Do you hear it? Do you see it? Can you smell it? Spring is finally in the air at Harvey Ranch! The grass is growing, the birds are chirping, and we have exciting things to share!
A Birthday Celebration
First things first, we would like to wish our gorgeous Scottish Highlander a big happy birthday! Miss Fat Cow Calamity Jane turned three years old May 3rd. She shares a birthday with our wonderful son, Austin Harvey. Oh my what a celebration we had for her coming of age! Alfalfa flakes larger than her head, apple treats galore, and the best possible butt scratches! We were always told a fat cow is a happy cow and miss Calamity is definitely a happy cow. It is such a joy to see the love in our family extended to the livestock and beyond. Happy Birthday Austin Harvey and miss Calamity Jane
Our New Additions
Is that a Jersey I see?
Speaking of extending love...please give a warm welcome to our new additions in our livestock family! Meet Buttercup and Lady Ella Jane. These beautiful Jersey cows are a mother-daughter duo from Grass Valley. Buttercup is six years old and an incredibly experienced mother. She has a sweet and gentle nature and loves a good scratch under the chin. Her daughter, Lady Ella Jane, is two years old and quite the character. She sounds the dinner bell at 5 o’clock on the dot every night and we’ve found grain is the way to her heart. We are truly blessed to have Heather in our lives, her exceeding enthusiasm made bringing these diary cows home possible!
Speaking of extending love...please give a warm welcome to our new additions in our livestock family! Meet Buttercup and Lady Ella Jane. These beautiful Jersey cows are a mother-daughter duo from Grass Valley. Buttercup is six years old and an incredibly experienced mother. She has a sweet and gentle nature and loves a good scratch under the chin. Her daughter, Lady Ella Jane, is two years old and quite the character. She sounds the dinner bell at 5 o’clock on the dot every night and we’ve found grain is the way to her heart. We are truly blessed to have Heather in our lives, her exceeding enthusiasm made bringing these diary cows home possible!
Heather and Callie plan on breeding their Jerseys using artificial insemination(AI) so they can start milking as soon as possible. One of their goals is to fully embrace the self-sustaining lifestyle. Raise your hand if you think they should share their dairy products and start a milk share!
Our Grazing Sheep
The Importance of Grazing and Livestock Guardian Dogs
With the weather warming and grass growing, we’ve finally been able to let our sheep out to graze the property. Opening up their pen was like opening the flood gates; we’re not sure who’s more excited, the sheep or us because our feeding schedule just became a whole lot easier!
With the weather warming and grass growing, we’ve finally been able to let our sheep out to graze the property. Opening up their pen was like opening the flood gates; we’re not sure who’s more excited, the sheep or us because our feeding schedule just became a whole lot easier!
With our sheep roaming the property, we would like to talk about the importance of their grazing and the roles of our livestock guardian dogs(LGD). Livestock grazing plays an important role in maintaining habitats, lowering fire danger risks, and supporting healthy growth in the livestock. Grazing removes plant material at a much slower rate than cutting or burning and allows for less disruption of wildlife species in the area. Grazing controls more aggressive plant species, like shrubs, from total area encroachment. This allows for more diverse vegetation in areas, helping to sustain the balance between plant, insect, bird, and other animal species in the animal kingdom. Properly managed grazing helps reduce atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, reduces greenhouse gas accumulation, and protects the land from soil erosion and runoff. Grazing is also beneficial for the livestock. Grazing reduces the risk of unhealthy obese livestock and provides livestock with a variety of vegetation, creating an incredibly nutritional diet. Proper grazing provides a better cut of meat; unlike grain fed livestock, the meat is less fatty and maintains a better texture. Livestock that graze are slower growing but the end product of meat is worth the wait!
Livestock grazing is possible on our property because of the use of our livestock guardian dogs(LGD). LGD work in fascinating ways, which vary breed to breed, to protect their livestock. When introduced at a young age to the herd, LGD bond to the livestock and their instinctual desire drives them to protect the herd. In our LGD pack we run a variety of breeds because we have found their unique instincts are beneficial. Great Pyrenees run a perimeter around their territory and bark at night to ward off predators. Anatolian Shepherds tend to be more aggressive and will quickly go in for the kill if a threat approaches the herd. Maremmas stick close to the herd and work hard to keep the herd together when they travel. We’ve found this combination works best for us in our area. We truly love our LGD and have the upmost respect for their hard work. It is absolutely mesmerizing watching the LGD work together.
Farmers Markets
| It’s official! Farmer’s Markets are starting! Tahoe City Farmer’s Market- Thursday May 14, 2020 Commons Beach, 8am-1pm Truckee Certified Farmer’s Market- Tuesday May 8, 2020 Truckee River Regional Park, 8am-1pm Romanos Farmer’s Market- Friday May 22, 2020 A-23 County Road, 10am-1:30pm |  |
Wool Shows
Estes Park Wool Show
Estes Park Events Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park, Co 80517
June 11th-14th, 2020
*cancelled due to COVID-19
Black Sheep Gathering
3700 Knox Butte Rd E, Albany, Or 97322
June 26th-28th, 2020
*cancelled due to COVID-19
Monterey County Fair
Monterey County Fair and Event Center, 2004 Fairground Rd, Monterey, Ca 93940
September 7, 2020
California National Wool Show
Mendocino County Fairgrounds, 14400 Highway 128, Booneville, Ca 95415
September 11th-13th, 2020
Lambtown Festival
Dixon May Fairgrounds, 655 South 1st Street, Dixon, Ca 95620
October 1st-4th, 2020
Estes Park Events Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park, Co 80517
June 11th-14th, 2020
*cancelled due to COVID-19
Black Sheep Gathering
3700 Knox Butte Rd E, Albany, Or 97322
June 26th-28th, 2020
*cancelled due to COVID-19
Monterey County Fair
Monterey County Fair and Event Center, 2004 Fairground Rd, Monterey, Ca 93940
September 7, 2020
California National Wool Show
Mendocino County Fairgrounds, 14400 Highway 128, Booneville, Ca 95415
September 11th-13th, 2020
Lambtown Festival
Dixon May Fairgrounds, 655 South 1st Street, Dixon, Ca 95620
October 1st-4th, 2020
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