Yesterday was a good day for us. The weather cooperated, and the burn began as planned. Temperature levels, humidity, wind speed, and constant wind direction don’t line up as often as we would hope. So far, we couldn’t have asked for better burn conditions. Better still, the forecast is for a similar day today. I awoke early this morning, invigorated and excited to check in with Lindsey. We rode out together to check on his crew and ensure everyone was ready.
The controlled burns over these past two days have gone well. When I met up with Lindsey this morning, he said we are on schedule to finish the final 50 acres this afternoon. I walked with him as he went to check the fire breaks and talk to his crew. They were all in high…
As I walked towards the barn this morning, I took a short detour to check on the water flow coming into our upper pond. Adequate water supply is critical for our cattle operation, and protecting water quality is a job I take seriously. Cattle have healthier lives when they have access to clean water. I…
We were under a frost advisory last night. Every step I took this morning made a satisfying crunch underfoot. As I returned from my morning hike, I stopped to talk with my farm manager, Harold. He explained the rifle shot I had heard earlier this morning. Harold had shot two coyotes that have been sneaking…
I didn’t sleep well last night. Two years ago, while performing a controlled burn, we had the wind pick up in the evening, and our fire threatened to get away from us. I will never forget it. Though we contained the blaze, the memory is a reminder, a warning, of how quickly a controlled burn…
I am excited about the burn that Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will do on Coal Creek next week. We carried out these burns ourselves for years, but having the pros involved reduces the stress factor. I hid a key for the fire crews to access the farm when they arrived. Dr. Dwayne Estes recently discovered…
We’ve had a lot of traffic at the farm this month. I love having visitors and appreciate the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency running our burns. The burning is critical for our long-term goal of restoring native grasses and clearing the underbrush. But, our roads paid a high price. We have miles of gravel roads that…