Born to Thrive

Mastodon Valley Farm Update: Winter 2026

We have lambs!

We weren’t expecting to have lambs. We didn’t exactly want to have lambs in the middle of a cold snap. But they’re here! The sheep we purchased last summer were supposed to have not been bred. The guy I bought them from said they hadn’t been exposed to a ram. So I bought a ram and put him in with the ewes early in the winter in order to have lambs in the spring. Imagine our surprise when the first lambs started dropping at -20 degrees! He obviously had a sneaky ram getting around.

Fortunately, this unexpected situation has demonstrated just how tough these North Country Cheviot sheep are. We had 11 lambs born last month, all in sub zero temperatures out in their lot with no barn, and they are all just fine. The lambs are bouncing around, nursing, and wagging their tales, just like they do in the spring time. Isn’t wool amazing?

Homeschool, Homework, Homelife

Fifth grade, first grade, preschool, toddler, writing a book, three home cooked meals a day, four part harmony, violin, piano, guitar, ukulele, bass, planning the next farm season, firewood chopping, boiling bones for broth and soup on the wood stove, first aid, wrestling, Arthurian legends, lego castles, learning a greek play, painting, Bach, Bob Marley and Boychoir CDs from the library, chess, fixing tools, sledding, skiing, archery, snowball fights, bloody noses, giggling, crying, screaming, laughing, discipline, exercise, training a young herding dog, hanging out with newborn lambs. These are a few of the activities that have been happening in and around our home this month. Chaotic, loud, emotional, frustrating, joyous, stimulating, human. Four young kids at home is a full-on non-stop humbling human experience. And I’m here for it. There’s no where in the world I’d rather be.

Land Planning Consultations

As the days lengthen, the weather warms a bit, and farm season is still months away, it’s the time of year I do the most site visits and land planning consultations. This year, I’ve partnered with the Valley Stewardship Network who are sponsoring me to provide free land/farm/grazing planning to local farms and ranches in Southwestern Wisconsin. So if you’re in the area and would like some assistance, feel free to reach out.

I’ll also be traveling a bit in the coming months and may be able to work in more remote locations for site visits. I can also do land planning sessions via zoom if site visits are not practical.

Meat CSA Openings

We are now shipping our monthly meat bundles anywhere in the lower 48 states via UPS. Get our nutrient-dense regenerative meats shipped right to your door - Mastodon Valley Farm