Not to sound like a politician, I am especially pleased with myself today.

For nearly 15 years, I’ve been learning how to prepare this farm for the winter, and I think I am finally getting right on top of it. Today, the fifth cord of firewood was delivered by Greg Burch, and Brian and Sandy Adams brought and stacked 100 bales of first cut hay in the barn.

Hay stacking, like firewood stacking is an art, only the farm people really know how to do it, I could do it for years and not get it as neat and even.

I might get one or two more cords – we can always use them the following year – but basically, Bedlam Farm is ready for winter. I always think of June as the time to get serious about October. Planning for the winter is critical up here, you cannot plan much in the middle of an ice storm or a blizzard or in – 30 temperatures.

I remember the times I was caught in October with no hay for the winter, and that will never happen again. On the farm, we have two wood stoves heating the farmhouse, we use wood round the clock in the heart of winter, the heat is even and comfortable, the heating bill is low.

If takes time and experience to choose the right firewood source and to get the best first cut hay (I’ve ordered 15 bales of second cut hay to give the animals when it is especially cold. Our first cut hay costs $4.50, a good price, especially with all of the troubles farmers are having with the climate.

And it’s very good hay, green and moist.

First cut is not as rich as second cut, it is fine for donkeys and cows and sheep. We do add second cut, which is more nutritious in storms and bitter cold.

I get the most wonderful feeling – anyone with a farm knows it – when the barn is full of hay and the woodshed is full of good dry wood. And I’ve never been as well organized and prepared as this year – we’re all set, paid for and stacked, and it isn’t even July.

Puffing up my chest today. This afternoon, off to Albany to see the RISSE kids play soccer. More later.