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Wetland Bowl

Wetland Bowl

felted wool vessel

Winter is not the usual time to think of wetlands, everyone of them being frozen at the moment, no life seeming to be there at all. But this year the ewes can still travel through them on their grazing forays and they nibble on old grasses they find there. Some of the dried out slough bottoms are well sheltered from winds by their boundary of tall, dry reeds.

Approximately 185 acres of our total land base is wetland, just over one quarter section of land worth. When we arrived here we didn’t pay much attention to the wetlands. Then when our pursuit of crop farming fell to its knees and we switched to grass, the wetlands became important and we took notice of what was here. This area of the province is a seasonal home to some of the largest migrating waterfowl populations and we partnered with Ducks Unlimited Canada to return the land base to grass and to repair wetlands drained by the previous owner. Whatever plants that wanted to grow back were left alone to do so.

Today the sheep use the wetlands, our guardian dogs too, and wildlife comes to drink from them. Bird life thrives because of them, and insects are abundant. While we do not intentionally alter the course of the wetlands our quiet presence here undoubtedly still has some affect. An affect we try to keep to a minimum.

When dealing with fence and fence lines wetlands are a big headache but oh the number times I have watched waterfowl fly into these wetlands and listened to prairie songbirds flirting and singing in the reeds.

Ringed with tall thick cattails and cool earth guardian dogs rest at the edges to cool off on hot summer days. And in years when the wetlands dry back the broad leaf plants that turn up present another food source for the ewes. They also nibble the earth at the shores, finding natural trace minerals.

We are small time ranchers with an uncommon approach but when I pause and take in the scene around me, even in the dead of winter, I am grateful to be reaching for a way of agriculture that is also profitable to the soul.

prairie wetland

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All That is Needed For Now

We have had a stretch of unusually mild weather. The flock continues to graze with only sporadic hay feed being offered. This helps the ewes maintain good fitness as opposed to when the weather is terribly cold and animals don’t travel about. The guardian dogs seem to be busy enough and we’ve spotted a couple coyotes in the area. We hauled bales home from a far pasture yesterday, our proceedings being watched by three moose. The birds around our yard are often singing in full force.

Thus far, it’s been a relatively simple winter for all species. The lack of snow is a concern but one that won’t be realized until Spring arrives. For now the enjoyment of mild weather is too appealing and supersedes the worry of what we cannot control. For now there is enjoyment of these small pleasures made easy to enjoy and that is enough. This is all that is needed to draw me into a connection with the landscape all around me and stir deeper thoughts and lighter breathing.

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Return to Neutral

sheep photography

On Christmas Day we moved the ewes to stock piled forage; they are finding decent feed here and we feed hay sporadically. The rams were sorted and put out with ewes about ten days ago. Once again we sorted Jethro (Corriedale ram) to a specific lot of ewes and the remaining Clun Forest rams are with the main flock. Right now, on a day to day basis, there is more work with guardian dogs than with sheep as Birdie and Lily have both come into heat and are testy with each other. Both are being rotated through stays in the kennels.

We are at the peak of minimum daylight hours which means long dark mornings before outdoor exercise and chores even begin and long dark stretches again in the evening. Time that is filled with all the general tasks of taking care of home and persons and a string of kelpie dogs, and what time is left over, with creating and writing.

As this year closes I feel a certain calmness, a sense of returning to neutral. Return to the basics of our natural color and style and in so doing find our centre once more. A return to the calm place of simplicity without loss of personality, something I hope to take with me as we pour into the new year. Watching the sheep presents the same simplicity while exemplifying the profound personality animal and nature always possess. In the cold weather of winter watching the sheep comes in short stints and I grab it when I can – while unrolling hay, while waiting for guardian dogs to finish a meal.

Return to Neutral. 18 x 11 inches and just three breed fibres in this one: Border Leicester wool, Romney wool and a wee bit of Clun Forest wool from my flock was used for tidying edges. It now hangs from a branch but I forgot to take a photo before it left for the local art gallery shop. It is for sale and will be added to the gallery page shortly.

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