Contacts
Info
An "audio journal" of life on the farm.
Episodes & Posts
Episodes
Posts
6 OCT 2026 · I confused the neighbour's cows bawling with mine. Well not me, my cows. Using a zig-zag path to help erosion on hills. Chisel plow to rip for compaction in the heifer barn field. Breaking shear bolts. Kincardine seems to be in the rainshadow of Michigan's "thumb". Wendell Berry influenced me greatly. Red clover in the mineral mix has resulted in a good stand in the most distant paddock. This remote paddock is a resting place for deer and this morning, it is providing habitat for meadowlarks, snakes, and monarchs. There is nothing like a program of rotationally grazing cattle to increase biodiversity. Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder
Please contact me with your own stories.
greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
5 OCT 2026 · We like to make a small fire and sit around it at night. There is a line of maple trees along the east side of the front yard, and their trunks support a supply of wood that helps to make a cozy space. A ring of field stones defines the fire pit, and six or eight chairs are arranged in a somewhat coherent circle. The best seats face west with a clear view of the setting sun over the sloping west treeline of the farm. This is the place where we entertain friends, and where the kids have had their small parties over the years. Sitting there happens most nights when we are free, and we tend to have a fire on weekends or in the shoulder seasons when it is cool. On this night, we enjoyed a small fire and were taken by the loud and consistent chorus of crickets and grass frogs. You'll also hear Oakley's patrol barking. I think he's letting the coyotes know that he's on duty. He is a Maremma livestock dog, so it is in his DNA to continue like this all night and every night. Needless to say he sleeps most days LOL. He is a gentle, intelligent, and independent dog, and a fierce defender of the property. Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder
Please contact me with your own stories.
greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
5 OCT 2026 · Rambling on about care and management of weaned calves. Not seeing peas emerge in the cover crop. It makes no sense to worry about things on the farm that are out of my control to change now. In the barn with the newly weaned calves. Very few stress days for these calves. Weaning "across the gate" vs "separation". Jumping back to the start of the recording to the sounds of morning...about a minute standing on the cow path where the pasture, river and woods meet. Recorded September 3, 2026. Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder
Please contact me with your own stories.
greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
16 SEP 2026 · Walking the group from a paddock back to the barn. The old time way to call cattle in Bruce County is "Coo Bos" and its origin is the Scottish reference to highland cattle; Coo= cow Bos= the Latin genus species Bos taurus taurus.The herd is super happy today, but I wish they were chill. They know where the apple trees are. Pigeons startle a cow and in an instant she runs at me like I wasn't there. Cicada in the background. Moving gates and sorting out the cows. Weaning nose-to-nose. Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder
Please contact me with your own stories.
greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
15 SEP 2026 · The old water line is tough to work with. No leaks. Making the unused electrical feed neat and secure (this bowl is energy free). Lots of water pressure. Stripping the concrete forms. I cut myself. Setting the water bowl in place is not easy by myself. Getting it going went really well. Podcasts I listen to sometimes focus on exciting stuff, not grunt work like this. Installing the 2x6 barrier allows access to both sides of the bowl. Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder
Please contact me with your own stories.
greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
14 SEP 2026 · Late summer pasture move. Reasons for moving the cows. Finishing up by checking the water, salt, and mineral. Soybeans are maturing. Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder
Please contact me with your own stories.
greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
14 SEP 2026 · Lots of detail here, 'cause everybody wants to hear about concrete forming! LOL I ramble on about how the concrete pad will meet the requirements for the installation of the bowl. Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder
Please contact me with your own stories.
greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
31 AUG 2026 · Growing cover crops and grazing cattle is the best! Rapids in the Kincardine Creek between two pools. Simple three point hitch spline repair. Difficult tire packer repair. Breaking out concrete in the barn. Perfect growing conditions for germination. Fade out with river sounds. Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder
Please contact me with your own stories.
greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
30 AUG 2026 · The manure-compost pile has warmed up. The tire packer is very broken and I'm glad nothing else was damaged when it came apart. I calculated that the seeding density for this cover crop mix is 44 seeds per square foot, which is very high and I'm glad about that. Looking ahead...but for now, it's time to get some rest. Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder
Please contact me with your own stories.
greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
29 AUG 2026 · Rambling while unloading seed bags. Big problem with the seeder metering mechanism. The right way to live my life. Find your place in the world. Dig in, and take responsibility from there. - Gary Snyder
Please contact me with your own stories.
greatbigfarmer@gmail.com
An "audio journal" of life on the farm.
Information
| Author | Great Big Farmer |
| Organization | Tom |
| Categories | Home & Garden , Food , How To |
| Website | - |
| greatbigfarmer@gmail.com |
Copyright 2026 - Spreaker Inc. an iHeartMedia Company
