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.
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…
This morning I woke up and looked out over Coal Creek Farm and saw nothing. This isn’t true; I saw a beautiful expanse of whitish gray. At the top of the mountain where my farmhouse is, we were totally enveloped in the clouds. It’s amazing to go from being able to see the Smokie Mountains…
Last night the winds came howling through. Unfortunately, we ended up with all the bluster, but hardly any of the precipitation. On the bright side, this made today perfect for hiking up to the top of Bear Den Mountain. Bear Den is the highest point on the farm with a spectacular view that includes Grassy…
I was excited to head out this morning and walk through the newly-burned fields. It’s always interesting to see the land in this charred state. Even though the fire engulfed the pre-planned areas, some shrubs and trees remain unscathed. It’s called a “patchy” burn which creates a diverse “mosaic” on the landscape. Still, much of…
Sunday is a day of rest in the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee. Life on Coal Creek Farm doesn’t stop, so even though I don’t have chores precisely planned, I still have things to do. It’s an excellent morning to split wood for the fire, and my youngest son has gotten good at making kindling. Afterward,…
I love this time of year. This morning I saw the first Indigo Bunting of the season. Our area of Tennessee is in the flight path of dozens of migratory birds. During Covid, my children and I recorded more than 60 different species of birds. They aren’t a profit center for the farm, but I…