Saturday heralded the arrival of fall, a season of transformation that offers us an opportunity to contemplate the cyclical nature of life here at the ranch. With the equinox behind us and shorter days ahead, it’s generally a solemn time when we prepare for the cold, dark days of winter.  But here at the ranch life continues to abound.  The recent rains we’ve had have not only brought new life to the pasture but have been a harbinger of new beginnings.  

We started out the week with a new litter of 10 piglets.  This is Momma pig's first litter and a healthy group of ten is quite impressive.  She comes from good breeding stock as she was one of 14 and whose mother gave us 11 piglets on her first litter, so we expect great things from her.  Her sister is due to deliver any day now, so we’ll have lots of piglets running around in the pasture. 

Pigs are probably my favorite animal to raise.  They are very hardy, easy to manage, and thrive in the woods behind the pond.  They are very inquisitive, have a lot of personality, and are very content to just lay around in the mud.

Midweek we received our latest installment of baby chicks.  We’re raising batches of 300 with a new batch starting every month through December.  Three hundred chicks make quite the cacophony until they get settled in.  They’ll go out on pasture in 3 weeks and hopefully it will be cooler.  It’s been quite a challenge this year trying to keep the chickens from overheating in the triple digit days of summer.

We rounded out the week with our first fall lamb.  We should have several more lambs dropping in the upcoming months as we are continuing to grow our flock of sheep.  Baby lambs are always fun to watch as they dance and spin with boundless energy.  Lambs typically have twins, but as this is her first birth, a single is more common.

 

As we wrap up this eventful week on the ranch, we're filled with gratitude for the ever-revolving cycles of life. The changing seasons remind us of nature's beauty and resilience. From the new piglets to the chirping baby chicks and the lively fall lamb, they inspire us with their boundless energy. As we embrace autumn, we look forward to sharing more ranch stories with you. Thanks for being a part of our journey, and we can't wait to see what lies ahead in the coming weeks. See you at the market!

We're pleased to announce the Pflugerville Pfarmers Market's permanent move to the Green Red Barn at the back of Heritage Park. Say goodbye to the hot parking lot, and hello to shaded comfort with parking available next to the barn.