-equipped to deal with wet weather (their wool coats keep them warm), the goats are less hardy. We'll likely be erecting shelter for them in the midst of the storm. Wind and rain can also impact attendance at the farmers' markets.
Over the long term, these storms are exactly what we need. The soil profile will be fully saturated, which translates to grass when the days grow longer and warmer. Snow in the mountains means water in the reservoirs - essential to our summer irrigation season.
I'll admit - I love winter weather. There will come a time that I grow weary of the mud and dampness, but for now, I'm looking forward to stormy days!
Thoughts about sustainable agriculture and forestry from the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
-
Reno, an Anatolian Shepherd. Introduction We operate a small scale (approximately 150 ewe) commercial sheep operation in the foothill...
-
While I’ve completely embraced digital maps and global position system (GPS) technology, I still enjoy using paper maps - especially topogra...
-
Mo keeping track of our newest bummer lamb If you raise sheep, at some point, you'll have a lamb whose mother won't - or can...
No comments:
Post a Comment