You have no idea how much your beautifully detailed stories touch my heart. We used to have a farm in the NC mountains and we loved it. Lots of work and my husband got tired of the poop patrol. It was my passion so I never saw it as work. I sense you and Jill feel the same. My husband passed away unexpectedly Christmas Eve so your stories mean even more to me now as they bring back so many wonderful memories. Please keep them coming. They're assuaging my heart and soul.
Please accept my condolences. Losing a loved one is hard enough, but Christmas Eve makes it even harder. May God be with you through these difficult days ahead.
Sue: please accept my condolences on the loss of your husband during the holidays!! My husband died unexpectedly five years ago on Dec 16th. It was a somber Christmas that year. But the reason for the season becomes apparent again eventually and your memories take over. May you find peace soon.
Love the farm stories. We are socked in here too in Kentucky. Princesses Snowy Boots, my mule with an attitude, informed me yesterday as I busted up the ice in her 100 gal water trough, that she doesn’t like ice water. And furthermore she says neither does Mrs Cow, the red cow. Ms Cow lets Boots do all the negotiating. She’s big (fat pig) but shy unlike Boots who is all bitch. So, I’m trying an experiment. I built a box to go around the trough leaving an area at one end open. I’ll insulate it and hope it keeps the water a little more liquid and a little less icy. Might keep the always-on water hydrant from freezing too! Finished up as snow really started to fall. Got help from one of my many Amish neighbors who don’t seem to mind dropping what they are doing to help an old lady neighbor. Thank God and Lord Jesus Christ for such good souls.
I have to drive by your homestead on my way home. In this recent stretch of really cold weather, I do feel for you and Jill. All I have to do is pull into my garage and be done with it. My father was a fifth generation farmer. I felt so much for him each winter. Some were so brutal and he’d just layer up and spend the day in it. It’s hard on the body after spending your life doing it. I give you all a lot of credit.
I live off grid in the boondocks of northern Maine. My homestead is named Homestead Lite, because I have gardens, a greenhouse, berry bushes and apple trees, but I don't have animals.
I very much enjoy your homesteading stories, Dr. Malone
As you say, homesteading in winter is quite different than homesteading the rest of the year.
As I write this, I'm taking a break from hauling firewood from my woodshed to my house.
Prior to that, I made a trip "to town" (as we say), to buy BBQ tanks for my neighbor who lives in a tiny rustic cabin he can't afford to heat because he is down on his luck. This is the same neighbor who snowblows my driveway after each storm. We look out for each other.
😀
The Propane tanks and firewood are heavy. Hauling all of it around is quite a workout for me, a 74-year-old single female. But I actually enjoy the physical labor, and it keeps me fit.
About that gout in your big toe: I have it too. At least I used to. My doctor recommended a little lemon juice and a little apple-cider vinegar in a glass of water every morning. I've been following this regimen for a couple years, and I'm never bothered by the gout anymore.
BTW, this doctor of mine is being witch-hunted by the authorities because he sometimes does acupuncture and sometime prescribes ivermectin.
Kudos to you for living that lifestyle in the boondocks.
I live in populous hell, and I'm 57 and have been begging my wife to leave here for over 20 years. I finally got her to go up to Northern VT, about an hour south of Oh Canada, our 51st State, and we bought a little homestead on 6 acres, not quite in the boonies, but good enough. I'm about 12 minutes from a town center, and there's life in them there hills. HD is 40 minutes, but it's so beautiful, it's not a real bother .... yet.
Since we don't live up there, full time, because I can't get the ball and chain to release her ball and chain that she's been living in since birth, it's still being discovered, and enjoyed only on weekends, or the occasional time up there for about a week.
Life is so much nicer up there.
People are generally more pleasant, more helpful, more caring up in N. VT, that is, at least until they see our license tag on our truck. And "wallah !"...They hate us. LOL That lasts only until my superior charm and handsome devil looks, and my wife's grace and beauty, wins them over. Nothing to do with our conservative, respecting viewpoints, mind you.
I am hopeful that my ball and chain wife-e-poo eventually caves, and we're out of this dumb ass rat infestation of a state, so I can live my life simply by being, and enjoying every second of it away from "them".
