The sheep and the donkeys have been picking at the bark of our pasture apple tree, the first round of chicken wire didn’t work, so we added two more. As soon as the ground thaws a bit – it is frozen solid, we will put up some fencing. The animals are a bit anxious this year because they have not been able to graze and the ground is so cold and hard. So they are nibbling on the barn and the few trees in the pasture. We are determined to save this one.

The arborists say to fence the tree, and leave it alone, let the air and sun dry it out and heal it. That is the advice we are taking.

I always feel like I’m playing chess with the farm, it makes a move and I make a move. So far, we are keeping even.