Every day, twice a day, our animals need care. Cows are milked, cows, steers, heifers, calves, cats and dog need fed, the barn needs cleaned, hay needs to be gotten down, bedding needs chopped, and cows get let outside and then get put back in the barn each and every day. In addition to the regular chores, during each season there are different "activities" that are added to the work load. So, no matter what time of the year it is, you are always able to experience life as a farmer!
Seasonal Activities
Spring
You can find us plowing fields, planting corn, fixing the fences and working on our equipment. During this season, we will be planting our garden, working in the flower beds, fixing the fences, and many other miscellaneous jobs that need to be done after the winter.
Summer
This is the time when we are very busy on the farm! Heifers are let out into pasture, and there is hay to bale, silage to chop, lawn to mow, equipment to maintain, gardening, canning, cleaning trails, cutting thistles, and other day to day chores around the farm keep us busy. You may have the opportunity to help unload the hay wagons, guide the heifers into the pasture, pick different vegetables, and get a farmers tan. A bonus of this warm weather is the chance to go swimming. While we don't have a pool on the premises, you can always go swimming in the St. Lawrence river at Clayton or Alexandria Bay. However, if you want to get cooled down here, we do have a hose and water balloons you can use!
Fall
Corn gets chopped, heifers come back into the barn, the garden gets harvested,
more fruits and vegetables get canned, and we start buckling down to get ready for the cold winter. You may get the chance to help guide the heifers into the barn, clip the heifers and cows, help in the kitchen with the canning, and the other miscellaneous chores that will need to be done as we prepare for winter. A fun activity that comes around every fall involves apples. There is an orchard not too far away that provides a great place for a fun family day of picking apples. Then there is the work in the kitchen, making applesauce, apple butter and maybe some tasty desserts like apple pie or apple dumplings, yum!
more fruits and vegetables get canned, and we start buckling down to get ready for the cold winter. You may get the chance to help guide the heifers into the barn, clip the heifers and cows, help in the kitchen with the canning, and the other miscellaneous chores that will need to be done as we prepare for winter. A fun activity that comes around every fall involves apples. There is an orchard not too far away that provides a great place for a fun family day of picking apples. Then there is the work in the kitchen, making applesauce, apple butter and maybe some tasty desserts like apple pie or apple dumplings, yum!
Winter
Chores take longer with all the animals back in the barn. However, now is the time when the family gets to breathe for a little before the busyness of warmer weather arrives. Of course, the work is never completely done. There is still maintenance to do, calf pens to clean, building projects going on and snow to play in. If you come during these months, you can have some fun in the cold and snow: ice fishing, ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling are all close by. Somehow, there is always something that needs to be done on the farm, no matter what the season.