Your lovely wife might appreciate a new endearment. A Ball and Chain spouse might prefer something more fitting, such as "Great and Glorious Companion and Beloved Helpmate." 😂
Here's where we might learn from the genius of Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland. When dealing with noncompliant animals, just threaten to freeze their bank accounts. Electronically, I mean.
I felt cold, tired and achy just reading what you’ve been through these past few days. But, you’re so blessed to be able to work hard and see all the fruits of your labors. I grew up helping with the farm, so I know what hard work is. Just be careful and don’t overdo it!
Since I am just a few minutes south of your farm, I too am experiencing the cold temperatures and ice/snow conditions. I was ok in hibernation until late yesterday. I’d had enough and called customer service at VDOT and asked when did they expect to get into our neighborhood and clear a path out to the highway. I only asked because my dear husband had a medical test scheduled at UVA Thursday and we’d have to cancel unless our street was made passable.
Being nice pays off. Within 10 minutes a sand spreader truck appeared on our street! It was nice to be able to leave the house this morning!
yes but just a hobby farm - Not like my grand father & grandmother doing a small dairy farm at 60 and milking 13 cows by hand morning and evening and doing 100 chickens for Eggs planting the corn and alfalfa with equipment made from old trucks and One H-Johndeer
they did have huge gardens and the luxury of a freezer in later years from a much bigger farm operation the Depression had hurt them BAD! I got to see and know that life from childhood as we helped them many weekends my Dad grew up farming and was a workaholic ! today I'm just 80 year young ! Thanks for the farm life memory's
thanks Emma I cut hay with a tractor pulling a 5 foot cycle bar that was from horse drawn equip. drove that tractor pulling the trailer for picking up hay bales until I was old enough to trade places with my grandfather. shelved out the gutter in the cow barn and sometimes collected the eggs watched my dad and grandpa butcher a steer in the dead of winter good freezer - and got to work in the feather plucking line for butchering bantam chickens life on the farm - but I was a city boy most of the time - My father worked for a city dairy, Ewald Brothers in golden valley MN.
So much fun to read Malone stories about homesteading and I always learn. I love the snow/animal/ equipment/people pictures and videos….and hearing about different animal personalities. Makes me smile and laugh…Hard work makes me feel good and sleep well! And I have even learned to smile through it and be grateful!! I imagine both you and Jill have too. Lots of beauty around.
We have about two to two and a half feet or a little more up here at 3,000 ft and may get more. An exact depth is always tricky because it gets windy. When we first moved in we had a snow blower ordered from Tractor Supply. It came a good eight hours before I needed it to clear about three feet!
I was surprised to see more snow at your farm than we have had so far in Northern Montana. I love to read your homestead stories and the photos you include are always excellent.
Thanks for the pictures and stories, and making sure Gizmo was part of it. I think me and Gizmo would be good friends, if that’s possible—what a character.
My second cousin had guineas. OMW! When we would drive up they would scream and yell and attack our tires, but they loved tics and kept her yard clean. They were her alarm system.
The LA fires is horrific, but the Mayor was warned that cutting the budget by $17 million dollars would keep the firefighters from protecting the community. Governor Newsome was told for years how to mitigate fires through proper land management—but the greenies won out. Will the greenies apologize? No. Will the Mayor or Governor apologize? No. Will the citizens vote differently? No.
Sad, very sad, but you get what you vote for and you receive the consequences that comes with it. The loss of life and property could have been WAY less, if wisdom prevailed instead of foolishness.
Common sense is like common law, it’s what everyone knows to be true—well, not everyone.
A few years ago, I read one chapter a day from the book of Proverbs, and highlighted the things I thought God was emphasizing in my life, and added them to me daily reminders on my phone—read it for 1 1/2 years. Changed my life. I’ve since suggested that to others. Our nation needs wisdom, God’s Wisdom. 🙂
Unfortunately, the cynic /skeptic in me, which usually turns out to be correct, says there is a deeper, nefarious agenda behind the details leading up to these fires.
I call it the Maui effect.
You wipe out an area, devastate the infrastructure, and that land becomes more or less pennies on the dollar. Oprah got some good real estate deals recently, and this might work out quite well for someone with tons of disposable cash lying around.
Riots in Minneapolis turned a lower income section of the city into vacant land. Follow the money trail to the redevelopment plans, and see what pops up.
