Winter Cold, Winter Quiet
Dear Friends This week, we’re featuring a photo essay from my oldest daughter, Melanie. She is the keeper of the horse on Alderspring, and it’s her work to care for the 40 or so that are our faithful partners. For most of them, work starts up again when springtime slips in…
Life Rests on Leaves of Grass
Despite the pitch darkness, the boys headed out on the windswept polder, together pulling a narrow wagon bearing 8 empty milk cans. “Polder” was the word they all used when referring to land taken from the sea. All of them lived and worked below sea level in this place; some…
When Muskrat Helped Beaver
When I lifted the beaver, his weight completely surprised me. He looked like he should weigh about 20lbs, but in the pet carrier, he felt about the size of an overgrown muskrat: maybe 8 pounds. I realized his thick coat, which made him look much larger than his weight, must be mostly insulating air space.…
When the Brand Returns ‘Em
I looked at the clock. 3:23 AM. It was time to turn in, especially since I got up at 2:45 AM. The day before. Occasionally nature gangs up on us and we have interminably long days. There’s just so much to do; first, we have the day-to-day, and then, the big jobs—and then, the weather throws…
The Day Tumbo Cried
Dear Friends,We have sheep. This is our 6th year. This past week, Abby and Ethan closed a deal on 200 more. It looks like sheep are set to be in the future of Alderspring. There are jobs for them to do; the war on weeds is real; sheep like them. In addition, they are complementary…