A big day in the life of sheep and donkeys. Today was the first day of grazing for Bedlam Farm, 2018. No more hay until November or December. It was a warm and partly sunny day after days of rain. The side pastures have turned green and the grass is an inch or so thick. We opened the gate and some happy sheep and donkeys rushed out to graze, the first time they have eaten fresh grass in 2018.

This is good for them, and for us. It means we don’t have to get up at the crack of dawn in cold or lousy weather to bring hay out to them. We will have to begin rotational grazing to make sure our three pastures don’t all get eaten down. I’ve already ordered the hay for 2019, most of it first cut. We’ll leave the gates open tonight, and sleep late tomorrow, and then start limiting grazing time to three or four hours.

This is one of the major events of the year on our farm, it was a pleasure to see it. Come along. The shearer is coming soon to trim some coats.