Also from what I've garnered, the necessary prevention in both places wasn't kept up. Someone on X said their insurance for much of the area was cancelled recently. The insurance co's. know what to look for too. Dry, winds etc. Tell me about Mpls.I live there... what a joke and not
Ok, now put what you found out about the insurance companies into the mix. If a bunch of those homeowners couldn't find insurance, and their homes are wiped out, what do they do ? They own a chunk of charred land, and a pile of trash. Even if they had money, is there any infrastructure left to supply that area anymore ? Power lines ? Water ?
Those MN people, although they didn't have much, had their entire lives upended, and all those buildings burned to the ground were cleaned up, and vacant land now plentiful. I was heartbroken watching those old folks who's entire existence was within walking distance, now all gone, crying into the MSM cameras, divulging their misfortune. ALL PREVENTABLE
Maui, same thing. The city instantly had plans to "redevelop for equity". I mean really ? The folks bodies weren't even cooled off from being roasted, and you guys have redevelopment plans for the new 15 minute city ?
I hate humans....or at least a large portion of them.
I cringe at the actions people do and the suffering that entails. Hatred frightens me a bit, such a powerful energy that can come back on me, but there is less tolerance in me than there ever has been for lack of honesty and taking the easy, cowardly way out.
Love your homestead stories. What a treat (aka hard work) to experience; one of God’s many gifts.
Thank you again for sharing your homesteading stories i love this ..
You have no idea how much your beautifully detailed stories touch my heart. We used to have a farm in the NC mountains and we loved it. Lots of work and my husband got tired of the poop patrol. It was my passion so I never saw it as work. I sense you and Jill feel the same. My husband passed away unexpectedly Christmas Eve so your stories mean even more to me now as they bring back so many wonderful memories. Please keep them coming. They're assuaging my heart and soul.
I am so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine.
I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my husband on September 27 in a terrible accident. It's so hard. May God bless you and grant you peace.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Please accept my condolences. Losing a loved one is hard enough, but Christmas Eve makes it even harder. May God be with you through these difficult days ahead.
Sue: please accept my condolences on the loss of your husband during the holidays!! My husband died unexpectedly five years ago on Dec 16th. It was a somber Christmas that year. But the reason for the season becomes apparent again eventually and your memories take over. May you find peace soon.
I’m so sorry for your loss❤️
So touched by your comments and so sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in your memories.
I’m so sorry this happened and on Christmas Eve. Please take gentle care of your loving heart.
Love the farm stories. We are socked in here too in Kentucky. Princesses Snowy Boots, my mule with an attitude, informed me yesterday as I busted up the ice in her 100 gal water trough, that she doesn’t like ice water. And furthermore she says neither does Mrs Cow, the red cow. Ms Cow lets Boots do all the negotiating. She’s big (fat pig) but shy unlike Boots who is all bitch. So, I’m trying an experiment. I built a box to go around the trough leaving an area at one end open. I’ll insulate it and hope it keeps the water a little more liquid and a little less icy. Might keep the always-on water hydrant from freezing too! Finished up as snow really started to fall. Got help from one of my many Amish neighbors who don’t seem to mind dropping what they are doing to help an old lady neighbor. Thank God and Lord Jesus Christ for such good souls.
My condolences.
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I have to drive by your homestead on my way home. In this recent stretch of really cold weather, I do feel for you and Jill. All I have to do is pull into my garage and be done with it. My father was a fifth generation farmer. I felt so much for him each winter. Some were so brutal and he’d just layer up and spend the day in it. It’s hard on the body after spending your life doing it. I give you all a lot of credit.
I live off grid in the boondocks of northern Maine. My homestead is named Homestead Lite, because I have gardens, a greenhouse, berry bushes and apple trees, but I don't have animals.
I very much enjoy your homesteading stories, Dr. Malone
As you say, homesteading in winter is quite different than homesteading the rest of the year.
As I write this, I'm taking a break from hauling firewood from my woodshed to my house.
Prior to that, I made a trip "to town" (as we say), to buy BBQ tanks for my neighbor who lives in a tiny rustic cabin he can't afford to heat because he is down on his luck. This is the same neighbor who snowblows my driveway after each storm. We look out for each other.
