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 spirits and geared up to head back out. We have been fortunate that the weather has been favorable for burning this week. We are expecting rain this weekend—right on time.
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…
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 love this time of year. Flowers are popping up everywhere, and our cattle seem to love the Spring weather, too. Our calves look fat and happy as they explore slightly further from their mother’s side. It makes me smile to watch them run, jumping high in the air as they go charging down the…
Today is an important day for us on Coal Creek Farm. Our season for burning is short but critical to provide wildlife habitat, encourage the growth of native plants, provide fodder for our cattle, and prevent future accidental fires. I met Lindsay, Fire Chief, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, leading the burn crews. We had a…
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…
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…