😀
The Propane tanks and firewood are heavy. Hauling all of it around is quite a workout for me, a 74-year-old single female. But I actually enjoy the physical labor, and it keeps me fit.
About that gout in your big toe: I have it too. At least I used to. My doctor recommended a little lemon juice and a little apple-cider vinegar in a glass of water every morning. I've been following this regimen for a couple years, and I'm never bothered by the gout anymore.
BTW, this doctor of mine is being witch-hunted by the authorities because he sometimes does acupuncture and sometime prescribes ivermectin.
:(
Kudos to you for living that lifestyle in the boondocks.
I live in populous hell, and I'm 57 and have been begging my wife to leave here for over 20 years. I finally got her to go up to Northern VT, about an hour south of Oh Canada, our 51st State, and we bought a little homestead on 6 acres, not quite in the boonies, but good enough. I'm about 12 minutes from a town center, and there's life in them there hills. HD is 40 minutes, but it's so beautiful, it's not a real bother .... yet.
Since we don't live up there, full time, because I can't get the ball and chain to release her ball and chain that she's been living in since birth, it's still being discovered, and enjoyed only on weekends, or the occasional time up there for about a week.
Life is so much nicer up there.
People are generally more pleasant, more helpful, more caring up in N. VT, that is, at least until they see our license tag on our truck. And "wallah !"...They hate us. LOL That lasts only until my superior charm and handsome devil looks, and my wife's grace and beauty, wins them over. Nothing to do with our conservative, respecting viewpoints, mind you.
I am hopeful that my ball and chain wife-e-poo eventually caves, and we're out of this dumb ass rat infestation of a state, so I can live my life simply by being, and enjoying every second of it away from "them".
Your lovely wife might appreciate a new endearment. A Ball and Chain spouse might prefer something more fitting, such as "Great and Glorious Companion and Beloved Helpmate." 😂
Ahhhh, fiddle fudge sticks !
We're way beyond that, Big E. No more pulling punches. I've spent more than half of my life with my woman, and she better be nice about it !
Haha..
(don't tell her I said that. I'll be grounded for a week)
8-(
Here's where we might learn from the genius of Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland. When dealing with noncompliant animals, just threaten to freeze their bank accounts. Electronically, I mean.
OMG -- that is hilarious, my Lord.
I felt cold, tired and achy just reading what you’ve been through these past few days. But, you’re so blessed to be able to work hard and see all the fruits of your labors. I grew up helping with the farm, so I know what hard work is. Just be careful and don’t overdo it!
Since I am just a few minutes south of your farm, I too am experiencing the cold temperatures and ice/snow conditions. I was ok in hibernation until late yesterday. I’d had enough and called customer service at VDOT and asked when did they expect to get into our neighborhood and clear a path out to the highway. I only asked because my dear husband had a medical test scheduled at UVA Thursday and we’d have to cancel unless our street was made passable.
Being nice pays off. Within 10 minutes a sand spreader truck appeared on our street! It was nice to be able to leave the house this morning!
Aaaah, beautiful winter weather. Gotta love geoengineering capabilities.
Cool barn. Love the touch with all the flags above.
Nice photos and thanks for sharing.
You are talking about " being prepared " !! Working with 'Mother Nature ' , don't fight ' Her ' . I learned that 80 years ago in " scouting " !!
Awesome Substack of real life and gain through hard work! Thank you for sharing.
I too enjoy your Homestead stories thanks so much!
yes but just a hobby farm - Not like my grand father & grandmother doing a small dairy farm at 60 and milking 13 cows by hand morning and evening and doing 100 chickens for Eggs planting the corn and alfalfa with equipment made from old trucks and One H-Johndeer
they did have huge gardens and the luxury of a freezer in later years from a much bigger farm operation the Depression had hurt them BAD! I got to see and know that life from childhood as we helped them many weekends my Dad grew up farming and was a workaholic ! today I'm just 80 year young ! Thanks for the farm life memory's
thanks Emma I cut hay with a tractor pulling a 5 foot cycle bar that was from horse drawn equip. drove that tractor pulling the trailer for picking up hay bales until I was old enough to trade places with my grandfather. shelved out the gutter in the cow barn and sometimes collected the eggs watched my dad and grandpa butcher a steer in the dead of winter good freezer - and got to work in the feather plucking line for butchering bantam chickens life on the farm - but I was a city boy most of the time - My father worked for a city dairy, Ewald Brothers in golden valley MN.
So much fun to read Malone stories about homesteading and I always learn. I love the snow/animal/ equipment/people pictures and videos….and hearing about different animal personalities. Makes me smile and laugh…Hard work makes me feel good and sleep well! And I have even learned to smile through it and be grateful!! I imagine both you and Jill have too. Lots of beauty around.
Dr Malone,
We have about two to two and a half feet or a little more up here at 3,000 ft and may get more. An exact depth is always tricky because it gets windy. When we first moved in we had a snow blower ordered from Tractor Supply. It came a good eight hours before I needed it to clear about three feet!
I was surprised to see more snow at your farm than we have had so far in Northern Montana. I love to read your homestead stories and the photos you include are always excellent.
Hi Notsofast
From S W Central MT - Bitterroot’s.
That storm that passed o’er last week left 6’ish inches of wet stuff, then snow every other day since.
I’m thinking I must be part emu as snow ain’t the joy it was 40 years ago
Sunny today, roads melting, drying
Did you enjoy the game Monday?
Hey there, Notsofast - same here in Central Montana.
Thanks for the pictures and stories, and making sure Gizmo was part of it. I think me and Gizmo would be good friends, if that’s possible—what a character.
My second cousin had guineas. OMW! When we would drive up they would scream and yell and attack our tires, but they loved tics and kept her yard clean. They were her alarm system.
The LA fires is horrific, but the Mayor was warned that cutting the budget by $17 million dollars would keep the firefighters from protecting the community. Governor Newsome was told for years how to mitigate fires through proper land management—but the greenies won out. Will the greenies apologize? No. Will the Mayor or Governor apologize? No. Will the citizens vote differently? No.
Sad, very sad, but you get what you vote for and you receive the consequences that comes with it. The loss of life and property could have been WAY less, if wisdom prevailed instead of foolishness.
So, diverting millions of gallons of water into the ocean wasn't a good idea ?
Wooda-thunk-it?
Common sense is like common law, it’s what everyone knows to be true—well, not everyone.
A few years ago, I read one chapter a day from the book of Proverbs, and highlighted the things I thought God was emphasizing in my life, and added them to me daily reminders on my phone—read it for 1 1/2 years. Changed my life. I’ve since suggested that to others. Our nation needs wisdom, God’s Wisdom. 🙂
Unfortunately, the cynic /skeptic in me, which usually turns out to be correct, says there is a deeper, nefarious agenda behind the details leading up to these fires.
I call it the Maui effect.
You wipe out an area, devastate the infrastructure, and that land becomes more or less pennies on the dollar. Oprah got some good real estate deals recently, and this might work out quite well for someone with tons of disposable cash lying around.
Riots in Minneapolis turned a lower income section of the city into vacant land. Follow the money trail to the redevelopment plans, and see what pops up.
Also from what I've garnered, the necessary prevention in both places wasn't kept up. Someone on X said their insurance for much of the area was cancelled recently. The insurance co's. know what to look for too. Dry, winds etc. Tell me about Mpls.I live there... what a joke and not
Ok, now put what you found out about the insurance companies into the mix. If a bunch of those homeowners couldn't find insurance, and their homes are wiped out, what do they do ? They own a chunk of charred land, and a pile of trash. Even if they had money, is there any infrastructure left to supply that area anymore ? Power lines ? Water ?
Those MN people, although they didn't have much, had their entire lives upended, and all those buildings burned to the ground were cleaned up, and vacant land now plentiful. I was heartbroken watching those old folks who's entire existence was within walking distance, now all gone, crying into the MSM cameras, divulging their misfortune. ALL PREVENTABLE
Maui, same thing. The city instantly had plans to "redevelop for equity". I mean really ? The folks bodies weren't even cooled off from being roasted, and you guys have redevelopment plans for the new 15 minute city ?
I hate humans....or at least a large portion of them.
I cringe at the actions people do and the suffering that entails. Hatred frightens me a bit, such a powerful energy that can come back on me, but there is less tolerance in me than there ever has been for lack of honesty and taking the easy, cowardly way out.
I guess DEI didn’t pay off for the community, just the ones making bank. 🔥 them.